Some picture quality "problems" can't be fixed, only improved
High-definition TVs can do things conventional TVs could never dream of. But here's an important point to keep in mind: Even the finest HDTV can't magically repair a mediocre video signal. Some owners of new HDTVs have been disappointed to find that their favorite regular TV shows don't look much if any better. That's the fault of the signal, not the TV. Those shows are being broadcast at the same quality they were before. Your new TV may have some processing you can turn on to improve picture quality a little. But ultimately, the picture you see is only as good as the signal your local station, cable company, or satellite company is sending you. Old-fashioned tube TVs are very forgiving of low-quality signals.

And it's not just analog TV signals that look less than perfect. Just because programming is "digital" or being broadcast on an "HD" channel doesn't mean it will always look like a pristine HD demo. For example, if ESPN HD is broadcasting a game that wasn't originally shot in HD, it won't look as sharp and detailed as it would if it had been shot with the latest high-def cameras. Similarly, if you're watching a sitcom on digital cable, you won't get a crystal-clear picture if your cable company, or the local broadcaster supplying your cable company with the signal, has chosen not to pass along the high-quality signal.

Most HDTVs include some form of digital noise reduction that can make poor-quality signals more watchable. In particular, this type of video processing can make the compression artifacts that plague digital cable and satellite signals a bit less distracting. For analog signals, at least one major TV maker - Samsung - includes an "analog fine-tuning" feature on its current HDTVs that is extremely effective. It allows you to fine-tune each channel independently. Hopefully, this feature will soon appear on other TV brands.


And finally, no article on picture adjustment would be complete without mentioning aspect ratio (picture shape). How many times have you sat in a restaurant or bar watching a TV with the aspect ratio set incorrectly and wishing somebody would fix it? The telltale signs are people onscreen that look either too short and stocky or unnaturally tall and thin. Conventional TVs and programs have what's called a 4:3 ratio, while HDTVs use the widescreen 16:9 ratio. We're still in the transition period from analog TV broadcasting to digital, so most of us will be watching a mix of regular and widescreen programs. Try to get familiar with the different aspect ratio modes your TV offers. Usually, there's a dedicated button on the remote, often labeled "Wide," that lets you cycle through several options. Often, some combination of zooming and stretching will yield a picture that better fits the wider screens found on HDTVs.

Fortunately, many low-quality TV signal sources are gradually being replaced by higher-quality sources. Standard-definition broadcast, cable and satellite programs will eventually be replaced by sharper, cleaner high-definition signals, which are already widely available. VCRs are being replaced by DVD recorders and DVRs (digital video recorders). And while standard DVDs look great on HDTVs, the new high-resolution disc formats, like HD DVD and Blu-ray, will make HD-quality video available for top-notch viewing anytime.