Last Minute Super Bowl HDTV tip        
 
When looking at a new plasma I’m testing, (Hitachi 55HDX99) I was only mildly impressed.  But I knew this was a great TV, so what was wrong?  It was too blurry, grainy, color banding---too “off” for me to believe this was all the Hitachi could do.  
 
I had a fabulous Monster Cable HDMI connection from my HD Dish, I was watching an HD program. What could be wrong?  I looked back in the Dish Satellite menu and found “HDTV setup.”  Wait a minute...it had the output at 480p which is only marginally better than analog TV. (I bet that happened when the unit reset after power failure...) I changed it to 720p (DISH doesn’t have a 1080p option) and voila!  Yes, no more grain, banding or jaggy, blurry edges.  Gorgeous! details in the shadows, textured clothing all of it.  Yes, this IS a gorgeous TV
 
So, if you aren’t getting a magnificent picture on a great plasma TV.  And you are using a great, high definition cable like Monster’s M 1000 HDMI cable, and you are tuned to an High Definition station but you still can’t see the stitching on the shirts, check your cable or satellite high definition setup by looking for HDTV setup or other HDTV settings or options.  Be sure it is set at a minimum of 720p for High Definition (and don’t forget to set it on “16 x 9” if it’s widescreen.)  
 
Enjoy the chips and those body-hugging uniforms on the players...Oh, I mean the dimples on the ball and the blades of grass and the blood on the uniforms, the determination on the players faces...It’s really fun to watch the Superbowl on HDTV.
 
 
 
Sunday, February 4, 2007