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Home audio & video: New to the HD World, Hello Everyone

by badnewsblair - 4/19/07 9:06 AM

Total posts: 4

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Post 1 of 4

New to the HD World, Hello Everyone

by badnewsblair - 4/19/07 9:06 AM

I just purchased a 32" Samsung LCD for my home living room (coming from an old Sony 28" CRT). I couldn't be happier with my choice so far.

As with most people that jump into the HD world, I'm finding my older components just don't quite fit the bill anymore. My receiver is fairly old and does not support anything about Component connections at them moment. My DVD player does not upscale. And *gasp* I am using composite connections for all of my devices.

But I am slowly learning and some day it will be a system to amaze (or at least entertain).

I want to start with the DVD player. I'm going to stay out of the HDDVD and Blueray battle for quite some time. So a good, pretty cheap upscaling DVD player is what I am looking for. I have researched and will most likely go for OPPO's entry level upscaling DVD player for $150. It is cheap and is winning all sorts of awards recently. Not to mention it comes with the HDMI cable (I know, I know I'm a sucker for free stuff).

I have been thinking about the physical connections that will take place here. HDMI carries video and audio. Am I correct? My TV can do two HDMI connections. So I figure obviously I should connect the DVD player directly to the TV. How would I do the audio then?

Thanks and I look forward to learning a lot from some of you!

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Post 2 of 4

MR BAD MONEY MONEY

by stewart norrie - 4/19/07 9:59 AM In reply to: New to the HD World, Hello Everyone by badnewsblair

Ya thats the problem with hi-def once you see the amazing picture you want it all and why not Ok there are to items you must have to bring that puppy to life the oppo is a great choice because of quality and the h.d.m.i. output but you also must have a hi-def cable or satellite system A MUST I prefer Dish Network BECAUSE its very flexable and tons of channels just order there basic+hi.def.+ VOOM for $15.00 extra per month over basic Discovery h.d. theater alone is worth the extra fee Then you have the option of throwing up an outside antenna or getting your network stations thru dish I installed an outside antenna instead and pull in 18 digital channels 9 are in hi-def anyway do a digital scan and all you over the air channels will go into the main menue for easy access now the dish box has h.d.m.i. output and optical audio output STOP now you must upgrade your amp a quality a/v/ amp with optical audio inputs will run about $250 forget about h.d.m.i. switching amps now the easy part run h.d.m.i. from your sat system and d.v.d. player straight to the h.d.m.i. ports in your t.v. then all you do is switch your t.v. inputs next run a aoptical audio cable from your sat box and d.v.d. player straight to the amp then all you do is switch inputs on your amp and t,v BAM BAMnow you have a system that will go all the way up to 7.1. And last speakers. spend as much as you can afford remember speakers will last a lifetime and are a true investment happy day stewe

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Post 3 of 4

Thanks for the advice. One more

by badnewsblair - 4/19/07 10:12 AM In reply to: MR BAD MONEY MONEY by stewart norrie

Great advice. I think my current receiver has optical audio on it. I will check it out. I wasn't planning on updating that until last really. The HD television will most likely be over cable as I live in a pretty urban area but with a lot of trees and I am not so sure about the dish. Haven't had that much luck with it in the past. Also, I do everything over DVR (specifically TIVO). So I won't be doing much in that realm until I can afford an HD DVR of some sort (whether through the cable/sat. provider or a stand alone TIVO set).

So the DVD player is my preferred step right now. I'll go with the OPPO and go HDMI straight to the TV. I'll check on that optical audio from my receiver and if I have it, I'll go optical out of the DVD player to my receiver. That should give me my first step in this process.

Any advice on color calibrating these things quickly and easily?

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