Trying to buld HD or near...HD system

[NoCalMike 0]

Ok so here is the situation. I am looking to get an LCD TV (HD Built-in) that is going to have a DVI connection at the least, but possibly DVI + HDMI. This will of course have me wanting to upgrade to an HD DVD player, with an HDMI input if possible.

 

That takes care of the video aspects, however I am wondering what am I losing by having a surround sound system that does not feature HD inputs? Currently in my house we have a 5.1 Dolby/DTS system that is hooked into the tv which is a Sony Trinitron. I have my eye on a 7.1 Onkyo system that features component inputs, but since the receiver is for SOUND and not video, I really don't think it matters, as long as the Sound System appeals to me.

 

I guess what I am asking is, does the surround sound receiver have any barring on the video? In otherwords, if I have an HD TV w/HD DVD Player, then as far as SEEING THE MOVIE, it will be HD quality, regardless of what the Surround Sound receiver quality is......right? I don't mind not having the BEST SOUND EVER, as most surround sound systems are pretty damn good regardless, but I just want to make sure I am not missing out on anything big by going with a Surround Sound receiver that does not have HD inputs......Thanks.

[NoCalMike 0]

*bump* come on, someone has to know....

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

What kind of audio inputs does it have.

 

If you really care about the audio you'll want digital optical/coax audio connectors. Its the only way to get digital surround sound, and if you are going through the trouble of hooking it up for digital hd (through the HDMI, where as component provides only analog HD) then it would be silly not to go all the way as well for the audio, that is if your TV/DVD player have the outputs and the surround sound reciever has the same inputs.

 

Also, I've had a surround sound system before but not now, but I dont know whether or not its required to pass both the audio and video through at the same time. If you could hook the video up straight from the DVD player to the TV and the audio from the DVD player to the surround sound to the TV, then you would be ok (although maybe you could have synching issues? I dont know..). If the video has to go through the surround sound reciever (like I had mine at the time), then you wont get an HD picture unless you get the one with component input/outputs.

Edited June 3, 2005 by MarvinisaLunatic

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Hold on HD DVD until the format wars are over with. Take it from a guy who bought a LaserDisc player back when, okay?

 

I don't know if your "HD built in" tv means there's a tuner in there or not, but unless you plan to get signals off the air it's not really important because both cable and dish use set top boxes.

 

But to answer your real question...

 

HDMI can handle sound, provided all your hardware supports HDMI, which is only somewhat likely. HDMI can basically be described as "DVI + Audio" as it has extra bandwith available. Because of that, HDMI cables and inputs are compatable with DVI ones if you go and buy a small converter to put at the end.

 

HDMI doesn't really provide any kind of picture quality increase or anything other than sound going over the same wire as the video. If you already have some sort of digial coax/optical sound setup you want to retain, than HDMI doesn't really hold any advantages over DVI, although it's nice when your TV and your equipment use the same plug.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Im asuming he was refering to a upconverting DVD player, which upconverts everything to "HD Resolution".

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Okay, well, there's no magic that makes DVDs look HD quality. They can't look any better than what's been processed onto the disc, so blowing it up to 1080 isn't going to help.

 

A very nice quality DVD player hooked up to your TV is the best you can do. I don't trust these "turn your DVD videos into HDTV" shit. That's like saying "Turn your shiny rock into a diamond."

[NoCalMike 0]

Im asuming he was refering to a upconverting DVD player, which upconverts everything to "HD Resolution".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Well if the prices were ridiculous then I wouldn't waste my time or money, but the models I have seen with brands ranging from Sony - Samsung have been approx $150 which isn't really THAT much money in the first place.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

An upconverting DVD player can actually make DVDs look a little sharper and clearer. I have a Zenith model that does a very good job with my Mitsubishi HD-ready set.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Okay, well, there's no magic that makes DVDs look HD quality. They can't look any better than what's been processed onto the disc, so blowing it up to 1080 isn't going to help.

 

A very nice quality DVD player hooked up to your TV is the best you can do. I don't trust these "turn your DVD videos into HDTV" shit. That's like saying "Turn your shiny rock into a diamond."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

In this setup, over a HDMI connection, the upconverting DVD player will look much better than a standard DVD player. Plus, there aren't many standard DVD players that have HDMI/DVI hookups to begin with, so he could be stuck trying to do it over a Component connection, which would definitely not look as good as the upconverted over an HDMI connection.

 

Oh, and I haven't heard anything good about the Samsung upconverting DVD players, most reviews are pretty bad. My TV and LCD monitor are made by Samsung and are awesome though, but its different technolgy.

[NoCalMike 0]

Well I am going to Best Buy tomorrow, have my eye on a Toshiba 46" widescreen HD-Ready tv. I am also going to be buying the Home theater system too, but I will worry about that once I get there..

 

 

EDIT: hmm, it seems that if you order it ONLINE, it comes with a free HD-up conversion dvd player....

[RedJed 0]

Well I am going to Best Buy tomorrow, have my eye on a Toshiba 46" widescreen HD-Ready tv.  I am also going to be buying the Home theater system too, but I will worry about that once I get there..

 

 

EDIT: hmm, it seems that if you order it ONLINE, it comes with a free HD-up conversion dvd player....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thats a great deal they got right now on that 46 Toshiba. GET IT. I got the same TV in December for $1399 there and havent had one single problem since I bought it. I use an upconverting DVD player from Toshiba too and it really does look sharp with that HDMI input - prgressive for the PS2 is nice lookin also. Oh and dont worry - no need to spend a ridiculous amount of $$$ on a Monster Cable HDMI cord or anything, the DVD player should have one.

 

As far as audio/theatre system goes, my best advice would be to go to an Electronics store other than a major outlet for a decent deal, just a local top notch shop. I got a Yamaha 7.1 reciever w/ 7 speaker Paradigm for about $800.

 

Total side thing, but if you want HD channels, go with Dish Network, they just got some channels from VOOM that are killer, like Monsters HD (all horror movies in HD)

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Total side thing, but if you want HD channels, go with Dish Network, they just got some channels from VOOM that are killer, like Monsters HD (all horror movies in HD)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And how do you watch NBC, ABC, etc? I'd be more concerned with watching major network programming in HD than whatever old monster movie Voom dished up.

[RedJed 0]

Depends on your preference I guess - both dish providers dont provide the locals (although I think in some markets DirectTV does) which does suck but I've noticed around here the cable company we have had HD locals BUT they are watered down versions of such (some markets call them "HD Lite") as they dont have enough bandwidth to give them all the full treatment, so it's kind of a joke. Sure they're decent, but they're not as good as they should be in true HD sense. In researching as well, you'd be surprised how many cable companies have this same problem. Plus in terms of other channels, most cable companies still carry their basic cable stuff on an analog signal where digital comes in much clearer over a larger TV.

 

Or the better idea is just to get your local HD channels over the air via an antenna - if you live in a major market you should be able to get most and of course thats completely free. That would be my best advice, get locals off the antenna and then get a dish for the rest.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Dish companies tell you to get the locals off the air from your affiliate's broadcast tower. Some boxes (like Voom's, before they went belly-up) had off the air tuners built in for receiving local broadcasts as well as the satellite feed.

 

The problem is, there's a lot of places in California where you live too far away from your nearest big city to pick up their NBC feed out of the sky. I'm in the north bay's wine country, and for me to get signals from San Francisco in my home would require an antenna bigger than Sutro Tower.

 

Voom's selection of channels are nice, but the programming choices have had that "HD in-store demo" feel to it that I would give up for something like, say, LOST in HD.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I just was at Wal Mart today, and they have revamped their whole electronics department and they now carry some DVI and HDMI cables..CHEAP. $24 for the 6ft DVI cable and $44 for the HDMI to DVI cable. They are both made by Philips, which is a name brand enough for me, and way cheaper than I've seen elsewhere. Circuit City wants $99 for a 2 meter Monster DVI cable and $149 for a 2 meter Monster HDMI to DVI cable for instance.

 

Just figure Id throw that in.