Hi-tech-tv.com: Television technology news & answers

I need an HDTV for my mother. I’m a tech. junky, so it’s hard to separate what she wants from what I think she needs. my parents already have a standard (non widescreen) HD TV that we got them 2 years ago (a crt). I just came home for the weekend, and noticed they cleared out room in their bedroom, to wallmount a TV. So, a couple questions. Her main requirement is “I don’t want to regret getting this TV in a couple of years”. Should I go for 1080P based on that? I don’t think it’s necessary, but I don’t want her to dislike it after a year. Also, plasma or lcd? I should be up to date on this, but I have a native HD projector, so I don’t deal with TVs anymore.

Answer #1: It’s going to be a long time before dear ole mom will need a 1080p. Get yourself a nice 720p set now, use the money you save for flowers every Mother’s Day for the next 5 years and you’ll be better off. Oh, and if she’s anything like my mom and forgets to turn off the set every now and then, you want LCD - much lower maintenance.

Answer #2: One Q though - does your mom have cable/sat or does she watch broadcast television? If it’s the latter, make sure whatever you get has an ATSC (digital) tuner, because if it doesn’t the set presumably won’t work beyond 2009 (for watching broadcast TV; it would still work with a cable or satellite box).

Answer #3: Regarding LCD or Plasma, LCD does not show reflection of light and plasma does. If there is an overhead light or light from windows that will reflect on the TV consider a LCD…

Answer #4: Go 720p (or 1080P) … as for LCD or plasma, that really should be determined by which one you (or she) finds has the better picture, and which fits into your budget. Any non-HD set is basically obsolete already, imo.

Answer #5: 40″ Samsung LCD, 1080P, $1497 at Fry’s. If you’re a Costco member, $1k for a 42″ LCD or $800 for a 37″ LCD and you can’t go wrong. Both have tuners, and although Costco recently changed their return policy on electronics, you still get a full 90 day warranty and an additional 2 years, in home parts and labor repair warranty at no additional cost. Costco’s 42″ Sceptre is on sale now.

Answer #6: Walmart has a 32 in samsung with tuner built in LCD widescreen for under 900.00 3000-1 contrast you cant go wrong.

Question: Can anyone recommend a good quality home theater in a box for around $500-700? My idea is to get a system I could expand/upgrade. I’m leaning toward Dennon and HK based strictly on brand loyalty from years ago. Do these companies still put out a good product? I haven’t actually heard the HK speakers yet, are they basically JBL’s? How about Yamaha systems?
Alternatively, I was thinking of going with separate components and using an old pair of DCM’s as my L&R speakers. The one salesman I talked to said that would not be a good idea because if the center speaker didn’t acoustically “match” the L&R, it would sound like crap. Is there some truth to this, or was he just trying to sell me a pair of speakers.

I also have to battle the wife because she thinks the DCM’s are ugly and too “80’s,” but that’s another story…

Answer 1: I went with Yamaha. I liked it better than comparable Denon or Onkyo systems (both of which were about $200.00 more). It does not have HDMI in/out so you will need co/ax cables. I love the sound, it has outstanding power and if I need more, which I do not, I could add a powered sub (it comes with a passive sub).

Great system, great price: Yamaha 720W 5.1-Ch. XM-Ready Home Theater Speaker System Model: YHT-370

Answer 2: I went with HK AVR 245 and infinity TSS 1100 speakers. The system is awesome! The 12 inch Sub woofer makes the thing pop.

Answer 3: Onkyo Home Theater System (HT-S790S) - ONK HTS790S
• 7.1-channel sound
• 8-piece speaker system
• iPod dock-compatible
• XM-radio ready
• Onkyo’s WRAT technology
• HDTV-capable

Under $500 at Circuit City!

This continues the earlier stereo equipment post: I just listened to some Martin Logan’s that were about 6 foot tall relationship killers. What sound system can I buy and still keep my wife?

Answer 1: The Martin Logans Aries that I have are considered the entry level. I’m betting you probably listened to the big brother models. The Aries have a typical footprint and stand about 4′ tall. I hear the Aries II which replaced the Aries awhile ago are very popular in used equipment. I bought mine new, but the next pair I buy will likely be a used pair of the Aries II.

Answer #2: Try to select a good combination of equipment. Not many people in the U.S. now go for top-quality sound equipment any longer. Most people are using mini sound equipment that in no way reproduces “real” music. My system: Cary (tube) V12 (sweet, sweet, triode sound) amplifier. Audible Illusions Modulus 3A (Tube) preamp. Esoteric CD player (high res), Infinity Prelude speakers (nice), but I am just about to purchase the new Quad Electrostatics.

Answer #3: The Brits, French, Italians and Germans make some really nice stereo equipment. With the Euro against the Dollar makes the above more expensive for us now. I like Dynaudio Contours. Most of the best equipment you can buy, no one in the U.S. has heard of.

Answer #4: I had to buy a receiver/amp when my Yamaha finally started having problems (after many years of abuse.) The Yamaha was great while it lasted, but the Denon was an upgrade. I think mid-level audio equipment is currently well beyond a lot of the high end stuff from 25 years ago.
Speaking of high-end amps, my buddy is part of the two-man team who are making the Moscode amps. While more than a little pricey for me, they’re truly great amps.

When I went to check out a replacement, they had several different speaker sets so you could hear the amp through something similar to your own. When I heard the Jamo speakers, I had to have them-great sound for a few hundred bucks. My next acquisition may be a high end player-the one I have is fine, but it’s fairly obsolete.

Answer #5: B&W & Rotel because you just can’t go wrong with either brand. The new Diamond Series is the best series of loudspeakers ever made. Classe (sister company to B&W) is some of the finest electronics available. I am an audiophile that happens to work in the AV industry (for B&W if you couldn’t tell).

Answer #6: I have a Yamaha that works fine but I’m thinking of upgrading for HDMI switching. Not sure yet. I have NHT speakers.

My DLP bulb just went poof. Samsung 61-inch and I’ve had it for 3 years. Got about 7500 hours before it went. Anybody ever change one of these things?

Answer #1: Beats a dropped pixel in an LCD. Thats a great thing about DLP. You pop in a new lamp and you’ve got a new TV and another 5000+ hrs of fabulous HD. Lamps can be had cheaper if you shop around - as low as $179 on eBay. I usually keep a backup in the house.

Answer #2: It’s actually a pretty easy swap. It’s usually expensive, but if you can find the right bulb it’s much cheaper than a new TV.

I thought my TV technology blog was fairly specific, but this HDMI blog is about as focused as they come. This site’s categories include HDMI Adapters, Cables, Equalizers, Switches, and HDMI to DVI.

The site is the future home of an online HDMI store, but for now they have suggestions and links to the right products. For example the post on long HDMI cables tells us some of what we need when buying a cable (like double shielding for maximum performance). In the HDMI adapter section, we have adpters for HDMI female to DVI male as well as HDMI female to HDMI male. My last example will be the 4 port HDMI switch that supports resolutions from 480p & 720p to 1080i &1080p.

I bring this site to your attention because if you’re planning to buy HDMI cables, you want to go to a specialist.

Plasma or LCD? We’re in the process of buying a new TV. We want a wall mount in the 42 +/- inch range. I’m hearing conflicting stories on LCD and plasma TVs but the LCD appears to be the better choice. Opinions?

Answer #1: Check out CNET. They’ve always got good info on this kind of stuff. I’m obsessed with DLP.

Answer #2: LCD’s are really closing the gap. We have a Plasma, my brother has an LCD. Honestly, the difference isnt that huge, but the price difference is.

Answer #3: I just got a new Samsung 40″ LCD. A new model just came out so I got the “old” one for $1450. Perfect size for my living room. I love it. Plus its not a huge piece of equipment
I keep hearing about Plasma wearing out after long usage. Not sure if thats correct about new ones, but it seems the industry is leaning towards LCD now. DLP is great if you want a bigger set for less money.

Answer #4: I’m looking at a Sharp 37 in. LCD TV/Integrated HDTV, AQUOS® Liquid Crystal Television, Widescreen for $1530. Just remember to get the most out of your system, HDMI cables are needed. They run anywhere from 50-100 bucks for 3 feet. Not sure if cable/sat companies offer these with their HD packages.

Answer #5: I fell in love with the 60″ panasonic LCD at best buy…. I just don’t have $7000 to buy it.

Answer #6: You can purchase an inexpensive, good quality HDMI cable from monoprice or bluejeans. As far as LCD or plasma, I have a Samsung LCD and I love it. A friend of mine has a Pioneer plasma and I was disappointed by the picture, although I’m pretty sure it’s not properly calibrated.

Answer #7: I have LCD 42″ Sony Grand Wega…I paid $1700 earlier this year, you can pick up it for $1200 or less now. I love it.

Answer #8: I bought a flat panel Panasonic 42-inch plasma last week and had it installed on a swivel bracket on the wall. It is sweeeet. Very happy with it thus far.

Answer #9: It’s all about what type of room you are putting it in.
Plasma’s have a truer “black” than LCD’s, but I personally find the LCD screen to be much brighter. If you are buying it to put in a dark room, as a sort of movie room, Plasma might be a better bet. For us, we were putting it in our family room, which has a lot of windows and therefore a lot of glare, and the LCD screen’s brightness really helps minimize glare.

Hifi thread: What’s your stereo equipment? I’d love to have a Linn amp but financially that’s out of the question. So I bought an NAD C352 amp and an NAD C542 CD player. Both very solid, a big upgrade over the Sony equipment I used to have. For speakers, I tested several B&W models, also Dynaudio Contour models but finally settled on a pair of BC Acoustiques… great speakers, equipped with a mighty fine horn tweeter. Nothing beats good stereo equipment!

Answer #1: Agreed. B&W Nautilus 803, Rotel Preamp/Processor (RSP-1098), Rotel amplifier (RMB-1095)

Answer #2: I know a lot of people who have a Rotel and B&W combination. Seems to work well together. I love the electro static panel speakers myself. I have Rotel amp and preamp tuner with Martin Logan Aries speakers. Love the speakers, would never go back.

Answer #3: my system is a Sony 34 inch wide screen HD tv directv HD Samsung receiver Sony dts receiver sony 200 disc cd/dvd changer Cerwin Vega tower speakers and surround system. The Cerwins sound just as good to me as more expensive models. I cant tell a difference and the prices for all these were great at the Rex tv/appliance store I buy from.

Answer #4: Jamo speakers with Denon amp. I went from Klipsch to Paradigm to Jamo speakers over the last 20 years.

Answer #5: I have Rotel integrated amp with B&W and it sounds sweet, although not as good as some of the stereophile equipment being mentioned here.

Answer #6: I was able to listen to some used Martin Logans at my local hifi store… awesome sound. But the speakers were just too damn big for our living room.

Answer #6: I thought about Rotel but eventually I liked the sound of the NAD amp a little better. The B&W I tested didn’t sound that great with the NAD eqipment so I started looking for a different maufacturer. The BC Acoustiqes (Act A2) are from a relatively unkown French company. Extremely well built (about 85 lbs per speaker) with a very defined, harmonic sound. They worked extremely well with the NADs.

Answer #7: Main system is Arcam Alpha 8 amp, Arcam Alpha MCD changer, Cambridge Audio T500 tuner, Paradigm Reference Studio 20 speakers.

Second system: Cambridge Audio A300 Amp, Cambridge Audio D500 CD player, Axiom Millenia M50 Ti speakers.

Third: Arcam Alpha 1 amp, Rotel RCC-945 changer, Yamaha T-1020 tuner, Paradigm Atom speakers.

I have a Direct TV installation question because I moved into a new apartment and I’m getting my NFL Ticket installed. Can’t wait! When they come to install it how long does it usually take for them to set it up? I know it’s most likely different each time but I’d like a rough estimate. They are installing it on a 2nd floor balcony (basically attaching the dish to a pole and securing it). I’d like to know how much work I will have to miss when they said they’ll be there 8am-10am.

On a side note, I signed up and created an account on the 15th, the told be origonally that they couldn’t set it up until Nov 22nd. Which is rediculous in my opinion. I called up and bitched and got them to set it up next thursday. Did this happen to anyone else who got it installed recently?

Answer #1: It depends on how far they have to run the cable and where; through walls, floor, the roof? You might need to take 1/2 a day off.

Answer #2: In my case, I’d have to say my balcony is approximately 10-20 feet from the HD tuner. I was home when the Direct TV guy came. He took about half an hour for the install, then I had to talk to the woman about NFL Sunday ticket and movie channels. NFL Sunday ticket is good, but the Giants are always on Fox. It doesn’t seem worth the money. My Sunday ticket runs out at the end of this month. I’m not renewing, but I’m getting Starz and a Sport’s package for the same dough.

Answer #3: It usually doesn’t take them very long. I’ve given them some craziness to work with before and the guy is usually in and out within an hour.

Does anyone here have their HDTV’s hanging on the wall? I’m thinking about doing that, but Im trying to figure out where to put the receiver and such. Any idea’s?

Answer #1: Right there with you. I just bought the mount for my Plasma. Running those wires is going to be problematic, too.

Answer #2: My 50″ plasma HDTV is hanging on my brick wall. The receiver will be on a short, wide table/cabinet underneath, but I haven’t been able to find one I like yet.

Do you tip the DirectTV installation guy? I would be guessing no, because it’s like tipping your plumber. But what do I know, never had a satellite dish installed before.

Answer #1: No.

Answer #2: No, you don’t tip. I always offer the guy a drink though.

Answer #3: My installation guy was good and I offered him 10 bucks but he refused.