HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

[LionsFan20]

Just bought a HDTV!!

Heres a link from sony on the TV I just bought. What do you think?

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KDFE42A10&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_hdtv_projectiontv_42%22to51%22

[WTF]

Re: Just bought a HDTV!!

I think its the same one you posted the other day :y4:

It looks like a nice TV. If you don't like it, send it on to me and I'll discard it.

[bigdubes]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

does anyone using the Xbox HD Pack, have a problem watching DVD's?? When I watch DVD's the screen is kinda like snowy, with wavy lines going through it... But when playing games it's 100% flawless...

Anyone know, this is the first generation HD pack...

[LionsFan20]

Re: Just bought a HDTV!!

Yeah, i figured I'ld repost it since the mods got mad and lock the other one.

[Peji911]

HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

im looking at a 20" Dell LCD tv... plasmas are nice at first but lose their colour quickly, and a friend of my dads, who manages a sony store, said they discontinued plasmas and will stick with LCDs

anyways, does dell make good lcds?

and... are lcd tvs HD?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: LCD tv

Isn't it kind've early to discontinue plasmas?

[Peji911]

Re: LCD tv

Isn't it kind've early to discontinue plasmas?

i dono.... all i know is that i told my dad i was looking at one, we went to the sony store and his friend, the manager, told me they would no longer be carrying plasmas for that reason

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: LCD tv

To answer your question, most LCDs are at least HDTV monitors. Just go online, like Circuit City, and check out their selection and see if they have Dell LCDs. If they don't, try CNET.com or just use google to search for consumer reviews.

[Peji911]

Re: LCD tv

To answer your question, most LCDs are at least HDTV monitors. Just go online, like Circuit City, and check out their selection and see if they have Dell LCDs. If they don't, try CNET.com or just use google to search for consumer reviews.

my buddy got a dell lcd off ebay.ca for 300CDN... thats a great price i think for a 33" tv

[Silverstring]

Re: LCD tv

I could be mistaken, but the big strike against LCD's that I've heard is the technology's inability to produce "true" black. The best it gets is dark shaded grey, which places it behind all other technologies (projection, DLP, plasma, tube) in terms of black reproduction. As a serious film nut and big fan of Film Noir and German Expressionism(as well as many other black and white films of other genres), this is an absolute deal-killer for me. Then again, I watch primarily films on my HDTV(an old tube), your viewing habits might be more geared toward gaming or sports, where black reproduction deficiencies aren't as noticeable.

[bryan_05]

Re: LCD tv

I could be mistaken, but the big strike against LCD's that I've heard is the technology's inability to produce "true" black. The best it gets is dark shaded grey, which places it behind all other technologies (projection, DLP, plasma, tube) in terms of black reproduction. As a serious film nut and big fan of Film Noir and German Expressionism(as well as many other black and white films of other genres), this is an absolute deal-killer for me. Then again, I watch primarily films on my HDTV(an old tube), your viewing habits might be more geared toward gaming or sports, where black reproduction deficiencies aren't as noticeable.

I think the newer technology in LCDs is making the blacks better. I have a Sharp 26" and I have never noticed this grey thing people talk about. I think mine was manufactured in March.

[rawdog805]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

does anyone using the Xbox HD Pack, have a problem watching DVD's?? When I watch DVD's the screen is kinda like snowy, with wavy lines going through it... But when playing games it's 100% flawless...

Anyone know, this is the first generation HD pack...

For some reason mine is doing this same thing.... anyone know whats up with this...

[mjb2124]

Re: LCD tv

I think the newer technology in LCDs is making the blacks better. I have a Sharp 26" and I have never noticed this grey thing people talk about. I think mine was manufactured in March.

That's true from what I've read. However, I also read that the bigger the set, the more noticeable the black problem gets. The article I read stated that LCD's in the 20-30" range show pretty good black levels, but the one's in the 40"+ range tend to display a darker gray image.

I'm not sure how true that is since I haven't seen this in person.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: LCD tv

I would just like some comments or suggestions from owners of the TV/Home Theater that I just purchased (arriving Wednesday). I just picked up the 50" Samsung DLP HL-R5067W and the Sony Dream w/ HDMI DVD Output DAV-FX80.

I know that DLP's have a "rainbow" effect but after many viewings on a variety of store displays, I have never noticed them. In my research it seems that you either do or you don't, and if you don't, you really don't want to search for them or you will see them all the time. That doesn't seem to be an issue for me, and the beautiful picture quality and blacks were what sold me.

I also know that this particular Samsung model's "suggested" stand has a sag issue which I'm currently trying to avoid by finding another stand. I'm looking at the Sony suggested stand for their 50" LCD with the center speaker holder underneath the TV.

As for the home theater system, I really like the all in one DVD/Receiver, and the upconversion of the DVD directly to the TV should be great (the sync issues when running an HDMI video only to the TV from a DVD player with audio carried to the receiver should not be a problem). The system is 1000W w/o a powered subwoofer. It's perfect though as my wife and I are currently in an apartment and will be for some time. Thoughts on this model or similar Sony sound systems?

I'll also have an Xbox and later a PS3 hooked up via a component input, and I have Cableone's HD/DVR box which will be hooked up to the other component input. Any problems there?

About the upconversion and HD cable, should I set it for 1080i or 720p? I know that progressive is better, and on my current 32" Wega I can't really tel a difference between the two options when watching TV (though I "think" that the picture is a bit granier on 1080i...but Fox's baseball coverage which was my test isn't the best anyway).

Lastly, what should I use as my demo movie? I'm going to use my Digital Video Essentials disk to calibrate and really want to show of my investment to my wife, who thinks it's a little bit overkill. I'm thinking of "The Incredibles" as the sound is great and varied, the colors leap off of the screen, and the transfer is purely digital. Any suggestions (Star Wars, LOTR, Matrix, Moulin Rouge or any others)?

Thanks for the help. You guys really know your stuff and hopefully you can give me some pointers. Thanks!

[mjb2124]

Re: LCD tv

I know that DLP's have a "rainbow" effect but after many viewings on a variety of store displays, I have never noticed them. In my research it seems that you either do or you don't, and if you don't, you really don't want to search for them or you will see them all the time. That doesn't seem to be an issue for me, and the beautiful picture quality and blacks were what sold me.

Just from my experience.... I never saw rainbows in the store. I brought the TV home and I could seem them at times. I actually saw quite a few during some shows. Nothing that gave me headaches like I've read some people had, but it was pretty annoying.

However, after 1 month, I rarely saw them anymore. Now it's 6 months later and I almost never see them. I think I trained myself to not see them (as weird as that sounds). It might sound odd, but I think a lot of the rainbow issue is mental.

It's just a very quick (1 second) flash of Red/Green/Blue on the screen. very small and very fast. I've asked about 10 different people who have watched my TV if they could see them and they said no.