Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with HDTV

Is a higher HDTV contrast ratio actually noticeable?

muddgirl — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:02:39 -0800

After a few disagreements, the mister and I have decided to buy a HDTV. Question about contrast ratios inside. The mister has narrowed it down to a 42" 1080p plasma screen TV from Panasonic. They make two models with a slight difference in contrast ratio and input ports:

1) TH-42PZ80U, which is cheaper but has a contrast ratio of 20,000:1

2) TH-42PZ85U, which is around $100 more, but offers an extra VGA port and a contrast ratio of 30,000:1. Currently we don't need the VGA port, but it might be useful if we ever change our set-up.

We've looked at both models in the store, but it's impossible to tell the difference in that environment. Really, is the higher contrast ratio actually worth $100? If there's any other comments on this model I'd appreciate those as well.

We usually watch TV in a low-to-dim light setting, occasionally in (very) indirect daylight. For the record, the mister is arguing that we should go ahead and get the "best picture" we can afford, while I'm arguing that $100 might be better spent on a high-def DVD drive for our media center...

Downsides to using an HTDV as a computer monitor?

ambulatorybird — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:53:20 -0800

I'm thinking about getting an HDTV to use as a monitor for my computer, because the versatility and cost/size ratio seem much better. What are the disadvantages? The only disadvantage I've heard is that TVs are much brighter than computer monitors, which would make it necessary to sit farther away to avoid eyestrain. I've also heard speculation that TVs distort colors to make the image appear artificially vivid. Does anyone know of any other drawbacks?

(In case it matters, I plan to do a fair amount of digital art and video.)

Gimme some o' that!

Acacia — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:54:22 -0800

Why does HDTV look so good in the ads? So, I'm watching a Comcast commercial about HDTV. They are showing a television running in HDTV and I think to myself, "WOW! That picture looks great. The color is awesome, the clarity is fabulous, I should really save my nickles and get me some o' that!"

But wait. I am watching this great picture of HD on my crappy-ass 14 incher and I dont have HDTV. Why, then, does it look so good? If a picture of HD looks that great on my regular TV, why dont they just make my regular TV look like it did when they showed me HDTV?

How do I make my TV-enabled computer and HDTV play nicely with each other?

If only I had a penguin... — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:29:22 -0800

I just bought an HDTV. I have a computer with a TV Tuner card and beyond TV software. I do not have a standalone DVD player. I have a digital cable box (which may or may not stay, depending on your advice) and I have an HD box on the way. How should I set this all up? The TV is a Sony Bravia 32" 1020P if that matters. The computer monitor is dell 20" wide screen. I know it has two kinds of inputs. The computer is a dell with a tv tuner card. The computer is my main computer not a dedicated media setup.

I would like to be able to:

1. Continue to use my computer as a PVR, using the BeyondTV software.
2. Watch content from my computer (i.e. things I take using BeyondTV, DVDs that I rent, movies that appear on my hard drive through entirely legal means, etc.) on the television. Preferable if I've recorded HDTV (can I do that?) to see it in HD.
3. Watch TV on the Television or computer.
4. Use the television as a second monitor.
5. Anything else cool or useful that I don't know about, but you suggest.

What kind of cables do I buy and where do I stick them and what are the advantages and disadvantages to various options I might have?

If I've missed something in asking the question or demonstrated a basic lack of understanding of the problem, that's due to ignorance, not lack of interest in your expertise, so please feel free to correct me or make suggestions I haven't directly asked about.

Hooking up a projector to HDMI

crapmatic — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:47:59 -0800

Audiovisual question. What will happen if I plug the HDMI output of a Sony Playstation 3 to the DVI port of this max. 1280x1024 pixel LCD projector? I would of course have a HDMI-DVI cable. Will I be able to display 720p or 1080i stuff? And if it doesn't work, are there devices out there that downsample HD so I can use the projector for pseudo-HD movies and games? I really do not want to buy an HDTV. If it matters, a PDF manual for the projector (2.2 MB) is here.

When is two inches worth $150?

joshrholloway — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:30:46 -0800

I am trying to compare the Toshiba 40RV525U and the 42RV535U. I don't see much difference except for two inches and almost $150. How much of Toshiba's spec sheet is marketing mumbo-jumbo and how much of it is real? (alternatively, recommend me a different HDTV in the $750-900 price range) For the past week or so I've been looking at HDTVs, and after last night I had finally come to the conclusion of the Toshiba Regza 42" (42RV535U - Toshiba's page; Amazon). I plan to buy whatever I choose on Amazon, but wanted to see the thing in person. So I waltzed over to my local Best Buy this afternoon and did not find the 42" Toshiba, but a very similar 40" (40RV525U - Toshiba's page; Amazon), which is almost $150 less on Amazon.

The biggest differences I see are the two inches, which is basically negligible considering the room size, and the price. There are a couple spec differences according to Toshiba, but I don't know how much of it actually means anything. Things like "Super Resolution Technology" and "PixelPure 14-bit rendering" don't really mean much to me in real-world speak. Customer reviews look equally good for both sets.

So basically I just want to know if any of you HDTV pros out there may see significant differences between the two models that warrants the extra $150 for the 42". I'm coming from a 10-years-old 27" tube TV with a bad hum and a weird color spot, so anything is a huge improvement at this point. I will mainly be using the television for gaming on my Xbox 360, but it will also be our primary family television.

(Also, if you have an HDTV you like better in that price range, I'd love to hear your recommendations and reasoning.)

Over the air HD?

ruwan — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:48:55 -0800

HDTV filter: I recently bought a new HDTV with a built-in tuner. When I auto-tune over the air, I receive about 6-8 channels clearly, but none in HD. (Most CBS/FOX/ABC sports and local news are broadcast in HD, but I only seem to get them in non-HD.) Am I doing something wrong or do I have to buy an HDTV antenna from my local Radio Shack (if so which one should I buy?) - The new TV: Samsung LN40A500.
- I know I am not able to receive HDTV through my cable provider (private housing complex), so that's not an issue.
- I am in Westchester County, NY. According to AntennaWeb, there are many over the air HD broadcast stations.

Can I still be one of the cool kids with 720p resolution

Saucy Intruder — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:24:50 -0800

I grabbed a 42" LCD television made by LG, on sale at Circuit Bankruptcy for $750. I saved a couple hundred bucks by choosing one with 720p/1080i resolution rather than 1080p. Am I a dumbass or a genius? Intended uses: Standard and hi-def digital cable from FIOS with maybe a 5-foot viewing distance; low-intensity gaming (of the Wii variety); low-to-moderate DVD watching (but we don't run with the finding-nemo-hi-def-bluray crowd.)

Any drawbacks to jumping on this now?

A question about digital TV antennas in SE Portland.

concrete — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:30:33 -0800

A question about digital TV antennas in SE Portland. When I shipped out to the Navy, I left my parents set up with two digital TVs: one HDTV and a conventional set with a set-top box. The old ¨rabbit-ear¨ antennas work well enough, but they require readjustment every few hours or so. What would be a superior replacement? They live in Southeast Portland, near Mall 205.

Priorities:
-Do not require frequent readjustment
-Do not require external installation or wiring through walls
-Difficulty in establishing initial setup is not a huge problem as long as it stays set up for extended periods
-Gets every channel available

Let me know if any other information would help.

How much will HDTV priced drop this season?

bargainhunter — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:36:43 -0800

I still don't have HDTV and have been postponing this major expense as much as I can. Last week was in Costco and saw Westinghouse 32" LCD for just $399 and almost snapped. Does it make any sense to wait longer? Will prices sink after Christmas or will they stay flat?

Can the new macbooks handle HD DVR'ing?

middleclasstool — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:29:27 -0800

New Macbooks: how good are the integrated NVIDIA graphics? So I'm finally making the leap and buying my first Mac, hopefully by the end of this year. Now that the gap between the high-end MacBook and low-end MBP is so narrow, I can't justify the extra cost...except maybe for graphics.

I don't do hard-core gaming or anything, but I may use this thing occasionally as an HD DVR and to play high-def content. Will the regular Macbook with integrated graphics have enough juice to handle this, or would I need to upgrade to the Pro?

And yeah, I know I can get a Pro refurb for cheaper, but right now I just want to know all my options.

I need cable/internet. Should I go with Comcast, DirectTV, or DISH Network?

decrescendo — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:03:14 -0800

I need cable/internet. Should I go with Comcast, DirectTV, or DISH Network? I just moved into a new apartment in Arlington, VA and I need cable. I have a 50" Panasonic plasma and I want as much HD as possible. I'm pretty sure we'll have line-of-sight to the satellites, as well.

I despise Comcast because of its internet throttling/bandwidth and it's horrible customer service (I should have cable already but they screwed me over).

Do I go with satellite? If so, do I get DISH or DirectTV? Have you all had problems with rain fade, reception in storms, etc.?

And if I get them, should I go with Comcast shitty internet or Verizon? Or do they have satellite internet?

Help me dial in digital TV in Portland

chrchr — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:37:33 -0800

I canceled my cable and switched to OTA digital using a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 tuner and a cheap amplified antenna. I'm getting great reception on all channels except KPTV, where there are enough dropped frames and signal interruptions to make the station unwatchable. Can you help me watch the Seahawks this afternoon? In Portland, all of the broadcast towers are placed on a hill just to the west of the city. I live in Northwest Portland, about two miles from that site. I'm getting strong signals for KOIN and KATU, and the signal for KGW is weaker but good enough. KPTV is the only station I need that I'm not getting. I live on the third floor of an apartment building, and I've got the antenna on a six foot high shelf. By the looks of it, I just need a little bit more signal. The Hauppauge software has a signal monitor that shows a signal to noise ratio of about 19 on KGW, and on KPTV I get about 13 to 16. Thanks for your help.

Upscaling DVD player that's region-hackable?

middleclasstool — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:29:10 -0800

Looking for a region-free (or region-free-able) DVD player with upconvert for $100 US. I'd also just like to go to Best Buy or wherever (in the US) and pick it up this weekend. Ideas? I've looked at a couple of upconvert players on Best Buy's website and cross-referenced with the database of codes at videohelp, and I'm not finding any of them.

Of particular interest to me is the Pioneer DV-410V-K -- videohelp points to firmware I can download and use, but I'm leery of that.

Other googling tells me that the player may be region locked, and it may not. Interestingly, downloading the PDF manual for the player brings up a curious point: the English instructions say it's locked and that's that, but babelfishing the French instructions seems to imply that you can at least switch regions, if not go fully free.

Does anyone have any good data on this player or another that I can pick up in-store and unlock through the remote? Also, my HDTV is one of those that can handle a 1080i signal, but not 1080p. I'm guessing that's not a problem (just don't use component cables), but I want to be sure.

Any player suggestions are welcome, provided they don't stray too far over $100US, and special points for being able to pick it up at a US chain this weekend -- I just rented season 3 of "The Wire" and hate to waste the rental fee.

A tv tuner for macs?

wfrgms — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:19:04 -0800

Can you recommend a good, reasonably priced, external HDTV tuner that will work with a friend's iMac? A friend would like to add a tv tuner to her iMac, but isn't sure what to buy. I know there are USB HDTV tuners out there, but do any of them work well with Macs?

She's not looking for anything elaborate or costly. She'd just like to tune over the air HDTV on her iMac, and watch a few shows. Some software PVR functions would be great.

Side question: I use Windows Media Center with my own FusionHDTV5 card, which works well. Is there a comparable product for Macs?

Sorry if any of this is clueless, I know nothing about macs...

Help me upgrade my DIY HTPC without it becoming a PITA

genial — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:58:00 -0800

With digital OTA coming in February and the possibility of dipping into HD in the near future, help me give my 2 year old HTPC a facelift. I'm working with a ASUS P4S8X-MX board at 3.0Ghz and 2GB of memory. I have a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500 MCE in there and a fairly lowend videocard because a needed a way to get TV-out (I believe it's a Radeon 9250 but don't quote me on it).

Here's what I'd like to do. I'd like to have this thing be able to receive OTA after the digital switch. We don't get or want cable or satellite and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Instead of spending my money and government coupons on digital boxes that I then have to route through the computer, can I purchase a card that will do that?

I am also looking at the fact that HD is becoming more popular and a nice TV could be purchased in the next 6-12 months that could take advantage of some of that OTA HD stuff. What does it take to support HD recording?

Last and final question. When we set this up we were on XP MCE 2005. We since upgraded to Vista and while we like the interface, I can't help but drool at some of the other software options out there like Plex, Mediaportal, et. al. Something that is easy for the wife to use is of utmost importance but I'm getting a lot more content online these days and adding it to the box (because of a lack of cable/sat) and the Vista Media Center seems less focused on media other than photos and personal videos. Any good recommendations on the software front?

How can I see closed captions from DVDs on my HDTV?

Faint of Butt — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:35:52 -0800

I've got an upconverting DVD player hooked up to an HDTV via an HDMI cable. I can't get the closed captions to display at all, and I know I'm not the only person to have this problem. Any suggestions? So, yes, I've got some mild hearing loss, and I prefer to watch DVDs with subtitles on so I can follow the dialogue without having to turn up the volume to wife-bothering levels. Sometimes, though, a DVD won't include subtitles (infuriatingly common among TV shows, I've noticed) and I'm forced to turn to the closed captions. The problem is that HDMI doesn't want to carry the captions to the screen, so I have to use an analog connection such as S-video or component, and the picture quality takes a serious hit. I'd give it up as hopeless if not for this, from HDMI.org, which states that "Closed captioning is available as long as the source supports and renders it." That's awfully vague, but it gives me a small amount of encouragement.

So how about it? Can anyone recommend a specific make and model of upconverting DVD player which will transmit closed captions to my HDTV via HDMI? I'm tired of watching grainy, pixelated TV shows just so I can follow the story.

Anyone who suggests that I just use the English subtitles on the DVD has clearly not read the question, and will be deserving of great mockery.

How can I tastefully hide my new HDTV when not in use?

925 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:41:13 -0800

In our living room (new construction), we have a space for my new HDTV, but we want it "hidden", "tucked away" or "invisible" when not in use. What are some great ways to do this? I just got a Pioneer 1150HD plasma HDTV that is 48 plus inches wide, 28 plus inches tall, and about 5 inches deep.

In my living room next to (and above) my fireplace, I have a 57 inch high, 24 inch deep, floor to ceiling high opening. I can't really use the space to the left or the right. I can use the space below or above.

I want to keep the HDTV closed up when not in use, and have the wall look tasteful. When I am going to watch TV (occasionally) I want to open, slide, or roll, the TV open, and tuck the doors or covering out of the way.

I have seen pop-up sets, roll-up artwork, and doors to the sides. One advisor says that doors sliding into the opening won't work on an opening this wide due to weight and opening depth issues.

I'm looking for ideas and/or links to tasteful, high-quality nice appearance solutions. Otherwise, my wife may make me take the HDTV back!

I need my Rare Visions fix...in HD?

piedmont — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:46:06 -0800

Keep me entertained on my new 20" widescreen. How small can I encode my DVDs and what's the most cost-effective way to get broadcast TV on it? I bit the bullet and purchased a new widescreen monitor to replace my TV. How can I keep DVDs encoded at a relatively small filesize without sacrificing too much quality? I know it's always a tradeoff, but I figure that at 20" I can get a little leeway. And are the cheaper DTV tuners a total rip? Will the cheapo converter box I got with my voucher look OK with an analog TV tuner, or will the difference in quality be noticable enough to warrant buying a new tuner? Any suggestions or cautions on Digital USB tuners? Are there converter boxes with DVI out since the monitor doesn't have RGB? Just over the air, and no PVR function necessary. I'm running XP pro with a Pentium 2.0ghz Dual Core and 2gb of RAM if that helps.

Coaxial cable HD converter?

cgs — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:00:56 -0800

HDTV filter: I accidentally tore out my coaxial input. Can I still get the HD signal from my cable into my TV via a converter? As I was taking my wall-mounted HDTV down I accidentally tore out my coaxial jack. I thought I had disconnected all the cables, but forgot about the only one w/ the screw connection. It popped it right out of the board, and I can't get it back in there.

I know if I was a proper citizen I'd pay the $100 a month for real cable, which would then connect to my set via HDMI and solve my problem. But I was running my cable directly into my set and was getting all the free broadcast HD signals, which is enough for me.

So! I bet I could find a coaxial -> RCA adapter, but am pretty sure that the HD signal would be lost. Do you know of an adapter that suits my needs? I have plenty of inputs on my set...

Thanks, AskMeFi!

Best HDMI switch?

matteo — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:12:45 -0800

Best HDMI switcher out there? (plasma TV only has one port) I'd like at least three, maybe four ports. Remote control not really necessary, I'd like to have maximum image quality though and I can spend, within reason, to obtain it. I see they're all between 50 and 100 dollars, maybe there are some known lemons out there? Maybe there's a kickass brand? Thanks.

Why the DTV lag?

middleclasstool — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:04:43 -0800

Why does a tv station's digital signal lag behind its analog signal? We're one of those annoying families that refuses to pay for TV. We forked over the cash for an HDTV with a digital tuner, and absolutely love the results -- more channels, better quality, total freeness.

But we've noticed a weird thing. Our other two TVs are still on rabbit ears. One of them, in the kitchen, is well within earshot of the HDTV in the living room. Yet if we have the same show on both TV sets, there is a distinct lag, not more than maybe two or three seconds, between the two shows.

This happens on all networks, so I know it's not a channel-specific thing. I haven't timed it, but I'm positive the lag is precisely the same length regardless of the channel, too.

Is there a technical reason for this lag to occur? I know the DTV signal is actually being transmitted on a totally separate frequency (channel 2's digital channels, 2.1-2.4, are actually broadcasting on channel 5's frequency, for instance), so what could be the reason for the delay?

How do I rotate a coax feed?

MrMulan — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:29:20 -0800

Can a cable feed be rotated 90 degrees on a monitor if the signal comes in through coax? I need to hang a HDTV vertically and show a live feed. The monitor doesn't have an option to rotate the image. When done with VGA, the video card usually has the utility to rotate the image. Is there an equivalent for coax?

My boss wants it hung vertically for aesthetic reasons.

Are these things just a big scam?

fvox13 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:37:21 -0800

Where does one buy an HDTV these days? (Rochester, NY if that helps) So, I'm looking to get at least a 50 incher, and I'd like to spend under $1500 (I'd go slightly higher, depending on the set). I don't like Plasma, since I've seen a lot of burnt-in sets. Maybe LCD or DLP?

I've seen *SO* much variation of price... I've looked at NewEgg, Best Buy, Circuit City, and a smaller local retailer (Charlotte Appliance).

Where's the best place to go? I know enough to avoid those $50 HDMI cables, but I don't know where to go to get the best deal / what to look for.

How much do the tech specs of HDTV's matter?

mkultra — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:42:06 -0800

When buying an HDTV, how much does 120mhz vs. 60mhz refresh, and 4ms vs. 5ms response matter? I'm taking the HDTV plunge, most likely picking up a 1080p LCD from Samsung. Is the ~$350 price increase from the Series 5 (last year) to the Series 6 (this year) models worth it? The Series 6 models have a slightly faster response time (4ms vs. 5ms) and a better refresh rate (120mhz vs. 60mhz).

I'm looking forward to sports and XBox360 in HD, though I'm not quite so fanatic as a lot of the folks over in AVSForum. How much will I notice the difference in these things? Bonus question: will either of these improve playback of SD/DVD content?