- Joined: May 2003
- Location: Eastern NC
- Post Count: 1,755
You can use one of your older dvd players, hooked up with component cables, and set to progressive scan, and get a decent enough picture. But, if you want your new tv to really pop out at you, you need a blu ray player. Sony's BDP-S360 is sold at WalMart for about $230, maybe less. There are a couple of brands that you can get cheaper, but I wouldn't get them. Blu ray players also upscale your regular dvds to near HD quality, so they'll look much better on the new tv.
A decent surround system will making your movie experience so much better! You'll probably quit going to the theater. You probably won't understand, until you've been around one some..........
Good luck!
Samsung HL61A750 (LED DLP) Onkyo TX-SR805
Oppo BDP-83 Blu ray Polk Audio LSi9
Polk Audio LSiC Sony SS-MB100H
JBL PSW1200 (Sub) ...
- Joined: August 2003
- Location: SF Bay Area
- Post Count: 2,329
I'm sure your old DVD players would work. Use the 3-cable component video connection for the best picture. Use a digital connection (to slink) if your TV has that audio input, otherwise use the red and white cables.
But in order to get the most out of your new TV you should get a new DVD player, preferrably a BluRay. There are "up-converting 1080p" dvd players on the market but your tv will up-grade any signal to 1080p itself as that's the only format it produced.
A BluRay player will give you the absolute best quality picture available. Even better than HD cable/satellite. Over-the-air HD broadcasts are also outstanding if you have a strong enough antenna. But BluRay also offers improved sound quality with the lossless DolbyTrueHD and DTS-MasterAudio sound tracks found on most BluRay discs. You can also get audio and video streaming from NetFlix, Amazon, Pandora, Etc. with BR depending on which model you chose.
But in order to take advantage of all BluRay has to offer, you also need the appropriate sound system. An av receiver with HDMI 1.3a, a 5/7.1 channel surround speaker system with subwoofer and an Internet connection.
You should also consider up-grading you cable/satellite to HD. But again, this can get quite expensive.
How far you want to go depends on how much you want to spend. But I'd at least spring for a BR player and enjoy the finest picture your new tv can produce.
Monoprice.com is a great site for good quality, but in-expensive cables and wires. Let us know what you decide and we'll help you pick out the right products.
"Everyday room": Mitsubishi 52631 RPTV, H/K 520, H/K dvd-5, H/K 8380, H/K CDR 20, OPPO BDP-83 BluRay player, Dish-HD, Infinity Beta 20's-C250-OWS1's, Dayton HSU10.
"Movie/Music room": Toshiba 65HM167 RPTV, Pioneer Elite 59txi, Elite DV59avi, Elite CD-59, Pioneer PD-51FD BR, Dish-DVR, Swan Diva...
- Joined: November 2002
- Post Count: 1,847
I'll chime in here too - you really ought to consider getting a surround receiver. Watching a nice screen without surround is like driving a convertible with the top up all the time. Trust us - once you get surround you will understand.
If you get surround make sure you get a sub loud enough to fill your room. Small room/small sub sounds ok, big room/small sub sounds pathetic. I also noticed a huge improvement when I moved my rear speakers from their wall mountings to stands right behind my sofa at ear level. Huge.
You will be surprised just how much of a difference good audio makes to the movie experience - and if it is all for your wife - you will have a) the jealousy of every married man here, and b) she will probably cook up a 'good experience' for you... ;)
Martin Luther observed that the human race is like a drunkard who falls off his horse on the left and makes up for it by falling off the next time on the right.
