HDTV Shopping

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A search for HDTV revealed mostly GT4 threads and this one older thread about the televisions themselves.

I'm getting a LARGE amount of money back from the goverment this year and I'd like to add to it and buy a big pretty HDTV for movies, television, and gaming. I'd also like to be able to hook up a computer to it through DVI, but that's pretty low on my list.

Does anyone have suggestions on what to get? I've always liked the Sony 60" XBR rear projection, and it fits my price range, but I've read some bad reviews on it. Also, I'd like something that is a true 1080 screen. What I've found is that most televisions have some other weird resolution and are converting the video to fit. That's stupid - it should present the image exactly as it reads it.

So what's the good stuff? (:
 
Go get Sound & Vision magazine. They've got the best reviews for HDTV sets. Look out for their August-September issue. It's often filled with great HDTV information like local programming and what shows are on and what UHF channel you need to tune into.

Whatever you get, make sure it has at least one HDMI input and that the DVI inputs are HDCP compliant, and the component inputs are wide-band. If you plan to store a lot of HD movies on your computer, make sure it has Firewire inputs so you can transfer stored HD movies quicker. Some HDTV sets have VGA inputs, so look out for those. Also, the latest features for new model HDTV sets are Flash Card, Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory Stick and SD/MMC card slots. Don't forget to make sure it's CableCARD compatible too. That way you don't need to get a new reciever for High-definition digital satellite reception. Just drop in a CableCARD and you're good to go.

If you want a large screen rear-projection HDTV set, you might want to check out this new line from Sony. http://qualia.sony.us/qualia_main.cgi?go=006

If you're not aware of this website yet, you should check it out. These guys are nuts for HDTV and everything that goes with it. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php?
 
You may also want to pick up the March (???) issue of Consumer Reports ... they did a huge comparison between all the different kinds of TVs (LCD, Plasma, CRT, DLP, etc.) using several hundred people to survey them ...
 
Wow! Thanks - sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread. I'll definitely be checking out CR and S&V. And the new Sony link is where I'm headed next (:
 
Well you don't actually need DVI because you can find many cables with one side DVI and the HDMI so that you could hook up the computer to your TV through that. 720p is also very handy as supposedly the next gen consoles are supposed to be native in it.
 
discopotato
Well you don't actually need DVI because you can find many cables with one side DVI and the HDMI so that you could hook up the computer to your TV through that. 720p is also very handy as supposedly the next gen consoles are supposed to be native in it.
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Will that trick work on DVD players with (near)HD upconversion? It doesn't work on my set anyway(I've had mine for 2,3 years. No DVI or HDMI :( ), but just curious.
 
discopotato
Well you don't actually need DVI because you can find many cables with one side DVI and the HDMI so that you could hook up the computer to your TV through that. 720p is also very handy as supposedly the next gen consoles are supposed to be native in it.
Click to expand...
You're correct. DVI is dead. Completely dead. I've noticed that all new HDTV sets have not one DVI input. But, what is odd, they're only coming with one HDMI input. Now that sucks. There are no HDMI channel switchers that I know of, except for high priced audio recievers.

Oh, and a court ruling recently means we don't need to fear HDCP. It looks like the courts are not allowing any HD contect to be featured with copy protection tags. But, that doesn't sound right. I'll look more into it.
 
a6m5
Will that trick work on DVD players with (near)HD upconversion? It doesn't work on my set anyway(I've had mine for 2,3 years. No DVI or HDMI :( ), but just curious.
Click to expand...
No, it wont. You don't have a digital source. DVI and HDMI is digital. Component is analog. DVD players that ouput in 1080i need a digital connection for the 1080i signal. All analog signals will automaticlly convert to 480p.
 
Solid Lifters
Go get Sound & Vision magazine. They've got the best reviews for HDTV sets. Look out for their August-September issue. It's often filled with great HDTV information like local programming and what shows are on and what UHF channel you need to tune into.

Whatever you get, make sure it has at least one HDMI input and that the DVI inputs are HDCP compliant, and the component inputs are wide-band. If you plan to store a lot of HD movies on your computer, make sure it has Firewire inputs so you can transfer stored HD movies quicker. Some HDTV sets have VGA inputs, so look out for those. Also, the latest features for new model HDTV sets are Flash Card, Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory Stick and SD/MMC card slots. Don't forget to make sure it's CableCARD compatible too. That way you don't need to get a new reciever for High-definition digital satellite reception. Just drop in a CableCARD and you're good to go.

If you want a large screen rear-projection HDTV set, you might want to check out this new line from Sony. http://qualia.sony.us/qualia_main.cgi?go=006

If you're not aware of this website yet, you should check it out. These guys are nuts for HDTV and everything that goes with it. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php?
Click to expand...
Did you ever make a decision, LM? All great advice here, and I HIGHLY recommend the Qualia 006. GT4 looks great, but HD and DVD are beyond words in full 1080p resolution.

 
You have the Qualia 006 Jordan? Didn't that retail for like $10k or similar?

That photo leaves me warm in all the right places.
 
donbenni
You have the Qualia 006 Jordan?
Click to expand...
No, it's actually my parent's TV. It just got delivered this past Friday and I've sat in front of it nearly all weekend. I feel like such a bum! :crazy: Nevertheless, I did a lot of research to help them choose the best TV, and it was very satisfying to see that I helped them make a good decision. :)

Cardude, yes the Qualia is made by Sony. You can learn more about the Qualia line of products at http://qualia.sony.us.
 
that's really cool. just think how cool ps3 will look in 1080p hehe. I remember a comparison of 2 1080p TVs and one was the qualia, but the other one was only 6k.
 
I still haven't bought a TV. Been kind of busy (:

That Qualia is pretty damn impressive. I would call it "the best of the best", but I think I could settle for the 70" XBR for half the price. Might get two just because (: Unfortunately I think either of these 70" televisions would be too much for my living room. The 60" seems to make more sense. But with plans to be moving semi-frequently I'd either be giving it to family or selling it off before I could fully enjoy it. So I have to step down yet again to something in the 40 to 50 range - something that's relatively mobile.

It's still apparent to me that a CRT glass television produces the best picture available. I don't care what new technology you have, CRT is better. Unfortunately it maxes at 34" in 16:9 configuration, and that comes to 200 pounds. Not exactly the most mobile piece of hardware.

Flat pannel LCDs, plasmas, or DLPs would be great ... if they weren't twice the price of a rear projection.

So we have rear projection. For some reason I'm drawn to Sony's rear projection LCD televisions. The Grand Wega XBR duo are really nice, but even the 60" may be too large for my room. And anything smaller just isn't as attractive (guess that's how it works ...). I think I'd most like to have a 45" version of the rear projection XBR line. But when was the last time anyone produced something that really matched what I wanted?

There is a 55" '3 LCD' Sony, KDF-E55A20. Pretty neat. I'm going to do more research on it.
 

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