Hdtv

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by Pako
The new Sony WEGA's are generations ahead in terms of picture quality compared to the models that they replaced. I have found the colors to be accurate and vibrant as well as accurate to the entire edge of the screen. I would put these Grand WEGA's in a totally different LCD class all of their own. The viewing angles are also impressive. Their's full viewing up to about 20 degrees from the side. The most notable degration of the picture is from looking at it from up above, looking down on it. This really isn't a issue since I don't sit on the TV and look down on the screen. They also removed the glass on the front of the TV's with this new model and went with a satin finish screen. This has reduced the glare significantly.

Compared to the other HDTV I had (Samsuck), Standard 4:3 satallite looks as good as it should. The Samsuck always distorded the quality and geometry of the 4:3 programming.

The blacks arn't as good as some of the new DLP's, but when I demo's this TV, I had it setting next to a Samsung DLP. The DLP DID have better blacks, but the overall picture wasn't as good. The Sony still had a better picture, and it was less expensive. I have noticed that the blacks have more of a haze to them, definately not the quality of a CRT, but in terms of Cost/Value, it's a fair trade, and something worth compromising for. I ended up getting the 60" or the 50". I figure I'm making a sizable investment as it was, so what's another $700. I'm happy I went with the 60"!

As far as sound goes.....I have everything hooked up through a Amp. I do have my computer's sound hooked up to some analog inputs on the TV. (currently looking into a different sound card so I can run 5.1 digital from the computer to my amp). In watching DVD's ect..., the sound is decent, but with a Big TV, I also want BIG sound. I am currently only using the TV's sound because of convenience. It's decent, but nothing like a good digital surround system with dedicated components. One feature I wish it had was the ability to hook my amps Center Speaker output to the TV to use the TV as the center channel. Standing at 5.5' tall with the stand, the center speaker on top of the TV now is almost too high for good imaging. I might also note that it has a total of 7 A/V inputs.

1xDVI (computer compliant) w/ composite audio
2xComponent w/ composite audio
4xcomposite/S-Video w/ composite audio (one jack on the front)

It doesn't have a built in HDTV tuner, so I have to go with a HDTV package from Dish Network. This is not a big deal for me, since my local TV company sucks...

Still haven't got the Computer fully functional to my likeing, but I'm getting close. I will say that Windows Media Player 9 will play specific HDTV DVD's designed for WMP. I downloaded some samples and they look Stunning. As soon as I get my digital audio figured out, I am definately investing in some WMP compliant HDTV DVD's. Just awesome.... Did I mention how good they look?

Oh yeah...the TV's only 100 lbs.... I can move it by myself. Life is good, and my back thanks me.

Pako, have you, or can you store movies, or shows, in HDTV onto the computers hard drive, and play them back in HDTV? That's why I'm interested in Media 9. But is Media 9 HDCP compliant only? I would hate to buy a machine, store non-HDCP HDTV movies on it, and find that Media 9 wont let me view it in HDTV, even though the movie is not encoded with HDCP! I went to their web site, www.wmvhd.com but I can't seem to find an answer.

 

[Danoff]

Solid,

As I mentioned above, I was able to view HD videos through windows media on my LCD screen. I believe I'm running windows media 9 (installed it like a week ago). I only downloaded the videos from the windows media webiste, but since i was able to view them I'd say it's not HDCP only.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by danoff
Solid,

As I mentioned above, I was able to view HD videos through windows media on my LCD screen. I believe I'm running windows media 9 (installed it like a week ago). I only downloaded the videos from the windows media webiste, but since i was able to view them I'd say it's not HDCP only.

Cool. 👍 I wanted to know if Media 9 runs HDCP constantly. If it did, I would be royaly screwed. It would be very frustrating to buy, or plan to buy, a new system with Media 9, and after having it connected to my HDTV, only to discover it will block all my HD video images. Even the stuff recorded from over-the-air broadcasts, which all of my HDTV movies come from currently.

There is a computer hardware device, or software program, that will convert all images, mostly from DVD, into HD. But, I haven't found it yet. I didn't know that such de-interlacers were possible to install in a PC.

If you find out any new info regarding HD on your PC, let me know, or post it here. I would like to learn whatever you learn.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by milefile
Ahhhh! I am so ignorant when it comes to this stuff. Most of what you said is jibberish to me. I need to read up and familiarize myself with the terminology. I do understand interlaced versus progressive, the various screen definitions, the diference between plasma CRT, LCD, etc. I am lost when it comes to the various inputs. I'll be wanting to plug my DV recorder into it, the PS2, and a DVD player. I'll also want to run it all through my Pioneer amp and stereo speakers. I may want to get all of that new, but I might not be able to afford it all, especially if I have to buy a HD tuner.

This link might help. I forgot I had it.

TOSHIBA MULTIMEDIA PROJECTOR
Address:http://multimedia.projector-toshiba.com/americas/faq.html

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by Solid Lifters
Pako, have you, or can you store movies, or shows, in HDTV onto the computers hard drive, and play them back in HDTV? That's why I'm interested in Media 9. But is Media 9 HDCP compliant only? I would hate to buy a machine, store non-HDCP HDTV movies on it, and find that Media 9 wont let me view it in HDTV, even though the movie is not encoded with HDCP! I went to their web site, www.wmvhd.com but I can't seem to find an answer.

Sorry, I've had troubles getting into this thread for some reason.

Anyways, no I haven't tried yet. I'm really not sure what the advantage of upscaling a non-HD source such as DVD to a size that's beyond it's original resolution. Seems like a digital zoom would produce the same effect. It seems that to really see the advantage of a HD-DVD, it would have to have that resolution to begin with. Your HD recorded material is something totally different though. If you would like to upload a sample, I would be more than happy to try and play it in my system, just not sure what codec you would want to use, or what codec is being used when saving your HD broadcasts.

I'll look more into it and report back. I'm also looking into better DVD Playback software as well....


[edit]
Just started reading this thread on the subject of HD recordings in WMP.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227837&highlight=Wm9+encoding.

[/edit]

 

[Pako]

I found this article to be a good primer for building a Home Theatre PC:

http://www.dvdverdict.com/columns/techtalk/htpc.shtml

 

[Danoff]

...so they're replacing my TV. It had a greenish tint to one part of the screen when I would first turn it on. The tint would go away after a few minutes but they're giving me a new one anyway. Dell says it'll get worse.

 

[dish322]

Tell your parents about High-definition hard drive recorders. They have a built in digital tuner that can either record, or view HD programing.

I have a Zenith model HDR-230 with a 80GB hard drive, which gives me 8 hours of HD recording, and 20 hours of standard-definition digital recording. It has a problems, though. But soon a lot more will be hitting the market. I paid $930.00 for mine, but I see it now for around $750.00 these days.

I plan to buy the Dish Network receiver that has a 250GB hard drive, and will let you record in High-definiton regular, as well as satelite, TV programing. You can use it to view HD program shows as well when the recorder is not in use.

That means I'll have three digital tuners to your zero. Yep, life can be unfair.

That is a DISH Player-DVR 921 receiver. More information available at http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/pdf/product_brochures/RETAIL_1293_DISH921_UPDATE.pdf.
Thank you!

 

[discopotato]

What about projectors? know much about them? A friend has one and it is almost too big but it is still good looking.

 

[Danoff]

What about projectors? know much about them? A friend has one and it is almost too big but it is still good looking.

Projectors suck unless you're going to go all out.

To make a projector really rock you've got to have a dedicated room for it with a special screen and everything. Otherwise the image isn't going to be bright and the image won't be crisp.

Plus, you've got the whole lightbulb problem which makes you not want to watch regular TV with them.

Bottom line, projectors are the only way to make a HUGE beautiful picture (which is why movie theaters use them) but you've got to shell out bigtime, including pretty much dedicating a room in your house to make it work out.