LCD in my future

binary visions · May 10, 2006

Da Peach said:
What's HDCP?

I don't think you can get Sceptre here...

HDCP = High Definition Copy Protection.

It's a new copy protection scheme that will be supported by the next generation of drives like Blu-Ray, or whatever format wins the battle. Basically, if your set doesn't support HDCP, you will only be able to watch movies at the lowest HD setting (480p, I believe).

Contrast is important for obvious reasons, and response time is important because the higher the response time, the more your image lags behind, which can cause blurring.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

HP has some good LCDs (made by Sharp - same panel as Aquos line but with more adjustments) and they are an excellent value.

They also make the best rear view projection for under $10000:

HP MD6580N (66") and MD5880N (59") true 1080p DLP TVs with an awesome front panel connection bay and user changeable projection lamp. Sound and Vision review and 2005 Editor's Choice

www.jr.com has great prices on HP TVs.

If you work for the right company, you might be able to get a corporate/business discount on the HP TVs also and then the price is definately unbeatable.

HP's technical support is superb on their TVs - you don't have to wait on hold forever, open 24 hours and you can even talk to someone in the US during normal business hours. I had to troubleshoot a friends HP TV that had a firmware issue that was easily solved once I called and heard there was a change that was needed to the posted firmware files.

I would definately say you could get away without a extended warranty on LCDs and most likely Plasmas (they tend to run a little hotter and some models have active cooling [read fans] that could die and then you'd have thermal issues). If you buy the TV on some creditcard you can double you warranty - check with you CC company.

On rear projection TVs, you have more moving parts, lamps, etc so an extended warranty wouldn't be a bad idea.

binary visions · May 10, 2006

Looks nice. Still doesn't support 1080p which means you won't get the absolute highest performance but 720p should look just fine.

Google indicates that it supports HDCP. :thumb:

No DVI, but as I said, DVI-to-component adapters aren't much money.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

Oh yeah, PM me your address and I'll send you a copy of the $2000 HDTV report I wrote for one CEO...

binary visions · May 10, 2006

I think I might have one of these installed this summer.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

Da Peach said:
So, I guess having the HDMI is important, and more than one input too if you want to hook up a digital cable box and a DVD player? But my DVD player just has a standard RCA coming out of it anyway.

HDMI is good for futureproofing.

The only thing you might have with that is cable/satellite box off the bat - some of the newer HDTV PVR models have it. Most HDTV boxes have firewire, component, and DVI inputs.

I setup three HDTVs recently - one panasonic 42" plasma with cable TV over component input, one HP 26" LCD with cable TV over digital AV DVI input, and one HP 59" DLP with cable TV over HDMI. They all work fine but HDMI is easiest - one cable.

I didn't buy an extra component (cable box came with it), but had to get extra DVI, 1/8" stereo audio, and HDMI cable. HDMI and DVI cables are expensive.

Great prices/selection of cables from here:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/

syadasti · May 10, 2006

The Panasonic is an excellent value.

The HP LC3200N 32" (made by Sharp) is actually superior to the Sharp branded model (has more control over its operation) and its only slightly more than the Panasonic in the States.

N8 v2.0 · May 10, 2006

syadasti said:
HDMI is good for futureproofing.

The only thing you might have with that is cable/satellite box off the bat - some of the newer HDTV PVR models have it. Most HDTV boxes have firewire, component, and DVI inputs.

I setup three HDTVs recently - one panasonic 42" plasma with cable TV over component input, one HP 26" LCD with cable TV over digital AV DVI input, and one HP 59" DLP with cable TV over HDMI. They all work fine but HDMI is easiest - one cable.

I didn't buy an extra component (cable box came with it), but had to get extra DVI, 1/8" stereo audio, and HDMI cable. HDMI and DVI cables are expensive.

Great prices/selection of cables from here:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/

On my plasma, I notice a huge difference in the picture when using my DVI cable as opposed to using my componet cables.

I am looking to install a HDMI blade in my plasma as an upgrade sometime soon.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

N8 said:
On my plasma, I notice a huge difference in the picture when using my DVI cable as opposed to using my componet cables.

Well there can be a big difference between freebie cable from Comcast and those from an outfit like Ramelectronics.

Even a cheap vs. decent cable of the same type can make a difference.

N8 v2.0 · May 10, 2006

By the way, for what it's worth, I bought my plasma over the 'net through PlasmaConcepts: http://www.plasmaconcepts.com/

It was delivered without any problems. The shipping carton even had a 'tip indicator' on it so show if the unit had been roughly handled.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

Da Peach said:
http://www.dumoulin.com/eSection/electrProd.asp?send=eng&codfab=PAN&codprd=TC32LX60&choix=SPEC

A little smaller, but 8 ms response time and HDMI. only 720HD capability, but if that's as good as DVD, I'm happy

This panasonic you posted...

surfinguru · May 10, 2006

Get a plasma man....much better overall picture than any LCD can produce. Online prices are very competitive and usually cheaper than any B&M store. Check out the place N8 bought from or try these guys: http://www.visualapex.com/avs/

I've purchased two Plasmas through them and can't recommend them enough.

Do your research over at the AVS forums as pointed out earlier...best resource I've found on the net.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

Plasmas are the best microdisplay technology right now for most people's home theatre needs but if you can afford the space, don't mind the lamp replacement, and don't see/don't mind the rainbows DLP is a good option too.

In late 2007 I think we'll get the best of both worlds with SED (microdisplay flat panel CRTs).

I can't wait until SED become mainstream :thumb:

Here is a summary of the current techologies:

Picking a HDTV Technology

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Positives: Relatively inexpensive; excellent picture quality; wide viewing angle;
long life; can be viewed in brightly lit environments.

Negatives: Bulky and heavy; limited screen size.

Plasma
Positives: As little as 3 inches thick; very good home-theater image quality in best
examples; wide viewing angle; Better blacks and brighter than LCD.

Negatives: Relatively expensive; slight potential for burn-in; most dont work well
at altitude.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Positives: Higher resolution than comparably sized plasmas; no danger of burn-in;
easier to repair and don't wash out in the sunlight like plasma; thinner/lighter than Plasma.

Negatives: Expensive in larger sizes; home-theater image quality not as good as
plasma; relatively narrow viewing angle; Color saturation is generally inferior to plasma.

CRT Rear Projection
Positives: Relatively inexpensive; excellent black-level performance; the best
picture quality in a proper environment with proper setup.

Negatives: Deep cabinets; need periodic maintenance; not ideal for bright rooms;
narrow viewing angle; softer image than microdisplays; most cannot
display computer sources.

Digital Light Processing (DLP) Microdisplays (also in front projection)
Positives: Good black-level performance; no maintenance required to preserve
sharpness; often computer-capable; thin and light compared to CRT.

Negatives: Expensive; some rainbow effects; video noise in dark areas; periodic lamp replacement required. Wider/heavier than flat-panels (not wall mountable)
LCD Microdisplays (also in front projection)
Positives: No rainbow effect; no maintenance required to preserve sharpness; often computer-capable; thin and light compared to CRT. .

Negatives: Expensive; some screen door effects; blacks not quite as deep as DLP; periodic lamp replacement required. Wider/heavier than flat-panels (not wall mountable)

Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) Microdisplays (also in front projection)
Positives: Excellent interpixel fill; no maintenance required to preserve sharpness; thin and light compared to CRT;

Negatives: Periodic lamp replacement required; not many offerings.

MMike · May 10, 2006

Dad's gonna have a fit with all of this frivolity......

syadasti · May 10, 2006

If you can go to a store and are interested in rear projection, check out DLP (HP's being the best DLP right now) and LCoS (Sony being the best LCoS) sets. I don't think cheap LCD rear projection is worthwhile.

I see the rainbows in the HP DLP depending on the picture being shown - I can spot them when I move my eyes or walk by and glance at the set. I've only met one other person who says they see them, so I'm not crazy

MMike · May 10, 2006

It'll be like the stereo debacle all over again....

syadasti · May 10, 2006

Da Peach said:
Another reason to look forward to Christmas!

So anythin projection is not great then. Screw it.

On the contrary, private movie theatres and commercial use VERY expensive front projection systems

N8 v2.0 · May 10, 2006

I would have gone with a DLP projector instead of a plasma, but my room has way too much ambient light in it to make it work. I might be able to watch stuff at night on it, but during daylight there is now way I'd be able to see anything on the wall.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

N8 said:
I would have gone with a DLP projector instead of a plasma, but my room has way too much ambient light in it to make it work. I might be able to watch stuff at night on it, but during daylight there is now way I'd be able to see anything on the wall.

Front projection is never any good for rooms with windows...

MMike · May 10, 2006

I should point out here that he is buying a TV instead of a decent bike.

He still rides a 1988 fully rigid Trek Antelope with Biopace chain rings.

syadasti · May 10, 2006

My first mountain bike was a Trek 830 w/the biopace...

hooples3 · May 10, 2006

check out Syntax olevia 37" .. a friend of mine is heavily into electronics and told me it has the same internals as the sony model.. the only thing the speakers on it arent as good..

MMike · May 10, 2006

SIS thumb shifters

syadasti · May 10, 2006

Westinghouse has a decent priced 37" LCD that does 1080p.

BTW, Westinghouse invented active matrix LCDs...

syadasti · May 10, 2006

MMike said:
SIS thumb shifters

XT thumbshifters ruled!

Ridemonkey · May 10, 2006

The Panasonic Viera line is pretty impressive. No complaints.

Atomic Dog · May 10, 2006

Da Peach said:
Anyone with any experience on just using a plain old RCA old style with and HDTV? Does it look at least as good as a regular TV? Or does is look worse. Some of the posts on the other forums seemed to allude to that.

The HDTV will really highlight all the bad stuff in the picture that your current tv doesn't show. On my non HDTV I noticed a difference in picture quality going from the RCA cables to the S-video. RCA vs. Component on the HDTV will likely make a huge difference.

LCD in my future

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Not the sharpest tool in the shed

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