Home Video Asylum

TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Home Theater systems and more.

A heads-up

66.48.160.39

I'm in Canada too, and am TV shopping (in fact today already). Be wary. Now it's true CRT displays look the best, but are not very practical (or exist) if you want LARGE screen. The advice about the TV looking much bigger in the room is very true. I have a 51" now, medium size, and it dominates the room, impossible to ignore I mean. You should choose the TV size and technology partly based on how far away you want to sit from it, unless you want to rearrange your room and seating. (Ask if you want more info, people rarely talk about this, a practical and WAF issue.)

The observable problem with LCD displays is when there is fast motion. I haven't seen an LCD display yet that doesn't show this, though they're getting better. People unfamiliar with large TVs often don't notice until it's pointed out, and then it can become very annoying (just like an audio flaw). Watch for it, the little "blurring" or "tails" on fast movement...no, it's not on the disc or feed, it's the display itself, the CRT display (including RPTV which use CRTs) won't show it. More noticeable the larger the display...

Anyway, my main caveat: make sure any TV you choose has at least one HDMI/HDCP input, HDMI or DVI is not good enough. That is, if you expect to watch any of the new hi-def DVD formats in hi-def. MOST of the TVs currently available do not meet this requirement. Make sure that new Sony does (I *love* Sony displays, but that's all). For instance, I saw a 60" LCD Sony being blown out today, Future Shop or Best Buy, I forget, same thing. Though it's reasonably priced for the size, it does not meet this requirement; it will not be able to display any hi-def DVD format in full hi-def as it will not meet the copy protection standards the content providers demand. It is unlikely the salesperson will have a clue about this, and don't be fooled by "HD-ready". Make sure: if it doesn't say HDCP, it won't do it. You may not have thought about it, but the two varieties (as it now stands) of hi-def DVD will both be out in much less than a year (one in a few months), and you probably *will* want to watch it on your brand new fancy "investment".

FWIW, there are some inexpensive Toshibas (e.g.) that will do it, but I'd hold out for the Sony, I'm sure the new model will be HDMI/HDCP (since Sony is a massive content provider as well as HW manufacturer), you can likely check online.


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  • A heads-up - cfraser 10:58:11 07/16/05 (0)


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