Television sets, what to get

[/pine]

...I have 4 choices of input on our Vizio, and note the sound quality of each connection...

Anyone not using HDMI connections may be interested in fiber optic audio connections

some may not be aware of the fiber optic audio ports on both their TVs and their set top boxes (cable or satellite)...

they are very small round ports ...you have to look close to recognize them but they are usually marked...the FO cables are less than $20 (at radio shack etc)

anyone that has not experienced the audio quality will recognize it imediately...it is astounding compared to coax or copper wires through analog ports...

A fiber optic audio connection is the very best that can had from box to TV (or sound system)...it is the same quailty as an HDMI connection...

 

[Bird]

I think the sound delay may come from the connections being made to the TV, either from sat. receiver, cable box, or digital converter, I have 4 choices of input on our Vizio, and note the sound quality of each connection, I have both the coax and A/V ( RCA ) connections hooked up and I choose the AV over the standard coax, the picture doesn't seem to differ although a big difference in sound quality this is from a D S R. I hope to some day get a Hi-def receiver that will have the HDMI hookup :thumbsup:

When I bought our Samsung TV, I also bought a new Samsung VCR/DVD player/recorder, and of course I didn't really know much. But I've learned that the TV has two HDMI hookups. The VCR/DVD machine has HDMI output, but not input. So when we're just watching TV, it's direct from the DirecTV satellite receiver to the HDMI2 on the TV. When we watch something on the VCR/DVD, it's hooked to the HDMI1 on the TV, but from the DirecTV receiver to the VCR/DVD machine is AV connections; not quite as good a picture, but too close to concern me.

 

[timswi]

I have a Samsung 62" DLP and I love it (bought from Crutchfield, outstanding). Old school I guess, but if I could find another one I'd buy it. Direct TV HD is fantastic on this.

 

[timswi]

Anyone not using HDMI connections may be interested in fiber optic audio connections

some may not be aware of the fiber optic audio ports on both their TVs and their set top boxes (cable or satellite)...

they are very small round ports ...you have to look close to recognize them but they are usually marked...the FO cables are less than $20 (at radio shack etc)

anyone that has not experienced the audio quality will recognize it imediately...it is astounding compared to coax or copper wires through analog ports...

A fiber optic audio connection is the very best that can had from box to TV (or sound system)...it is the same quailty as an HDMI connection...

I'm going to change mine out. I have HDMI running everything except the audio. The Onkio 1500w sounds really good, but I think it could hit a little harder. It's pretty much on RCA right now.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Go to the big box stores and spend time looking at all the models in your price range or size range. Look for the best blacks, reds, whites. Look at the reflections from the store lights on the "brite" screen models vs the matte models. Unless you put your TV in a light controlled situation you'll probably have the same reflection problems from windows / lights at home. The thinner the TV you buy the greater the chance you will have to purchase a Home Theater system so the audio will be acceptable. Thinner TV's = tinny sound.

Unless you are earlier adopter, probably rule out 3-D TV's. Decide if you need / want Internet / Wireless features on the TV. All the box stores around here are pushing the $300 calibration option. Ask the salesman which TV's deliver the best out of the box picture.

Be aware of what type of input device you will use for TV. If using HD source such as BluRay, Sat, Cable, HD - OTA and your budget supports go as big as you can afford or that your room will support. The picture on a large screen HDTV is simply amazing.

With OTA digital TV you usually either get a good picture or no picture. Remember, a fuzzy analog picture that is annoying of a 20" TV will be almost unwatchable on a 50" - 60" screen.

 

[Egon]

Make sure the TV you choose has the plug in required for a computer hookup.

It's nice to be able to watch some of the Youtube documentaries and other items.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

One other point, that may or may not matter to most of you. Plasma's are RFI (radio frequency interference) generators. In other words they radiate a lot of RF energy on a broad spectrum of frequency's. If you like to listen to the radio while someone else is watching TV this could be a problem. Even your neighbors if close enough could suffer. Some are worse than others, but the basic technology seems to be the problem. LCD do not have this problem.
James K0UA

 

[jinman]

Is the sound delay a problem in the U.S. too?

That's an interesting question. We used to have both HD and standard TV satellite receivers. If we turned on the std. receiver in a bedroom and tuned the same program as was playing on the HD receiver, the std. sets picture and sound were slightly ahead of the HD set. My guess is that with HD they have more processing to do on the signal; therefore, it is delayed about a second in HD mode. Maybe by delaying the video, the audio and video stay in sync here in the USA. I have no idea if that's true, but your post made me think about the delays we used to hear between std. and HDtv.

 

[jimmyj]

Lots of good comments but I still find the topic confusing. Some good stuff here for me to ask the sales staff though, and I'm going to shop a variety of stores to see the sets in person. We want a pretty big TV as it will hang on the wall at the end of a room. There are TONS of windows in the room so the advice on reflection is very helpful. We don't think we have the need to hook up to computer inputs but I should think of the future.

Ahh, choices! :confused2:

 

[Bird]

That's an interesting question. We used to have both HD and standard TV satellite receivers. If we turned on the std. receiver in a bedroom and tuned the same program as was playing on the HD receiver, the std. sets picture and sound were slightly ahead of the HD set. My guess is that with HD they have more processing to do on the signal; therefore, it is delayed about a second in HD mode. Maybe by delaying the video, the audio and video stay in sync here in the USA. I have no idea if that's true, but your post made me think about the delays we used to hear between std. and HDtv.

Yes, that is indeed interesting. So I just learned something else new on TBN. While both our TVs are HD, as you said, we have the DirecTV HD receiver in the living room and a standard receiver in the bedroom, so your post made me go try ours just now. And sure enough, just as you said, the sound and picture on the standard receiver are slightly ahead of the HD receiver, although audio and video stay in sync on both.

 

[Egon]

We don't think we have the need to hook up to computer inputs but I should think of the future.

Before you pass on this feature check out some of the stuff available on Youtube.:thumbsup:

YouTube - Deep Sea Biology at the Arctic's Gakkel Ridge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHKgCGhI1xs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyBO10VhVmc&playnext=1&videos=OS5mBoLG6gs&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh%2Bdiv-1r-7-HM

 

[/pine]

I have HDMI running everything except the audio...

If you are using an HDMI cable...you should be getting the best audio signal...

I only suggested the fiber optic audio ports for those without HDMI connectivity...

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

We want a pretty big TV as it will hang on the wall at the end of a room. There are TONS of windows in the room so the advice on reflection is very helpful. We don't think we have the need to hook up to computer inputs but I should think of the future.

Ahh, choices! :confused2:

If you have a large room, bigger is usually better. When shopping previously for TV my DW was originally thought a 46" was huge and gave me a hard time when I wanted a 55." We actually set up one of each side by side - same input. It didn't take her long to agree (in the large room) that 55" was minimum size. This time we went 60"

Choosing a set is a bit of a Ford / Chev / Dodge thing. Given our watching environment and preferences we picked the Sony KDL60EX700 as best for us out of the box. As stated in previous post, the speakers are pretty pathetic, but Home Theatre fixes that and the picture is fantastic. Added a Sony PS3 Slim 250 GB for the BluRay player, plus can store a ton of Movies / Home Video / Photos for direct playback on the TV. The PS3 is WiFi capable so with it connected to the home network content can be transferred direct from my computers to the PS3 and then viewed on the TV.

It's always nice to support local independent business, however, places like Future Shop / Best Buy and Costco have a fairly liberal return policy if you buy something and find it is not what you wanted once set up at home.

If I recall Costco doubles the usual 1 year warranty to 2 years - so if they have the model you want, all other things being equal this might be a factor to consider.

 

[jimmyj]

we picked the Sony KDL60EX700

I love the model names for these things! They make military inventions and Nasa look simple. LOL.

 

[jinman]

I love the model names for these things! They make military inventions and Nasa look simple. LOL.

Wait until you discover that what looks like two identical sets when you look at them may actually have different model numbers. You'll drive yourself nuts trying to figure out the differences. I think they must use a slightly different model number for the sets sold at Sam's vs Best Buy or other store so they can identify the source. I read lots of specifications on the outside of lots of boxes before buying our TV. It's not a lot of fun pulling a huge box off the shelf and turning it over so you can read the stuff on the box, but we did it for our Samsung and later for a Sony that we bought for my wife's mom and dad. I hate buying anything that I don't know what is in the box until I get it home.

 

[Aggieville]

I'm a huge fan of the Bravia series, Sony has come down in price on those models pretty extensively as well.

 

[orezok]

That's an interesting question. We used to have both HD and standard TV satellite receivers. If we turned on the std. receiver in a bedroom and tuned the same program as was playing on the HD receiver, the std. sets picture and sound were slightly ahead of the HD set. My guess is that with HD they have more processing to do on the signal; therefore, it is delayed about a second in HD mode. Maybe by delaying the video, the audio and video stay in sync here in the USA. I have no idea if that's true, but your post made me think about the delays we used to hear between std. and HDtv.

We have Dish and when we updated to a HD set, they had to replace the dish with one that receives 3 satellites instead of 2. Most likely HD is broadcast from a different satellite located further away, thus the latency.

 

[/pine]

Yes Direct TV and Dish use different satellites for HD but they are basically in the same orbits aboove the Earth...
the difference between standard and high definition signals is (frequency) bandwidth...
HD takes longer for the reciever to modulate the larger (heavier) signal...

[anecdote]

having a standard reciever/TV in one room and HD in another...if two people are watching 'Jeopardy' (one in each room) the person in the room with the standard setup can holler the "questions" to the person watching in HD and impress them by seemingly to know all the answers (questions)...!

[/anecdote]

 

[sweettractors]

We just bought a 47 inch LED HD capable by Phillips for $749 and free delivery from Walmart (online). The customer feedback was good on the Walmart website and my Son has had one since Christmas and very pleased with his as well. So far ours is doing great. BTW, We went on and subscribed to the HD and Live Digital Record feature from our provider ($15/Month extra) and it will be fun as soon as I figure how to use it? Ken Sweet

 

[jinman]

HD DVR is awesome! I have the half terabyte system that can record up to 350 hours of programs before I have to erase any. This is not a TV issue, but they go hand-in-hand.