Home Theater/HDTV/et al...

:hehe:
Is it still on? :fingerscrossed:
I took me 3 hours to setup the damn thing. It seems that streaming xvid to the console doesn't work. I could do it with my old xbox, but it doesn't support HD. :grumble:

I got fed up after a while and connected the PC straight into the TV. It worked great, but the advance TV features are disabled when using a VGA cable. Looks like I'll have to buy a DVI to HDMI cable, an optical audio cable and a wireless keyboard.

The_Lyrics wrote:i'm getting a hdtv for my room for my ps3 gaming in a couple of months.
would 19 inchs do? or some where around the 20-29 inches.
any recommendations?

Depends on how far you are from the TV. IIRC, a widescreen 19" is about the same height as a 15" monitor. (4:3) If you are at arms length, it's ok, but farther than that and you probably won't be able to read the text.
If it's only for gaming, you probably don't need 1080p. Never seen a game that supports it. The GPU aren't powerful enough anyway.

It depends on how much you are willing to spend. I've seen a 26" for $900 and a 32" for $800. Both from LG. So smaller isn't necessarily cheaper. Almost every models are on sale once in a while at Future Shop or Best Buy. I spotted a model and waited. I managed to save $700. :mrgreen:

tabana wrote::hehe:
Is it still on? :fingerscrossed:

Nah, the popcorn's gone stale. :beaten:

I took me 3 hours to setup the damn thing. It seems that streaming xvid to the console doesn't work. I could do it with my old xbox, but it doesn't support HD. :grumble:

I got fed up after a while and connected the PC straight into the TV. It worked great, but the advance TV features are disabled when using a VGA cable. Looks like I'll have to buy a DVI to HDMI cable, an optical audio cable and a wireless keyboard.

I think if you buy the DVI to HDMI cable, you won't need the optical cable since the audio is included on the DVI-HDMI cable... I think. :headscratch:

The_Lyrics wrote:i'm getting a hdtv for my room for my ps3 gaming in a couple of months.
would 19 inchs do? or some where around the 20-29 inches.
any recommendations?

There's a ratio to your room calculation for optimum viewing... i forget, it's like distance from wall/3 or something like that.

bmwracer wrote:
I think if you buy the DVI to HDMI cable, you won't need the optical cable since the audio is included on the DVI-HDMI cable... I think. :headscratch:

Dont you find it odd that a Digital VISUAL Interface cable would carry an audio signal?

No popcorn. gyaboo :shamefulcry:


There's an Excel sheet to calculate the optimal screen size for your room. (minimal/maximal viewing distance...) home theater calculator

bmwracer wrote:
I think if you buy the DVI to HDMI cable, you won't need the optical cable since the audio is included on the DVI-HDMI cable... I think. :headscratch:

HDMI has the audio in, but DVI doesn't or at least not on a PC. It's just video. (The feed comes from my video card)

according to that calculator.. if i get a 32", i should sit 4' away. :hehe:

tabana wrote:HDMI has the audio in, but DVI doesn't or at least not on a PC. It's just video. (The feed comes from my video card)

I was afraid that might've been the case... Pretty silly to have an DVI-HDMI cable yet the audio is left out...

Guess you have to get that optical cable after all. :sweat:

Yep. 2 overprices cables. :bleh:

krim wrote:according to that calculator.. if i get a 32", i should sit 4' away. :hehe:

I got another formula from Samsung or LG a few days ago. It was something like screen size / 5 = ideal viewing distance. ( 32" / 5 = 6' 4")

tabana wrote:Yep. 2 overprices cables. :bleh:

Buy 'em online and don't buy Monster. :bleh:

thanks for that info tabana.
i guess i'm willing to spend 600-800, along with a HDMI cable

From Yahoo! Tech:

HDTVs Growing to Epic Size This Season

If you went shopping this weekend, you might have noticed that deep discounts were comparably lacking on new flat-panel TVs, at least compared to 2006. Instead, they've simply gotten bigger, part of manufacturers' strategies to avoid getting sucked into the huge discounts that siphoned away virtually all profits for the sets during last year's cost-obsessed holiday season.

Jumbo sets are flooding the market this year. Sony has 20 models measuring 40 inches or larger in LCD alone, now making up 68 percent of the company's TV lineup, according to the Wall Street Journal. And Sony, like everyone else, is hoping you'll go big: At $1,273, the average 40-inch TV offers substantially better profit margin than a $763 32-inch set (in part because there is less competition in bigger sets from budget brands like Olevia and Westinghouse). The goal is obviously that you'll get sucked into jumping up a size or two when you see the difference in the stores.

Still, prices are dropping, just not as much: 12 percent on average this year for LCD sets. As well, technology continues to improve, with focus on deeper blacks, faster response times, and even lighter and thinner screens. Interestingly, Sharp says it can now fit a 42-inch screen into its old 40-inch frame because there's less wasted space around the edges.

Okay, this is a little scary.

I'm about a week away from getting two new HD TV sets.

A 42 inch plasma from Panasonic, and a bigger LCD model. 50? I'm not sure. (The plasma for the room that gets no direct sunlight, and the LCD for the room that does.)

I'm getting them partly because HD is coming no matter what I do.

And partly because I redid a couple of the rooms in my house, and left these big spaces for wide screen tvs.

The spaces look a little silly right now with my old 19 and 30 inch sets sitting in them.

Change sucks. And man... this is a lot of money for TV sets.

I'll come back with worries and complaints once the suckers are delivered and installed.

You're probably gonna need two new DVD players as well, with HDMI outputs for your two new HDTV sets. :)

One that looks pretty good (and inexpensive) is the Philips DVP-5982: HDMI output with 1080p upscaling and upconverting, DivX/xVid support, and region hackable... About $70

BMW

Crud. And I really like the Panasonic DVD players I have right now.

Geezer wrote:BMW

Crud. And I really like the Panasonic DVD players I have right now.

Don't get me wrong: you can still use 'em using the component video outputs... But I'm guessing they don't have HDMI outputs, so if you wanna go that route for increased resolution and quality (maybe)... :)

bmwracer wrote:You're probably gonna need two new DVD players as well, with HDMI outputs for your two new HDTV sets. :)

One that looks pretty good (and inexpensive) is the Philips DVP-5982: HDMI output with 1080p upscaling and upconverting, DivX/xVid support, and region hackable... About $70

I have a Samsung that does upgrades with my HDTV and HDNI cable and the pic is amazing!
The weird thing is that it wont play the actual HD DVDs. :headscratch:

Im going to buy this one youre suggesting next. Does it play soft subs like the other DIVX Philips?

@Geezer-why the plasma? I'm curious as they get so hot and I was told they didnt last long.

Eve,

The plasma for the library/media room because I went to Circuit City last week and saw the panasonic plasma next to a bunch of big screen flat panel LCDs... and it just looked better.

The opening I left in the bookcase wall is big enough that heat shouldn't be a problem unless the thing actually bursts into flame.

As for how long it lasts... the salesman was saying 8 to 10 years. That seems like a long time to me.

Eve wrote:I have a Samsung that does upgrades with my HDTV and HDNI cable and the pic is amazing!
The weird thing is that it wont play the actual HD DVDs. :headscratch:

That's 'cause you have a DVD player, not an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray player. :)

Im going to buy this one youre suggesting next. Does it play soft subs like the other DIVX Philips?

From what I've read, it should... and it's black, not silver like previous models. :thumbsup:

Geezer wrote:The plasma for the library/media room because I went to Circuit City last week and saw the panasonic plasma next to a bunch of big screen flat panel LCDs... and it just looked better.

Plasmas do seem to have deeper colors and blacker blacks... But they do generate more heat than LCDs and picture seems to get washed out more in a brighter room...

Over the year, I upgraded my A/V receiver to one that supports HD. My xbox 360 also conked out after 7 months of use, but I bought it before the last round of price drops. Since a bought the super duper Best Buy store warranty, I was able to pay the difference and get the Elite version.

This weekend, Best Buy has another one of their coupon sales for Reward Zone members. So, I made the jump and bought myself a new TV with the help of a 12% off coupon. I bought the LG 42LC7D 42-inch LCD. It's a 720p set, but honestly, I couldn't tell the difference so I couldn't justify paying a few hundred extra dollars to get a 1080p set. I looked at several sets and I liked the picture on this one. It also has a pretty good contrast ratio (8000:1) and a 5ms response time. In the same price range, just about everything has an 8ms response time. Since I had to lay it flat to get it home, the hot chick that sold it to me told me to let it stand upright for a few hours before using it, so I'm just going to let it sit overnight since it's getting late anyways. It will be my project in the morning. I have to rearrange a few of my components and change whatever I can to HDMI or component video. I already have my DVD player and xbox hooked up with optical audio cables.

Last month, I signed up for some program where the value of my Reward Zone points that I earn until Christmas goes to Toys for Teens. I did it for the children!!!!

Super No. 1 wrote:I bought the LG 42LC7D 42-inch LCD. It's a 720p set, but honestly, I couldn't tell the difference so I couldn't justify paying a few hundred extra dollars to get a 1080p set. I looked at several sets and I liked the picture on this one. It also has a pretty good contrast ratio (8000:1) and a 5ms response time. In the same price range, just about everything has an 8ms response time.

My coworker is looking at a 42" LG as well... Maybe the same model. :)

Since I had to lay it flat to get it home, the hot chick that sold it to me told me to let it stand upright for a few hours before using it, so I'm just going to let it sit overnight since it's getting late anyways. It will be my project in the morning. I have to rearrange a few of my components and change whatever I can to HDMI or component video. I already have my DVD player and xbox hooked up with optical audio cables.

Hmm, I don't understand the upright thing... Maybe she was making some kinda innuendo... :naughty: :hehe:

If you haven't bought the HDMI cables, don't buy the overpriced ones from Best Buy: I've read numerous reviews that those things are a rip, like the high-priced interconnect cables and speaker wire. :sweat:

Enjoy your new TV! :victory: