Pioneer Home Theatre Receiver Question?

[PADGCOLOGGING]

I recently bought a Pioneer VSX 920K AV Receiver but I don't understand all the Video Parameter settings. It has three options you can change:

1.Video Converter
2.Resolution
3.Aspect

#1 is easy, it's just yes and no

As for #2 Resolution, I just have it set to Auto which is supposed to upconvert the signal from any input...according to the capacity of the TV which is 1080p. But when using the Wii and watching my Non-HD Dish Network Channels...it doesn't look like 1080p.

And finally option #3 Aspect. This is where I am getting most of the confusion. It has two settings here: Through and Normal.
On "Through" the input video signal is output unchanged.
On "Normal" it says black bands will appear around the video.
So I have all inputs set to "Through" bc I don't want the black bands that I get from using "Normal"

I tried using the "Normal" setting and changing the format of the picture on my Dish remote and Samsung remote but abandoned that idea bc I couldn't completely get rid of the black bands.

My only gripe is that I couldn't tell that anything was being upconverted at first. Everything looked kinda grainy compared to before. I have HD Dish Channels and they still look great but I'd turn it to a SD channel and the picture seemed almost slightly grainy and worse ...same when I used my Wii.
Everything is hooked up with HDMI by the way except the Wii which is component red white yellow cables (which my receiver is still supposed to upconvert).

So after a while I've decided I'm probably using the settings right on Video Parameter bc the ratio of the picture on my 46" TV seems to matter most when using upconversion. When I use my Samsung HDTV remote and change the ratio to 4:3 the picture does look upconverted on non-HD channels and on my Wii....but if I try to stretch the picture out to fit the TV you guessed it...it looks like it never was upconverted in the first place.

Any solutions...or at least someone who might be able to confirm that its the TV and not the receiver settings I'm using?
To the 1st answer: I agree about sending the signal directly to the TV to get the purest picture quality...but if I just set upconversion to Off it should be the best solution

As far as running everything to the TV and then out with an optical to the receiver...that would defeat the point of having an AV receiver because my Samsung TV says that if only outputs 2 channel sound from an HDMI input.

Until more HDTV's include a HDMI 1.4 plug in vs. the current HDMI 1.3 pretty much all HDTV's have today...the audio channel from HDMI 1.4 cables won't be able to return the purest sound quality back to the receiver. If you want the best sound you absolutely have to go through the receiver...at least thats my understanding
HDMI 1.4 supports Audio Return Channel. Most Tv's today except 3D ready do not have 1.4 plug in's

 

[bbt91945]

Personally I connect all video source directly to the tv, which will give you the best picture quality from your source. I do not want any receiver playing with the video portion. Keep in mind that bargain price receivers do a poor job in up converting the signal. Most DVD and blu ray disc player also up convert the signal and your tv will only display the highest resolution to it's maximum capability. Higher end receiver do a very good job, like Pioneer Elite and Denon which are more expensive receivers. I own a pre amp made by Krell which is a high end and priced at $4,000 new and I still send the video signal directly to the projector (Panasonic 3000). Hope this will help you out.