Solving playback issues

[orsonk]

In hopes that we could keep our old large-screen TV, I used a conversion box that converts the Roku HDMI output (using the Ultra) to RCA signal (3 cords connected to 3 RCA jacks on the TV.  The visual quality is fuzzy/blurry. I know we might have to accept that we'll need to buy a new TV that has HDMI input. But I wonder if anyone else has faced this challenge and found a solution?

Thanks.

Orson

[makaiguy]

Your converter box must convert the signal from the high-res digital signal it receives from the Roku to a low-res analog signal, then encode it for the 480i NTSC (or if your converter and TV support it a 576i European PAL) signal required by your TV.   Some converter boxes do a better job of this than others.

The TV must then decode the signal so it can be displayed on the screen.  All these conversions add some element of degradation to the image quality.

If your set has component connections (red, green, blue video plus red and white audio) a converter to component instead of composite video (yellow, red, and white) will give an improvement in video quality.

[Strega2]

Agreed. I have used component video (5 cables total) and the result is very similar to HDMI. The only limitation will probably be the quality of the convertor, so check the reviews carefully. With composite (3 cables total) you’re basically using what was used in the previous century.

[orsonk]

Thanks. 

[orsonk]

Thanks for the info.