HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

[fsquid]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

I know this is late, but the Masters was out of this world.

[mjb2124]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

I was hoping you guys could give me some advice on this.

Would a DVI to HDMI cable from my DVD player to my TV be much better than the current component hookup I'm using now? Considering that cable is $75+, is it really going to be worth it or should I just stick with component?

My TV has 1 DVI and 1 HDMI port. My cable box is connected to the TV's DVI port right now so that's why I'd need a DVI to HDMI cable for my DVD player (DVI from DVD player into TV's HDMI port).

[SportsorDeath]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

I'm assuming you have a DVD player that upconverts to HD, because I have never heard of a non-upconverting player having a DVI output, as there would be no point to it.

If this is the case, you may want to consider forking over the 75 beans for the DVI-HDMI cable. I know that all the Samsung upconverting DVD players only upconvert via the DVI output, so using components with one of those players would be like spending 300 bucks on the latest ATI video card, and then playing only emulated Atari games on it.

There are other upconverting DVD players out there besides Samsung ones, and perhaps the upconverting feature can be used with both DVI and component cables. I'm not sure.

[mjb2124]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

SOD - Yes my DVD player will upconvert to HD. I have a Zenith DVB318.

I just looked at the manual for my DVD player and I don't think it can upconvert through component. I also don't know if that's even possible or not.

Anyhow, thanks for the advice!

[FISH]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

joeboo, you should check this out if you haven't already, it may help.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=400480

[mjb2124]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Thanks FISH! I'm glad to know I wasn't going crazy when the DVI to HDMI cable I had wasn't working with that DVD player.

Lots of good info in there that I'll need to check out later...

[FISH]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

I don't have that player, so reading that thread just confused the hell out of me.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Whats the cheapest and smallest HDTV tv around?

I wont need it for the cable HDTV channels... mainly its for the new xbox 360.

PRice range can be 200-600, no bigger than 25 inch.

Any help is appreicated

[CWood2]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Here's a question I'm sure others are wondering about now that the next gen systems have been announced and described. Since the PS3 will support 1080p, when will we be seeing some HD televisions that support this incredible picture? Maybe more importantly, will the price be too much to bare?

I've been contemplating buying the Sony 34XBR960 forever, really only waiting for some extra money. It's pretty much the best tube set out there, which is what I want, but it doesn't have 1080p. But it would just make sense for Sony to roll out some new televisions with 1080p around the time that PS3 debuts. So it kind of makes me wonder if I should wait since I've made it this far...again, mainly due to low income! Anyone have some info regarding this future trend since it will soon relate to my video game system?

[SportsorDeath]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Whats the cheapest and smallest HDTV tv around?

I wont need it for the cable HDTV channels... mainly its for the new xbox 360.

PRice range can be 200-600, no bigger than 25 inch.

Any help is appreicated

Good luck with that, man. You can buy a piece of crap Advent 27 incher for like 300-350 bones at Wal Mart or Best Buy, but I wouldn't. Might as well just pay pal me the 350 bucks just for the hell of it. Samsung makes a 27 inch model for around $450 that has got to be better.

Other than that, the pickings are pretty slim. Your only other option in that price range is an LCD flat panel, and a good one will run you quite a bit more than what you want to spend. You can check out brands like Polaroid and Norcent (read:el cheapo), but my advice if you are really set on getting a smallish HDTV at that kind of a price would be to check around online and look for deals. A lot of times, you can get great deals on good quality sets when stores are trying to liquidate last year's models. My dad got a decent Sharp Aquos 20 inch HDTV LCD set for like 300 bucks brand new about a year ago this way. Your mileage will obviously vary. If you have to choose between a piece of garbage Polaroid one for like 400 or a nice Sharp or something for maybe 650-700, I would advise going a little over budget for the better tv.

Above all, though, and this is obviously without knowing your financial situation, how much space you do and don't have, etc., I personally would strongly consider just holding onto that 600 bucks and saving more money until you can afford to do HDTV the right way. You say you don't need it for tv, but I bet you that you will within the next couple years. Once you get a taste of good quality HD programming, you won't ever want to look back.

[SportsorDeath]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Here's a question I'm sure others are wondering about now that the next gen systems have been announced and described. Since the PS3 will support 1080p, when will we be seeing some HD televisions that support this incredible picture? Maybe more importantly, will the price be too much to bare?

I've been contemplating buying the Sony 34XBR960 forever, really only waiting for some extra money. It's pretty much the best tube set out there, which is what I want, but it doesn't have 1080p. But it would just make sense for Sony to roll out some new televisions with 1080p around the time that PS3 debuts. So it kind of makes me wonder if I should wait since I've made it this far...again, mainly due to low income! Anyone have some info regarding this future trend since it will soon relate to my video game system?

There are some sets that do 1080p already out there, with more coming rapidly. I know that all of Samsung's higher end DLP models for this year have the capability, and I would imagine by next year or the year after at the latest, pretty much all new HDTV sets will have it.

At this point, the price is extremely prohibitive for most people, and imo, it just isn't worth it at all yet. Look how long it took for stations to begin airing shows in HD. Most of the people in the U.S. are still getting an analog signal, or a standard digital feed from cable or satellite. It is going to take years before the analog signals are finally shut off and everyone is watching an HD signal, let alone a lot of programming be shown in 1080p.

As far as games go, yeah I am sure it will look awesome, but then again, 720p and 1080i look pretty damn awesome already to me, and those 2 resolutions are only now becoming a common thing for games. Consider the fact that both XBox 360 and PS3's graphics will both be amazing, even in standard 480i resolution, and then bump it up to 1080i or 720p, and the games should look unreal....or would that be real?

Personally, I would wait until the cost of 1080p sets comes way down before even considering it. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and have to run out and get an HDTV set, I would still go for one that "only" does 720p or 1080i, especially considering you can get a great quality one for as little as a grand, depending on what technology (RPTV, DLP, LCD) you want. It isn't going to come obsolete any time soon, especially considering how much everyone involved with the analog to digital switch has dragged their feet.

[rheller]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Thanks FISH! I'm glad to know I wasn't going crazy when the DVI to HDMI cable I had wasn't working with that DVD player.

Since the PS3 will have a HDMI output, I'm wondering if people who have a DVI input into their TVs will have the same problem with the HDMI to DVI cables....

[nkhera1]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Whats the difference between 1080i and 1080p.

[SportsorDeath]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

i= interlaced signal
p= progressive signal

On an interlaced signal, each scan line (which make up the full picture you see when they are all "drawn") is drawn one after the other, in quick succession.

In a progressive signal, every line is drawn at once, resulting in a cleaner image.

If you play Madden on ps2 or most any other game, you can notice a lot of "flicker" on portions of the screen. This is also the case with dvd movies viewed on a non-progressive scan player.

It is the same deal with regular broadcast television. All non-HD sets display the image as interlaced. The only reason you don't notice the flicker and what not like you can with games and dvd's is because the image is so littered with noise and artifacts that it is drowned out.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Another HDTV questions info thread

Here's a question I'm sure others are wondering about now that the next gen systems have been announced and described. Since the PS3 will support 1080p, when will we be seeing some HD televisions that support this incredible picture? Maybe more importantly, will the price be too much to bare?

I've been contemplating buying the Sony 34XBR960 forever, really only waiting for some extra money. It's pretty much the best tube set out there, which is what I want, but it doesn't have 1080p. But it would just make sense for Sony to roll out some new televisions with 1080p around the time that PS3 debuts. So it kind of makes me wonder if I should wait since I've made it this far...again, mainly due to low income! Anyone have some info regarding this future trend since it will soon relate to my video game system?

I have the 34XBR960 and it's the best purchase I've ever made. Has such a clear signal and HDTV as well as HD XBox games look unreal on it. It outclasses every other HDTV CRT on the market. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

I wouldn't worry about 1080p. Nothing at all is broadcast in it, and I don't see anything coming in that signal for a long time. Most stations just made the switch from 480i to 1080i or 720p, something tells me it's going to be very costly to jump to 1080p, and most stations won't even bother. As well as, 1080p natively on a set is expensive, I think Mitsubishi has a 65" one that has it native and it's like 15K. No thanks...