Saturday, August 3, 2013

Is there really that big of a difference between hdtv and regular tv?

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 on ... High End v1.3c HDTV PS3 Plasma DVD, Top Quality - HDMI Cable - Cable
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I was planning on getting a big plasma or hdtv but I just don't see if its worth all of that money.

olderbutwiser hit it on the head......


if it was just a marketing gimmic.......
us Techies.....high end users
would NOT waste the money on it

it's not a $5,000 Chia Pet or pet rock here....

not that it proves the point but 5X the bandwitdh....gotta be more quality there....

Do those upconvert DVD players really work? Is the picture really that much better for regular DVD's?

Jeff B

I have a 50 inch plasma HDTV and a large collection of DVD's and would hate to have to replace them with HD or Blue Ray DVD's.

It's all a marketing gimmick.

Your Hi Def TV up samples the video sizes 480p to 1080p/720p to fit on your screen, same as the DVD players.

There is no real magic with these DVD players. You can't magically make the image quality 4-8 times better by some $5 video chip.

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Friday, August 2, 2013

Source of rumor of no antenna needed with converter box?

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 on High signal gain High Definition OTA antenna - Indoor type
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Can anybody tell me where the rumor came from that no antenna is needed if you use a digital converter box. I'm seeing this all over the technical areas of Y!A. People complaining that they don't get a good picture with their converter box unless they have an antenna hooked up and they were told that you wouldn't need one. One person just said in an answer that he saw it on the news. What news? Any other engineers out there seeing this same issue have any clue where it started?

I don't think it's possible to determine the source of the "no antenna needed for the digital converter box" rumor, but I suspect it is uneducated or misinformed people who do not understand RF transmission/reception principles. All it takes is one person who appears (or is believed) to be 'an authoritative source' to say something, and as it gets repeated and embellished from one source to the next, it takes on a life of its own. This is the nexis of the human communication principle "A lie told often enough becomes the truth."

As tomtom and Roland L. have correctly pointed out - it is not true that you do not need an antenna to receive over-the-air digital TV broadcasts. Anyone with a modicum of technical knowledge knows that some sort of antenna is required to receive any type of broadcast RF signal. This is especially true for over-the-air digital broadcast signals, which are fed to the digital converter box in order to convert the digital signals to analog signals that can be viewed on older TV sets (those without an ATSC tuner).

The specific type/quality/placement of antenna required (such as outdoor amplified, outdoor, indoor amplified, indoor, 'rabbit ears' or even a length of bare wire) depends on how close the antenna is to the transmission source, the source signal strength, and sources/amounts of interference in the line of sight between the transmitter and receiver (such as large buildings, high voltage electrical transmission lines, topography, etc.). The overall determining factors are signal strength and quality.

If the signal strength is weak, or if there is a large amount of interference, the amount of signal received will be insufficient to be demodulated into a usable signal. Thus a good quality antenna (possibly amplified) would be required. If you're sitting on a hill very close to and in the line of sight of the broadcast antenna, then it's possible that you could use a coat hanger for an antenna. But you obviously don't need to spend a lot of money for a "specially designed" HDTV amplified antenna.

Will the switch to a converter box give me more channels?


I have an analog TV right now and I wanted to know what a digital box would do.

A converter box will provide you with your local channels as well as many other high end channels. You will see the difference in picture quality with no static or fuzz. You will need to purchase a compatible HDTV indoor or outdoor antenna to get the best possible reception.

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What is the quality of netflix via computer streaming?

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 on ... 32-Inch Cinema 3D 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV | Best TV Best store
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I have an up to date PC, with a good video card, excellent broadband, with a 32 inch HDTV as a monitor. I am interested in netflix, and was wondering the quality of streaming over netflix, and if it can deliver 720 or 1080 quality? Any one know of a service that does? (if netflix doesn't)

Most of netflix streaming is 480p - At 3 Mbits/s is close to DVD quality. If your bandwidth is more, you will get better quality. Give it a try, for a month it is free.

Which is better, LCD or Plasma tv in the 32" size range?

Scrappy Co

I'm planning on buying a 32" hdtv. Well my option was panasonic lx80 but I've read in some forums that plasma tvs have better picture quality compared to lcd panels. I'm planning on using this on ps3 gaming, movie watching and as pc monitor. So anybody could please help me regarding this? And could please someone explain it by having the pros, cons and explanation. Thanks!

That small, it makes no real sense to get Plasma.
LCD is the only economical option.

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Thursday, August 1, 2013

Does it still worth to buy a PS3 FAT?

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 on BBC - The Genius of Marie Curie (2013) 720p HDTV x264 AAC-MVGroup ...
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Lets face it. Its 2013. Still I would like to ask: should I invest? Im planning on buying a cheap first gen PS3, I would renovate it by cleaning it and changing thermal paste, adding a new, large hard drive. I am also planning on buying a cheap HDTV to use with it. I want to buy it becouse I want to play some games that are only available on the PS platform, but also any games I can get my hands on. But the big question: should I invest in buying a first gen PS3 that probably was made in 2006 or 2007? Also is there a noticeable difference between the SLIM and the FAT versions? I need advice, please help.
Please note that I dont want to wait for the PS4 becouse I dont have the money for that thing....

If you don't plan on getting a ps4 right away then ya get a ps3, but you should get a slim as they're more reliable.

prediction please: when will the blue ray player drop to sub $100?

Eric C

i am wondering should hold out or get a regular 1080p upconverting hdmi player?
i am considering philips 5992, $62 on amazon...

Sub $100? Not until Christmas 2012.

And then in 2013, we'll hear about the next new format which will pretty much be the end of Blu-ray. Buh-bye!

Upscaling players are cheap, and quite honestly, unless you have a 40" or larger HDTV that does 1080p, this will be quite adequate for your needs. I have one of the players from Oppo Digital ( Their players handle just about any format you can imagine, are region free (yay), and consistently score high with even the pickiest Home Theater Enthusiasts.

Now, if you're interested in video games, you may want to consider a PS3 which plays games, upscales DVDs and plays blu-ray discs, all at 1080p. At $400, it's one of the cheapest blu-ray players out there, and still considered one of the best for the money.

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Which Desktop should I get?

best hdtv 2013 under 1000
 on Top 10 TVs to buy under $1000
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Difference between these two desktops?
They are both Dell XPS 8500. Which one should I get? There is a 50 $ price difference.
First One-
3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3350P processor
Features a 6MB cache and 3.1GHz processor speed with Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz.
Intel® Core™ i5 processor
Features smart 4-way processing performance with a speed boost.
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Automatically speeds up your processor when your PC needs extra performance.
For multitasking power, expandable to 32GB.

Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Create custom DVDs and CDs.

1TB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.
AMD Radeon HD 7570 graphics

Feature 1GB GDDR5 dedicated video memory for lush images with intricate detail. HDMI output for connection to an HDTV.

4 USB 3.0 and 6 USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
Built-in Dell Wireless 1703 high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n)
Connect to the Internet without wires.

Bluetooth 4.0 interface

Built-in Ethernet LAN

Microsoft Windows 8 operating system preinstalled
Software package included
With CyberLink Media Suite Essentials and more. Includes 1-month trial of Microsoft Office 365.

There is also Internal high-definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MaxxAudio
IT is 749.99 $.

Here is the other one.
3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3350P processor
Intel® Core™ i5 processor

Features smart 4-way processing performance with a speed boost.
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Automatically speeds up your processor when your PC needs extra performance.
For multitasking power, expandable to 32GB.
Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Lets you create custom DVDs and CDs.
1TB Serial ATA III hard drive (7200 rpm)
Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times. The 16MB cache provides enhanced performance.
AMD Radeon HD 7570 graphics
Feature 1GB DDR5 dedicated video memory for lush images with intricate detail. HDMI output for connection to an HDTV.
19-in-1 media reader
Supports Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, miniSD, microSD, MultiMediaCard, Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard, MultiMediaCard Plus, MultiMediaCard micro, RD MultiMediaCard Plus and Compact Flash I/II formats.
Also supports SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick Micro, xD-Picture Card and Microdrive formats.
4 USB 3.0 and 6 USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
Connect to the Internet without wires.
Bluetooth 4.0 + LE interface
Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN
For quick and easy wired Web connection.
Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit operating system preinstalled
Software package included
With CyberLink Media Suite Essentials.

THERE is also
Integrated 7.1-channel with Waves MaxxAudio

THIS one is 679.99$

Which one should I get? I am really confused. Can u also tell me the difference between the two Ethernet types, GDDR5 vs DDR5 and the sound systems and also are the hard drive speeds make any difference with SATA and SATA III. At last and tell me which one is bang for the buck. Thank you in advance. Please describe of why you know.

The $679.99 desktop seems to be a better buy since it has a memory card reader. The addition of a memory card reader allows you to read memory cards such as those from digital cameras and a few other devices to be used.

The Ethernet ports are the same since the desktops are the same model which, I presume, uses the same motherboard. The different types of Ethernet LAN are the theoretical speeds that the Ethernet is able to handle, most if not all new computers in 2013 come with 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN. The more speeds do not matter since everything is restricted by internet speeds by your internet provider (Verizon, Comcast,etc...)or by networking equipment in your home. If you connect to your internet with a cable to your router or modem, the Dell Ethernet LAN is used. If you use WiFi, then the Dell wireless LAN is used.

There is no difference between GDDR5 and DDR5 since they are labelled under the amd radeon 7570 card which is a dedicated card with its own memory. DDR5 is GDDR5 when it is under a graphics card. A dedicated card is for better performance and graphics for gaming or videos.

Hard Drives in pre-built computers are hard to find out, but again there should not be a difference since they only have one hard drive but the xps 8500 has its hard drive connected to a SATA III port.

The sound systems does not make any difference as many integrated sound systems are sufficient enough. You may have to buy separate speakers for either of the computers which adds to your computer costs since new computers may not come with speakers.

The $679.99 model is better since it costs less and has the same specs and a memory card reader. Keep in mind there are other things that may increase the price of your desktop such as taxes and additional items that are not included such as speakers and monitors. If you are buying from a store, haggle with the manager for a better price, be sure to be kind to them. Best regards to you

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How to get the best out of my xbox360 and my new tv?

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 on LG 32CS560 32-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV Best price
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Hey i just bought a new samsung 32 inch lcd hdtv and i was wondering how to make my xbox 360 gaming experience the best? i would love to play my games with hd quality but what would i have to buy or hook up or do for that to happen?

you could get the HD cables for your xbox, but for a 32 inch tv it's not really necessary. You could just flip the switch on the audio/video cables to HD. That's what I do for my 32 inch and everything looks great.

What is the Best Way to Connect a Macbook to PC?

Tim B

I've researched it a little bit and I think I'm going to get a mini DVI to DVI cable and a DVI to HDMI cable. I have a 32 inch Vizio HDTV. I think this would work, my question is, is this the best way? I'm mainly concerned with the picture quality and finer details like text. Will the picture be as clear as it is on my laptop monitor?

Yes, that is indeed the best way. There is no better way to connect a computer to a display than DVI or HDMI, because it's a digital signal.

HDMI and DVI have identical image quality. Why?

Because HDMI is merely DVI + audio on one cable! The video signal carried by HDMI is in fact single-link DVI.

The only difference between a standard HDMI cable and a DVI-to-HDMI cable is that the DVI-to-HDMI does not carry audio.

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

What is the biggest affordable TV that does not cost that much?

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 on Cleaning Philips/Magnavox Projection CRTs - YouTube
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Chicago Bl

What's the biggest flat screen TV that I can use at home? I don't want to pay that much for a new big flat screen TV. Please give me some links from either Coscto or Target or Bestbuy that have good affordable TV's.

How about an actual budget? Affordable to one person might mean $1,000. It could be $2,000 to someone else, and perhaps $3,000 to another person. The word affordable doesn't really mean anything in this situation frankly.

Don't skimp on quality whatever you do. Be willing to go down a size if it means sticking with a higher end brand or a better quality model/series from a given brand. The mid-range models are usually the best bang for the buck. The entry level ones models, even from the top tier brands, can be attractive price wise, but can sometimes lack important features that really impact video and/or audio quality.

Panasonic, Sony, Sharp, Samsung, LG, and Toshiba are all your friends. I would confine your search and eventual purchase to one of those brands. They are all really strong manufacturers. I would recommend avoiding any other brands.

37" or smaller, you really only need a basic HDTV. A CCFL 720p 60Hz LCD will serve you just fine. Paying for the "advanced" features in those sizes doesn't garner much return on the investment (poor bang for the buck since you don't really notice the difference of having those features very much).

40" - 46" is a grey area. Some people like to start going with advanced options like 1080p (Plasma and LCD), 120Hz/240Hz refresh rates (LCD only), LED backlights (LCD only), or going with Plasma (over any form of LCD). Others feel that you can still get a great HD experience with the basic options. I lean towards going advanced feature set, but know people that have gone basic and absolutely love their HD viewing experience. Best way to sort that out for yourself, go into a store and look with your own eyes. See if it makes a difference for you.

50"+ you want advanced features. At that point I would really highly recommend going with a 1080p Plasma.

Check out for prices. They often have some of the best prices/sales all year round. That can give you a good sense of what you should pay for the TV you want. Also, if you can find a store that will price match them, all the better (if you chose to not buy from them).

Some good, what I consider, large sized, and affordable HDTVs,

Panasonic TC-P50G10 - or the slightly updated G15 -

Panasonic TC-P50S1 - - still a great TV, a bit less contrast to the G series, but still a top performer


SONY KDL52V5100 -

Samsung 46B750 -

You can find those models around at other places like Best Buy as well. ABC Warehouse though often has some really strong prices so that's why I used them an Amazon for the price quotes above. But those are all solid models.

Sony - stick with V or W series. Those are good mid-range choices that will serve you well in larger sized sets.

Samsung - stick with 650 or 750 series. Those are good mid-range series that will serve you well in larger sizes (The 7 series just adds multimedia features, which if you don't want/need you can save money and stick it out with the 6 series).

LG - stick with the LH40 series. I think that's the best bang for buck series from them. Unless you really need/want more advanced features from the higher series.

Sharp - The 77U series is likely the go to series from them for your needs.

Panasonic - my personal recommendation for larger sized sets; The S and U series offer really good quality TVs for sometimes more "affordable" prices. If you want some of the more advanced image options though look for the G series (look around, with a good sale can sometimes actually be close in price to a S series).

What kind of TV would I buy to hook up to my computer?


I want to get a TV (like 37") to hook up to my computer to watch movies and other things. I have a desktop tower that has a TV tuner in it so having the bigger screen would be nice. Would I need a special TV or cords to do this?

I have used this product and it performs really well I would definitely suggest

Panasonic TC-L37D2 37-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with iPod Dock
*Panasonic IPS LED Panel for uncompromising picture quality
*120 Hz Motion Picture Pro 4
*Universal Dock for iPod

Also check out at Ebay

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If you collect all three stamps at McDonalds for their monopoly contest, do you automatically win that prize?

Monday, July 29, 2013

Will a HDMI cable really change the picture quality of my LCD?

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 on Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV | ThisNext
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I just bought a 46" Samsung LCD HDTV 1080 and was wondering how to get a better picture quality could anyone tell me what type and brand HDMI cable to buy? Would it really make a difference?

Of course the picture will look better with HDMI but only if your going to have a high definition source coming from it like HD cable, blu ray player, or a dvd upconverter, or ps3. But if your going to not have an HD source than a HDMI cable is useless.

Brand doesnt matter and the difference from a Monster HDMI Cable and a Phillips HDMI cable is minimal to no difference at all. so dont let the best buy employees rip you.

What av cable should i buy for the ps2?


I have a ps2 av cable but it is damaged. I have a Toshiba 46 in lcd hdtv and I saw some ps3 cables that work for the ps2. Should I buy the normal or hd cables for my ps2?

Since PS2 only has an output port for AV cables and your Toshiba is HDTV; you should buy a Component AV cable. That will give you the best quality possible.

Take a look at this:

This is the official Component AV cable for Playstation 2 and 3

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Sunday, July 28, 2013

What brand of HDTV has the best picture quality and a decent sound quality?

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 on LG 32CS560 32-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV Best price
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I want good picture quality and decent sound from the on board speakers. 32 inch to 36 inch. I don't need prices but that would help. I WILL be going to best buy to buy it, and they have a bunch of great deals going on for 32 inch HDTV's. I was thinking samsung. Any complaints?

Samsung led tv will be best picture in 32" but is also the most pricey.

I have a blue ray player and a HDTV but am not getting true Blue ray quality?


I have a Phillips Blue Ray Player and a Phillips 32" LCD HDTV. I have them connected with a HDMI cable. I am NOT getting Blue Ray quality. When I go to electronic stores and see the same sort of setup the picture quality is amazing (of course that's what Blue Ray is known for).

What do I need to change or adjust to get the picture quality I am supposed to get?

Yes, I am using a Blu ray player and a Blu Ray DVD.

Real Blu-Ray quality is 1080 P FULL HD resolutions .
if you 32 inc HDTV is HD READY 720 P models, is unable to provide /display 1080 FULL HD quality.
i believe you TV is standard HD READY 720 P models.
you really cant do any things about it. unless change to FULL HD 1080 P models.
what is the difference between HD and FULL HD >

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What are artifacts when testing image quality?

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 on The Best HDTVs: 2013-06-23
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Reading many image quality reviews for HDTV's, there is alot of talk about artifacts (poor image quality)

What are artifacts, what do they look like, what do they do, how do they affect image quality?

Are they like big pixel squares, or cloudiness in the image?

What are they?

An artifact is a general term that refers to anything that was not faithfully reproduced. It covers a lot of ground.

The most noticeable artifacts are those that cause jagged edges or smears but just about any defect due to the encoding and decoding process an / or display anomalies could qualify.

How do I change audio setting on Samsung LCD to direct sound through Digital Optical cable to surround sound?


I have HDMI running from Surround sound to HDTV. I have Digital Optical Cable running from HDTV to Surround sound. How do I direct the TV to use the optical cable for sound instead of HDMI. The main goal is to have best sound quality for HDTV, HD Set-top Cable Box, and surround sound system. Thanks to any answers!

Run the optical cable from the TV digital audio output to the surround sound digital input.

Select the optical input on the surround sound system (can't tell you exactly how without knowing the make/model), and you'll get great audio from whatever you're watching on TV.

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Sitting 14 feet away from a 32 inch LCD HDTV?

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I was planning on getting a 32 inch LCD HDTV but I read from amazing that I shouldn't be sitting more than 8 feet away in that case. Will there be a noticeable difference if I sit 14 feet away?

Its just like any other TV you may have owned or used in your lifetime. There is going to be a sweet spot in viewing distance. If you sit to close it might hurt your eyes. If you sit too far back you might lose a bit of the details on the screen. That's about it.

32" would have an optimal viewing distance more in the 4-6 feet kind of range. So in watching it from 14 feet away, you likely will not see some of the finer details in the programming you watch. But that doesn't mean you still won't see and enjoy the programming. I think the biggest impact it might have is for sports and trying to follow a small object (puck, golf ball, etc.). But most news and like drama or comedy TV shows should be fine. Even movies off of BluRay or such would be fine, they just won't be "optimal" (but optimal is a subjective thing anyway).

You didn't mention why you're going at 32" though? Are you looking at that size cause of budget or cause of restrictions of how physically big the TV can be in the spot you're putting it. If its physical size and you're stuck, well not much you can do. If its budget, I would honestly consider a 42" 720p Plasma. You can pick up one of those without going a lot higher than a good 32" would cost you.

A good quality 32" set is likely going to float you in around $400, maybe a bit less. A 42" Plasma from ABC Warehouse can be had for $539 (I'd recommend the Panasonic one). Right now there are 3 42" 720p Plasmas on sale at ABC Warehouse for $539. So yes it is definitely more than a 32" set, but 42" isn't completely unattainable I would think. And 720p is all you need at 42", especially at 14 feet back. If you can manage that, I think it would give you a bit better result.

Do I need an HDMI Cable to get best picture?


I have a PS3, a 32 inch hdtv, and a brand new comcast digital cable box. All three have HDMI slots. Do I need HDMI cables to get the best picture? How many would I need?
Do I connect HDMI cable from ps3 to tv, ps3 to cable box, cable to tv? Which ones?

One cable for each item you want to connect to the tv. The HDMI will provide the best picture quality and carries the video and audio signal. Keep in mind that the the size of your tv, you can not see the difference between 720P and 1080P, you need at less a 46" or larger. Using HDMI cable is also cheaper that using the component video cable and an optical for the audio. Hope this will help you out.

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Should I wait for the 2013 50 inch Plasma TVs to arrive?

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 on ... HDTV Review Best 2013 HD TV Comparison | TV Reviews #1 | Best HDTV
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I need some advice. I am currently looking at the Panasonic TCP50ST50. I can get it for around $875 given the sales, CC discount, and points I have saved up. But, should I buy this TV now, or wait for the 2013 models to arrive. Here are my needs: I cannot go larger than 50 inch. Picture Quality is the number 1 priority. I have surround sound already set up. The TV will be an a basement that has windows, but still a dark room. I will be using it mostly for HDTV, Blue Ray DVD, and some gaming. I have a Wii U so I already have an ability to stream into my Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu accounts. So the questions would be: approx how much will the 2013 50 inch models be? Is Panasonic still the best? And will the new features on the 50" models be worth the extra expense?

You should consider the LED TV, tough the price is higher for that size. I find that the picture quality is better and the newer models are also equipped with a number of features (i.e.3D , direct internet connection, youtube streaming). Wait for the new models to be launched, so that the older models' price will drop. Samsung and Sony are also quite good choices.

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