Don Petsche
Agent
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2003
- Messages
- 27
My 27in Sanyo just isn't enough any more. I know now how very little I know about screens, having started reading HTF. Wow, what a wealth of information! I want something respectable out of my first foray into the larger sets. My budget is at most $3K, and I want it to last 8-10 years.
1. How Big is Big Enough?
My new viewing distance is 12' to 16' depending on where one sits in relation to the corner the TV must be in, not to mention the open view from the kitchen 30' away. How big is ideal, without totally overwhelming my wife (and visitors) with a huge black/silver enclosure? I have small children and cats, does this impact feature needs? What is the rule of thumb, distance divided by 3? Sit distance equal to double the screen height? As big as you can afford, quality be damned? Is a set, a set, a set until a certain price point? When is a set no longer a set but a proud measuring stick for social status, or a symptom of screen envy?
2.Is screen position important?
Is a corner position in the room OK for rear projection and resulting angle viewing? Is this a reason for a 36-40in Direct View when a 50-60in projection is possibly more appropriate given room size? Is LCD and or whatever these new projection technologies are called worth waiting on for lower prices? I'm don't think I'm talking flat panel here, which I think is totally out of my price range. Plasma scares me anyway (burn in, shorter lifespan?).
3.How much HDTV is HD enough?
I have a progressive scan DVD player I've never used in progressive mode. I like to watch movies, so I think I want Digital 16:9, and 480p. 1080 sounds great, although I wonder if I'll know the difference 480, 720 or 1080 when I see it. If I'm going to end up with a large set to better room viewing, will standard cable tv broadcasts be tolerable, or result in a fuzzy mess on the big screen between two black bars? Of the 14 hours a day the set is on, probably less than 4 are spent watching a disc. Speaking of cable(s), what are the correct cabling options among A/V equip? I have an old lower end Sony receiver that does do Dolby surround if I take the time to hook up the rear speakers. Given all of my speakers are cheap, could a screen with built ins do just as well? I also have a Gamecube the kids and I enjoy, can it be safely connected hi def?
4.How can I buy a TV with confidence?
How does one buy a set that looks good when the electronics stores seem ill informed and the sets often appear neglected? Can this be done purely scientifically in that reading and understanding can somehow replace previewing? Aren't the sets in the box different than those on display anyway? Should I consider a higher end shop? But aren't markups sometimes unreasonable? With a complicated purchase, how does one trust retail? What is all this calibration talk? Do I need to save money to have the set tuned after install? How much does that cost? Is there ongoing maintenance to think about here?
Thanks for reading the post . . .and for your time to reply.
Best Regards, -- Don
1. How Big is Big Enough?
My new viewing distance is 12' to 16' depending on where one sits in relation to the corner the TV must be in, not to mention the open view from the kitchen 30' away. How big is ideal, without totally overwhelming my wife (and visitors) with a huge black/silver enclosure? I have small children and cats, does this impact feature needs? What is the rule of thumb, distance divided by 3? Sit distance equal to double the screen height? As big as you can afford, quality be damned? Is a set, a set, a set until a certain price point? When is a set no longer a set but a proud measuring stick for social status, or a symptom of screen envy?
2.Is screen position important?
Is a corner position in the room OK for rear projection and resulting angle viewing? Is this a reason for a 36-40in Direct View when a 50-60in projection is possibly more appropriate given room size? Is LCD and or whatever these new projection technologies are called worth waiting on for lower prices? I'm don't think I'm talking flat panel here, which I think is totally out of my price range. Plasma scares me anyway (burn in, shorter lifespan?).
3.How much HDTV is HD enough?
I have a progressive scan DVD player I've never used in progressive mode. I like to watch movies, so I think I want Digital 16:9, and 480p. 1080 sounds great, although I wonder if I'll know the difference 480, 720 or 1080 when I see it. If I'm going to end up with a large set to better room viewing, will standard cable tv broadcasts be tolerable, or result in a fuzzy mess on the big screen between two black bars? Of the 14 hours a day the set is on, probably less than 4 are spent watching a disc. Speaking of cable(s), what are the correct cabling options among A/V equip? I have an old lower end Sony receiver that does do Dolby surround if I take the time to hook up the rear speakers. Given all of my speakers are cheap, could a screen with built ins do just as well? I also have a Gamecube the kids and I enjoy, can it be safely connected hi def?
4.How can I buy a TV with confidence?
How does one buy a set that looks good when the electronics stores seem ill informed and the sets often appear neglected? Can this be done purely scientifically in that reading and understanding can somehow replace previewing? Aren't the sets in the box different than those on display anyway? Should I consider a higher end shop? But aren't markups sometimes unreasonable? With a complicated purchase, how does one trust retail? What is all this calibration talk? Do I need to save money to have the set tuned after install? How much does that cost? Is there ongoing maintenance to think about here?
Thanks for reading the post . . .and for your time to reply.
Best Regards, -- Don