HDTV compatibility Q

[AZZenny]

I am about to buy a Samsung 40" 1080p HD LCD, after much shopping. It's fallen into the do-able price range, pic is great, etc.

Now: I have DirecTV. I considered a switch to Dish network for other reasons, but I want to get the MLB Playoffs and they're on TBS, which only DTV has. (This assumes DTV can set things up in the near future.) I have to get a new HDTV-ready satellite and the HDTV receiver (which from reading, sounds like a lethargic piece of junk, but Oh well... they sort of have you by the short curlies.)

The receiver does 720p but in 1080 it's only 1080i -- is that going to cause problems?

Should I get the 'Monster Cables' they recommend for the TV?

 

[abomb]

I cant answer the first part, but Monster Cables are no better than the cheapies, since with a digital signal you either have a connection or you dont.

 

[Chaz]

Look at the compatability chart.
It will probably accept many formats and convert/display them as 1080p.

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/Samsung-LN-T4066F.htm
This one shows compatablility with 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, & 1080p.


The bottom line is it will work with any input but it will look best with a native 1080p input. As far as I know HD-DVD or blu-ray is the consumer source that will do that.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

My TV is either 720p or 1080i, but I'm pretty sure I can't tell the difference between something broadcast in either.

I don't think you will be able to tell, and I think it's totally compatible.

 

[O]

My TV is either 720p or 1080i, but I'm pretty sure I can't tell the difference between something broadcast in either.

I don't think you will be able to tell, and I think it's totally compatible.

Fox HD football is broadcast in 720p and CBS HD football is broadcast in 1080i.

I can see the difference.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Ummmm...I'm watching the Dbacks on TBS on my Dish Network.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I am about to buy a Samsung 40" 1080p HD LCD, after much shopping. It's fallen into the do-able price range, pic is great, etc.

Now: I have DirecTV. I considered a switch to Dish network for other reasons, but I want to get the MLB Playoffs and they're on TBS, which only DTV has. (This assumes DTV can set things up in the near future.) I have to get a new HDTV-ready satellite and the HDTV receiver (which from reading, sounds like a lethargic piece of junk, but Oh well... they sort of have you by the short curlies.)

The receiver does 720p but in 1080 it's only 1080i -- is that going to cause problems?

Should I get the 'Monster Cables' they recommend for the TV?

I cant answer the first part, but Monster Cables are no better than the cheapies, since with a digital signal you either have a connection or you dont.

abomb is right. Never, EVER buy Monster cables. You do not need them. Get every and all cables at monoprice.com You will spend 10-30x the price, for no quality increase.

Second. What type of receiver are you looking at? How much does it cost? I can give you some suggestions. About the receiver being a 720p, it doesn't matter than much, however with receiver prices these days, there is no way that I would buy one. You can get a 1080p passthrough capable receiver for a few hundred bucks.

 

[AZZenny]

Well, it's whatever the HD (non DVR) receiver is that DirecTV provides - HR20-700 or something - it's the only option (since I don't want to pay $200 for DVR). I just didn't know if getting a 1080i receiver and a 1080p TV mattered, or if I should downgrade to a 720p TV. The one display online of p vs. i, the p was incredibly better, but that was with both at 720.

O, when you say you can see a difference, which way is the difference?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Well, it's whatever the HD (non DVR) receiver is that DirecTV provides - HR20-700 or something - it's the only option (since I don't want to pay $200 for DVR). I just didn't know if getting a 1080i receiver and a 1080p TV mattered, or if I should downgrade to a 720p TV. The one display online of p vs. i, the p was incredibly better, but that was with both at 720.

O, when you say you can see a difference, which way is the difference?

Well, it does matter.... and it doesn't. Right now, DirectTV "box" only allows up to 1080i right now. None of these boxes from any of the satellite/cable providers will be 1080p anything soon. However, If you plan on buying an HDDVD player, or a Bluray player, a PS3, Xbox360, etc, these devices are capable of displaying a 1080p picture. If you connect these devices to the 1080i receiver, the signal will get downconverted to 1080i by the receiver and the TV will display a 1080i picture as well.

If you are going to spring for a 1080p TV, you should spend the $400-$700 (Onkyo) to get a 1080p passthrough receiver. You would also be futureproofing your system by doing so.

 

[AZZenny]

It's just the satellite receiver you get from DTV -- not like the receiver for the overall system. I just got an Onkyo TX SR505, and I can't tell from the manual what it handles -- it has 2 HDMI inputs, one output, but I'll have to look it up online. I am feeling myself getting totally in over my head here...


OK here's what the Onkyo says (someone tell me what it means, please?):

It features HDMI switching (up to 1080p with HDMI version 1.3 support), high def-compatible component video switching (480i/480p/720p/1080i) plus your usual assortment of composite and S-video inputs.

 

[Linderbee]

I am feeling myself getting totally in over my head here...

I have complete confidence that DCR will take care of you.

 

[Chaz]

It's just the satellite receiver you get from DTV -- not like the receiver for the overall system. I just got an Onkyo TX SR505, and I can't tell from the manual what it handles -- it has 2 HDMI inputs, one output, but I'll have to look it up online. I am feeling myself getting totally in over my head here...


OK here's what the Onkyo says (someone tell me what it means, please?):

The switching is just so you can use one input on the TV for several video sources. When setup, switching the receiver from DVD to DTV will switch both the audio and video.



As a further clarification of the resolution issue; the LCD TV will always display 1080p what ever the source resolution is. LCD is a fixed pixel display 1920x1080 is the only resolution it has. How good lower resolution sources will look depends on the quality of the electronics that do the conversion to fit the TV. A 1080p source will look the best but I doubt you will see much difference between 720p and 1080i sources.

People that will notice a difference are most likely those that TVs display the image in the original resolutions(those that are not fixed pixel).

 

[dreamcastrocks]

It's just the satellite receiver you get from DTV -- not like the receiver for the overall system. I just got an Onkyo TX SR505, and I can't tell from the manual what it handles -- it has 2 HDMI inputs, one output, but I'll have to look it up online. I am feeling myself getting totally in over my head here...


OK here's what the Onkyo says (someone tell me what it means, please?):

The 505 is a pretty good buy, I would have gotten the 605, but nice buy. The 505 only also VIDEO switching through HDMI. You still have to use separate cables for audio. The 605 allows HDMI video/audio switching. The 605 will also decode the latest audio codecs, whereas the 505 cannot. I have a 504 that I purchased last year, to hold me for a couple of years, and then buy the 674. Anyway you can get the 605 instead?

 

[AZZenny]

Yeah, it was on sale, very good price, and I'd had a similar type Onkyo for a decade that finally died and had liked it a lot.

Chaz, thanks -- that makes (some) sense and settles it. I also read that for some reason I don't recall that a 40" is less prone to display variation than the much larger screens. Onward! Time to spend!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Yeah, it was on sale, very good price, and I'd had a similar type Onkyo for a decade that finally died and had liked it a lot.

Chaz, thanks -- that makes (some) sense and settles it. I also read that for some reason I don't recall that a 40" is less prone to display variation than the much larger screens. Onward! Time to spend!

The larger the TV, the more variation you will see. The mark is 48" and above from everything that I read.

Chaz is right. Every TV has a native resolution. Some have a fixed resolution like the LCD you are purchasing. The TV will automatically try to convert the image to its native/fixed resolution.

Samsung makes a good TV. LCD is a little pricey right now, for the features/PQ that you get, but if you can afford it, it is worth it.

Enjoy your new LCD.

PS. I love Onkyo too.

 

[AZZenny]

For $1600, the pic quality I've seen on the 40" samsung is pretty stunning. My 6-yr old Sony 32" monster (which was about $1100 at the time I got it) is dying in frustrating slow grunts, and will of course choose to blow itself up in mid-playoffs -- so I have to get something, and the difference in size and weight of the equipment is a tremendous plus for me.

 

[AZZenny]

Well, checked online this AM one more time to make sure it was the TV I wanted, and voila! Circuit City had it on a couple-day sale at $1500, so I trotted in there, credit card at the ready, and waited for a salesperson. And waited. One sales-kid was in a corner discussing something with a customer, so I waited. Then a Jack Black Wannabe came over and I asked if he could help -- showed him the online printout, and he said he thought they could match it. I pointed out it was their own price, if they couldn't match it I suspected Best Buy might, and he said he was a supervisor but new to the store. Then tried to tell me I really needed Monster cables. He didn't know about their delivery/haul-away procedures... he said he'd find a salesperson to help me.

So I waited. The original salesguy had disappeared and his customer wandered off, and I looked around and there was JackBlack playing airguitar in a corner, so I left, drove across the mall to Best Buy, walked in waving my price print-out and announced "I'm ready to buy a TV!" Had a pleasant and neat-looking salesguy in seconds, he found a manager who matched the price immediately, they set up all the scheduling, got me the right basic cables (and said no reason to pay $50 more for Monster cables), and I paid and was out of there in ten minutes.

SO -- now I will have to look at a new DVD player after all, and I hope one of you kind folks can tell me the difference/pros and cons of BlueRay vs. HDDV or whatever it is. I will be getting a region-free DVD player, which the BB guy said can only be gotten online.

 

[UncleChris]

SO -- now I will have to look at a new DVD player after all, and I hope one of you kind folks can tell me the difference/pros and cons of BlueRay vs. HDDV or whatever it is.

Man-o-man, is THAT a can of worms. Lotsa aruging about it, and in fact, I think that there is a thread in this forum with losta pro-cons on both formats. If you have the dough, for the short term buy one of each (To the best of my knowledge, there is no player that will play both and give you all the features of both).

Good luck. Since I buy most of my DVD's, I'm waiting for a true dual format player or for all movies to be available in both formats. I'm not holding my breath for the short term.

 

[AZZenny]

I think for now I'll buy an acceptable basic HD-connectable region free player and wait for the battle of the formats to shake out. I am SO not going to buy one of each!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think for now I'll buy an acceptable basic HD-connectable region free player and wait for the battle of the formats to shake out. I am SO not going to buy one of each!

You can buy one of each, and still save money over duel players. Plus get 5 free HDDVDs and 5 free Blurays. An upconverting region free player will cost around $149.

 

[AZZenny]

Sometimes space is as big a deal as money -- my understanding thus far is neither BlueRay or HD DV come region-free -- plus they use different regional definitions than standard DVDs, just to confuse things. So I'd have to have three DVD players? I don't watch (or buy) that many DVDs to make it worth my while.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Sometimes space is as big a deal as money -- my understanding thus far is neither BlueRay or HD DV come region-free -- plus they use different regional definitions than standard DVDs, just to confuse things. So I'd have to have three DVD players? I don't watch (or buy) that many DVDs to make it worth my while.

Well, any duel player won't be region free either. It doesn't look like you will go into the HDDVD/Bluray realm anytime soon. It isn't for everyone.

 

[Linderbee]

:BIM: dual, not duel...unless they're fighting. Which, since they are...maybe it should be duel.