Why do some DVDs look so bad on the computer?

[Patrickhat2001]

I know this is more of a question for AV type forums but what the heck, you guys are nicer and are easier to understand so I'll ask my question here.

Has anyone else noticed that some DVDs look like absolute crud when played on computers? Usually these are cheaper or older DVDs. Anyone know why they look so bad? Is it just because a PC, being able to achieve a nice, clear, progressive-scan image brings out the faults of poorly mastered DVDs or is something else going on? PCs are supposed to be one of the best ways to watch DVDs, hence the proliferation of home theater PCs. So, why then, do some DVDs look worse on my computer monitor than my analog television?


Oh, and by the way I use PowerDVD XP and WinDVD 4 for DVD playback.

 

[Lando]

Dvds suck. There, I said it. They are mastered to look good on inferior, interlaced television displays. The major hurdles include:

-having to resize the 640x480 video to a much higher resolution for fullscreen playback
-a standard computer crt is much more accurate than a tv, letting you see many more image artifacts
-televisions have much brighter colors and often more contrast: what looks fine on a $99 tv looks washed out on your $299 pc monitor.
-interlacing: it just plain sucks.

 

[wallijonn]

do you have vertical sync enabled? what's the refresh rate? what's the video card and monitor?

 

[Sol_Zhen]

Your solution is to buy a nice digital television (maybe a 45" + HDTV) and a good progressive scan player (preferably with a DCDi chipset). Calibrate properly and enjoy.

A computer monitor is not meant for home theater.

[edit] Of course, nothing will fix an assy compression transfer on some DVDs, but the good discs will be heaven.

 

[Lando]

You can alleviate some of the problems by tweaking the color controls in your dvd software. Also, if you have an Nvidia video card, you can turn up "Digital vibrance" for dvd viewing.

 

[Patrickhat2001]

Thanks for the replies guys. As of now my computer monitor is a cheap 17" Samtron I scored from Best Buy for about $100 (after rebates

)--The contrast on this monitor sucks but that is about the only thing wrong with it. My video card is the integrated POS that came with my computer--no idea what its name is--probably doesn't matter anyway. From all I've read about HTPC video card selections shouldn't matter much anyway and I don't think it would matter much with the problem I'm experiencing. What is making some DVDs look look bad on my PC (besides the contrast) is what I would have to call noise for lack of any better term. Poorly mastered DVDs look like a garbled, blurry mess (especially full-screen DVDs). However, well mastered DVDs look stunning. I have watched many well mastered DVDs on my PC and have been amazed by the image quality--so crisp and clear and very close, maybe even better, then watching on a HDTV with a progressive scan DVD player. But poorly mastered ones, wow do they suck. So I guess what I'm really asking is if anyone has experenced the same problem I currently have and, if so, have they been able to allievate it. Most of the DVDs I watch are poorly mastered since I like the artsy stuff that mostly appeals to niche audeances. If I can't get these DVDs to look better then I guess I will just have to give up my idea of using a PC as cheap solution to watching DVDs in progress scan. I can't afford to by a HDTV.

Nor would I buy one until the prices go down.

Hey, and by the way, if these DVDs look so sucky on my monitor they must look pretty poor on many HDTV setups as well. Anyone have any experiences with these?

 

[Lando]

It's not necessarily poor mastering. You may simply be seeing grain. Grain could be due to poor source, poor mastering (as you said) or be an intentional effect. Old movies are especially prone to graininess.

 

[wallijonn]

then the reason is simple -

someone connected a VHS to their Radeon video in and pushed the record button for the dvd recorder. garbage in / garbage out.

there's nothing you can do, other than get dvd software to try and clean up the noise levels.

it's even worse when the dvds are made from pirated copies.

sometimes it's the only way. i would love to have a dvd of Maria Conchita Alonso's "Con El Corazon En La Mano" (With his heart in her hands). I'm lucky to even have a copy. Mexican dvd movies are hard to come by. Imagine all the Chinese, Japanese, Albanian, Maltese, Argentinian, etc. movies that have poor distribution.