Yet another HDTV question

[dbdynsty25]

Seems like the latest buzz is 240hz. Haven't delved too much into this,and a recent article on Cnet says its pretty hard to discern between 120hz as opposed to 240hz. Any opinions on this ?

It's hard to discern between 60 and 120...all of these refresh rate bumps are pointless in my eyes. I turn off the 120hz on all of my tvs as it is. It makes sh*t look fake (called the soap opera effect on AVS).

[wco81]

Discussion of refresh rates in LCDs and motion resolution.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1071064

[skinsfan]

Seems like the latest buzz is 240hz. Haven't delved too much into this,and a recent article on Cnet says its pretty hard to discern between 120hz as opposed to 240hz. Any opinions on this ?

It's hard to discern between 60 and 120...all of these refresh rate bumps are pointless in my eyes. I turn off the 120hz on all of my tvs as it is. It makes sh*t look fake (called the soap opera effect on AVS).

There is a difference between refresh rates and the "Motionflow" or other frame interpolation on these LCD sets.

There are low to high settings for these processing modes and the steps are not in increments of hz.
Especially in tandem with "Cinema" or other settings you get the video or soap opera effect

I disable all of the cinema and motion processing on my sets.
A good place to start is "Game" mode or similar mode that disables post processing of the image.

[JackB1]

OK guys, I need some advice. Me and the Mrs are in the market for a new TV and we are clueless to the current technology. The last one we bought was a 42" Sony LCD about years ago and it cost us $2500!

So for the next one, out budget is around $1500 and around a 50".
What features should I look for or can you recommend something that we could probably find at Best Buy (We get the "rewards").

Appreciate any help.

[Leadfoot5]

OK guys, I need some advice. Me and the Mrs are in the market for a new TV and we are clueless to the current technology. The last one we bought was a 42" Sony LCD about years ago and it cost us $2500!

So for the next one, out budget is around $1500 and around a 50".
What features should I look for or can you recommend something that we could probably find at Best Buy (We get the "rewards").

Appreciate any help.

Jack, I've been choosing Samsung for my HDTVs the past few years based on performance, value and styling. I recently picked up a 46" 1080p 120Hz at Costco for $1K and I love it. You should have no problem finding a nice 50" Samsung LCD at BB for the price you are looking for, you just won't be able to get the super-slim LED backlit version. Let me know if there are any specific questions you have that I might be able to answer.

[pk500]

You could get a 50-inch 1080p Panasonic plasma and still have $300 in your pocket.

Take care,
PK

[JackB1]

OK guys, I need some advice. Me and the Mrs are in the market for a new TV and we are clueless to the current technology. The last one we bought was a 42" Sony LCD about years ago and it cost us $2500!

So for the next one, out budget is around $1500 and around a 50".
What features should I look for or can you recommend something that we could probably find at Best Buy (We get the "rewards").

Appreciate any help.

Jack, I've been choosing Samsung for my HDTVs the past few years based on performance, value and styling. I recently picked up a 46" 1080p 120Hz at Costco for $1K and I love it. You should have no problem finding a nice 50" Samsung LCD at BB for the price you are looking for, you just won't be able to get the super-slim LED backlit version. Let me know if there are any specific questions you have that I might be able to answer.

We have a smaller Samsung in our bedroom and love it. I think its a 31" or so and it has a beautiful picture. So for the price we are talking about, it's either LCD or plasma? Do the LCD's still have a real expensive bulb that you have to replace every 2 or so years? Also what does the 120Hx mean? I know its hertz, but that is the speed of what? Do I need to get a minimum Hz speed?

[dbdynsty25]

We have a smaller Samsung in our bedroom and love it. I think its a 31" or so and it has a beautiful picture. So for the price we are talking about, it's either LCD or plasma? Do the LCD's still have a real expensive bulb that you have to replace every 2 or so years? Also what does the 120Hx mean? I know its hertz, but that is the speed of what? Do I need to get a minimum Hz speed?

There is so much wrong with this whole paragraph...I don't know where to start.

First...there isn't a 31" anything LCD as far as I know...it's probably a 32". 120 hz is the refresh rate...the higher the speed, the fast it refreshes the screen. And no, you don't have to replace LCD bulbs. Think about it...have you ever had to change the bulb in your LCD computer monitor? No...same technology.

[pk500]

Plasmas are 600 mHz out of the box.

Take care,
PK

[JackB1]

There is so much wrong with this whole paragraph...I don't know where to start.

First...there isn't a 31" anything LCD as far as I know...it's probably a 32". 120 hz is the refresh rate...the higher the speed, the fast it refreshes the screen. And no, you don't have to replace LCD bulbs. Think about it...have you ever had to change the bulb in your LCD computer monitor? No...same technology.

I said "around 30", so yes, its probably a 31".

Refresh rates......what would you say is a minimum needed for a 50" screen?

And yes, we had to change the bulb in our Sony 42" a few times, but it may not have been a "true LCD". I think it was called that, but may have really been a "rear projection" flat screen.

Sorry to make you cringe, but that's why I am asking. I don't know anything about TV's except how to turn them on

[dbdynsty25]

120hz is the minimum you should buy in an LCD. And the bulb you replaced must have been on a Rear Projection type tv...not a flat panel like they've got now. And you never said around 31 inches, you said I think it's 31.

[JackB1]

120hz is the minimum you should buy in an LCD. And the bulb you replaced must have been on a Rear Projection type tv...not a flat panel like they've got now. And you never said around 31 inches, you said I think it's 31.

this is it....
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KF-42WE610-4 ... 798&sr=1-2

It's confusing because they do call it "LCD" and it does have a bulb that needs replacing.

[matthewk]

120hz is the minimum you should buy in an LCD.

Didn't you just say that you can't really tell the difference between 60 and 120 and always turn 120 off?

Since I'm here I have a HDTV question related to gaming. Since our SDTV "popped" and we had to replace it with an HDTV, the lyrics scrolling by in the Rock Band games is almost unreadable. The words are always blurred. I've tried a number of different setttings on the TV, but nothing has worked. It's a cheaper Vizio, but I'd expect something like this to still work properly. Any suggestions other than changing the game to display the words without scrolling (which sucks, btw)?

[dbdynsty25]

120hz is the minimum you should buy in an LCD.

Didn't you just say that you can't really tell the difference between 60 and 120 and always turn 120 off?

Yup...but I'm me and obviously the general public feels differently, or there wouldn't be this race to 10,000 hz or whatever the top is. Plus, it's tough to get a decent tv with lower than 120hz right now. So good attempt.

[matthewk]

I wasn't trying to say "gotcha". I was confused why you seemed to change your stance in the span of 5 days. Now I understand what you were getting at.

The Samsung 46" we bought earlier this year is "only" 60hz, but I don't think I'd notice a difference if it was 120, or 240. All I notice now is how ugly non-HD television is on an HDTV set.

[MizzouRah]

120hz is the minimum you should buy in an LCD. And the bulb you replaced must have been on a Rear Projection type tv...not a flat panel like they've got now. And you never said around 31 inches, you said I think it's 31.

this is it....
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KF-42WE610-4 ... 798&sr=1-2

It's confusing because they do call it "LCD" and it does have a bulb that needs replacing.

Key word "rear projection"

Stay away from those.. I'm not much on plasma's either.

I'm not sure there is much difference in a 60hz vs 240hz tv set - but like db said, I'm not sure you can still buy a good 60hz tv since the big brands replace them with the latest in technology.

I love my Sony Bravia TV and I have 3 other Sony TV's.. always have had great luck with them.

[skinsfan]

I wasn't trying to say "gotcha". I was confused why you seemed to change your stance in the span of 5 days. Now I understand what you were getting at.

The Samsung 46" we bought earlier this year is "only" 60hz, but I don't think I'd notice a difference if it was 120, or 240. All I notice now is how ugly non-HD television is on an HDTV set.

Are your RB scrolling issues on the Wii version?
Wii games seem to be optimized for CRT sets.

If your set has a "Game" mode use that.Disable any "Cinema " processing too.Use the component cables if you have them.

Edit: Ditto on the Bravias,have a 46 and 52" W series Bravia that are awesome.

[JackB1]

Can anyone tell me if the LED's are worth it over the LCD's. They seem to be about 500-1,000 more in cost for comparable sizes. What's the benefit? Can the picture be that much better?

[Leadfoot5]

Can anyone tell me if the LED's are worth it over the LCD's. They seem to be about 500-1,000 more in cost for comparable sizes. What's the benefit? Can the picture be that much better?

I'd advise anyone to wait one more generation for the LED backlit LCD sets. First reason is cost, with the second reason being the evenness of the backlighting. If thinness, and being more energy efficient are more important than cost however, I think the LED LCDs are getting decent reviews, and certainly look as good (or maybe better) as the less expensive LCD sets to the average joe. But $1000 better? No way.

[dbdynsty25]

Can anyone tell me if the LED's are worth it over the LCD's. They seem to be about 500-1,000 more in cost for comparable sizes. What's the benefit? Can the picture be that much better?

I'd advise anyone to wait one more generation for the LED backlit LCD sets. First reason is cost, with the second reason being the evenness of the backlighting. If thinness, and being more energy efficient are more important than cost however, I think the LED LCDs are getting decent reviews, and certainly look as good (or maybe better) as the less expensive LCD sets to the average joe. But $1000 better? No way.

Exactly. Stick with normal LCD for another year or so.

[JackB1]

Can anyone tell me if the LED's are worth it over the LCD's. They seem to be about 500-1,000 more in cost for comparable sizes. What's the benefit? Can the picture be that much better?

I'd advise anyone to wait one more generation for the LED backlit LCD sets. First reason is cost, with the second reason being the evenness of the backlighting. If thinness, and being more energy efficient are more important than cost however, I think the LED LCDs are getting decent reviews, and certainly look as good (or maybe better) as the less expensive LCD sets to the average joe. But $1000 better? No way.

So the only advantages are that the set is thinner and its more energy efficient? The thin-ness I dont care about, since i am not hanging it on a wall. I thought the LED's had a better picture? I guess I was wrong.

[Leadfoot5]

Can anyone tell me if the LED's are worth it over the LCD's. They seem to be about 500-1,000 more in cost for comparable sizes. What's the benefit? Can the picture be that much better?

I'd advise anyone to wait one more generation for the LED backlit LCD sets. First reason is cost, with the second reason being the evenness of the backlighting. If thinness, and being more energy efficient are more important than cost however, I think the LED LCDs are getting decent reviews, and certainly look as good (or maybe better) as the less expensive LCD sets to the average joe. But $1000 better? No way.

So the only advantages are that the set is thinner and its more energy efficient? The thin-ness I dont care about, since i am not hanging it on a wall. I thought the LED's had a better picture? I guess I was wrong.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that LED backlighting is the primary reason for a better picture, but it is certainly the primary reason for energy efficiency and thinness. Picture quality (a very subjective thing btw) is generally based on resolution, refresh rate (for smoother motion), and the manufacturing process & quality of parts. For example, to the average consumer, it's sometimes hard to see the picture quality difference between a lower cost Vizio and a higher cost Sony LCD TV of equal resolution and refresh rate, especially when the lower cost set is calibrated correctly for the viewing environment.

My best advice is to go look at some sets in the stores and find the one that looks best to you, and then do a little Internet research on that particular model to make sure there aren't any known issues. Personally, I like Samsung LCDs, but I have friends who swear by Sony, and others who prefer Panasonic. Very subjective hobby these TVs....

[matthewk]

Yeah, my problems are with HDTV and the Wii.

I was able to get it to look somewhat better last night. All of the tweaking of the settings for the TV did nothing. I took it off gam mode, turned on/off all of the video options I could find. None of them did any good.

Then I moved on to looking into what options I had on the Wii. In the settings I found a few things that helped. Switching the picture to widescreen from 4:3 (even though I already had the TV set to widen the image) helped some. There was also some other setting that I changed that seemed to help. There is also a setting to switch from SDTV to HDTV, but for some reason it won't let me change that setting.

So now things are better, but there is still a little blur. It would help if the scrolling lyrics were a little larger. Even on a 32" set they look too small for my liking.

[GameSeven]

Then I moved on to looking into what options I had on the Wii. In the settings I found a few things that helped. Switching the picture to widescreen from 4:3 (even though I already had the TV set to widen the image) helped some. There was also some other setting that I changed that seemed to help. There is also a setting to switch from SDTV to HDTV, but for some reason it won't let me change that setting.

If your TV is widescreen, then setting WS for the Wii is the right setting. This will render everything in the right aspect ratio for your set. If using standard AV cables, then I believe you are right and that your TV would need to be set to a horizontal stretch.

The reason you can't set to HDTV is most likely that you are using regular AV cables for the Wii. There are Wii component cables available that you would need to use to achieve 480p and enable the HD option.

When I got them, they were only available through Nintendo direct. I'd need to look to see if that is still the case or if they are more generally available now.

Edit: As expected, there appear to be multiple third party cables available now.

[dbdynsty25]

When I got them, they were only available through Nintendo direct. I'd need to look to see if that is still the case or if they are more generally available now.

Yeah, you can get them at any electronic store/ebgames/gamestop/whatever now.