Getting the most from a shelf system, different video quality from channel to channel
Week 35, 2003
Q: I have a Sony combination tuner, tape and CD stereo system that is about 13 years old. It has always worked fine, but now the CD player does not work. I suspect having it professionally repaired now would cost more than the whole system originally cost. Any suggestions, other than junking the whole thing and buying a new one? I’d rather not junk it since the CD player is the only thing that’s giving me problems. Everything else works fine.
-Allen Nacheman, Arlington, VA
A: Many shelf systems have an external input for connecting an additional component such as a VCR or a cable box. If your shelf system has such an input available (it is usually referred to as “Video”, “Auxiliary” or “Aux”), you can purchase a component CD or DVD player, connect it to the input, and use it as your new CD player. I recommend getting a DVD player as it will play both CDs and DVDs, and the price is about the same as a CD player.
If you have the extra input and are already using it with your VCR, you can purchase a switchbox that will allow you to connect several different components to the single input. These switchboxes are available for under $30 at electronics retailers. Some of them switch video as well as audio; just use the audio plugs when connecting components.
If your system does not have an external input, purchase a portable CD player with a cassette adapter. Commonly used in cars with cassette decks, they also work fine with a home system. Be sure to buy an AC adapter so you aren’t constantly changing batteries! You can use cassette adapters with MP3 players, too.
Q: I’ve been enjoying HDTV through DirecTV for about 4 years now and it is nice to see more HDTV programming available. Something I’ve been curious about is why there is such a difference in quality of signal, both audio and video, even between the few HDTV channels. For example, Mark Cuban’s HDNet is such superior quality in picture and sound from that of HBO HD or any of the others. Why is that?
-Scott Frishman, Pittsburgh, PA
A: There can be many reasons for quality difference between channels, but the two most common are differences in source material, and differences in television production quality.
Any film shown in HD must be converted from film to video. Unless a great deal of digital remastering is done to clean up defects in the physical film itself (it fades over time) and improve visual quality, the final high-definition transfer may not even be as impressive as a good DVD.
Most DVD movies are digitally remastered before release. One of the best examples of this is the first “Superman” movie featuring Christopher Reeve. When the movie was re-released on DVD, it was remastered to not only improve the image quality, but to correct technical shortcomings such as the greenish suit. In the original film, during the flying scenes Reeve wore a Superman suit that was slightly green. This was so he did not blend into the special effects bluescreen used during the filming. In the Superman DVD (an outstanding example of a DVD production), his suit is true-blue all the way through.
In terms of production quality, HDNet is extremely dedicated to the success of HDTV and has some of the best technical quality in the industry. Mark Cuban is to be commended for his devotion to the format, the high quality content on HDNet, and his efforts to bring more HDTV programming to the general public.
