Recieved my Model 6100 + 20" Upgrade Kit yesterday.direct from Bell via Express Post to BC. Im using this receiver with a Toshiba TN50X81
4:3 HDTV, with Monster Video 2 HDTV cables and Monster Optical Cables. The 6100 is being routed through an
1154 A/V Component Switcher.
Everything works great so far. Here is a list of cool things i like about it.
Banner Browser / Interactive TV Guide
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- Very fast Banner Browser search
- Very fast Interactive Guide(IG) page up/down search
- The IG can have an Picture-In-Picture(PIP) of the show youre watching or go full screen without the PIP
- Zero wait for show stats when using the INFO button in the IG
- Can search ahead in the IG for 2 days, without having to access the satellites for more info
HDTV Setup Options
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- Over-The-Air HD channel access built in
- 2 prefrences for 4:3 HDTV output, 1 for 16:9 HDTV output
- A variety of Aspect Ratio controls for each preference
- Stretch, Partial Zoom, Full Zoom, Letterbox(Black Bars), Letterbox(Grey Bars), Normal
- DVI or Component outputs
- Stretch and zoom modes on Standard Definition(SD) outputs (like Composite and S-Video) with an HD channel
- SD shows are upconverted to 1080i on the HD channels. Giving them a slighly sharper and more colorfull PQ
Summery
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There was about 6 real HD shows and 4 pay-per-view movies in HD from the 23 HD channels i have access to last night. Some shows repeated a few times throughout the night.
Some shows looked great, especially HD-Soundstage on PBS. Sheryl Crow in a small venue was excellent. Had the best video clarity and the best DD5.1 surround quality of the night.
Steven Kings Hospital mini-series had excellent DD 5.1 surround, as good as any movie ive ever heard on DVD. The video was very clear but dark.
I found that the best HDTV setup for PQ is the Stretch mode in 4:3 preference #2. Though it crops the picture to full screen.
Letterbox in preference #2 is a great widescreen look, but some motion artifacts can be seen. Example on Jay Leno last night, his striped shirt would blur slightly whenever he moved rapidly. This occured only on this show and did not happen in Stretch mode.
Its not so much that HD looks eye popping great, as much as the SD channels now look bland/blurry.
Well hope someone can get a few answers from this, especially people who still own 4:3 HDTV.
EDIT: Add A/V Switcher ability
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The 6100 also has two composite inputs in the back for either a VCR or Video Game Console or whatever. They can be used like an A/V Switcher.
By going to channel 000, u can get the "Back Panel Display Inputs" options. This acts exactly like an A/V Switcher for whatever u hook up to the back of the 6100.
When choosing one of these Inputs it bypass's the regular Satellite tv and displays/plays whichever Input u pick through the DVI/Component/Optical Outputs
