DVD Playback On Plasma with old VHS converted to DVD

[MOW]

I just purchased a Samsung Plasma 5300 Series 51". I'm using a Sony DVP-NS5OP single slot DVD player. The player is some 5 years old with average playback. The DVD's are old VHS porn converted over to the DVD. Some I converted, others converted for me, even some VHS cam-corder tapes to DVD. I did have the player hooked up to an old Sony XBR 25" that was some 30 years old & still working. I thought the lighting was pretty good on the play back.

The biggest problem is that the picture from the DVD's is awfully dim. I've made some adjustments to the DVD player & that's helped, but still low on lumination.

I haven't done much to the Plasma as it is brand new & I'm still tinkering, minimally.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

[zorin]

I take it that only these DVDs are played back dim and others are not ?

It would be advantageous to know how you've connected the player to the plasma. Via hdmi, component or scart ?

If connected via hdmi try hooking it up via component or scart and see if it makes a difference.

[MOW]

Originally Posted by zorin

I take it that only these DVDs are played back dim and others are not ?

It would be advantageous to know how you've connected the player to the plasma. Via hdmi, component or scart ?

If connected via hdmi try hooking it up via component or scart and see if it makes a difference.

I am connected to the back of the Samsung via gold tipped standard L/R/audio cords.

[zorin]

Originally Posted by MOW

I am connected to the back of the Samsung via gold tipped standard L/R/audio cords.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, that is only the audio connection.
How is the video connected ?
Are other dvds played back dim as well ?

[MOW]

Originally Posted by zorin

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, that is only the audio connection.
How is the video connected ?
Are other dvds played back dim as well ?

The audio is the Left/Right connection in, the video is the standard video in connection on the back of the TV.

The are ports for a "component/AV/in. (Blu-Ray connection.) (DVD player is just an old Sony DVD player.)

On the side, I have 2 HDMI ports , 1 in use, and a USB port.

The dim-ness varies with the quality of the VHS tape in the transfer to DVD. Other conversions are internet downloaded avi, mpeg, & wmv burned to a DVD via Power to Go. (Ver. 5)

[zorin]

Originally Posted by MOW

The audio is the Left/Right connection in, the video is the standard video in connection on the back of the TV.

The are ports for a "component/AV/in. (Blu-Ray connection.) (DVD player is just an old Sony DVD player.)

On the side, I have 2 HDMI ports , 1 in use, and a USB port.

The dim-ness varies with the quality of the VHS tape in the transfer to DVD. Other conversions are internet downloaded avi, mpeg, & wmv burned to a DVD via Power to Go. (Ver. 5)

OK, my guess is that's the composite video lead you're using to connect the dvd player to the plasma. This will give you the least quality picture.
If the dvd player has component outputs (3 RCA connectors marked red,green,blue) I'd recommend using those to connect to the plasma.
If it is an old dvd player it will probably not have an hdmi connector.

If you want to stick with the current video lead then you could try and see if the plasma's settings menu offers an option to set the brightness of just the composite video input and adjust that.

If the settings menu offers no such option it could be "hidden" in the plasma's service menu which is meant to be used by service engineers only.
It is generally accessible by entering a specific key sequence on the remote.
Usually these key sequences can be found by doing a google search using your plasma's brand and (exact) model number plus the term "service menu".

[MOW]

Originally Posted by zorin

OK, my guess is that's the composite video lead you're using to connect the dvd player to the plasma. This will give you the least quality picture.
If the dvd player has component outputs (3 RCA connectors marked red,green,blue) I'd recommend using those to connect to the plasma.
If it is an old dvd player it will probably not have an hdmi connector.

If you want to stick with the current video lead then you could try and see if the plasma's settings menu offers an option to set the brightness of just the composite video input and adjust that.

If the settings menu offers no such option it could be "hidden" in the plasma's service menu which is meant to be used by service engineers only.
It is generally accessible by entering a specific key sequence on the remote.
Usually these key sequences can be found by doing a google search using your plasma's brand and (exact) model number plus the term "service menu".

My next two steps were going to find some component cords, and then trying basic adjustments in the TV. (The 5300 series had the least # of options, but a great picture for the $$$$) The DVD player does not have a HDMI "out" port. I don't know if up-scaling to a Blu-Ray player will help.