Better picture when viewing via PVR

[Ingwe]

I wonder if any techies can explain something to me.

Have a very old Sony Bravia HD tv (about 15 years old). The picture is excellent and I have a Sony Blu-ray dvd player, Firestick and Panasonic PVR connected to it via HDMI leads.

Mostly, we watch the tv through the PVR, which being twin tuner allows us to record one channel while watching another or record two channels and either, watch a recorded program or the tv through the tv itself or the Firestick. When watching the TV using the tv’s own tuner, the picture is subdued compared to when watching the same programs through the PVR or Firestick. That the picture is so much brighter when viewing with the PVR or Firestick suggests that the TV is capable of the bright images.

Is there a setting I should use on the TV only to get the brighter picture? I’m reluctant to turn up the brightness on the TV as it may make the picture too bright when using the PVR or Firestick. Any ideas welcomed.

 

[Abacist]

Is the PVR HD capable compared to the Bravia which can only display decent video?

 

[treblid]

Your older Sony TV will be 'HD Ready'. This means it can handle and display HD (high definition) signals on the HDMI external inputs but the internal tuner will most likely only support SD (standard definition).
Your Blu-ray player and Fire stick will provide HD signals.
It sounds like your PVR could be a newer device which incorporates HD signal tuners, hence the clearer terrestrial (aerial) signal pictures.
(SD signals look pretty poor on an HD capable display because it can emphasise artifacts).

 

[BrochMike]

I concur with above and appreciate you say your Sony has an 'excellent' picture but you don't say which model/size you have.

If it is just "HD-ready" and/or has an SD-only tuner, it might be worth considering treating yourselves to an 'upgrade'.

The technology has moved on in 15 years...

Almost all will be Full 1080 HD or 4K, with built-in streaming services (no firestick needed) and some allow you to pause/record live broadcasts.

Most do a decent job of upscaling old SD broadcasts and they usually support different picture settings per input to cope with variations (which it sounds like your Sony doesn't).

Sound quality can still be an issue on flat screens but you could probably up the screen size and hardly notice an increase in 'bulk' as newer models have smaller bezels.

Somehow, prices still continue to drop, so £200 can get a well recommended set:
https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-cheap-4k-tvs-the-best-budget-tvs#section-best-43-inch

Get yourself to John Lewis / Currys (but insist they show you an SD broadcast) and judge for yourselves.

 

[Ingwe]

Is the PVR HD capable compared to the Bravia which can only display decent video?

Yes, the PVR is HD capable.

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[Ingwe]

Your older Sony TV will be 'HD Ready'. This means it can handle and display HD (high definition) signals on the HDMI external inputs but the internal tuner will most likely only support SD (standard definition).
Your Blu-ray player and Fire stick will provide HD signals.
It sounds like your PVR could be a newer device which incorporates HD signal tuners, hence the clearer terrestrial (aerial) signal pictures.
(SD signals look pretty poor on an HD capable display because it can emphasise artifacts).

Thank you. The explanation sounds plausible although it is my understanding that the TV is HD not just HD ready. The model number is KDL-32EX503. Here is a photo of the specifications.

 

[Ingwe]

If it is just "HD-ready" and/or has an SD-only tuner, it might be worth considering treating yourselves to an 'upgrade'.

The model is Sony KDL-32EX503. Its specification is in my post #6 above.
Yes, I am buying a new TV but will wait until after Christmas. I am a VIP member of Richer Sounds so I get good discounts and I really like doing business with Richer Sounds. I’m not going for a huge tv but it will be 42” and is an LG QLED. Any bigger is too big for our lounge.

The old Sony’s picture is pretty good with the PVR so will use it in another room.

 

[BrochMike]

The model is Sony KDL-32EX503. Its specification is in my post #6 above.
Yes, I am buying a new TV but will wait until after Christmas. I am a VIP member of Richer Sounds so I get good discounts and I really like doing business with Richer Sounds. I’m not going for a huge tv but it will be 42” and is an LG QLED. Any bigger is too big for our lounge.

The old Sony’s picture is pretty good with the PVR so will use it in another room.

Sony was certainly a good choice 'back in the day' (I had one!)
Trust you won't be disappointed with the new LG either.
Mine (albeit OLED) was a revelation when I got it a few years ago!

 

[Guigsy]

Raw images are very rarely thrown straight to the screen. Digital TV is quite heavily compressed (some channels more than others). Pretty much every device does some processing to try to cover up the compression artifacts. Sometimes to cover for the devices own shortcomings (like lack of contrast or blurring). Sometimes just to make the output more appealing. The more modern it is, the more layers of processing are likely to be done. So I'm not surprised that the output from a 15 year old TVs internal tuner doesn't perform as well as an more recent external tuner.