HDTV

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

From Wired.com via the AVS Forums

 

The High-Def FAQK

 

By Lore Sjöber

02:00 AM Feb, 21, 2007

 

What is high definition exactly?

 

Remember when you tossed out all your old VHS tapes because they told you that DVDs were going to finally give you the perfect cinematic experience in your own home? They lied. Oh, man, did they lie. DVDs are dirt. They are earthworm smegma. You may as well hand a toddler some permanent markers and tell her to draw Vito Corleone on the living room wall. No, if you want the true actual real cinematic experience, you're going to have to go HD. For real this time.

 

What are the advantages of switching to high definition?

 

You've heard about the greater levels of clarity and detail, and the richer colors. If you check out most bars and pubs, though, you'll discover that the main advantage of high-definition television is that it makes people on the screen fatter. The bar owners wisely set the televisions to stretch non-HD video so it fills the screen. This not only keeps the pixels on the edge of the screen from feeling lonely and neglected, but when patrons see a thicker Jennifer Aniston on reruns of Friends, they feel better about ordering another round of beer and a plate of chili nachos. And so can you!

 

When watching actual high-definition shows, the main advantage is that you get to see more of the hallways. How many times have you been watching Grey's Anatomy and thought, "I wonder what the sides of that hallway look like?" Well, thanks to the improved aspect ratio of HDTV, you can see exactly how spacious and open the hallways are! From the broad cornfields of Smallville to the ample starfields of Battlestar Galactica, your peripheral vision is in for a treat it won't consciously register!

Is it a good time to get into high-definition video?

 

Of course it is, especially if you're nostalgic for the '80s. With more than a dozen cable channels and nearly 300 movies to choose from, it's like the early '80s all over again, only this time Howie Mandel's bald!

Is HD equipment expensive?

Oh, heavens, no, not compared to other forms of entertainment. For instance, renting out an entire movie theater so you can watch Scary Movie 4 with a couple of your friends would cost nearly a third of what it costs to set up a decent high-definition home theater, and that's only for one movie! And a trip into near space may be fun, but it costs appreciably more than replacing all your home theater equipment. Have some perspective!

 

What are the differences between Blu-ray and HD DVD video?

The main difference that the average consumer will notice is that one of them has "Blu" in the name. This means that the market is largely divided into those who find comic misspellings charming, and those who don't. Sony is counting on the support of people who frequent restaurants with names like Kountry Kitchen and E-Z Stop-N-Eat.

Which one should I buy?

 

It doesn't matter, because whatever you choose is going to end up spinning down the drain like a dead goldfish. Remember when you bought a MiniDisc player instead of an iPod? Because you thought it was going to be "the new CD"? You're so doomed.

I keep hearing about 1080p. What's that?

 

It's a video format. The "1080" stands for 1,080 lines of video, and the "p" stands for "purchase," because if you bought high-definition equipment three years ago, you're going to have to toss it out and buy new stuff if you want 1080p. There used to be 720p and 1080i, which we thought were pretty awesome at the time, but now we realize that if you're using that you may as well hand a chimp a bucket of compost to throw at your living room wall while you play a John Williams soundtrack. No, 1080p is the way to go if you want the actual true real total immersive complete cinematic experience. Honest. We're totally sure this time.

 

- - -

Born helpless, nude and unable to provide for himself, Lore Sjöberg eventually overcame these handicaps to amass an impressive collection of remote controls.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

That's totally awesome. The guy who wrote that should do consumer report shows on TV or something.

[SuperJerk 0]

That was the shit.

[Vampiro69 0]

The Howie Mandel line was great.

[MrRant 0]

You can do it yourself, however, getting to the Comcast office, and them sometimes being out of it or not can be a pain in the ass, whereas if you have an installation date set up (most of the time they shouldn't charge you unless you're a first-time customer; otherwise it's just a service order) they'll just do it and you can get it over with.

 

Also, with a bit of technical know-how, having the DVR function on your HD box can be pointless. The DVR for Comcast's box is only 20gig, which is quite limited especially for HD programming. You can set one up through your computer for much cheaper.

 

It's 160GB. Ends up being 60 hours (SD, more if you live in an ADS area) and about 25ish HD.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Sony's releasing a $599 Blu Ray Player thats not the PS3!

 

and the crowd goes "meh"

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I really don't understand why 1080p wasn't made a standard HD format from day one. All you ever heard was "Well, 1080i is better for stills and such, but 720p is better for sports or fast action." It never clicked earlier that the two could be combined somehow?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I really don't understand why 1080p wasn't made a standard HD format from day one. All you ever heard was "Well, 1080i is better for stills and such, but 720p is better for sports or fast action." It never clicked earlier that the two could be combined somehow?

 

The technology for 1080p displays hasnt been around that long, and 1080p content is limited to BR discs since no cable/sat company has the bandwith to push 1080p content, ever probably.

[Craig Th 0]

HD-DVD can do 1080p also. The 360 does it and Toshiba is coming out with a player that does 1080p soon. http://www.cepro.com/news/editorial/16826.html

 

And some sat company will say they can do 1080p and it will look like shit.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

You know HD-TV is making it when infomercials start to air in HD:

 

Local TV station news departments and advertising agencies aren’t the only ones getting used to working in HD. One of the nation’s largest infomercial makers, TriStar Products, has also recently made the move, making it easier for viewers to see all the beads of sweat and rippling crunches that are part and parcel for products like the Ab Slide and Ab Roller. And potential buyers of the Power Cooker or Jack LaLanne’s Power juicer will have more vibrantly colored vegetables and fruits to add allure to the products.

 

Based in Fairfield, NJ, TriStar made the move when it opened a new 66,000 sq. ft. production studio. Four Panasonic AJ-HDX900 multi-format DVCPRO HD camcorders shoot 30-minute infomercials and two-minute spots and the company also uses the HDX900s in the field to shoot testimonials and B-roll.

 

Yippee! I demand a 24 hour HD Infomercial Channel.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Well, HD would definitely make me more likely to watch those things, so it seems like a smart move. The only question is how many TV stations they can get to air them in HD instead of SD.

[treble 0]

Cogeco just added TheScore HD to their HD package. Marvin would love it, Jabba the Hutts everywhere.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Apparently the folks at Toshiba decided that they needed triple layer HD-DVDs to claim the high capacity award back from Blu Ray by 1 whole GB (3 17 GB layers for a total of 51 GB to Blu Ray's 50 GB). Of course, A) Who knows if the triple layer discs will work in currently available players and B) Sony was working on a 100 GB Blu Ray Disc..whatever.

 

And, I have a problem because as much as I want to get a PS3 for the Blu Ray player, it doesn't upconvert DVDs and is supposedly a really horrid progressive scan (480p) DVD player so Id have to keep my upconverting DVD player. That means I wont have any open inputs to run the PS3 (Im pretty certain it has to go on Component since DVI isn't HDCP compatible, but that will still get me 1080i resolution on my TV). I could always rerun the Nintendo through composite but I really do notice the difference in picture over component vs composite on the nintendo. So who knows..I could get a switcher..

[Jaxxson Mayhem 0]

I'm probably gonna get this.

 

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_in..._32_inch_LCD_TV

 

 

What do you guys think of it?

[Craig Th 0]

And, I have a problem because as much as I want to get a PS3 for the Blu Ray player, it doesn't upconvert DVDs and is supposedly a really horrid progressive scan (480p) DVD player so Id have to keep my upconverting DVD player. That means I wont have any open inputs to run the PS3 (Im pretty certain it has to go on Component since DVI isn't HDCP compatible, but that will still get me 1080i resolution on my TV). I could always rerun the Nintendo through composite but I really do notice the difference in picture over component vs composite on the nintendo. So who knows..I could get a switcher..

Yeah, just get an HDMI switcher. That is what I have.

[Craig Th 0]

I'm probably gonna get this.

 

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_in..._32_inch_LCD_TV

 

 

What do you guys think of it?

No, it doesn't have HDMI.

[Jaxxson Mayhem 0]

I'm probably gonna get this.

 

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_in..._32_inch_LCD_TV

 

 

What do you guys think of it?

No, it doesn't have HDMI.

 

 

I don't really need HDMI yet, cause i dont have anything to hook it up to. But, if i ever needed it in the future, couldnt i just get this?

 

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI-hdm...l-dJk4kXbVU7Cih

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Obsessing over connectors is silly. Just get the TV if you like it.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Obsessing over connectors is silly. Just get the TV if you like it.

 

This.

 

 

Also, yes, the second link will do the trick. DVI to HDMI cable is one option, and, in addition, DVI-HDMI connectors are also available. But Invader's quote trumps.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Im stuck using a DVI-HDMI connector. The only thing is since DVI doesnt pass audio, the audio which the HDMI does pass wont go to the TV so you have to use the red/white audio cables. Im not at all an audiophile so I cant hear any difference at all. Also, theres a chance that the DVI isn't HDCP compatible which means some sources that are HDCP encrypted wont work, which includes BluRay and HD-DVD discs and some cable/sat boxes. Id make sure if you're buying a tv regardless that it have at least two sets of component inputs and ideally two sets of HDMI/DVI inputs to avoid running into input shortage problems like I am.

[Craig Th 0]

Obsessing over connectors is silly. Just get the TV if you like it.

HDMI looks better than component and like Marv said, HDMI does audio which is great.

 

Im stuck using a DVI-HDMI connector. The only thing is since DVI doesnt pass audio, the audio which the HDMI does pass wont go to the TV so you have to use the red/white audio cables. Im not at all an audiophile so I cant hear any difference at all. Also, theres a chance that the DVI isn't HDCP compatible which means some sources that are HDCP encrypted wont work, which includes BluRay and HD-DVD discs and some cable/sat boxes. Id make sure if you're buying a tv regardless that it have at least two sets of component inputs and ideally two sets of HDMI/DVI inputs to avoid running into input shortage problems like I am.

You upconverter isn't HDMI?

 

And I wish I had two HDMI inputs because switching stuff is a pain in the ass sometimes. I have to get up and hit the switch on HDMI swithcer.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

My upconverting DVD player is HDMI only but it works with the dvi - hdmi cable.

 

My inputs:

 

DVI - DVD player

Component 1 - Nintendo

Component 2 - HD Tivo

 

I posted that cheap HDMI switcher in this thread although I dont know if its still available or not. They are otherwise expensive.

[Craig Th 0]

Yeah, we don't have the same TV like you said we did. I have a HDMI input.

[razazteca 0]

You know HD-TV is making it when infomercials start to air in HD:

 

Local TV station news departments and advertising agencies aren’t the only ones getting used to working in HD. One of the nation’s largest infomercial makers, TriStar Products, has also recently made the move, making it easier for viewers to see all the beads of sweat and rippling crunches that are part and parcel for products like the Ab Slide and Ab Roller. And potential buyers of the Power Cooker or Jack LaLanne’s Power juicer will have more vibrantly colored vegetables and fruits to add allure to the products.

 

Based in Fairfield, NJ, TriStar made the move when it opened a new 66,000 sq. ft. production studio. Four Panasonic AJ-HDX900 multi-format DVCPRO HD camcorders shoot 30-minute infomercials and two-minute spots and the company also uses the HDX900s in the field to shoot testimonials and B-roll.

 

Yippee! I demand a 24 hour HD Infomercial Channel.

QVC HD or HSN HD?

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

What is this I hear about High Definition Radio? Is there anything more to it than regular radio in 7.1 ( or 5.1) sound?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

From what I understand, HD Radio is nothing more than Digital Radio instead of Analog. I dont know if its in 5.1 or not, as we dont have any stations around here in HD and subsequently nowhere to buy the equipment. I do think I remember reading that being digital it allows stations to simulcast 3 or 4 different stations on 1 frequency similar to OTA TV digitally broadcasting subchannels.

 

HD radio is obvious the radio broadcasters shot back at Sat radio, but the fact is, even if the reception is better, the sound quality is better, and it provides more and different content, you still have to deal with commercials, and repetitiveness and honestly none of that is going to be any better in better quality sound.

 

Plus, as IVe said a million times, being half deaf, the sound quality issue for me is pretty much a non-issue.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

HD Radio is basically broadcast radio over a digital signal. 5.1 sound is capable with it, though I don't know that will be the norm.

 

Currently there are no commercials on HD Radio subchannels, IIRC. It's basically broadcast radios way of overcoming the satellite issue, as stated.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

What's a DLP? Is it the same as a rear projection? What benefits do they offer over flat-panel or CRTs? What disadvantages are there (besides slow start-up time and the obvious size).

 

I got asked a few weeks ago by a customer. I talked to him for like 20 minutes about his choices in LCD, Plasma and CRT, but since we don't carry and DLP or rear projection, I never bothered to learn. He's the only person to ever ask me, but it still couldn't hurt to know.

 

My folks have a rear projection (very similar to Max's), and the only thing they told me was "Oh, it was a great price!"

[Jaxxson Mayhem 0]

There are stations on HD that aren't on regular radios. Also, you have to have a CD Deck in your car that's HD compatible and you also have to buy a HD tuner which is $200.

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1167444748126

[CanadianChris 0]

What's a DLP? Is it the same as a rear projection? What benefits do they offer over flat-panel or CRTs? What disadvantages are there (besides slow start-up time and the obvious size).

 

I got asked a few weeks ago by a customer. I talked to him for like 20 minutes about his choices in LCD, Plasma and CRT, but since we don't carry and DLP or rear projection, I never bothered to learn. He's the only person to ever ask me, but it still couldn't hurt to know.

 

My folks have a rear projection (very similar to Max's), and the only thing they told me was "Oh, it was a great price!"

There's a little light bulb in a DLP TV that needs to be replaced fairly often (every year or two, depending on usage). It generally costs three to four hundred dollars.

 

That closed the book on DLPs for me.