HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

[RockyTop1]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

there's snow in fifa? I guess i always play world cup mode so the cpu adjusts the game settings. i'll have to try a game tonight in exhibition if that is the case just to see the snow. glad to hear it looks great for ya!

LOL, let me clarify. I haven't seen snow in FIFA, I meant the snow from having no cable, with the tv being on channel 3 and just looking at the fuzz.

Thanks Johnny for all the info, I'll have to try some of that out this weekend. I read somewhere that its important to write down the factory settings so we can reset if something goes wrong, would you suggest that?

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

LOL, let me clarify. I haven't seen snow in FIFA, I meant the snow from having no cable, with the tv being on channel 3 and just looking at the fuzz.

haha ok, well you still got me wondering now if i can do snow in FIFA! After all, all those World Cup commercials have snow in em....LOL!!

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

LOL, let me clarify. I haven't seen snow in FIFA, I meant the snow from having no cable, with the tv being on channel 3 and just looking at the fuzz.

Thanks Johnny for all the info, I'll have to try some of that out this weekend. I read somewhere that its important to write down the factory settings so we can reset if something goes wrong, would you suggest that?

The only thing you need to jot down are the default "Advanced Settings". There is a reset button on your remote for the basice settings (Brightness, Picture, etc.) Even then, you can always go to an unused input and see the default Advanced settings as well, since each input has it's own memory.

The only settings you really need to write down are the service menu one's, which you need a remote code to access. ISF calibrators go into the SM to do their adjustments. The only thing I've done in there is shift the picture to eliminate overscan (only horizontal and vertical shifts). I'm now down to 1-2% instead of 3-5%.

[RockyTop1]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

For the little I know about advanced TV tech, I know even less about home theater systems, that being said, is this a good system for $199 at Best Buy?

Philips 1000W 5.1 -Ch. Home Theater System

The quality of the DVD player doesn't matter to me as I will be picking up an upconvert DVD player very soon (recommendations on those? Sony seems to be popular with the CC crowd)

[Seether4113]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

For the little I know about advanced TV tech, I know even less about home theater systems, that being said, is this a good system for $199 at Best Buy?

Philips 1000W 5.1 -Ch. Home Theater System

The quality of the DVD player doesn't matter to me as I will be picking up an upconvert DVD player very soon (recommendations on those? Sony seems to be popular with the CC crowd)

I wouldnt recommend getting one with the DVD player built in, as they dont usually sound quite as good and dont have many inputs on them.

Ill see what I can find for you around $200.

EDIT: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

that is about the best thing I saw in that price range, but it comes to $255, after a $30 mail-in rebate. Onkyo is very solid in the Home Theater business.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

I wouldnt recommend getting one with the DVD player built in, as they dont usually sound quite as good and dont have many inputs on them.

Ill see what I can find for you around $200.

EDIT: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

that is about the best thing I saw in that price range, but it comes to $255, after a $30 mail-in rebate. Onkyo is very solid in the Home Theater business.

I can vouch for Onkyo being very good. My friend has their home theater system hooked up to his HDTV and it packs a lot of power for $225-260.

[RockyTop1]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0466823

Harmony 880 Remote on sale for $100 after rebate at dell.com, in case anybody is interested. FYI its $240 at Best Buy for comparison.

[Havok410]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Well I finally gave in and purchased the 50" SXRD after comparing it with the new Samsung in-store (both had amazing picture quality but after playing around with some settings I prefered the SXRD's PQ). Can't wait to play my xbox360, watch movies, and watch sports on it.

I have a few questions....

1. Does the TV come with any component cables?

2. Where can I purchase HDMI cables for cheap? Are they worth buying? I will be using a comcast digital cable set top box BTW.

3. Are there any big differences between the xbox 360 dvd and a upconverting sony DVD player? Can I use the AVIA/DVE discs on the 360 DVD player?

[ODogg]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Well I finally gave in and purchased the 50" SXRD after comparing it with the new Samsung in-store (both had amazing picture quality but after playing around with some settings I prefered the SXRD's PQ). Can't wait to play my xbox360, watch movies, and watch sports on it.

I have a few questions....

1. Does the TV come with any component cables?

2. Where can I purchase HDMI cables for cheap? Are they worth buying? I will be using a comcast digital cable set top box BTW.

3. Are there any big differences between the xbox 360 dvd and a upconverting sony DVD player? Can I use the AVIA/DVE discs on the 360 DVD player?

1. Doubt it but I didn't get the Sony so not sure.
2. I got my cable which is 6' from www.cablesforless.com for like $15 and it works really well. Yes it's definitely worth buying. Check to make sure your box is HDMI though and not DVI as some of the older Comcast boxes have DVI on back instead of HDMI. You can always exchange boxes to get the HDMI for free though.
3. I think the upconverting DVD looks better. I'd say it's noticeable but not insane huge. It's worth it I think if you watch alot of DVDs to get the upconverting DVD though.

[Cpre5]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

I was looking at getting 37" Sharp LCD

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11122725&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

Anyone have positive or negative experience with Sharp LCD?

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Well I finally gave in and purchased the 50" SXRD after comparing it with the new Samsung in-store (both had amazing picture quality but after playing around with some settings I prefered the SXRD's PQ). Can't wait to play my xbox360, watch movies, and watch sports on it.

I have a few questions....

1. Does the TV come with any component cables?

2. Where can I purchase HDMI cables for cheap? Are they worth buying? I will be using a comcast digital cable set top box BTW.

3. Are there any big differences between the xbox 360 dvd and a upconverting sony DVD player? Can I use the AVIA/DVE discs on the 360 DVD player?

Congrats on purchasing the SXRD. I posted some tips a page back for abates, so follow them when you get it. For your answers:

1. It does not come with component cables, but your cable installer will give you component at minimum (and make sure you get the HD Comcast box, not just the digital).

2. Amazon is good, but direct sites like monoprice.com and Blue Jeans Cable offer affordable HDMI cables plus others.

3. You will notice a big difference on upconverting. The 360 only outputs 480p. The 1080i upconverted Sony DVD player I use looks great. Just know that crap movies will still be crap upconverted, but good masters like LOTR and Star Wars will be the real "near-HD" quality advertised.

You can use DVE on 360, but you'll only calibrate for 480p...not HD (good if you have a PS2 or Gamecube hooked up since the settings found from DVE on 360 will be IDEAL for those systems). To calibrate 360 I use the test pattern on FIFA:WC, which is also on the NBA Live 06 demo. It allows you to calibrate color (w/ the filters from AVIA/DVE), brightness (black level), and grayscale. Contrast (white level) is still hit or miss there but I've found settings that work.

For HD cable, if you HDNet, they air test patterns every Tuesday morning.

Make sense?

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

I was looking at getting 37" Sharp LCD

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11122725&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

Anyone have positive or negative experience with Sharp LCD?

Those Sharp LCD's are some of the best flat panel LCD's available. I know that the Costco version might be missing a single input or something off of the chain store models, but the guts, which are most important, are highly recommended. It's a good buy, and a few months back I think a few people on here picked up an Aquos with no complaints at all.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

You will notice a big difference on upconverting. The 360 only outputs 480p. The 1080i upconverted Sony DVD player I use looks great. Just know that crap movies will still be crap upconverted, but good masters like LOTR and Star Wars will be the real "near-HD" quality advertised.

If you're noticing a big difference on up-converting, you must have had a bad DVD player. It's not that big of a leap, and not worth the money. Considering a progressive scan player can be had for under a $100, and you'll be over $100 for a upconvert player, plus HDMI cables.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

If you're noticing a big difference on up-converting, you must have had a bad DVD player. It's not that big of a leap, and not worth the money. Considering a progressive scan player can be had for under a $100, and you'll be over $100 for a upconvert player, plus HDMI cables.

I was coming from a cheap 480p DVD player, but even when comparing to the 360, which passes most of the DVD benchmark tests and is considered above average by CNET and others, the upconverting looks much better.

Maybe it's just the digital-digital signal. I don't know.

[Havok410]

Re: HDTV Questions and Answers Thread

Congrats on purchasing the SXRD. I posted some tips a page back for abates, so follow them when you get it. For your answers:

1. It does not come with component cables, but your cable installer will give you component at minimum (and make sure you get the HD Comcast box, not just the digital).

2. Amazon is good, but direct sites like monoprice.com and Blue Jeans Cable offer affordable HDMI cables plus others.

3. You will notice a big difference on upconverting. The 360 only outputs 480p. The 1080i upconverted Sony DVD player I use looks great. Just know that crap movies will still be crap upconverted, but good masters like LOTR and Star Wars will be the real "near-HD" quality advertised.

You can use DVE on 360, but you'll only calibrate for 480p...not HD (good if you have a PS2 or Gamecube hooked up since the settings found from DVE on 360 will be IDEAL for those systems). To calibrate 360 I use the test pattern on FIFA:WC, which is also on the NBA Live 06 demo. It allows you to calibrate color (w/ the filters from AVIA/DVE), brightness (black level), and grayscale. Contrast (white level) is still hit or miss there but I've found settings that work.

For HD cable, if you HDNet, they air test patterns every Tuesday morning.

Make sense?

Yep, thanks for the help.

I have a few more questions though

1. Is there a big difference between the cheap $15 HDMI cables and the expensive ones for $50+?

2. Does HDNet come with Comcast digital cable?