HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

[dsg94]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

I searched the thread to see if this has already been asked and could not find anything so bear with me if this has been brought up.

I get ABC, FOX in 720p and CBS in 1080i. Great picture from all with ABC being hands down the best for sports(football is awsome). NBC(1080i) looks ok but is abit grainy at times. ESPN(720p) is almost unwatchable in comparison to all the others for sports. The only ESPN hd programming that looks good to me are the in studio shots on sportscenter.

Im wondering if this is standerd across the board or if its my TV or cable connection. If its a common accurance why are ABC's and ESPN's picture quality so drastically different?

[ehh]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Thoughts on this TV?

I want to get a DLP by the end of this week. Any other suggestions are certainly welcome, I'd like to stay below $1,600.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705708&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050004&id=1138085296465

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Thoughts on this TV?

I want to get a DLP by the end of this week. Any other suggestions are certainly welcome, I'd like to stay below $1,600.


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1138085296465

The 5086 is pretty old, it was being phased out when I bought my 5087 from Vanns about 6 months ago, and now the 5088 model is even out (not sure what further features it adds). The 5087 has picture in picture, cablecard and closed captioning, none of which the 5086 model you posted has (although I read discrepant reports that some said the 5086 had CC so not sure on that), plus the 5087 has a brighter screen, and the difference is noticeable. When I was looking for a TV I went to the Circuit City and they had a 5086 and I thought the SXRD looked better, but then they got the 5087 and I thought the 5087 was clearly a better looking picture, in addition to being brighter (i know that new sets are brighter in general btw but this looked quite a bit better overall as well).

So yeah I'd go with the 5087 over that model, and i'd buy it from Vanns too unless you have some great deal you're getting from Best Buy or at least see if you can get the 5087 at Best Buy. Here's the breakdown:

Best Buy - 5086 model @ $1699 + tax = (guesstimate @ 6% sales tax) $1800

Vanns - 5087 model w/more features, brighter screen @ 1799 + NO tax + Free shipping = $1799 + you get a choice of free Harmony Remote or Panasonic DVDS52 DVD

So for $1 less you get a better, newer model TV and a new DVD or remote to boot.

As I said, I bought through Vanns, it's a great company, I ordered on a Thursday evening and the tv was at my house Tuesday, despite the shipping being free. Setting aside the entire BB vs Vanns and 5086 vs 5087 debate for a second I can tell you that the Tv is simply fantastic. Also, if you register w/Samsung within 30 days on their site they extend their warranty by 4 more months, bringing it to 16 months total (if that deal is still in effect.

[Fluffhead]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Different cameras give you different PQ. That might be some of it. If you will notice, ESPN is the same way. For some reason, sometimes the Sunday Night games are not always on in HD, same for Nascar races. I wondered if that was my local station or what, everything else on NBC comes through in HD all the time(when applicable). The station is broadcasting in HD, but their feed seems to be wrong or something. It's happenned with 2 Sunday Night games this year.

Hmmm, never noticed on ESPN, it always looks the best to me (compared to Fox, NBC, CBS), but maybe it's not as drastic of a change. The HD also flickers all throughout Football Night in America on NBC. Oh well, I can deal, just thought somebody else may have had the same issue.

By the way, how do you enjoy the new toy? I'm pretty sure that's the model I'll be picking up soon.

[ehh]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

The 5086 is pretty old, it was being phased out when I bought my 5087 from Vanns about 6 months ago, and now the 5088 model is even out (not sure what further features it adds). The 5087 has picture in picture, cablecard and closed captioning, none of which the 5086 model you posted has (although I read discrepant reports that some said the 5086 had CC so not sure on that), plus the 5087 has a brighter screen, and the difference is noticeable. When I was looking for a TV I went to the Circuit City and they had a 5086 and I thought the SXRD looked better, but then they got the 5087 and I thought the 5087 was clearly a better looking picture, in addition to being brighter (i know that new sets are brighter in general btw but this looked quite a bit better overall as well).

So yeah I'd go with the 5087 over that model, and i'd buy it from Vanns too unless you have some great deal you're getting from Best Buy or at least see if you can get the 5087 at Best Buy. Here's the breakdown:

Best Buy - 5086 model @ $1699 + tax = (guesstimate @ 6% sales tax) $1800

Vanns - 5087 model w/more features, brighter screen @ 1799 + NO tax + Free shipping = $1799 + you get a choice of free Harmony Remote or Panasonic DVDS52 DVD

So for $1 less you get a better, newer model TV and a new DVD or remote to boot.

As I said, I bought through Vanns, it's a great company, I ordered on a Thursday evening and the tv was at my house Tuesday, despite the shipping being free. Setting aside the entire BB vs Vanns and 5086 vs 5087 debate for a second I can tell you that the Tv is simply fantastic. Also, if you register w/Samsung within 30 days on their site they extend their warranty by 4 more months, bringing it to 16 months total (if that deal is still in effect.

Whoops! I actually linked you to the wrong one. I am interested in the 5087, which is on sale at Circuit City for $1,699. Plus I was approved for the 18 month no-interest credit card which makes this deal very attractive. I'm going to go look at right now at my local CC, if I like what I see I won't hesitate to buy. I assume everyone strongly recommends the $250 warranty or whatever it is?

Samsung 50" DLP™ HDTV (HL-S5087W)
SAM HLS5087W
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top">Price was:
</td><td align="right">$2299.99
</td></tr><tr><td align="left">You save:
</td><td align="right">-$600.00
</td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr> <tr class="sp05051005"> <td class="redtxt" align="left">You pay:</td><td class="redtxt" align="right">$1699.99</td></tr></tbody></table>

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Not so much TV related, but HD. Anybody have issues with NBC HD? We finally got it in our area a few months ago and it looks great, except when football comes on. Normally, right before the start of a play or between plays everything looks really good, then it goes to "blur" vision when a play starts where image quality on the players degrades significantly. I've watched other shows on NBC with no problem, but come football time all hell breaks loose. None of my other HD channels have anything near resembling this.

My issue with NBC is no close caption!

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Whoops! I actually linked you to the wrong one. I am interested in the 5087, which is on sale at Circuit City for $1,699. Plus I was approved for the 18 month no-interest credit card which makes this deal very attractive. I'm going to go look at right now at my local CC, if I like what I see I won't hesitate to buy. I assume everyone strongly recommends the $250 warranty or whatever it is?

Samsung 50" DLP™ HDTV (HL-S5087W)
SAM HLS5087W
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top">Price was:
</td><td align="right">$2299.99
</td></tr><tr><td align="left">You save:
</td><td align="right">-$600.00
</td></tr></tbody></table> </td></tr> <tr class="sp05051005"> <td class="redtxt" align="left">You pay:</td><td class="redtxt" align="right">$1699.99</td></tr></tbody></table>

Then that's a great deal and i'd recommend you get it right away. I didn't get the protection plan just because I didn't have the cash but if you do have the cash then i'd go ahead and get it. If you have any questions about the set just holla at me bro!

[ehh]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Then that's a great deal and i'd recommend you get it right away. I didn't get the protection plan just because I didn't have the cash but if you do have the cash then i'd go ahead and get it. If you have any questions about the set just holla at me bro!

Geez, after 2.5 hours at Circuit City I'm finally home w. my new baby!

I hooked it up w. the stock HD cables from Comcast and the quality isn't as good as it shoulud be. Also if you look at it from an angle it's kinda dark. I think I'm going to buy one of the HD-special cables (all three components in one, I believe?) tomorrow. Those are suppose to help correct? Even though they aren't needed on all HDTV's from what I understand.


I also didn't buy a stand either, 50" TV......$250 for a stand. I'll build my own or something.

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Geez, after 2.5 hours at Circuit City I'm finally home w. my new baby!

I hooked it up w. the stock HD cables from Comcast and the quality isn't as good as it shoulud be. Also if you look at it from an angle it's kinda dark. I think I'm going to buy one of the HD-special cables (all three components in one, I believe?) tomorrow. Those are suppose to help correct? Even though they aren't needed on all HDTV's from what I understand.


I also didn't buy a stand either, 50" TV......$250 for a stand. I'll build my own or something.

You should use HDMI hookup as that's what I'm using and it's perfect picture quality and not dark from any angle. I use component for the 360 (monster cable or one of those monster type cables anyways).

Also, for a stand check out craigslist, I got a $600 stand from a couple that was moving and didn't feel like moving the stand for $125. Plus as a bonus it's already all put together. It's solid black so it matches the TV really well.

[ehh]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

You should use HDMI hookup as that's what I'm using and it's perfect picture quality and not dark from any angle. I use component for the 360 (monster cable or one of those monster type cables anyways).

Also, for a stand check out craigslist, I got a $600 stand from a couple that was moving and didn't feel like moving the stand for $125. Plus as a bonus it's already all put together. It's solid black so it matches the TV really well.

I'll definitely get an HDMI hook up then. One of my buddies was telling me that it's mostly for DVD's and won't improve the TV quality that much.

I'm watching ESPNHD right now w. College Gamenight on and even on the set the announcers and background don't look crystal clear like I've seen on other TV's. Plus during the IU/Bulter game on ESPNHD there was some noticable static/fuzz when they showed game from it's typical angle, but when they showed close ups of players/coaches/cheerleaders it looked much better.

Do you have a DLP set?

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

I'll definitely get an HDMI hook up then. One of my buddies was telling me that it's mostly for DVD's and won't improve the TV quality that much.

I'm watching ESPNHD right now w. College Gamenight on and even on the set the announcers and background don't look crystal clear like I've seen on other TV's. Plus during the IU/Bulter game on ESPNHD there was some noticable static/fuzz when they showed game from it's typical angle, but when they showed close ups of players/coaches/cheerleaders it looked much better.

Do you have a DLP set?

Yeah, I have the exact same set you bought, assuming you did buy the HLS-5087. You will see a difference when you go to HDMI, trust me. One thing I will say though is, as has been said in this thread, some HD channels look better than others. Try checking out the INHD channels on Comcast for the way HD should look. Not all the channels are quite up to par of INHD yet but hopefully they will be in the near future.

[mjb2124]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

ehh - The cable shouldn't make that much difference IMO. I went back and forth between HDMI and component on mine and the difference in picture quality was marginal. The main reason I stuck with HDMI was that I spent a lot on the cable and didn't want it to go to waste.

I checked out the basketball games on ESPNHD earlier tonight and they looked pretty good for me.

Not sure what to tell you about your poor picture quality. You sure it's the HD channel and not ESPN's regular channel? Sounds dumb, but I can't think of anything else (obviously analog stations will look poor, digital better and HD the best).

[ehh]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

ehh - The cable shouldn't make that much difference IMO. I went back and forth between HDMI and component on mine and the difference in picture quality was marginal. The main reason I stuck with HDMI was that I spent a lot on the cable and didn't want it to go to waste.

I checked out the basketball games on ESPNHD earlier tonight and they looked pretty good for me.

Not sure what to tell you about your poor picture quality. You sure it's the HD channel and not ESPN's regular channel? Sounds dumb, but I can't think of anything else (obviously analog stations will look poor, digital better and HD the best).

Yeah I'm sure. ESPNHD is Ch. 203 for me. All HD stations start at 200 and go up.

I mean I was watching the TV at Circuit City tonight and it looked better IMO than it does in my apartment right now. Though both my roommate and my buddy who's SUV I borrowed to bring it home said it looks sharp.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist though, and I know there's no way that my TV is as clear as it should be.

[ehh]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Yeah, I have the exact same set you bought, assuming you did buy the HLS-5087. You will see a difference when you go to HDMI, trust me. One thing I will say though is, as has been said in this thread, some HD channels look better than others. Try checking out the INHD channels on Comcast for the way HD should look. Not all the channels are quite up to par of INHD yet but hopefully they will be in the near future.

Yup, I have the exact same set. I'll def pick up the HDMI then cause the set has to be able to come in clearer. And INHD def does look a little clearer, but still not as good as it should, IMO.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

I get ABC, FOX in 720p and CBS in 1080i. Great picture from all with ABC being hands down the best for sports(football is awsome). NBC(1080i) looks ok but is abit grainy at times. ESPN(720p) is almost unwatchable in comparison to all the others for sports. The only ESPN hd programming that looks good to me are the in studio shots on sportscenter.

I'm in the Detroit television area and my in-laws have a built in tuner to get all the major networks. Still can't believe they are not springing for an HD receiver but I remember watching some college football on CBS HD and I thought that was the best over the other networks. It was incredibly clear but again, this was using the over the air HD antenna.