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  1. Stephen Tu

    Blu-ray or online streaming?

    Do both! There are lots of cheap Blu-ray players with Netflix integration already out, or coming soon. Since Netflix is the cheapest way to get Blu-ray rentals, and you get the streaming free along with that, it's a no brainer. Amazon on demand is like $5 for an HD rental, this is way more...
  2. Stephen Tu

    Help with Logitech Harmony 550 remote?

    The odds of your TV responding to discrete input codes is better than you think. There are tons & tons of TVs out there that respond to such codes despite not having the buttons on the OEM remote. It's easy to support an added code in the TV firmware, the manufacturers just omit the buttons...
  3. Stephen Tu

    VCR Hookup

    On most of these DVD/VCR combos, the video circuitry of the two players is almost completely independent of each other, I don't think I've ever seen one where the VHS side can output component or HDMI. For this reason it'd also be very strange for HDMI connection to affect whether the VHS can...
  4. Stephen Tu

    VCR Hookup

    Al, I think you are just completely wrong. HDMI should not have effect on the composite video output from the VCR. Also, the manual very clearly states that the VCR needs to use composite video & that component video won't work. tennisnut: are you sure you connected to the VCR's *out*, not...
  5. Stephen Tu

    question regarding the volume of SONY DAV-C900 rear speakers

    I don't think you can achieve what you want with that particular system. You need an "all channel" mode which it just doesn't have. All the surround DSP modes on that are to create ambient effects, simulate certain type of auditorium/room etc. Arguably this is correct, as in real life the...
  6. Stephen Tu

    Surround speakers aren't working?

    Check the audio settings on the player. Make sure it's set to bitstream out.
  7. Stephen Tu

    Help with Logitech Harmony 550 remote?

    There are two possible ways to fix this, it depends on how your TV behaves and if the remote has codes for direct input selection (the TV may respond to codes in the Harmony database for this even though the supplied original remote doesn't have buttons for them): 1. (Preferred) Hit "devices"...
  8. Stephen Tu

    samsung remote codes for input switching?

    Samsungs typically support discrete input codes, but they aren't on the original remote so your universal remote has to be of the computer programmable variety to get the code on there.
  9. Stephen Tu

    Digital Coaxial output amplifier

    Also check the DVD player audio setting, make sure it is set to "bitstream" not "PCM". What are your speaker size settings, did you check levels with a sound meter? Also realize that DVD will often have a different average volume compared to TV channels, for example, there is greater dynamic...
  10. Stephen Tu

    Using TIVO remote for TV and Home Theater

    Some things to try for better Harmony operation: adjust the power on delay for the TV, long enough for it to reliably respond to input change requests (devices/more options/adjust delays) (adjust inputs): if possible use "discrete codes" for input changing, "method 2", one button for directly...
  11. Stephen Tu

    TV Tuning via VCR

    The digital transition only directly affected over-the-air transmission, not cable. I think most likely you have the VCR set for "air" frequences rather than "cable" frequencies. Look for an option to use "cable" tuning. (cable & VHF 2-13 are identical, but channels 14+ cable & UHF are using...
  12. Stephen Tu

    Philips LCD HDTV Problems

    - Make sure connected via HDMI or component video (green/red/blue RCA) - make sure output of box is set to 1080i and TV shape to 16:9 - check TV on a "16:9" or "full" or whatever is the terminology on your set. (Aspect or format or "picture size" button). - not all programs on HD channels will...
  13. Stephen Tu

    Using TIVO remote for TV and Home Theater

    Yeah, that would work. Only the top of the line HTiB will have HDMI *inputs* though. The cheaper ones only have outputs for their DVD/BD players. HDMI-CEC is intended to be cross-brand compatible, but there can always be implementation bugs. Shouldn't need it too much in this situation...
  14. Stephen Tu

    HDMI/RGB adapter Question

    On Blu-rays, you'll get at least as much improvement as your HD programming vs. regular DVD. Your DirecTV is an HD model receiver, no?
  15. Stephen Tu

    HDMI/RGB adapter Question

    You can get an HDMI switch from Monoprice. Easier might be to just component video for the DirecTV; there's negligible difference in video quality. Also, given Blu-ray prices these days, I'd recommend getting one rather than upconverting DVD. Especially if you already have a DVD player. A...
  16. Stephen Tu

    5.1 optical audio to RTD615i

    Most likely your HTIB is defective. Return it.
  17. Stephen Tu

    Remote control for Windows Media Center PC and STB

    What brand/model TV tuner card are you using, and what kind of STB are you trying to record from? Did the card come with any IR blasters? What brand media center remote are you trying to use? You may be better off just hooking the cable to the computer directly (split one end to computer...
  18. Stephen Tu

    Using TIVO remote for TV and Home Theater

    If all you want is control of power and volume, follow: http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/278 It will work fine since you have learning on the Tivo "glo" remote. A Harmony universal, however, would control the DVD as well, and automatically switch inputs on both the TV & receiver...
  19. Stephen Tu

    What's a fastloading BR player

    A guy in another forum tested load times of a bunch of players. Besides the Oppo, the LG 370/390 and the JVC XV-BP1 did best. IMO get Oppo if you want absolute top notch DVD playback, LG if you want to save a couple hundred bucks vs. the Oppo and Netflix streaming has any appeal to you. Get...
  20. Stephen Tu

    PLEASE HELP! Hitachi 57F500A

    I would recommnd an OTA DVR so you can record. TivoHD is best but rather expensive (~$200 for box, $400 for lifetime sub). DTVPal DVR is cheaper, less features, ~$300.
  21. Stephen Tu

    Receiver?'s

    I wouldn't buy a receiver at that level based on upconversion. For Blu-ray, the signal is already 1080p to begin with, on most discs. For cable, your TV probably will do a better job than those receivers, just turn off the upconversion feature. Remember the upconversion can take place in...
  22. Stephen Tu

    output sound from lpatop to TV?

    You are using wrong type of audio cable, leading you to plug into the wrong jack. You are plugging into an audio input that's probably associated with the component video input or something like that instead of the VGA input, if you switched sources you'd hear the sound (but lose picture)...
  23. Stephen Tu

    HELP! First Blue-Ray Player to go with my Hitachi HDTV, but the picture doesn't blow me away.

    Try 720p out also. Which films are you trying, and how far away are you sitting? Your Blu-ray benefit is a bit limited since your set is native 1366x768, but still you should be seeing HD improvement, HDTV should look better than DVD. BDs vary in transfer quality though.
  24. Stephen Tu

    Samsung BD-P2500 DTS-MA

    Did you do the speaker setup in the player? There's really not much difference at all between high bit rate core & lossless, you may well not be able to hear any improvement. Most difference if any comes from choices made for the mix itself, not the compression scheme. Lossy compression...
  25. Stephen Tu

    Sony DAV-HDX589W (question)

    Yes, just have to hook it up to one of the digital inputs.
  26. Stephen Tu

    LED Technologies

    Edge-lit is Samsung's new ultra-thin models. Local dimming has LEDs behind the screen, more traditionally, with also the ability to control the brightness of clusters of LEDs, instead of there just being one global setting. So you can dim parts of the screen if the scene is dark. Better...
  27. Stephen Tu

    Need Advice on a 2-zone receiver

    You can connect HDMI to receiver, just need to still have optical for the audio portion. Try this: 1. Connect Tivo to "HDMI 2", DVD to "HDMI 1" (or swapped, just swap the number in the rest of this). Assign HDMI 2 to "VCR/DVR", HDMI 1 to "DVD" 2. HDMI monitor out to TV. 3. Connect Tivo optical...
  28. Stephen Tu

    Setup for VCR & Tape Deck - Sony STR-DH700/DH800

    Yes it will work. The receiver doesn't do format conversion from composite -> component (nor the other way), so whatever format you have connected to the receiver, you also have to connect the corresponding video type to the TV. So you do have to connect the composite video monitor out for the...
  29. Stephen Tu

    Need Advice on a 2-zone receiver

    When TIvo has an HDMI connected, and fails to get a proper handshake, apparently it shuts of the optical audio. I'm getting confused by your posts. I thought you said it worked fine without the Oppo switch? Please answer the following questions: 1. Connect Tivo HDMI directly to TV, no...
  30. Stephen Tu

    Sharp Aquos Blu Ray BDHP22U vs the LG BD270 Blu Ray

    If you can manage $204 for an LG BD370 I'd get that. Netflix/BD-Live. BD270 has no network connection, also no component video though that may not affect you. Don't like Sharp BD players, slow load times/operation.
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