*** THE OFFICIAL HOME THEATER & AUDIO THREAD**

[UML]

how do u rate the different brands of LCD?
Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, Viera, etc

and where has the best prices?

[Porn Star]

I just got a 52" Samsung Series 7 LCD and it is pretty nice.
I also have a 52" Sharp Aquos and a 40" Sony Bravia, which are both very nice as well, but the Samsung takes the win.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

nice

how do u rate the different brands of LCD?
Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, Viera, etc

and where has the best prices?

Samsung is dominating the review sites on current model panels.
Not just LCD but Plasma too.

only backlit LED LCDs have been able to compete with the best plasmas.

The Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO is king of the hill of all TV's tested and it's a plasma.
Samsung runs an arguable second with either its 8 series plasma or backlit LED.

a Samsung backlit LED is about US$4000-$5000 and a Kuro PRO is about US$6000

edgelit LED is a waste IMO
and well plain old LCD is for watching TV or surfing the web.

[UML]

I just got a 52" Samsung Series 7 LCD and it is pretty nice.
I also have a 52" Sharp Aquos and a 40" Sony Bravia, which are both very nice as well, but the Samsung takes the win.

u coming out tuh buss movietowne?!!

[crazybalhead]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8580769/Radio ... cteristics

For anybody using a Radioshack SPL meter for measurements. Read this article.

[X_Factor]

a bit off topic
but anyone uses the HD converters on normal digital cable?

where u send the cable feed thru the box and it upscales it to 1080p hdmi output

[sharkman121]

X_Factor, wasnt aware there was such a thing, does it truly give an HD experience from digital cable, or is it another overhyped product that delivers little?

How much does this retail for and where?

[X_Factor]

search it on google, amazon etc...

i was hoping someone here had an idea about it

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

a bit off topic
but anyone uses the HD converters on normal digital cable?

where u send the cable feed thru the box and it upscales it to 1080p hdmi output

most upscaling receivers can do this from analog inputs.
Most new receivers have upscaling built in but be sure to read on what it is using to upscale.

the quality depends on the processor being used and the processor determines the price.

HQV is top of the line, AnchorBay processors are very good and used by Pioneer and Pioneer Elite. There is also Faroujda upscaling which is also good but getting old.

upscaling from 480i DVD quality will be pretty good, however upscaling from 480i digital cable where the quality is not tops will not look as good.

The quality will be 1080p but will only be as good as what it is upscaling

480i is SD or standard definition aka normal TV.

[rodfarva]

The other day I saw a Denon HTIAB

I wonder how dumbed down it is...given that denon is generally a top shelf brand

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

^ alot of top brands are offering HTIAB or all-in-ones - they not necessarily any good, but they need to have some offering for the niche.

[rmtuner]

any tuners using front projection systems here?

cause that's what me use.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

^ what kinda projector you got?

[rmtuner]

the Panasonic PT-AE 3000 1080p, it's LCD

shows real boss!

I use a DIY 110" screen.

[rodfarva]

we have a viewsonic 1080i dlp projector with a 110" screen for movie night...but it almost never gets used....

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

^ nice - wish I could own a ProjectionDesign Avielo one day

http://www.avielo.com/products_optix.html

nice projector but unfortunately it retails for about US$30K

[rodfarva]

I dunno... Projectors are really not as convenient as normal TV's...ours is just doing nothing most of the time....using it kinda ends up being an event... i dont see it as having casual use value...

Then I watch a movie on it...and get blown away

[rmtuner]

true
but I have it hooked up to a HTPC so I can watch movies, games etc...

The NEW LED projectors looking real good.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/vivitek ... review.htm

20,000 hrs on the bulb is great.
the price is d problem.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

I honestly been looking at a projector for my home theater setup - but I can't control the light in the room enough to warrant one.

[X_Factor]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-HTDDW790-C ... B000RFBITK

what u think about that reciever from the system?

i cant tell but does it have hdmi inputs so i can send my dvd player into it?

[ru$$ell]

^nope

[X_Factor]

i cant see that pic

does the reciever hav hdmi output?

and if i send the dvd signal through the player im guessing it wont up-convert to 1080p?

[ru$$ell]

^^ok,my bad,the uk spec says they have hdmi,while the US doesnt,which is weird

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

X_Factor, that system is from 2007 and seeing that Amazon doesnt have it again, more than likely means its discontinued.

Don't buy something that old - remember you want expandability for the future.

this is the back of it


compare it to a cheap Yamaha that can upconvert


ideally you want to get as much flexibility with your receiver, after all it will be the heart of all your home theater endeavors for a while to come

now THIS is a freakin receiver!

[nareshseep]

check this guys diy projector

http://revision3.com/systm/projector

[ru$$ell]

^that isnt any guy,thats patrick norton!

[16 cycles]

backside on that Denon suhweeeet....

interestingly enough Best Buy was offering some combo systems with Denon-s as the head units and sony HTIAB speakers.

Didn;t have the specs to really delve into how good the head-unit was in case someone wanted to keep it and upgrade rest of system later on.

just a heads up for those looking at options..

[16 cycles]

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/htib ... box-review

667usd

just one of the systems

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

^that isnt any guy,thats patrick norton!

lookin like a prison inmate but still doing a great job

I miss the days of Patrick and Leo on TechTV

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

as 16 cycles mentioned that and upgrading...

there are different schools of thought:

some say you buy your speakers for forever and you can change your equipment as time goes by and technology changes - so buy the best speakers available.

others say you buy your receiver and amps and equipment for forever and change your speakers as time goes by - so buy the best equipment available

few audio/videophiles say don't buy anything for forever cause you change everything all the time as time goes by - so don't waste your time on anything overly expensive.

what you guys think??