HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

[mjb2124]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

Here's a link to the DVE that I used and thought was very easy to understand:

http://www.dvdinternational.com/pd_digital_video_essentials_dvd.cfm

My understanding from reading the AVS Forums was that DVE was for people who were a little more anal about their picture quality while AVIA was for users who just wanted a basic roadmap to follow.

[Blzer]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

TIMEOUT!



What are DVE's?

[Blzer]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

That is the correct AV pack. It has the component (red, green, blue) video cables inside the pack that connect to the TV. You do know that none of the cables for the regular Xbox will work on 360, right? Of course if you get the Premium system, it has component video cables in the box.

The second Best Buy link would be worse, since it is S-Video. Here is a primer:

Composite (red, white, yellow) is the worst option (well second worse if you include RF coaxial connections). These cables are default in most system packs.

S-Video (black video w/ red and white audio) is a step up, providing better contrast between light and dark in the video signal.

Component (red/green/blue video w/ red and white audio) is the most common HD option. Component cables seperate the video into it's base color source, providing an excellent picture. You can output all the HD signals with these cables (480p, 720p, 1080i)

HDMI/DVI is a step up from here and carry pure digital video signals (no compression or reinterlacing). These aren't available for most consoles, though PS3 is stated to have HDMI support. Most people use HDMI/DVI for upconverting DVD players or their cable/satellite service. In the future HDMI will be able to carry 1080p signals.

Hopefully that will help some. A suggestion for a good place to get cables would be Radio Shack. They have good cables for reasonable prices. You should be able to pick up a set of component cables for your DVD player there.

JTS, you posted this when you quoted the guy that asked about the Microsoft Xbox AV Pack.

I have three questions:


- Does this come with RGB component cables? (RGB cables on both ends)

- The person after you said something about Radio Shack... would they carry these?

- What kind of picture difference would I get using these on a standard 14" Toshiba flat tube T.V. as opposed to composite cables? Will I see one?

[Cpre5]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

I know very little about TVs, and Im looking for a nice HDTV from my 360.
Hows this Sony 36"


http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-...oductDetail.do

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

JTS, you posted this when you quoted the guy that asked about the Microsoft Xbox AV Pack.

I have three questions:


- Does this come with RGB component cables? (RGB cables on both ends)

- The person after you said something about Radio Shack... would they carry these?

- What kind of picture difference would I get using these on a standard 14" Toshiba flat tube T.V. as opposed to composite cables? Will I see one?

It does have a set of dual sided RGB cables...one end goes into the TV, the other into the box (which then plugs into the Xbox). Radio Shack and probably Wal-Mart or Target would be a good place to find component cables as well (don't go to Best Buy or any other electronics store as they usually only carry Monster). As for a picture difference on a 14" screen, the picture will be improved, since the cables seperate the video signal. If it's affordable I say go for it, any picture improvement is good in my book.

DVE stands for "Digital Video Essentials", which is a DVD that is loaded to bear with test patterns and signals with which a user can calibrate his/her set. Most people that use it find that the knowledge gained is valuable, and that their picture can be improved. Other similar discs are "AVIA Guide to Home Theater" and "Sound and Vision". In a pinch the THX Optimizers on several DVD's will allow the same type of tweaks (the Optimizer on Episode II is considered accurate). The DVD's are great for novices and advanced calibrators alike. In fact, most ISF professional calibrators use some of the patterns when they calibrate your set.

koolbubba, the $300 DVE set is used by ISF calibrators, since it has some of the optical equipment used. That disc that joeboo referenced is the one we all use, and it is user friendly as long as you listen. I think we have all experienced some picture improvement with that disc.

And Cpre5, that will be a good set, but you should know some things. The CRT technology still gives the best picture and black levels, but know that since the set is 4:3 (square) you will have large black bars when viewing any HD programming, broadcast in widescreen 16:9. The set will also be damn heavy. I would suggest looking for a widescreen set first and foremost. Since HD programming and a large share of DVD's will fill your screen, and the 2.35:1 DVD movies will only have small bars on the top and bottom (plus Xbox 360 and PS3 will output widescreen HD signals as their native resolutions). Hope this helps...and feel free to ask any other questions.

[CM1847]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

It does have a set of dual sided RGB cables...one end goes into the TV, the other into the box (which then plugs into the Xbox). Radio Shack and probably Wal-Mart or Target would be a good place to find component cables as well (don't go to Best Buy or any other electronics store as they usually only carry Monster). As for a picture difference on a 14" screen, the picture will be improved, since the cables seperate the video signal. If it's affordable I say go for it, any picture improvement is good in my book.

One last question about that MS Advanced set. The RGB are all video cables that go into that box(which goes into the xbox) and the TV. The RGB are all video, right? Where are the red/white audio cables in all of that?

[Blzer]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

RGB are all video?

This is news to me... where does it plug into the composite AV set of my Toshiba?



And what does everybody mean by great "black levels"? Black is black. I'm confused with this one.

[mjb2124]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

Blzer - Some black appears to be gray in certain sets.

RGB is all video. Red and white is audio (unless you use digital audio).

TV's with component will have RGB inputs on the back of them.

[Blzer]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

Yeah, but JtS was saying how I could use it on my T.V. or whatever. So, I guess I can't then?

[mjb2124]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

I'm not sure what TV you have, but if it's older then there's little chance you have component inputs. You'd need to use Svideo or composite (depending on if it has an svideo input).

[Blzer]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

No, I know that I don't have component inputs. Mine's a compositve 14" non-HDTV. I just heard that it was possible to still plug them in somehow.






... stupid me I finally realize why the three cable colors are red, green, and blue (and why they're called "component" cables).

[WhiskeyD0G]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

Has anyone heard at what time in 2006 will the price of TV's go down, whether it be HDTV, Plasma, whatever. Does anyone have a confirmation as to when we can expect a price drop in high end televisions. Thank you for the time, I couldn't find this question posted elsewhere. Thanks for any help.

[jpup]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

Has anyone heard at what time in 2006 will the price of TV's go down, whether it be HDTV, Plasma, whatever. Does anyone have a confirmation as to when we can expect a price drop in high end televisions. Thank you for the time, I couldn't find this question posted elsewhere. Thanks for any help.

I don't know for sure, but I am thinking that summer will be the time. The new models will start coming out.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

Sorry for any confusion Blzer. As to when TV's drop, you can usually get some good open box deals after the Super Bowl (since people buy them only to watch the game), and then as jpup said, late spring early summer when dealers have to move last years stock out.

[gtm]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answer Thread

I have the KDF-E50A10 the DVR is showing at 1080i. How do i change it to 720p? Also, my wife brought home Monster hdmi cables to see how they would make the pictures look and all we kept getting was a flick of a picture and it would go black. It was intermitted like this, off and on. Anyone know what the problem was because it was just a hdmi connection from the DVR and TV.