How to Use HDMI to Maximize Picture Quality

HDMI stands for "High Definition Multimedia Interface." It is a unified audio-video interface, allowing your HD television to receive high-definition signals from an HD satellite, HD cable box or HD/Blu-Ray DVD player. When you use the HDMI capacities in your TV, it lets you maximize the quality of the picture.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• HDTV
• HDMI cable
• HD-compatible cable box or satellite box
• HD DVD player or Blu-Ray DVD player

1. Look in the back of your HD television. You should see one or more input jacks labeled "HDMI." This is where the HDMI cable is attached--differing visually from the normal A/V cables in that there is only a single jack instead of three color-coded A/V jacks.

2. Attach one end of an HDMI cable to the HDMI output jack on the back of your cable box, satellite box or HD/Blu-Ray DVD player.

3. Attach the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI input jack on your television.

4. Turn on your TV, and give it a little time to warm up--about 5 to 10 minutes should suffice.

5. Press the "input" button on your remote until it indicates that the TV is receiving signals from the HDMI input jack. A message will usually flash on the TV screen, stating "HDMI 1."

6. Check the signals from your input box. They usually allow you to adjust the level of signal you can send, in figures ranging from 480i to 1080p. The higher the number, the greater the resolution will be.

7. Adjust the aspect ratio, either on your cable/satellite/DVD remote or on your TV remote. In order to maximize the picture quality, you want to make sure the aspect ratio is correct for your TV (usually either 16:9 or 4:3). You'll be able to tell if it isn't correct, because the figures onscreen will appear stretch or elongated.

8. Use the TV remote control to adjust the brightness, contrast, color and tint to match your particular tastes. Most HD TVs have factory settings that will work for your average viewing conditions. Once you're receiving a signal from the HDMI cable, you can tweak the particulars to fit your needs.

Tips & Warnings

• Certain DVDs--notably animated films from Pixar studios, such as "Toy Story," and the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films--have a "THX optimizer" as part of their setup functions. You can use these to help maximize your picture quality by setting the brightness, contrast and color as they instruct until it meets your tastes.