Not much sound out of rear channels + TV problems!

[largetrousers]

Hi

I've got some problems with my current setup. Firstly let me explain what ive got:
Arcam AV50
Arcam Alpha 8P power amp (bi-amped front channels)
Kef Q65.2 front channels
Kef Q95c.2 centreKef Q35 on the rears
Sony DVP-NS92V DVD player
Sony KV-36FS70 36" TV (I think thats the correct model)
some other separates and some reasonably expensive cables/interconnects etc.

2 Problems:

I have set this up with the AV50 external decoder button pressed, and from my Sony DVD player I use the 5.1 analogue outputs to feed the AV50 which is bi-amped with the 8P for the front channels only. I have set the distances on the setup of the Sony DVD player (and played with these a little to make out the rear speakers are further when they arent), tried both large and small for rear channels, yet it is still very faint from the rear channels when watching any film or comparing it to mates cinema setups. I am new to home cinema (always liked hifi but was a 2 channel guy up to recently) so am unsure if this may be down to a setting on the DVD player, a setting when playing some DVDs on the front menu etc. As I am relying on the Sony to do the decoding with 'external decoder' button pressed on the AV50, I cannot individually adjust the volumes from the amp itself to boost the rear channels (can do on dvd setup but not gone there yet as would mean making the centre and front 2 less than the standard setting). I know the rear channels should be 'effects' but its rare to hear anything, what should I have the DVD set to and is there anything else I can do to the AV50 (has some modes) whilst in external decoder mode? When watching films sometimes ive played with the DVD settings and toggled between 5.1 and DTS2.0, sometimes I get improvements sometimes I dont. Again there are some 'effects' on the DVD player too which have sometimes made the rear channels become more apparent but unsure how/what these should be set to, the manuals with both the AV50 and the Sony arent really that great when trying to integrate this sort of setup. Any help or suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated!

2nd problem - I have just been given the 36" TV (had the 32 before), and have noted that esp from my satellite feed the picture looks a little like an American broadcast - a bit soft and not defined, very poor on lettering and in the first 5 or so minutes get ghosting on the picture. I have replaced my scart lead to no avail. I have tried a different port on the back of the TV to no avail. The DVD pic appears better, but im not convinced its as good as it should be. I am running this at 100hz and have tried turning off and on all the noise reduction stuff etc. Does it sound like the tube is up the spout? My 32" which went the other way to my friends family member was much sharper and had no problems with it either via the Satellite box or DVD so im not happy! Again any advice on this would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks
LT