TVs - Digital/Analog

sachinsood

Hello,

I recently read about the US govt.'s decision to go all digital for TVs starting 2007. I am looking to buy a new TV for my home. My budget is around 500 to 600 tops. Been looking at Sony and Panasonic so far (27-32" flat screens).

Any suggestions or thoughts on whether buying a TV like the Sony KV-27FS100/200 (www.sony.com) would be future ready (as in digital compatible)?

Any other personal recommendations on other brands within the same price range?

Circuit City (CC) has an additional 50$ off on all TVs 399$ and above with free shipping. I was thinking of getting one online, but after reading the reviews on CC about these TVs (Sony and Panasonic), I decided it was better I go look at them personally. Some occassional complaints in the reviews about bad Sony/Panasonic sets and stuff like TVs going bad after 5 months (labor warranty expires in 3 months and hence incurring 200-300$ to get it fixed ). All this makes me jittery as for me this is pretty much more of an "investment".

Any comments/suggestions would help. If I am able to save up some cash this month (which I doubt after spending on my HT and some furniture), I might put in a couple hundred $$$ more on a TV.

Thanks.

Receiver: Yamaha HTR 5590
DVD Player: Denon DVD900
Speakers: Polk Audio R50

PolkThug

Get the "City Advantage" plan from CC, and if the TV doesn't look as good as new during the entire length of the plan, CC will replace it with the same model, or put that money towards a different model.

Ceruleance

Just remember that with digital TV deadlines in the past the gov't has been extremely lenient and few stations are meeting the goals. 2007 should have most of the worthwhile stations digital though, I'd say 2009 for complete and total conversion.

dorokusai

If anyone is going to bend and meet deadlines it will be Sony. They are the whores of this industry, and thats a good thing sometimes.

sachinsood

I have been looking at some stuff online on Sony, Zenith and Panasonic. Went through some finer details of each TV offered by them and I believe it is best to get a TV that supports Progressive Scan.

My DVD player (Denon DVD900), though not top of the line, has Progressive Scan, so I might as well utilize it. I read if you turn on Progressive Scan on the DVD player and the TV wont support it, you just don't get a clear comprehensive picture.

Just bought 3 DVDs - Where Eagles Dare, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Dirty Dozen - no TV yet! Dang it! Had an unexpected 800$ expense on the car - but oh well I can wait. Don't wanna end up watching these classics on my laptop but it's hard on resist...

Thanks for the info - if there are any other suggestions, I'll be grateful. In case I do wait until my next pay check, I'll prolly put in around 1200-1400$ on a better (HD)TV.

Laters.

danger boy

I was wasting time at CC just today.. window shopping for a digital TV.. the one that caught my eye was the Panasonic Tau series. beautiful sharpness, contrast, brightness, and a monster of a TV.. it easily (IMHO) beat the Sony Wega hands down.. for less dinero too.

Panasonic Tau 36"

While it's a little above my spending right now.. they do offer this TV in a 32" model too. for a few hundred less..

Look for a TV with a resolution of 800 lines and above..

The plasmas were very nice too. but at 3 times the price... it's hard to justify it. oh yeah the coolness factor of the plasmas was high.. just not a very consumer friendly price.

sachinsood

Well, I'm waiting a while - about a month or two to buy a new TV. I was looking at the Sony KP-46WT510 46" 16:9 Hi-Scan® Projection Television. It's for 1600$, but I guess I'll go for it. I'll have enough saved by then to afford it.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=8BLB8Ep8yEXB9HXP1CTL-wVtYlZNvPlfKFA=?CategoryName=pr_p_onecentpremier_tv&ProductSKU=KP46WT510&Dept=tv

The only thing I noticed was a sort of "warning" note they provided in their specs sheet for this and other 16:9 TVs. It says:

Viewing bright, stationary images such as TV logos, and or continued usage of the 16:9 aspect ratio setting ("normal" Wide Mode) can result in permanent damage in the picture tubes used to display images in your projection TV.

Bleh. But oh well. Let's see. I'll keep ya'll updated.

dorokusai

Older TV's had burned image issues more than modern tubes. That's not to say it isn't a valid argument, but its usage related. You really have to go out of your way to burn a solid image in a newer tube. If you play game consoles often, they usually don't help things.

I have had a Mitsubishi 2070 TV for 15 years. Played MANY games, left it on for days on end, picture controls always on bright...and this sob is rock solid. No image issues at all.

sachinsood

I got this response from Sony about their KP-46WT510 HDTV.

=====

The KP-46WT510 TV accept the full 1080 interlaced scanning lines (1080i) or 720 progressive scan (720p) from an external HDTV receiver or a compatible high definition digital satellite receiver. It also accepts 480 progressive (480p) scanning lines from compatible DVD video sources. It does not have a built-in HDTV tuner. With a progressive-scan player, you can optimize DVD picture quality.

Viewing bright, stationary images such as TV logos, and or continued usage of the 16:9 aspect ratio setting ("normal" Wide Mode) can result in permanent damage in the picture tubes used to display images in your projection TV. When using TV games, computers and similar products with your projection TV, or viewing a TV station whose logo always stays on the screen, keep the brightness and contrast functions at low settings. If a fixed (non-moving) pattern such as a station logo is left on the screen for long periods of time, especially at a high brightness or contrast setting, the image can be permanently imprinted onto the screen.

==End of response==

Last 2 sentences of para 1 concern me. I plan on getting this TV and getting Time Warner's RoadRunner Digital cable service. Will that be good image quality on this TV? I have read about HDTVs not having good image quality if getting input from normal cable service.

What is a HDTV tuner? Will I really need one to view normal digital cable channels (not coming through satellite, but digital cable)?

ChrisDurano

1st off, that TV looks pretty nice. When I get one, I want to make sure it has that amount of horizontal resolution (enough for 720p). Also, if you calibrate your tv with something like Avia, you won't have to worry about your setting being too "bright" to allow any "permanent burn-in."
Lastly, make sure you get the extended warrranty wherever you buy.
Do you plan on going "HD?" Or just using progressive scan from your DVD source?

ChrisDurano

Originally posted by sachinsood
......
Last 2 sentences of para 1 concern me. I plan on getting this TV and getting Time Warner's RoadRunner Digital cable service. Will that be good image quality on this TV? I have read about HDTVs not having good image quality if getting input from normal cable service.

What is a HDTV tuner? Will I really need one to view normal digital cable channels (not coming through satellite, but digital cable)?

digital cable, I believe, doesn't offer that great of resolution (I think its like 280 lines).
If you want to have HD, you will need to get an external receiver because that model doesn't have one integrated. Once you get one of those, you can receive HD signals from sources like satellite TV (subscription) or over-the-air (need to get an antenna).
They do sell "integrated" HDTV's where the tuner or receiver is built inside the TV so you don't need an external receiver. I know this is being debated w/ the Government as well, whether or not to have manufacturers just have them all "integrated."
I think the good thing about the "integrated" HDTV's is you don't need the external receiver and you can get the over-the-air signals for free (depending on where you live, of course) as long as you have an antenna. Those antenna's you can get at reasonable prices too.
Good luck!

sachinsood

Ah thanks a lot for that explanation. I read about this Sony TV not having an internal HD receiver or what some call a HD tuner. Now suppose I do buy this TV, how much would I have to pay for getting a HD receiver?

Or suppose I subscribe for dish satellite service, will they provide the box? (I have seen them give people a satellite receiver box for free with subscription sometimes). Is that what the HD receiver is? Sorry I'm all confused with the hook ups for satellite and digital cable.

I would use the TV lot with my progressive scan DVD player and for normal channel viewing. I don't get much time for tv as I get back home late from work. it's mainly on weekends that I would watch more TV or movies.

Another question-then is this TV an HDTV "Ready" monitor? I guess it is, since it does not have an internal HDTV tuner. It just confuses me. I go to the Zenith website, and they have projection TVs and HDTV Ready TVs in separate categories and the Sony website has projection TVs, under which this one falls. But nowhere, in the title is this mentioned as HDTV Ready. Only in the specs, at one point they mention the need for an external HDTV tuner.

Also, living in an apartment complex, I am not sure if I can get the satellish dish hooked up here, so I may at best have to opt for digital cable. Is this TV worth it then? Would it produce good clarity on the screen with dig. cable as its input?

Thanks.

ChrisDurano

Originally posted by sachinsood
...
Or suppose I subscribe for dish satellite service, will they provide the box? (I have seen them give people a satellite receiver box for free with subscription sometimes). Is that what the HD receiver is? Sorry I'm all confused with the hook ups for satellite and digital cable.

That box they provide for free is usually just a box to get all their channels (similar to the type digital cable gives you when you subscribe) and is not for HD reception.

You should also contact a sales rep from your property group (apartment) and ask what your contract says about installing satellite dishes. Most of the time, they allow it but the important requirement is you have a clear view of the southern sky.

Yeah, that whole "HDTV-Ready" label is confusing but when you're shopping, just ask if you need to get a separate HDTV receiver or is there a built in tuner. They range in price depending on a few different features, but you should be able to get a basic one under $500.

PolkThug

HDTV-Ready = HDTV Monitor.

You don't really need an HDTV with a tuner built in. I do, but I don't use it because Time Warner gives you an HD box that you have to use, regardless of whether you have your own HD tuner box or not. They did not charge me any extra for the HD set-top-box.

DirectTV has a very good deal right now where you get the dish, and three receivers for free. You pay 149 up front, but you get that back on rebate. (CC (KC area) is even offering $100 in free pizza coupons to go with it as well). Normal Digital subscription plus HD tier is $51 a month. If you pay for premium channels, HBO, Showtime, you also get HBOHD and ShowtimeHD channels.