1.3 HDMI cable and DVD movies = chopppy playback, why?

Question

Hi all. I just recently hooked up my samsung DVD player using a 1.3 HDMI-HDMI cable I bought. It is only 6' long. My tv is a 720p 32" LCD from VIZIO. The tv on component cables has been flawless, thru and thru, but due to a limited number of input connections I had to put one of my players on HDMI.

anyways. I was watching family guy on dvd (first dvd on the hdmi cable) and the picture would frequently chop out and freeze while the DVD timer was still counting up as usual. The only remedy was to turn the dvd player off and on again. Additionally, fast movement in the cartoon made the drawn lines look a bit jagged. Any ideas what is causing this? Should I test it with a few more DVDs to see if it happens again

Answer 1

It sounds like a timing problem. Do you have a 1.1 cable laying around you can try? That may help.

Another thing you can try is make sure the player is set to 720 and not 1080. This could also cause timing problems. Conversely if it is set to 720 try setting it to 1080.

I also have a 720 TV and have no problems with my player set to 1080i but I have not tried it with the player set to 1080p since my player won't do that.

And yes trying a different DVD can never hurt.

Answer 2

Yes test with some other DVDs.  Also contact samsung to see if updated firmware is available for your player.  Earlier players had some compatibility issues that can be cleared up with an update.  In some cases they can send a disk with the updated firmware.

Other than that, try a shorter HDMI cable.  If possible also try the player on another TV with HDMI to make sure it's not something with the TV.

Hope that helps.