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HD TV purchase soon, which one?
by Hobbes68 - 6/3/06 12:30 PMI've recently started looking into purchasing an HDTV set. I'm confused by all the different specs, etc. Part of the problem is I'm on the cusp of flat panel (LCD vs. plasma) & projection sets. I'm looking in the upper 30" to mid 40" range. I have two scenarios I'm considering. First is to find a set that fits into my existing entertainment center, approx. 36" across. Second is to get rid of the wall unit and purchase one that fits around the new tv. The second is the most likely choice as there seem to be limited choices for tvs less than 36" wide. This is where my choice gets difficult. I saw at a friends house a 52" Toshiba rear projection DLP tv that had an AWESOME picture and wasn't too expensive (about $2K). I think this is too big for my room (~12' wall to wall). It's generaly difficult to compare at the stores because not all stores have HD signals going to the tvs and many sets aren't adjusted properly. Also the salespeople are frightfully ignorant and tend to spew out misinformation quite often.
On to my questions: Can someone explain to me the differences in resolutions, ie.- 720i/p vs. 1080i/p vs. conventional dimensions (768 x 1024, etc.). Some brands use one format and other brands use other formats. How can I compare one format to another? I understand the difference between progressive and interlaced, but is one really better than the other for HDTV? Are there any websites that might be of help to me?
I know I've asked alot here and I thank everyone for their input!
RUN DON'T WALK TO ANY SONY DEALER WITH A...............
by Riverledge - 6/3/06 12:48 PM In reply to: HD TV purchase soon, which one? by Hobbes68SONY KD-34SX955(N) in stock. Just discontiued. ABSOLUTELY the finest set if you can find it!!!
IT's a CRT/tube, might fit your size requirements.
Thanks!
by Hobbes68 - 6/3/06 2:45 PM In reply to: RUN DON'T WALK TO ANY SONY DEALER WITH A............... by RiverledgeThanks for the info! I couldn't find this set online but I did find what I presume is its replacement, the KD-34XBR970. Unfortunately it's too wide to fit where I want to put it. My thinking is if I have to buy new furniture, I'll go for a larger tv, something around the 40'' - 42'' range. I'm going to go to some stores tomorrow to see what's in stock.
WELL, SINCE THE CRT/tube DOESN'T FIT..........
by Riverledge - 6/3/06 5:54 PM In reply to: Thanks! by Hobbes68TAKE a look at SONY's new line of BRAVIA's.
The S-2000's; there is a 46" (probably too big,) see the 40" BRAVIA KDL-40S2000. Hope this helps a little bit. These are LCD's.
OR go for gusto and buy 40" XBR1 BRAVIA.
TO ALL INTERESTED in crt's : DON'T BUY THE SONY 970XBR.
It's a glorified 34HS420; better warranty for crap.
Truth hurts,
river.
Folow the golden rule: but bigger.
by Dan Filice - 6/3/06 2:42 PM In reply to: HD TV purchase soon, which one? by Hobbes68If you are sitting 10 feet from your TV, a 36" TV, for me, would be like looking at a postage stamp. Get a 50". This isn't too big for the distance and you will be imerssed in the TV viewing experience, especially when you get a 5.1 surround audio system hooked up. I was at Costco about an hour ago and I saw a nice Toshiba 50" plasma for just over $2K. It looked great. It also looked a lot smaller than my Toshiba 50" RPTV because it didn't have a large cabinet. The Toshiba Plasma was a 720p set. You need to understand that a TV displays a certain number of horizontal lines of picture, and a 720p (progressive) TV shows all of the available lines at once, whereas a 1080i (interlaced) set relies on twice the number of horizontal lines but only shows every-other line at any given time. So, in essence, the two sets are showing the same number of lines. 720p is better at showing action scenes, while the 1080i may be slightly better at showing static images. BUT, there is more to a good picture than 720p vs. 1080i. Knowing how many different brands of TVs there are now (many made by unknown companies), I personally would stick with the better brands: Sony 50" SXRD, Panasonic or Toshiba Plasma, When I bought a small LCD for the bedroom I was suprised how much better the Sony looked over every other brand. Not only did the colors look good, but there was a LOT less jaggies on edges of text than other brands. There is a huge difference in the quality of the internal scaler, so when the TV needs to scale a picture up or down, this is what separates the men from the boys.
Thanks Keith!
by Hobbes68 - 6/3/06 4:01 PM In reply to: HD TV purchase soon, which one? by Hobbes68So far it seems that if I go with 40" and up I have to choose from rear projection or plasma. 40" and under is mostly LCD with just a few CRTs to choose from. I wouldn't mind a CRT and I have the room for it, as long as it isn't more than 35 1/2" wide, 31" tall, and 20" deep, though I can move the wall unit a few inches further from the wall to get more depth. I don't really care about great speakers since I have a home theater system that I use. The problem is alot of smaller sets have speakers attached to the sides which greatly increase the width.
SEE SONYSTYLE FOR EXACT MEASUREMENTS...............
by Riverledge - 6/3/06 6:38 PM In reply to: Thanks Keith! by Hobbes68Tried that...
by Hobbes68 - 6/3/06 9:33 PM In reply to: SEE SONYSTYLE FOR EXACT MEASUREMENTS............... by RiverledgeSony only lists their latest and greatest models online... No specs available for the discontinued model.
Still don't understand...
by Hobbes68 - 6/4/06 11:20 AM In reply to: HD TV purchase soon, which one? by Hobbes68... what the difference is between 720p and 1080p. I know it refer to lines of resolution measured vertically, but what does this difference mean in the real world? Will the image on a 720p tv look different than on a 1080 tv? Other than actual size of the image due to the larger screen? Will part of the picture be "cut off" on a 720 tv where on a 1080 tv I'd see the whole image?
720P vs 1080P
by ChrisFST - 6/5/06 2:10 PM In reply to: Still don't understand... by Hobbes68720P refers to the "720" portion of the 1280x720 resolution. The first number (1280) are the lines across the horizontal. The next number (720) refers to the vertical lines. 1280x720 is the first level of high definition. The next level is 1920x1080. 1080i refers to 1080 vertical lines interlaced (since someone already explained the diff b/w interlaced and progressive, I won't go into that). Very few TV's can both output and accept 1080p, which is better than 1080i. TV's all have different native resolutions. Plasmas typically have no greater than 1280x768. It will take a 1080i signal and downconvert to its native resolution. TV sets whose native resolution is 1920x1080i normally will show full resolution of the 1080i signal (no counting for overscan). TV's that are 1080p capable will do better since they can play Blu-ray and PS3 in native format. To answer your question, no image is cut off. The TV will convert all signals to its native resolution. Obviously it is advantageous to have a set that can do 1920x1080 natively. If price is no issue, there is a 1080p 50" Pioneer Elite plasma coming at the end of this month.
First HDTV
by georgegoto - 6/5/06 2:36 PM In reply to: HD TV purchase soon, which one? by Hobbes68I'm also shopping for my first hdtv. I was trying to decide between the Sony kdf e 50a10 and the Mits 52627 or 628. Then I found out Sony is coming out with a new 55 (kdf 55 e 2000) later this month. Seeing the Sony side by side with the Mits, I have a hard time telling the differance. Any thoughts on which direction to go?
WAIT FOR THE SONY
by Riverledge - 6/5/06 6:25 PM In reply to: First HDTV by georgegotoriver.
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