HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

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  • Lintyfresh85
    Where have I been?
    • Jul 2002
    • 17492

    #5146
    Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

    Originally posted by WTF
    Alright guys and gals... I'm on an HD mission here. My buddy has a room that's 23x25, and he wants a projector to put in there. He wants a low cost way to watch HD. Are projectors good at displaying HD resolutions? I've seen some running on ebay for $400-500.

    I don't know anything about these things, so I'm not sure what to tell him to look for. Any suggestions?
    Will I was thinking the same thing... as a graduation present my parents offered to buy me a 37" flatscreen HDTV... I'm wondering if it wouldn't just be cheaper for me to buy a HD projector and buy a screen like you would see in a home theater? But I have a couple questions... one where would I go about finding a screen like you would find in a home theater, and two price wise would it be best to stick with the flatscreen or go with the projector and huge movie like screen?
    http://flotn.blogspot.com

    Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

    Originally posted by trobinson97
    Hell, I shot my grandmother, cuz she was old.

    Comment

    • SuperBowlNachos
      All Star
      • Jul 2004
      • 10218

      #5147
      Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

      Try this site out - http://www.projectorcentral.com/

      A good screen will run a lot. Same with a projector, plus it's a lot hard I would think to run all your cables to it. You have to go through the ceiling unless you want them exposed

      Comment

      • kazoo76
        Rookie
        • Jul 2002
        • 21

        #5148
        Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

        I'd be a little weary of buying a projector off EBay. The biggest concern I'd have is with the lamp, they tend to cost around $350-400 to replace, and if it already has a lot of hours on them, it makes the PJ much less of a deal than it appears at first. Comparatively, when I bought my PJ new, I was able to get a 3 year/2 lamp warranty for $99. The second concern is the level of usage/care is not always clear. They might say only 100 hours on the lamp, but that could be a second or third lamp, and the PJ itself might have 1000s of hours already on it. LCDs also need to have their filters cleaned regularly, and significant amount of heat in PJs can cause a degradation of the LCD panels over time.

        Cost wise, I went about as cheap as I could when I bought mine a few months back. The only steadfast requirements I had were I wanted one that was new and could natively display 720p. Two of the more popular and least expensive HD units are the Optoma HD70 and the Mitsubishi HD1000U, both DLPs, and both around $850-900. If you want an LCD, the Panasonic PT-AX100U and the Sanyo Z5 seem to be popular choices and are both a few hundred more than the DLPs. I went with the Mitsubishi DLP. Picture quality differences DLP and LCD is up for debate, the main advantage of LCDs is they have a lot more flexibility in placement. They have zoom lenses to adjust the size of the picture, and lens shift, which allows you to move the image up/down/left/right. DLPs tend to only have zoom adjustment, unless you get into the higher end units.

        Screen wise, there are a lot of commercial choices. Monoprice recently came out with some electric rolldown screens for as little as $170, though the brandname electric screens tend to cost quite a bit more. There are also rolldown screens that you open/close manually, and the name brand units tend to cost around $200+. Finally, there are the fixed frame units that you just hang on the wall like a framed poster. These tend to be the best as the lack of opening/closing means there is virtually zero chance the screen could develop creases. The cheapest name brand fixed frame I saw was about $275. Myself, I ended up building my own fixed frame using aluminum for the frame, blackout cloth for the screen material, and velvet for the black bordering, and it cost me about $150. If you do buy a PJ, I would suggest not buying the screen immediately. If you have a near white wall, set up your PJ and try out various sizes/locations for the picture, then buy the screen to match your final setup.

        I made a little inverted shelf on top of my bookcase where I mount my PJ, but most people prefer a ceiling mount -- these can be had for as little as $20-60. And like the other poster mentioned, you'll need long cable runs to your PJ, and monoprice is the probably the best place to get good prices on cables.

        Versus your typical flatscreen LCD, I much prefer my projector over a 32" Aquos that also cost around $900. That doesn't mean the flatscreen sucks by any means, it's very useful as I can turn it on and off all day without a care. You wouldn't want to flip a PJ on/off a lot or use it for all day viewing as both will put a tax on the life of the lamp. Plus, you need a darkened room for the projector.

        Another good site to checkout is http://www.projectorreviews.com/
        It's got lots of in depth of reviews of some popular models and tons of high quality pictures of projector images.

        Comment

        • Lintyfresh85
          Where have I been?
          • Jul 2002
          • 17492

          #5149
          Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

          Originally posted by kazoo76
          I'd be a little weary of buying a projector off EBay. The biggest concern I'd have is with the lamp, they tend to cost around $350-400 to replace, and if it already has a lot of hours on them, it makes the PJ much less of a deal than it appears at first. Comparatively, when I bought my PJ new, I was able to get a 3 year/2 lamp warranty for $99. The second concern is the level of usage/care is not always clear. They might say only 100 hours on the lamp, but that could be a second or third lamp, and the PJ itself might have 1000s of hours already on it. LCDs also need to have their filters cleaned regularly, and significant amount of heat in PJs can cause a degradation of the LCD panels over time.

          Cost wise, I went about as cheap as I could when I bought mine a few months back. The only steadfast requirements I had were I wanted one that was new and could natively display 720p. Two of the more popular and least expensive HD units are the Optoma HD70 and the Mitsubishi HD1000U, both DLPs, and both around $850-900. If you want an LCD, the Panasonic PT-AX100U and the Sanyo Z5 seem to be popular choices and are both a few hundred more than the DLPs. I went with the Mitsubishi DLP. Picture quality differences DLP and LCD is up for debate, the main advantage of LCDs is they have a lot more flexibility in placement. They have zoom lenses to adjust the size of the picture, and lens shift, which allows you to move the image up/down/left/right. DLPs tend to only have zoom adjustment, unless you get into the higher end units.

          Screen wise, there are a lot of commercial choices. Monoprice recently came out with some electric rolldown screens for as little as $170, though the brandname electric screens tend to cost quite a bit more. There are also rolldown screens that you open/close manually, and the name brand units tend to cost around $200+. Finally, there are the fixed frame units that you just hang on the wall like a framed poster. These tend to be the best as the lack of opening/closing means there is virtually zero chance the screen could develop creases. The cheapest name brand fixed frame I saw was about $275. Myself, I ended up building my own fixed frame using aluminum for the frame, blackout cloth for the screen material, and velvet for the black bordering, and it cost me about $150. If you do buy a PJ, I would suggest not buying the screen immediately. If you have a near white wall, set up your PJ and try out various sizes/locations for the picture, then buy the screen to match your final setup.

          I made a little inverted shelf on top of my bookcase where I mount my PJ, but most people prefer a ceiling mount -- these can be had for as little as $20-60. And like the other poster mentioned, you'll need long cable runs to your PJ, and monoprice is the probably the best place to get good prices on cables.

          Versus your typical flatscreen LCD, I much prefer my projector over a 32" Aquos that also cost around $900. That doesn't mean the flatscreen sucks by any means, it's very useful as I can turn it on and off all day without a care. You wouldn't want to flip a PJ on/off a lot or use it for all day viewing as both will put a tax on the life of the lamp. Plus, you need a darkened room for the projector.

          Another good site to checkout is http://www.projectorreviews.com/
          It's got lots of in depth of reviews of some popular models and tons of high quality pictures of projector images.
          Seriously, thanks a lot! Your post is a huge help!
          http://flotn.blogspot.com

          Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

          Originally posted by trobinson97
          Hell, I shot my grandmother, cuz she was old.

          Comment

          • AI03
            Rookie
            • May 2003
            • 262

            #5150
            Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

            Hey guys, I recently purchased an Onkyo 5.1 HTIB SR-600 for my Dad. We have it hooked up to our cable box and HDTV via the red and white cables for audio out.

            My question is: Are there better cables out there I could get? I'm not really sure which ones are the best to get...would an optical/audio out work a lot better for surround system? Any help is greatly appreciated, b/c I don't want my pop to buy $100 worth of useless cable or get ripped off. Thanks!

            Comment

            • Holic
              All Star
              • Feb 2003
              • 6424

              #5151
              Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

              Originally posted by AI03
              Hey guys, I recently purchased an Onkyo 5.1 HTIB SR-600 for my Dad. We have it hooked up to our cable box and HDTV via the red and white cables for audio out.

              My question is: Are there better cables out there I could get? I'm not really sure which ones are the best to get...would an optical/audio out work a lot better for surround system? Any help is greatly appreciated, b/c I don't want my pop to buy $100 worth of useless cable or get ripped off. Thanks!
              To get true surround sound, then you're going to need to get some optical cables. Try http://www.ehdmi.com for some good cheap cables.

              Comment

              • Slymm
                Th* m*n...
                • Nov 2002
                • 3406

                #5152
                Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                Anyone know anything about this tv?

                http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Eleme...Detail.do#tabs
                Last edited by Slymm; 06-17-2007, 01:15 PM.
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                Comment

                • stewaat

                  #5153
                  Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                  Alright fellas, I'm moving into my new apartment mid-July and have a few questions about getting a TV.

                  I'm looking for an LCD HDTV that is 37"-42", preferably 40". I am not huge into movies, therefore it will be mainly for gaming and whatever HD channels I get with my cable plan. I want to get a flat panel TV because my living room isn't that big.

                  Is a Best Buy a place I should buy this? If not, is Wal-Mart just as good but lower-priced? What ballpark price am I looking to spend?

                  I'm using this for watching TV, but I really want to enhance my XBOX 360 play. Will I need any other cables to do this?

                  Should I be asking anymore questions?

                  Thanks for any help.

                  EDIT: I think 720p is going to be sufficient.
                  Last edited by Guest; 06-20-2007, 09:11 AM.

                  Comment

                  • Pete1210
                    MVP
                    • Aug 2006
                    • 3277

                    #5154
                    Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                    Originally posted by stewaat
                    Alright fellas, I'm moving into my new apartment mid-July and have a few questions about getting a TV.

                    I'm looking for an LCD HDTV that is 37"-42", preferably 40". I am not huge into movies, therefore it will be mainly for gaming and whatever HD channels I get with my cable plan. I want to get a flat panel TV because my living room isn't that big.

                    Is a Best Buy a place I should buy this? If not, is Wal-Mart just as good but lower-priced? What ballpark price am I looking to spend?

                    I'm using this for watching TV, but I really want to enhance my XBOX 360 play. Will I need any other cables to do this?

                    Should I be asking anymore questions?

                    Thanks for any help.

                    EDIT: I think 720p is going to be sufficient.
                    I've been helping my Dad shop for an HDTV, looking at 37" LCD's. The best prices were at the warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ's), ranging from $700 to $1,200. Olivia and Vizio are at the low end of pricing, but I've read good things about them on the AVS forums and here.

                    If you have a premium/elite 360 you don't need any extra cables. You just attach the component cables (Red, Blue Green) to the TV and change the switch on the 360 cable to HDTV.
                    If you have a core then you will need to buy the 360 HD cables, either VGA or component.
                    Last edited by Pete1210; 06-20-2007, 11:51 AM.

                    Comment

                    • VTPack919
                      We Go Again
                      • Jun 2003
                      • 9708

                      #5155
                      Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                      What is a good website to get nice prices on lcd monitors. After some research and comments from you guys those seem like the cheapest way to get HD graphics on my 360.
                      YNWA

                      Comment

                      • jpup
                        MVP
                        • Feb 2003
                        • 4571

                        #5156
                        Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                        Originally posted by stewaat
                        Alright fellas, I'm moving into my new apartment mid-July and have a few questions about getting a TV.

                        I'm looking for an LCD HDTV that is 37"-42", preferably 40". I am not huge into movies, therefore it will be mainly for gaming and whatever HD channels I get with my cable plan. I want to get a flat panel TV because my living room isn't that big.

                        Is a Best Buy a place I should buy this? If not, is Wal-Mart just as good but lower-priced? What ballpark price am I looking to spend?

                        I'm using this for watching TV, but I really want to enhance my XBOX 360 play. Will I need any other cables to do this?

                        Should I be asking anymore questions?

                        Thanks for any help.

                        EDIT: I think 720p is going to be sufficient.
                        Best Buy is fine as long as you don't plan to pay the sticker price. Do your research online and find out what the average consumer is paying for the set and decide what you are willing to pay for it. Go in to Best Buy and tell them what you want and that you will buy it today if you can get it at your price. If they don't budge, walk out and go somewhere else. I saved $600 that way. It's just like buying a car.
                        NFL: Tennessee Titans
                        MLB: Cincinnati Reds

                        Comment

                        • stewaat

                          #5157
                          Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                          Originally posted by jpup
                          Best Buy is fine as long as you don't plan to pay the sticker price. Do your research online and find out what the average consumer is paying for the set and decide what you are willing to pay for it. Go in to Best Buy and tell them what you want and that you will buy it today if you can get it at your price. If they don't budge, walk out and go somewhere else. I saved $600 that way. It's just like buying a car.
                          I like it. Good advice. If Best Buy doesn't want my money than Wal-Mart will get it.

                          Comment

                          • edubbs
                            MVP
                            • Aug 2002
                            • 2099

                            #5158
                            Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                            I have 3 questions for you guys.

                            I just went from a tube flat screen TV with 1080i, to a LCD with 720p capabilities for gaming purposes only (Xbox 360). BTW both TV's were Sony.

                            How much graphics quality will I lose by going to 720p vs. having 1080i on my 360? It seems like when I get rapid movements across the screen i get a quick blur in resolution. I notice this when playing NB2K7. And I do have the VGA cables that I was using on my previous TV.

                            Will I be able to notice the difference in graphics quality going from 1080 to 720p?

                            2nd question is....

                            Do I need to set my dashboard on the 360 to 720p or will the sytem make the translation on it's own? Right now it's still on 1080 because of my old TV settings.

                            3rd question is....

                            Is there anything that I can do to maximize the picture quality at 720p? For instance maybe a different type of cable or something like that.

                            THANKS in advance.

                            Comment

                            • ODogg
                              Hall Of Fame
                              • Feb 2003
                              • 37953

                              #5159
                              Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                              Originally posted by edubbs
                              I have 3 questions for you guys.

                              I just went from a tube flat screen TV with 1080i, to a LCD with 720p capabilities for gaming purposes only (Xbox 360). BTW both TV's were Sony.

                              How much graphics quality will I lose by going to 720p vs. having 1080i on my 360? It seems like when I get rapid movements across the screen i get a quick blur in resolution. I notice this when playing NB2K7. And I do have the VGA cables that I was using on my previous TV.

                              Will I be able to notice the difference in graphics quality going from 1080 to 720p?
                              Not really.....it's not much difference at all IMO..


                              Originally posted by edubbs
                              2nd question is....

                              Do I need to set my dashboard on the 360 to 720p or will the sytem make the translation on it's own? Right now it's still on 1080 because of my old TV settings.
                              You need to change it now before swapping tv's as it won't change automatically.

                              Originally posted by edubbs
                              3rd question is....

                              Is there anything that I can do to maximize the picture quality at 720p? For instance maybe a different type of cable or something like that.

                              THANKS in advance.
                              If you're using the PC vga then that is the best you can use, if not then use the component cable. That's about as good as it will get but like I said the 720p isn't really any different from what I can tell than the 1080i.
                              Streaming PC & PS5 games, join me most nights after 6:00pm ET on TwitchTV https://www.twitch.tv/shaunh20
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                              Comment

                              • edubbs
                                MVP
                                • Aug 2002
                                • 2099

                                #5160
                                Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

                                Thanks Odogg....

                                Comment

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