danny25

I'm a total TV noob, but I will be buying 1 or 2 new TVs this year so I'm trying to get my head wrapped around everything I should know. I've been browsing AVSforum but that place is information overload for me right now. I have a few random questions to get me started.

First off, should I even bother trying to make sure the TV has dual tuners (which I think means it has HD built in?) or will it not matter since I'll have dish network.

Second, when you order an HD package from a dish or cable provider, do they provide an HDMI cable to connect to your TV, or if not is there some way to change the way the box connects to the TV? I watch more TV than movies so I'd want the best connection there.

Third, how does a surround sound system fit in to all of this? After I get a receiver would the dish box, DVD player, and PS2 all connect to that with just the receiver connecting to the TV? And if the receiver has multiple HDMI inputs, can I connect the PS2 (or whatever future system) with HDMI some how or am I limited to the connection that came with the PS2?

And is there any new technology or anything else I should wait on before buying a TV? What I'm looking at buying will most likely be a 50"-60" DLP for my living room, and a 32"-40" LCD, or plasma for my bedroom. Any recommendations will be helpful, or especially advice so I know what to look for in a TV.

Thanks!

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I'll try to answer them as best as possible in order. You're on the right track though... keep reading AVSForum.com and you'll be in good shape

1) Personally to me this was not a big deal since I use a set-top box (STB), in my case a cable box, anyway. I have the DVR through my cable company and it has dual tuners built in.

2) You're all on your own for cables. My cable company provided me with component cables to hook up the box... but the good stuff had to be purchased on my own. I've been buying my cables from monoprice.com and have had nothing but excellent experiences with them.

3) Not many receivers have HDMI inputs. Most just have components. Additionally, the PS2 does not have an HDMI connection so you'd just use component cables on that anyway. Most TVs have 1-2 HDMI inputs. If the TV only has one then you can buy an HDMI switch which allows you to hook up between 2-4 items through one HDMI port. The way I have mine setup is that the HDMI or DVI cable runs to the TV, and all audio is routed through my receiver. This way I get the best picture possible along with the best sound possible. In fact, the speakers on my TV aren't even on.. they're set to internal mute. All sound for all devices comes through my receiver.

4) TV opinions are like assholes... everyone has one I would recommend waiting until summer/late summer after all of the 2006 models have been released. The latest rage with TVs is 1080p which is the newest and highest resolution. Currently only one TV (HP DLP) accepts 1080p via HDMI, however, that will be changing with the 2006 models. Many people don't care about that b/c 1080p programming is years away, however, personally, I figure I'd rather be ready then need to buy a new TV in 1-4 years... but that's just me... so I'm waiting until late summer before I start getting ready to buy another TV.

Also, Samsung is coming out with a new technology starting on their 56" DLP. They'll be getting rid of the color wheel and going to an LED light engine. This should improve an already impressive picture and further improve DLP technology.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Oh, and for the TV recommendations, best thing to do is go to the store and trust your own eyes. I have a 50" Sammy DLP for our great room and I love it. We also have a 42" Sammy plasma for the bedroom. Love that as well. I'm not a big fan of LCD's over 25" or so, but that's just me. Also keep in mind that the plasma is not made for gaming, so if you're just watching TV on it you'll be fine.

danny25

I have yet to form any opinions, so I appreciate yours, thanks!

I'm kinda leary about going to the store and trusting my eyes just because I've heard that the stores will intentionally make some TVs appear better than the rest so customers will easily justify the additional cost and buy a more expensive set. And what do you do if you find an appealing TV deal online somewhere, but the TV isn't offered at any store? I guess compare it to other TVs of the same brand and hope for the best?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Well, what some people do is bring their own DVD player and cables, hook them up, and see how it looks!! Crazy, but I've done it and seen it done I've also seen people get recommended TV settings from AVSForum and tune the TVs, so they can compare apples to apples (or try to anyway ).

As for finding a TV online... whatever you find online should be available in stores. Best Buy or Circuit City may not have it, but some electronic shop should. Best thing to do in that case would be to go to the manufacturer's website and find local dealers...

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

I knew JB couldn't post without mentioning the Sammy.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

But notice I just talk about my experiences with them. I stop short of recommending them. I'm getting better

danny25

thanks again for the info. Looks like the new Sammy's will be pretty sweet, both DLP and LCD. I think I'll wait for these!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=626669

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Yup, that's what I'm waiting for...

danny25

just curious here... if the satellite signal comes down on coax to the box, how does HDMI or component cables improve upon the video from the box?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Same way as cable. My cable box is plugged into the wall via coax. The STB then does some processing and outputs the signal accordingly (480i, 720p, 1080i). That is the signal that you're sending to your TV, and that is where the HDMI or DVI cables come into play. HDMI cables are digital, component cables are analog. You get a much cleaner picture sending the digital signal via digital cables to the tv...

danny25

ah, that makes sense. I didn't think about the whole stb processing thing.

danny25

One more question to make sure I'm understanding all this 1080i/p stuff. All these new Sammy DLPs are getting hyped because they accept 1080p over HDMI, but there were some 1920x1080 models last year so what's the big deal? Is it just that those older 1080 models would change any signal to 1080i even if it was 1080p? I know there aren't actually any 1080p sources yet, but if there were is that what those older TVs would do? But now the new ones will actually display the 1080p?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Yup, the big deal is that they will accept a 1080p signal via HDMI. "Last years" 1080p models would not... some only accepted it native via the VGA port.

For now, it does not mean much b/c there is no 1080p programming. For now, if you had one of the "older" 1080p TVs and had a cable box connected with the HDMI cable the TV would still display 1080p (by upconverting). This is the same way the new TVs will do it b/c upconverting the signal to 1080p is the only way to get 1080p.

Now, fast-foward 2 years down the road. A component (let's say a cable box to stay with the same example) comes out and outputs in 1080p and there is 1080p programming now available. You have an "older" 1080p TV that is not native 1080p via HDMI. You plug in the new cable box and it looks just about the same. Why? Because the TV is still doing the upconversion b/c the HDMI port is only 1080i or 720p native (and not 1080p).

OK, same cable box, except back in 2006 you bought a TV that accepts 1080p via HDMI. You plug in the box and voila... you're now displaying 1080p resolution via the HDMI port... and the TV does not need to upconvert anything b/c that port is 1080p native and accepted the 1080p programming via the HDMI.

So, for now, there is no difference, the only real difference will be down the road. You're spending the same money anyway for a 1080p TV (just about), why not wait a bit and get one that's ready to go via HDMI? That's my logic anyway....

danny25

sweet. The new ones are actually a bit cheaper than last years models too, I will definitely be getting one with 1080p via HDMI. Thanks again!

danny25

It looks like I should have just PMed you instead of making a thread, oh well.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Hey, as long as you have your info, you're good to go

danny25

I've been noticing that a lot of TVs resolution width is 1280 or greater. But it seems plasmas less than ~50" have resolutions of 1024x768 which is 4:3. Are these TVs not really displaying the whole image? How can they be 16:9?

For example

doopstr

Don't open that can of worms. 1024x768 is arguably considered HD because it meets at least the minimum amount of pixels required to display 720p. The pixels are rectangular so they are able to display the entire image.

I believe 42" plasmas with "real" 16x9 resolutions are under development. I think Fujitsu recently announced one.

doopstr

The Fujitsu 42" P42HHA40US is 1024x1024. Fujitsu is considered the absolute in top of the line by many. http://plasmavision.com/home_theater_monitors.htm

danny25

So does the image get cut off? If it's in a 16:9 format at 720 px tall it should be 1280 wide, so is a 1024x768 set losing 256 px in width?

doopstr

Through the magic of scalers it looks correct and nothing gets cut off. Also keep in mind that the pixels are not square.

BTW, if you go over the avsforum.com and search for 1024x768 in the plasma forum you will find many lengthy arguments that go in circles.

bkknight369

think of your monitor resolution...reduce it from 1024x768 to 800x600...the all the images are still there, and you can play movies in full screen on both, but the higher resolution will (typically) look better

keep the distance you sit from your tv in mind before you buy...i bought a 42 inch plasma, but i sit 6 feet away, so i would see pixelation and false artifacts quite easily. I switched to a 37 inch lcd (with higher resolution) and I dont see any pixelation

danny25

^^ yeah that makes sense, but 1024x768 is 4:3. And these TVs are all supposedly 16:9, that's where I'm getting confused. But I'll search avsforum as the doopstr recommended.

danny25

I've been reading avsforum topics about this and it still doesn't make complete sense. I understand that the plasma pixels are rectangular, so even if their numbers suggest 4:3, they actually measure 16:9. But if the tv receives a 720p signal (i'm assuming it will be 1280 wide?) how does the TV handle the extra width?

doopstr

I can't really explain the science, but everything a 1024x768 plasma receives has to be scaled by the internal scaler. Whatever magic it does works. The picture looks correct.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Can't explain it either... but they do what they do and they do it well

danny25

I guess I just gotta have faith

As usual, when I start shopping for something, my budget slowly rises in small amounts... I won't go through the whole sequence of TVs, but I'm now looking at a Panasonic 37px60u.