Hello all---
First, I want to apologize up front for asking you all, whom I consider to be experts on these topics, for such general information. I appreciate your patience and help---this forum has always been a great source of information, and I value the opinions shared here.
Okay, having said that, I'm ready to take the plunge into the world of Blu-Ray, and I also plan to upgrade my TV and perhaps my surround receiver.
However, while I've watched the HD format war from the sidelines, I've not truly kept up with the details since I bought my widescreen rear projection TV about 7 years ago.
So, basically, I need a refresher course.
It seems like everyone has his or her own ideas about what to look for, which brands are better, which displays are better, etc. Can anyone recommend a good, honest, and reliable source for this kind of information?
These are some of the questions for which I hope to find answers:
-Is HDMI the best way to connect a Blu-Ray player, and will I lose much resolution if I use component?
-There are several Blu-Ray players on the market now. Yet, a lot of them seem to have similar features and specs but different pricing. What do I look for in a Blu-Ray player in terms of specs?
-What's the best display format for me? I used to hear that Plasma users complained about burn-in, but I've since heard that's not an issue with the newer models. Which is better, plasma or LCD or DLP? [I've got a relatively bright room with several windows, so glare is a concern for me. I'm looking to stay in the 46-50-inch screen size range.]
-Once I choose a display format, what else do I look for? Is it important to have a PC input? USB? How many HDMI inputs are ideal? What is 120Hz?
-Will my current receiver, which is plain old DD5.1, carry the audio from a Blu-Ray player, or will I need to replace it? [I assume I won't be able to get a true HD audio signal, but I hope that I'll still be able to pull the same regular-def audio signal I'm getting from DVD now through an optical cable. Will I?]
If you can recommend a website that might help me answer some or all of these questions, I'd appreciate.
Again, thanks for your time and help.
mattl
First, I want to apologize up front for asking you all, whom I consider to be experts on these topics, for such general information. I appreciate your patience and help---this forum has always been a great source of information, and I value the opinions shared here.
Okay, having said that, I'm ready to take the plunge into the world of Blu-Ray, and I also plan to upgrade my TV and perhaps my surround receiver.
However, while I've watched the HD format war from the sidelines, I've not truly kept up with the details since I bought my widescreen rear projection TV about 7 years ago.
So, basically, I need a refresher course.
It seems like everyone has his or her own ideas about what to look for, which brands are better, which displays are better, etc. Can anyone recommend a good, honest, and reliable source for this kind of information?
These are some of the questions for which I hope to find answers:
-Is HDMI the best way to connect a Blu-Ray player, and will I lose much resolution if I use component?
-There are several Blu-Ray players on the market now. Yet, a lot of them seem to have similar features and specs but different pricing. What do I look for in a Blu-Ray player in terms of specs?
-What's the best display format for me? I used to hear that Plasma users complained about burn-in, but I've since heard that's not an issue with the newer models. Which is better, plasma or LCD or DLP? [I've got a relatively bright room with several windows, so glare is a concern for me. I'm looking to stay in the 46-50-inch screen size range.]
-Once I choose a display format, what else do I look for? Is it important to have a PC input? USB? How many HDMI inputs are ideal? What is 120Hz?
-Will my current receiver, which is plain old DD5.1, carry the audio from a Blu-Ray player, or will I need to replace it? [I assume I won't be able to get a true HD audio signal, but I hope that I'll still be able to pull the same regular-def audio signal I'm getting from DVD now through an optical cable. Will I?]
If you can recommend a website that might help me answer some or all of these questions, I'd appreciate.
Again, thanks for your time and help.
mattl
