Enjoying HDTV.....

[Todd Fredericks]

I've had my Toshiba 57HDX82 since last May (enjoying DVD's, etc.) and 2 months ago I finally got a cable HDTV box (rebuild finished in my area). I've been utterly amazed watching TV/Films on the HD channels. Even the State of the Union Address was a new experience in HD on CBS (picture wise, no comment on content of speeches). Anyone else have some good positive experiences with HDTV....

[quadjoe]

Hi Todd!

I've had my Panasonic CT-32HX41 32" HDTV for a little over a year, and our cable company started offering HD programming, so I've had the HD box a little over 2 weeks. We get 7 channels in HD, and I must say it's pretty amazing. I love the clarity of the picture, and the colors are amazing! I can't wait until we have more channels. I looked into Voom, but the hardware is $700, which is more than I can afford right now. I may make the change when the price comes down as they are offering 39 channels in HD.

[PMC7027]

Todd and Joe,
Are your cable companies actually offering true HDTV service? I've read in The Perfect Vision that some cable providers actually offer HDTV at less than the highest resolution, since HD has so many possible formats.

[Jamie Tate]

My mom's husband has a 64" widescreen HDTV and I love parking out in front of it watching anything that's on. :laugh:

I'd buy one for myself but I have this vinyl addiction right now.

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by PMC7027
Todd and Joe,
Are your cable companies actually offering true HDTV service? I've read in The Perfect Vision that some cable providers actually offer HDTV at less than the highest resolution, since HD has so many possible formats.

Yikes! I didn't know that was going on. What about Comcast?

[JonUrban]

I have Dish Network and get about 7 HDTV channels. It is great!

Too cool to see The Sopranons in HDTV!! Much better than the DVD ever could be. Sports, holy cow - Awesome.

The worst part about it is that you want MORE!!!

[Todd Fredericks]

Originally posted by PMC7027
Todd and Joe,
Are your cable companies actually offering true HDTV service? I've read in The Perfect Vision that some cable providers actually offer HDTV at less than the highest resolution, since HD has so many possible formats.

Thankfully, I'm getting the highest resolution and it looks fab!! I really can't wait for some more channels to become available. I've been watching some amazing nature shows and damn so much detail.....

[Todd Fredericks]

Originally posted by oblio98

Too cool to see The Sopranons in HDTV!!

Yes, incredible and 5.1!!

[quadjoe]

Originally posted by Todd Fredericks


Thankfully, I'm getting the highest resolution and it looks fab!! I really can't wait for some more channels to become available. I've been watching some amazing nature shows and damn so much detail.....

Me too, although I do know that ABC's programming is up-converted from 720p to 1080i. I am on Comcast BTW.

[b&w]

Originally posted by quadjoe


Me too, although I do know that ABC's programming is up-converted from 720p to 1080i. I am on Comcast BTW.

They are for all practicaly purposes very few viewing devices that could take a 720p signal straight anyway, so i think the fact that all cable HD services convert it to 1080i is really a non issue.

[b&w]

Originally posted by PMC7027
Todd and Joe,
Are your cable companies actually offering true HDTV service? I've read in The Perfect Vision that some cable providers actually offer HDTV at less than the highest resolution, since HD has so many possible formats.

I think this worry is more talk then reality at this point. All the feeds are in 1080i from the major cable companies at this point. One thing I do notice in comparison from say the DirectTV hd feed is that the cable companies may be using a second tier of compression as sometimes I see compression artifacts on HBO that I don't see from the DirecTV feed. I have emailed my local cable hd department, who surprisingly have been very helpful, and they kind of skirted around that question without giving me a definitive answer. That being said the local Time Warner has significantly more programming then DirecTV in HD. They just added HDNET, HDMOVIES, and two other channels. They just need to keep bringing the programing on.

[JohnG]

I'm jealous. I too wanted to be on the HDTV bandwagon by now but have opted to wait for the updated Samsung DLP TV's later in the year.

I figure I've waited this long, I might as well wait till DLP is further tweaked.

Plus Cablevision's VOOM HDTV network should be fully up and running by early Fall 04.
The little I've seen of VOOM (at a SEARS) looked spectacular.

[teaser5]

I think that HD Net is an amazing channel. I love to watch some of their stuff with the sound off and spin records. I also really dig ESPN HD and do the same thing there; watch the game and listen to tunes. Best of both worlds IMO. Love my Pioneer Elite 64".

:edthumbs:

Cheers-
Norm

[Pinknik]

Originally posted by b&w


They are for all practicaly purposes very few viewing devices that could take a 720p signal straight anyway, so i think the fact that all cable HD services convert it to 1080i is really a non issue.

Well, they shouldn't for those that can, but I see what you mean. Furthermore, the vast majority of displays available aren't capable of showing the full resolution of HD anyway, they'd just be too expensive to manufacture. Think how good this stuff'll look when displays that can show it all, and are cheap, arrive. Nice.

[lsupro]

Do any of you have the new Samsung DLP rear projector Tv's yet. I know they convert everything to 720p.... Any thoughts?

[Michael St. Clair]

Over my Warner cable, I have these HD channels:

ABC
NBC
CBS
PBS
DISCOVERY
HBO
SHO
INHD1
INHD2
HDNET
HDNET MOVIES

And I love it!

[JohnG]

Originally posted by lsupro
Do any of you have the new Samsung DLP rear projector Tv's yet. I know they convert everything to 720p.... Any thoughts?


If your able to wait till 2005, Samsung should debut its 1080p DLP with the latest xHD3 chipset. One appeared at CES. Reports said it look stunning.

I don't know if I can wait till then. This years 780p with the HD2+ chip and 7 prism colorwheel should be good enough for me.

[aashton]

Anyone else have a D-VHS D-Theatre player as a source ? we don't have any Hi-Def broadcasts over here and as far as I am aware none are planned :(

All the best - Andrew

[quadjoe]

Originally posted by aashton
Anyone else have a D-VHS D-Theatre player as a source ? we don't have any Hi-Def broadcasts over here and as far as I am aware none are planned :(

All the best - Andrew

Andrew,

I have seen a D-VHS recorder/player at a local store, and it is very impressive. I don't know about HDTV in the UK, but I do know that the HD standards were developed with the plan of making one system the world-wide standard (so, no more NTSC, PAL, SECAM) for digital television. Here in the US NTSC broadcasts are slated to cease in January 2007, although this may be delayed a bit as stations in smaller markets are having trouble affording the equipment. My impression is that once one of the 18 HD broadcast standards is agreed upon, we will have HDTV worldwide, and all current HD receivers are required to be capable of receiving and decoding all formats (which is why they cost so much) to insure compatibility with whatever standard is chosen.

[-=Rudy=-]

I want a new widescreen set but am still sitting it out. It'll definitely be Mitsubishi for me. In fact, the one series I looked at had the capability to be upgraded to HD in the future...some kind of guarantee Mits was making. DirecTV would have to be it for me, as Comcast is way too expensive here, and beside that, the only thing I'd really tune in would be the kids' channels or the Red Wings games.

[JonUrban]

Originally posted by teaser5
I think that HD Net is an amazing channel. I love to watch some of their stuff with the sound off and spin records. I also really dig ESPN HD and do the same thing there; watch the game and listen to tunes. Best of both worlds IMO. Love my Pioneer Elite 64".

:edthumbs:

Cheers-
Norm

Hey Norm,

Have you ever seen the HDNet Test Pattern show? It is usually on around 8am every few days. I always seem to miss it.

How aout Hogans Heroes? I was AMAZED when I first saw that one in HDTV!! It was quite a shock! 16:9 and clear as a bell.

:-jon

[lsupro]

Originally posted by JohnG



If your able to wait till 2005, Samsung should debut its 1080p DLP with the latest xHD3 chipset. One appeared at CES. Reports said it look stunning.

I don't know if I can wait till then. This years 780p with the HD2+ chip and 7 prism colorwheel should be good enough for me.

I have seen it the 720p in CC and like what I saw. I would surely wait. It really was impressive for the 45 seconds that I saw it.

[JohnG]

I'm hoping that this May's NYC Home Entertainment Show will have some Sammy's on display.

The only problem with the Sammy's is that they need good HD programming. They do not shine with Standard Definition (SD).

To really enjoy a DLP TV you need alot of HD feeds or watch mundo DVD's.

One reason I will wait and see how HD programming shakes out this year.

[lsupro]

Originally posted by JohnG


To really enjoy a DLP TV you need alot of HD feeds or watch mundo DVD's.



Check out Voom (http://www.voom.com) .

[JohnG]

Yep VOOM is still trying to get the kinks out....I'm a member of their Yahoo Groups website.

Maybe by late February they should be finally up and running but it will probably take till late in the year before they offer all the HD programming that is available.