HDTV gurus

[Omes]

Yep, calibrating a TV makes a huge difference in the quality of the picture you get.

Also, this 1080i vs. 720p debate. What is the screen's native resolution? For example, my Samsung LCD TV is "720p" (slightly larger in reality, as is the case for most LCD TVs). Since that is it's native resolution, that's the best quality signal you can input into it. 1080i will just be scaled down to a 720p format with the use of the TVs own internal scaler which means more LAG in your games. I input a 1360x768 resolution to my TV from the XBox 360 since that is as close to the native resolution as I can get since I connect it using VGA cables. XBox 360 scaler > TV scaler.

[Toxis]

^depends on tv. I bet a Sony XBR SXRD's scaler is > 360's

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by Toxis

If you can't see the difference then either your TV looks like ass at all times so whats it matter (DLP!) or you haven't calibrated your TV to actually show what it's true potential is. Please do not assume I didn't calibrate my DLP and LCD. I calibrated to my liking. If your seat is far enough from the TV screen, you'll not see very much different in its pixilation.

I really hope you're not saying that HD DVD looks better than BD. Hope you enjoy your BetaMax player because HD DVD will go the way of the Dodo bird. Need proof? Look it up. BD is outselling HD DVD 2-1 in terms of media and HD had more titles out as of a month ago. Blu-ray sold more than HD-DVD but it doesn't mean it is better. Most domestic car brands sold more than Honda, but it doesn't make them better. I'll stick with technology, I'll stick with Blu-ray as a winner. In your views! But honestly, I'm not going to buy into either until there's a clear-cut winner (aka the other camp gives up and shuts down) and more quality movies come out. Yes, you can wait awhile longer for the best of the best. I'll enjoy the available HD-DVD for now. I'll get whatever is suitable for my taste in the future. Another example, I enjoy the current Si Sedan for now. If the next generation Si Sedan pleases me, I'll get it too. I already have a real dvd player therefore there's no need to upgrade. I've A-B'd my player against HD DVD (Toshiba XA-1) playing an HD disc and my Denon looked better on standard def DVD. Quality once, never buy again. I am a proud owner of Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on. I can play games and movies on it. The Xbox 360 with wireless game controller, HD-DVD add-on with wireless remote controller and a free HD-DVD movie is $520. Yes, I think HD-DVD is better than Blu-Ray. I can use it with Xbox 360 and HTPC. I am a huge fan of Bill Gates and MS Windows. From my viewing experiences, the PQ of HD-DVD is slightly better than Blu-Ray. I watch the movies on my cousin Blu-Ray once in a while, and I prefer HD-DVD. Yes again, you can wait for the best of the best!

[Toxis]

can't tell by the dark pictures but is that a Toshiba? I'm sorry. By far the worst of the name brands in terms of picture quality. I've done everything I can to get one of those to look decent and it's just not possible. I honestly wouldn't take a Toshiba product if it was given to me.

[letsgoflyers81]

I have a Hitachi 51" CRT rear projection HDTV and I'm pretty sure the native resolution is 1080i. I have it calibrated and to be honest, I can't tell the difference between 1080i and 720p. Some of Comcast's channels are 1080i, some are 720p, and all in all they look about the same to me. I have a Panasonic upconverting DVD player that will display standard DVD's in 480p, 720p, or 1080i. Now I realize that no matter what the DVD player is not putting out a true HD signal, but 1080i and 720p look the same to me. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I had a TV with newer technology, ie DLP, and could compare a true HD source in 1080i and 720p, I'd probably be able to see the difference. I know how they differ and where each is supposed to have its advantage, but with my equipment, they look the same.

[aki]

Well an upconverting DVD player wouldn't be a good benchmark for 720p/1080i differences, but I really don't think there's much of a difference between 1080i and 720p. Switched between those settings on a LCD HDTV and a CRT HDTV and didn't notice anything. The bigger difference is the type of screen (plasma, DLP, LCD, CRT, projection) and the picture settings (contrast, etc)

[Tim]

I'm sure that I should start my own thread, but I do have an HDTV question: for someone who doesn't watch much television and doesn't play video games, what should I be looking for in purchasing and HDTV? What specs? Which brand? Will I personally REALLY see a difference between a $400 LCD and a $1200 LCD of a different brand?

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by Toxis

can't tell by the dark pictures but is that a Toshiba? I'm sorry. By far the worst of the name brands in terms of picture quality. I've done everything I can to get one of those to look decent and it's just not possible. I honestly wouldn't take a Toshiba product if it was given to me.

Toshiba is the worst for you, but I am careless for what you like or dislike. You can't get it to work right; because you don't know how to calibrate it and you don't have HD-DVD add-on or Blu-Ray player to connect to it. I purchased it for me, and I love the Toshiba DLP.

Keep on dreaming and praying, Toshiba might send a set to you for free..!

[Nepenthe]

Calibration involves a lot more than just the silly Contrast/Brightness/Color/Tint settings. You have to get into the service menu, or you have almost no control over things like convergence, geometry, sub-brightness, color purity, timing, etc.

[aki]

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Calibration involves a lot more than just the silly Contrast/Brightness/Color/Tint settings. You have to get into the service menu, or you have almost no control over things like convergence, geometry, sub-brightness, color purity, timing, etc.

Unless somebody's a home theater nut and obsesses over stuff like overscan and white balance along with an Avia DVD, those settings will fly above most people's heads. People have a hard enough time figuring out the "basics" of DVI, HDMI, Component, VGA cables, different screen types, etc.

[zuck6977]

everyone with a XBOX 360 live accoun post up ur g/t up here??? n list some of the games u play??

[zuck6977]

mine is GNRL SHADY0877 0 Is a ZERO not a O

[Toxis]

wrong topic here zuck... damn newbs.

Originally Posted by new06Civic

Toshiba is the worst for you, but I am careless for what you like or dislike. You can't get it to work right; because you don't know how to calibrate it and you don't have HD-DVD add-on or Blu-Ray player to connect to it. I purchased it for me, and I love the Toshiba DLP.

Keep on dreaming and praying, Toshiba might send a set to you for free..!

Actually man, I've been selling Toshiba for 8 years and have yet to find a model worth talking about. I'm glad you like them but for anyone with an eye for quality, they stay clear of DLP and Toshiba. That includes the Cinema Series that they always brag about but no one I know even mildly likes.

Originally Posted by letsgoflyers81

I have a Hitachi 51" CRT rear projection HDTV and I'm pretty sure the native resolution is 1080i. I have it calibrated and to be honest, I can't tell the difference between 1080i and 720p. Some of Comcast's channels are 1080i, some are 720p, and all in all they look about the same to me. I have a Panasonic upconverting DVD player that will display standard DVD's in 480p, 720p, or 1080i. Now I realize that no matter what the DVD player is not putting out a true HD signal, but 1080i and 720p look the same to me. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I had a TV with newer technology, ie DLP, and could compare a true HD source in 1080i and 720p, I'd probably be able to see the difference. I know how they differ and where each is supposed to have its advantage, but with my equipment, they look the same.

Actually, you'll see a bigger difference in the resolutions on a CRT than any form of fixed pixel since no matter what, they have to show their native resolution so something that is higher res than the TV just gets chopped out essentially. I'm not sure which model or age of your CRT but keep it. It's going to be better than most new big screens today.

Originally Posted by Tim

I'm sure that I should start my own thread, but I do have an HDTV question: for someone who doesn't watch much television and doesn't play video games, what should I be looking for in purchasing and HDTV? What specs? Which brand? Will I personally REALLY see a difference between a $400 LCD and a $1200 LCD of a different brand?

Well, then what is it you are going to be using it for? DVD? HD? What?

[Tim]

Casual tv viewing on cable until I pay for the HDTV box, standard DVD viewing, old school video games.

[letsgoflyers81]

Originally Posted by aki

Unless somebody's a home theater nut and obsesses over stuff like overscan and white balance along with an Avia DVD, those settings will fly above most people's heads. People have a hard enough time figuring out the "basics" of DVI, HDMI, Component, VGA cables, different screen types, etc.

I don't go too crazy with my TV, but I definitely had to adjust the convergence settings for the cathode guns. With a CRT TV, you have cathode rays for blue, green, and red that need to hit the screen at exactly the same spot so they can make all the different colors. If it's not just right, the picture is blurry and the colors don't look right. The TV has an auto adjust mode, but it's not that good, so I manually adjusted it myself. I'm moving in a couple weeks, and I'll adjust it again, since any movement or jarring of a CRT TV can throw the cathode guns out of alignment.

Originally Posted by Toxis

Actually, you'll see a bigger difference in the resolutions on a CRT than any form of fixed pixel since no matter what, they have to show their native resolution so something that is higher res than the TV just gets chopped out essentially. I'm not sure which model or age of your CRT but keep it. It's going to be better than most new big screens today.

Here's what I have.

http://www.hitachi.us/tv/browse/proj...al/51F59.shtml

I got it new last spring and I've been very happy with it, especially for the price I bought it for. That said, I can definitely see the difference when I look at some newer TV's. I'm not sure how much if a marketing gimmick DLP is, or whether it lives up to the hype, but I'm definitely not going to get rid of my TV for something newer or "better" right now. I'm moving into a place with a living room that's just a bit bigger than my current place, so I'll keep my same home theater setup. Once I buy a house and have more space, I'll probably want a bigger TV and then I'll go all out on something really nice, but that's probably two years away.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by Toxis

wrong topic here zuck... damn newbs.

Actually man, I've been selling Toshiba for 8 years and have yet to find a model worth talking about. I'm glad you like them but for anyone with an eye for quality, they stay clear of DLP and Toshiba. That includes the Cinema Series that they always brag about but no one I know even mildly likes.

Obviously, you haven't keep track of DLP technology. I have never said Toshiba DLP is the best, and you keep bring it up that it is the worst. I am currently own Toshiba DLP and formally owned Samsung DLP. Samsung is the front runner in TI DLP technology. For the price I paid for Toshiba DLP, it is the best for my viewing pleasure. You might want to start reviewing "DLP TV Review". DLP is among the best value for HDTV, and your customer will appreciates your proper info on DLP.

[tennisfan16]

never mind.

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by Tim

Casual tv viewing on cable until I pay for the HDTV box, standard DVD viewing, old school video games.

If you are into HD cable TV, I am recommending any HDTV (DLP, LCD & Plasma) with CableCard slot. CableCard slot is among the best HD. The HD PQ and AQ are among the best. It can provide very clean and un-clutter setup. It is troublesome for some. Most owners cannot get TVguide, but I get TVguide with my CableCard. I own three COX CableCard, and I am very please with it. Here is info on COX CableCard. It is $4.99 extra a month for all three cars compares to cable box, which is $10 a month per box.

[Si-aficionado]

subscribed

[doug piston]

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...me=specs&var2=


this is my tv. but i only have one hdmi input(i think its a year older than this one). can i just call sony and ask how to calibrate???? or is tis something some techno moron such as myself should not try?