digiwonk11 wrote:

I've been a longtime Roku user. I have the Roku 3 with a wired ethernet connection to my router. Before I got the Chromecast I thought everything was fine (because I didn't know better).

After I got Chromecast I compared the picture quality of Netflix between the Chromecast and the Roku. The Chromecast had a high quality HD picture in Netflix--very sharp and clear. The Roku's picture quality in Netflix was softer and not as sharp. I saw this stark difference in animated shows and non-animated shows.

My configuration:

Both Roku and Chromecast are plugged into the same 1080p TV. Both devices use the same router. The only difference is Roku uses wired ethernet (for inherent speed and stability) and the Chromecast uses wireless N 2.4GHz. Roku is configured for 1080p. Chromecast is set to use highest quality picture. Broadband is through Time Warner cable, Turbo speed level.

imcdona wrote:

... Any word if Roku plans to upgrade the chipset in the Roku 3?

TheEndless wrote:

Also, are you sure you're streaming 1080p content? If the titles you're comparing are in 720p, then the Chromecast is most likely streaming at the native 720p resolution, whereas the Roku would be upscaling it to 1080p, which could result in some perceived bluriness.

zm3sichi wrote:

When I look at some YT clips advertised as 1080p, (and for which my TV indicates 1080p), they're still a little blurry when compared to a live 1080p OTA broadcast. "Bit Rate...."

Regards,
ZM3

OJM wrote:

I give up, I could care less about Chromecast or Roku, I just want to watch Netflix. I just wanted to know if there was some setting that I could use to make my Roku picture look like my Chromecast, but it appears this forum is not for the open minded.

Nobody is saying that Chromecast is the superior device, but on my particular setup the Chromecast picture is much better when using Netflix. The Chromecast is extremely limited on content, I only switch to it because Netflix looks so much better on it,but overall I get a lot more use out of the Roku. I was hoping to get my Roku to display the same quality so I could move the Chromecast to another TV.

mikebdoss wrote:

OJM wrote:

I give up, I could care less about Chromecast or Roku, I just want to watch Netflix. I just wanted to know if there was some setting that I could use to make my Roku picture look like my Chromecast, but it appears this forum is not for the open minded.

Nobody is saying that Chromecast is the superior device, but on my particular setup the Chromecast picture is much better when using Netflix. The Chromecast is extremely limited on content, I only switch to it because Netflix looks so much better on it,but overall I get a lot more use out of the Roku. I was hoping to get my Roku to display the same quality so I could move the Chromecast to another TV.

The difference likely has less to do with the Roku and more to do with whatever stream the Roku is receiving. You could have interference between the roku and your router that the Chromecast isn't subject to, or the Roku could be receiving a stream via a slower connection than the Chromecast (outside your home's network). Different devices can use different paths to different content delivery network servers, and that could affect your picture quality. The fix might not be an easy one, but it's not like the Roku has a "crappy Netflix picture" setting that the Chromecast is missing...