Those HUGE LCD TVs are mesmorising

[saab2000]

I went again into the TV candy store. It is not a Best Buy or one of those, but a local place that has really nice displays and low stress buying environment.

I really don't want to be materialistic!!! :crap: But golly gee, them big TVs with the surround sound and deep bass and movies are really neato. And watching the home run derby you could see the dirt clumps around the batters' feet!! The HDTV picture is just incredible.

And 26" just ain't enough. Nothing less than 40" and a Sony XBR or Sharp Aquos, with subwoofer and tweeters and the whole deal.

My next year's annual salary is already spoken for, and it ain't for Ottrotts or Meivicis either.

And the way they are sold is hard too, because it always seems like the Next Greatest thing is just around the corner, what with some new DVD format which holds lots more data on a DVD-sized disc.

In the end I walked out with nothing except a great desire for lots of expensive consumer electronics.

[Serpico]

prices are way down from 3 years ago, way down

I went into Circuit City last night to buy some vhs tapes (to record the tour)

those tv's are NICE

[pjm]

I find live HDTV kind of fatigueing. Watching football for instance, I see the grass on the field constantly going in and out of focus, which I find annoying. I think this only happens with live broadcasts. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon?

[CarbonCycles]

I'll 2nd you on the Sony SXRD is one of the best sets I've seen...it's a great set for 1080i. Technology moves so fast that 1080p is now it.

[saab2000]

I'll 2nd you on the Sony SXRD is one of the best sets I've seen...it's a great set for 1080i. Technology moves so fast that 1080p is now it.

I know next to nothing about these technologies. But last night the salesman tried to tell me a bit about 1080p. The picture did look awesome.

It is not only the picture that is so incredible. The sound in those places is hard to believe too.

[Grant McLean]

I watched the WC in HD on my LCD TV.

ATMO, HD is A-OK

g

[BoulderGeek]

Disclaimer: for a Serotta owner, I am a po' mo' fo'.

I recently felt the HDTV bug gnawing upon me. I fought it for a while, promising myself that when the Sony XBR 40" went down to $1500, that would be my sweet spot, and I could hold off until then.

Of course, I also scan Techbargains.com, and one day found a Syntax-Olevia 42" LCD (720p/1080i) for $1500, shipped. I jumped and have been most pleased.

I use my existing Sony 5.1 receiver and Infinity/Mission sub and speakers. It's a great price-performance ratio.

Now, If I could get the Comcast HD surcharge down below an _extra_ $55 a month just for the privilege of HD channels! Paying $110 a month, before service fees, for internet and TV is bogus, atmo.

[saab2000]

Now, If I could get the Comcast HD surcharge down below an _extra_ $55 a month just for the privilege of HD channels! Paying $110 a month, before service fees, for internet and TV is bogus, atmo.

'fraid that part ain't goin' away.

I am also a po mofo. Gotta budget and to be honest, I am moving and will incur some expenses with that.

Got the car payments, rent, 401K contribution, Roth IRA and there ain't much left. There are no huge entertainment systems in my immediate future unfortunately. Still, 'tis nice to dream.

[BoulderGeek]

'fraid that part ain't goin' away.

I am also a po mofo. Gotta budget and to be honest, I am moving and will incur some expenses with that.

Got the car payments, rent, 401K contribution, Roth IRA and there ain't much left. There are no huge entertainment systems in my immediate future unfortunately. Still, 'tis nice to dream.

Such as the way I dream I could do even a Masters Cat 4 crit and not get spit off the back? Or finish a tri in the upper 50th percentile?

You're living the dream for many of us, Saab!

Regarding HD, I am also cutting out the HD cable and going to whatever HD I can get with an antenna. I will get by with $10 basic cable and my ReplayTV for OLN cycling.

For optimal bang for the buck, keep an eye on the Syntax sets. avsforum.com has a plethora of good info for LCD/DLP and plasma shoppers.

[saab2000]

You're living the dream for many of us, Saab!



Which part of my life??? :beer:

It ain't a bad life I have. But it is not what most people think either. No complaints and no regrets.

[BarryG]

I see the grass on the field constantly going in and out of focusAt least it goes in focus - SD picture quality has deteriorated dramatically over the past 15 years with digital compression. On widefield SD shots, nothing looks in focus any more.

Love the LCD's myself. I'll spring for a 37-42 in. 1080p set in the next few months.

[dirtdigger88]

hmmmmm.....

just think about what a porn dvd would be like on one of those tvs


Jason

[BoulderGeek]

hmmmmm.....

just think about what a porn dvd would be like on one of those tvs


Jason

No better, more likely lower picture quality, unless you have an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player and ...erm..."media."

I watch SD OLN on my 42" and it looks hella bad.

For DVDs (standard 480i) I use a Samsung 860 upconverting DVD player and HDMI connection. This brings it roughly 60% closer to what 720p HDTV looks like. Watchable, but nothing to be excited about.

But, if OLN were in HD, we'd be grossed out with Al "Trout-wig"'s shiny, bicycling-inept dome and Bobke's Letterman teeth. So, I'm cool with it for right now. :crap:

[Endless Goods]

Is it just me, or does 'standard' cable or broadcast look rather poor on these newfangled LCD/Plasma/DLP monitors? HD signal is stunning, of course, but anything analog that is converted, frankly, looks crap.

I dunno...a friend just bought a 55" Sony LCD and while nice, it seems a little crazy given there's little HD content (for now at least). Sony Wega KDFE55A20- he paid A LOT more 6 months ago than what its selling for now...

Unless you're going to spring for the digital cable, I'd pass...

(maybe once football season starts I'll be persuaded- that's 90% of my watching for the year)

[alembical]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/home-theatre/supersized-plasma-tv-set-for-launch/2006/07/11/1152383729970.html

My thoughts are if you are really into the Tour or football season, why skimp? Anything less than 103 inches is just not worth it.

:banana: Alembical

[BoulderGeek]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/home-theatre/supersized-plasma-tv-set-for-launch/2006/07/11/1152383729970.html

My thoughts are if you are really into the Tour or football season, why skimp? Anything less than 103 inches is just not worth it.

:banana: Alembical

Man, standard def OLN would look like a sackload of bollocks on that!

Until more HD content is available and reasonably priced, having and HD (as oen who just bought one) isn't all that you're being sold on.

The INHD/INHD2 channels are sweet with IMAX films, tho.

SD + HDTV = yuck

[davep]

I've had a 42" plasma for 6 years, and standard def (SD) is pretty lousy. Sometimes a digital station is OK. DVDs range from OK to really good, but not spectacular.

I just got a new plasma last week (free, thanks to an extended warranty), just in time for the World Cup and hooked up an antenna for HD reception and have never seen a better picture in my home. Unfortunately, notmuch stuff is braodcast in HD.

Also, last week I was in Circuit City and they had a 56" 1080p RPTV hooked up to a Blue Ray DVD - WOW! Better by far than anything I have ever seen. It is the future, and the future is quite expensive right now. Although its cheaper than an Ottrott.

[Climb01742]

fun fact...know where "mesmerize" comes from?

http://www.glassarmonica.com/armonica/mesmer/

[OldDog]

Is it just me, or does 'standard' cable or broadcast look rather poor on these newfangled LCD/Plasma/DLP monitors? HD signal is stunning, of course, but anything analog that is converted, frankly, looks crap.

I dunno...a friend just bought a 55" Sony LCD and while nice, it seems a little crazy given there's little HD content (for now at least). Sony Wega KDFE55A20- he paid A LOT more 6 months ago than what its selling for now...

Unless you're going to spring for the digital cable, I'd pass...

(maybe once football season starts I'll be persuaded- that's 90% of my watching for the year)


Your right. I recently purchased a Sharp Aquios 26". The sales cat told me the picture quality of cable, in non- HDTV, would be the pits. He was right.

Any way to correct that?

[fierte_poser]

not really. garbage in = garbage out.

although 26" is pretty small. i would expect SD to look quite okay at that size, unless there is something wrong with the cable feed.

[Grant McLean]

Unfortunately, notmuch stuff is braodcast in HD.



coming soon. it's been a long strange trip.

http://www.ee.washington.edu/conselec/CE/kuhn/hdtv/95x5.htm

g

[CarbonCycles]

For anything to really look good on a HDTV set, they needed to have shot it using a HDTV camera. I've really gotten spoiled in that I can spot a non-HD and HD show in the first few seconds.

[vaxn8r]

I sprung for a new tv (Sony rear proj LCD), to replace my 1989 Sony, this year. What I notice is that not all broadcasts are equal. NBC HD is crap for action. The Olympics were not nearly as satisfying as anything on ABC/ESPN. The Superbowl was perfect. First time I've watched it since 1988. Wow! ESPN anything is fabulous. I have a 720p set and honestly, watching sports on it can not possibly get any better. You can see beard stubble and sweat globules on a face. It's astounding. I really have no idea but I doubt we'll be seeing anything broadcast in 1080p for a long time, if ever. But what do I know? I'd personally take any sports program in 720p over 1080i in a heart beat.

I could have bought a 1080p set for literally double the price of mine but I didn't see the value. maybe if you sit 2 feet from your tv screen you may really want all those pixels. But what am I thinking....I know what you guys ride and what you guys drive....never mind, go ahead and get 1080p because you really, really do need it ;) Seriously it is a tiny bit awesomer, maybe. You just have to decide cost benifit blah blah blah. To me it doesn't add up. Yet.

BTW, all HD of a certain pixilation and of the same broadcast is not the same. I've seen some home setups with plasmas and some are wonderful and some just plain suck. Seriously. I always thought that all TV's were made by the same 3 or 4 companies but the generic brands do seem to do something to screw all that up. I guess all the bad set-ups I've seen so far were generic sets. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

[scrooge]

Hope folks don't mind that I'm not starting a new thread, but I have a question on LCD's...
I DON"T have cable (that's right--rabit ears here) and don't plan on getting it. Will the LCD picture look like crap? I'd like to get one (20-25 inch) so that we can have a TV more "tucked away"--any recomendations/developments in the last six months?

[csm]

I looked and looked before xmas and believe it or not I couldn't get any help at all. thought I'd have to trip someone to get them to notice me. and I was looking at a 42-46" sony with a new reciever and playstation 3.
glad that bug has passed.

[Hysbrian]

Both of my roommates, just went hd with 32 and 37 lcds. One of them got a crazy deal on one from Sears last weekend. 1500 marked down to 800, crazy. There are more HD channels available here in CT than I thought. All of the major channels seem to have some if not most HD programs. Picture looks 100 times better than normal digital cable, and Discovery HD is just amazing.

[saab2000]

Well how 'bout that!!

This thread came back out of nowhere!

[Jeff N.]

Check the Sony KDL-46XBR2. I'm getting one this year, I swear. Just an incredible pic. Jeff n.

[wasfast]

I bought a 30" Samsung at Christmas time. Mail order saved me $500 ($1599 down to $1099). My only complaint is that black areas "challenged" to reproduce on LCD. Otherwise, love it.

[toaster]

I'm "watching" the Super Bowl on the radio.

[zap]

Hope folks don't mind that I'm not starting a new thread, but I have a question on LCD's...
I DON"T have cable (that's right--rabit ears here) and don't plan on getting it. Will the LCD picture look like crap? I'd like to get one (20-25 inch) so that we can have a TV more "tucked away"--any recomendations/developments in the last six months?

If you can receive digital over the air, it will look better. Unlike regular tv, over the air digital is an all or nothing deal. So if the station is transmitting 1080i, thats what your going to get.

[dave thompson]

Hope folks don't mind that I'm not starting a new thread, but I have a question on LCD's...
I DON"T have cable (that's right--rabit ears here) and don't plan on getting it. Will the LCD picture look like crap? I'd like to get one (20-25 inch) so that we can have a TV more "tucked away"--any recomendations/developments in the last six months?
If the signal that being sent to the TV is crappy, you'll get a crappy picture. Because the HDTV's digital circuitry can amplify the flaws in the picture, you might get blurry action or fuzzy line. On a screen as small as you propose, those effects should be negligible.

To your benefit however, if your local channels are broadcasting any HD content, you can pick it up free with a good set of rabbit ears and an HDTV set with built-in HD tuner. Or if the HD TV doesn't have the built-in tuner, then a set-top HD tuner box.

Here in Spokane all our local stations broadcast in HD. We have the set-top HD tuner box and can watch them all with just a rooftop antenna. I've been told that because the HD signal is so much stronger than the 'standard' signal and is not line-of-sight, a good rabbit ears antenna will work fine for reception of the HD signal.

[BoulderGeek]

I do most of my TV watching through standard def on my ReplayTV. This gives the advantage of TV recording from $10 a month basic cable, but displays in 480p, which is better than 480i standard def.

I installed a Samsung SIR-T451 external HD OTA tuner, which feeds via HDMI and Toslink. As noted above, free over the air is good quality (and free). Downside is that for HD, now I can't skip commercials.

I pay $55 a month for TV and Internet over cable. When I had HD cable, my bill went to $115. It's just not worth it (to me) for that premium.

[zap]

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/home/antenna.html

[davids]

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/home/antenna.html
Thanks Zap!

This is something I only recently came to understand - Over-the-air HDTV signals are out there, free, and (for those of us near major urban areas) should give us great picture quality.

I'm hoping to buy an HDTV in early '08. Should be interesting...

[Benjamin]

hmmmmm.....

just think about what a porn dvd would be like on one of those tvs


Jason


there was a ny times piece from january 22 about how porn film makers are rejecting high definition DVD technologies because they just show TOO MUCH detail.

link to (now archived and for times select subscribers only) article (http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30917FC34540C718EDDA80894DF4044 82)

i've long theorized that it's the ability of a product to be used for porno that really drives its adoption among the general public (photography, film, tv, vcr, computers, internet, hand-held devices, etc) so this news really bucks the trend.