How do I get better blacks from Pioneer DV-578?

[Shadowman82]

I just recently bought a Pioneer DV-578 DVD player to replace an old Panasonic player that I bought 6 years ago . But I seem to be having some problems getting my new Pioneer player to display blacks as well as my old Panasonic . There seems to be something of a white greyish film over all the blacks .

I'm using the players Component Video output and I use interlaced as I don't have a Progressive Scan TV . I use the same Component Video cables that I bought with the Panasonic player 6 years ago with this new player .

The only connection difference between this player and the old Panasonic player is that with the old player I only used the Digital Audio outputs where as with this new Pioneer Player I use both the Digital and Analog Audio outputs .

[tomdkat]

Go into the player's video menu and set all video settings to 0 (or in the middle). Then use Avia or DVE (Digital Video Essentials) to perform a video calibration. You can adjust the player settings and not the TV settings to get the desired results but that would be a painful process.

What kind of TV is it connected to and has that TV been professionally calibrated? What model Panasonic did this Pioneer replace?

Peace...

[Shadowman82]

It's connected to a 36 inch Toshiba CRT Direct View TV with a 4:3 aspect ratio . I calibrated it myself using Avia with the Panasonic DVD player .

But if I re-calibrate my TV with this new DVD player wouldn't it throw off the settings for my other Video sources , for example make my DSS too dark ?

The Panasonic was a RV-80 . Most of the picture settings in that one were automatic . That one allowed me to set two different black levels , the lighter one for anything up to S-Video and a darker one which it suggested be used for Component . The Pioneer doesn't have such a setting though . It has manual settings for things like Contrast , Brightness and Gamma and stuff like that .

Could my Component cables be starting to falter ? They weren't exactly of the highest standards and I can't be sure but it's possible that my Panasonic also lost some of it's blackness over the years . Maybe not I don't know .

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Shadowman82

It's connected to a 36 inch Toshiba CRT Direct View TV with a 4:3 aspect ratio . I calibrated it myself using Avia with the Panasonic DVD player .

Ok.

But if I re-calibrate my TV with this new DVD player wouldn't it throw off the settings for my other Video sources , for example make my DSS too dark ?

That depends on how the set keeps track of its video settings. Does it store different settings for the various inputs? I presume your old Panasonic and your satellite were connected via different video connections, correct?

If the TV only has one set of video settings, you could possibly impact the video of your other sources. Write down the current video settings before changing anything.

The Panasonic was a RV-80 . Most of the picture settings in that one were automatic . That one allowed me to set two different black levels , the lighter one for anything up to S-Video and a darker one which it suggested be used for Component . The Pioneer doesn't have such a setting though . It has manual settings for things like Contrast , Brightness and Gamma and stuff like that .

Ok, then using Avia you might be able to adjust the Pioneer's video settings while the Avia patterns are still displayed. Give it a shot.

Could my Component cables be starting to falter ? They weren't exactly of the highest standards and I can't be sure but it's possible that my Panasonic also lost some of it's blackness over the years . Maybe not I don't know .

It's possible but I wouldn't start with the cables. The reason professional calibrators recommend recalibrating after changing DVD players is due to each player (or at least player manufacturer's players) sending slightly different video signals to the TV or simply having different factory default video settings.

By changing from Panasonic to Pioneer, I would expect a difference in video requiring a recalibration of some sort. When I had Pioneer, Panasonic, and Sony DVD players I recalibrated when I used any one of those players as my "main" player. Recently, my Pioneer DV-588 started giving me problems (I bought it as a refurb) so I reconnected my DV-656a and noticed a difference in the video almost immediately.

Peace...

[Iguana Man]

Is it possible that the new Pio simply doesn't pass the infamous 'Pluge' test?

What does the Secrets site have to say?

Edited: Apparently, it doesn't.

That isn't to say it's not worthy, and I'm sure you can tweak some better blacks out of it. How, I don't know, but I'm sure some searching could tell you how.

[Pirate]

I wish I could find the page, but I read somewhere that AVIA and DVE was not good for PJs. Anyone else read about that?

-PH

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I wish I could find the page, but I read somewhere that AVIA and DVE was not good for PJs. Anyone else read about that?

Nope.

Peace...

[Shadowman82]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

Is it possible that the new Pio simply doesn't pass the infamous 'Pluge' test?

What does the Secrets site have to say?

Edited: Apparently, it doesn't.

That isn't to say it's not worthy, and I'm sure you can tweak some better blacks out of it. How, I don't know, but I'm sure some searching could tell you how.

Well I did read that this player initially couldn't pass blacker than black if that is what you are referring to but what are the odds that my old Direct View CRT would even support that anyway ?

However supposedly according to other forums uprgrading to firmware 2.05 let's it pass blacker than black and mine has firmware 2.05 , I checked .

And why would a 6 year old Panasonic player pass blacker than black where a newer superior machine wouldn't ?

[Shadowman82]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Ok.

That depends on how the set keeps track of its video settings. Does it store different settings for the various inputs? I presume your old Panasonic and your satellite were connected via different video connections, correct?

If the TV only has one set of video settings, you could possibly impact the video of your other sources. Write down the current video settings before changing anything.

Ok, then using Avia you might be able to adjust the Pioneer's video settings while the Avia patterns are still displayed. Give it a shot.

It's possible but I wouldn't start with the cables. The reason professional calibrators recommend recalibrating after changing DVD players is due to each player (or at least player manufacturer's players) sending slightly different video signals to the TV or simply having different factory default video settings.

By changing from Panasonic to Pioneer, I would expect a difference in video requiring a recalibration of some sort. When I had Pioneer, Panasonic, and Sony DVD players I recalibrated when I used any one of those players as my "main" player. Recently, my Pioneer DV-588 started giving me problems (I bought it as a refurb) so I reconnected my DV-656a and noticed a difference in the video almost immediately.

Peace...

My TV unfortunatly applies any changes to it's Video settings to all inputs so I think I better do some recalibration with the DVD player's menu . The way it is set up it's fairly easy to do while watching a DVD like Avia .

I might have to try adjusting the settings in the DVD players menu.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Shadowman82

However supposedly according to other forums uprgrading to firmware 2.05 let's it pass blacker than black and mine has firmware 2.05 , I checked .

Then it would seem the Pluge (blacker than black) test is not a factor here.

And why would a 6 year old Panasonic player pass blacker than black where a newer superior machine wouldn't ?

I don't know, however, there are still players today that fail to pass this 'test' but since you've got the newer firmware, it's kind of a moot point.

I do find it interesting that the Panny suggested a darker mode for Component versus S-video. Perhaps that is the answer? Component needs some kind of extra tweaking from the player to provide better blacks?

I look forward to your player tweaking results.

[Shadowman82]

That's possible . Allthough the Panasonic did have manual settings too it came with alot more automatic settings . It also had a setting where one could select the type of TV connected like CRT or LCD .

[Shadowman82]

I just recalibrated my TV using Avia with the Pioneer player and I'm happy to report that it was a complete sucess . My new Pioneer player now displays super blacks , even better than my Panasonic . The picture is just amazing now .

The colour, tint and sharpness settings turned out to be very similar with this player , however I had to turn down the contrast and brightness quite a bit .

The picture also changed for all other inputs but I don't mind at all because my Digital Satellite also looks amazing with these new settings , I've never seen so much detail on it .

Now I am finally completely psyched with my purchase .

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Shadowman82

I just recalibrated my TV using Avia with the Pioneer player and I'm happy to report that it was a complete sucess . My new Pioneer player now displays super blacks , even better than my Panasonic . The picture is just amazing now .

(snip)

Now I am finally completely psyched with my purchase .

Great! Where do I send my bill?

Peace...

[PunkMunkey]

Shadowman82, I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but there's a hacked firmware out there based on Pioneer's stock 2.09 firmware that will allow you to make the 578 a region free player, the firmware also addresses some minor issues with the file browser and upgrades the DSP software (adding EQ for audio playback)...not sure if that's at all enticing to you but I upgraded mine to region free and I'm getting even more mileage from it. It really is a great little player for the price.

You can check out the firmware HERE and instructions for upgrading can be found HERE...just in case ... .

The process is simple too...took all of 3 minutes or so.