Author Topic: Home Theater Thread (Read 2942 times)

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #25:** February 20, 2012, 10:55:52 AM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on February 20, 2012, 10:55:00 AM

No our tv had a $50 markup over non-wife...

That's an interesting option...

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #26:** February 20, 2012, 12:35:12 PM »

Quote from: The Chief on February 20, 2012, 10:27:57 AM

I must respectfully disagree.

The weird supersmooth effect doesn't bother you? Personal preference I guess but I'm just not a fan.

I agree with you Chief. Most people won't be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p. Now if you have a monster tv, say 60" or bigger, you might be able to notice a slight difference, but otherwise, it's not that big a difference. Of course there are people that will plop down $75 for a Monster hdmi cable as opposed to the $7 on monoprice.com because... you know, Monster stuff is gold plated and crap... lol

The Chief · « **Reply #27:** February 20, 2012, 12:36:28 PM »

75? Psshhh

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #28:** February 20, 2012, 12:39:31 PM »

Quote from: The Chief on February 20, 2012, 12:36:28 PM

75? Psshhh

People are soooo gullible.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #29:** February 20, 2012, 12:51:16 PM »

I wonder if they have ever sold one?

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #30:** February 20, 2012, 03:03:18 PM »

Chief, are you saying there's a thing as too much refresh rate?

Please school me in this... I may be moving soon and in need of picking up a new HDTV.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #31:** February 20, 2012, 03:07:55 PM »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on February 20, 2012, 03:03:18 PM

Chief, are you saying there's a thing as too much refresh rate?

Please school me in this... I may be moving soon and in need of picking up a new HDTV.

opinions differ- this article explains it pretty well

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2379206,00.asp

The Chief · « **Reply #32:** February 20, 2012, 03:07:56 PM »

I'm not saying that, just saying that I find the interpolation done on most such sets to be off-putting. I would assume it can be disabled on most sets, but I'm not sure. I think main appeal in higher-refresh sets is for compatibility with 24p sources, but I'm not very up-to-date on it since I'm still getting by just fine with my clearance 37" LCD from 2006

I have a 120Hz LCD monitor for my desktop PC, but that's a whole different beast as it actually accepts 120Hz input from the PC itself. Very nice for gaming, and I guess theoretically it should be better for movies, too, though I've never bothered doing a thorough comparison with my old monitor.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #33:** February 20, 2012, 03:09:50 PM »

Quote from: The Chief on February 20, 2012, 03:07:56 PM

37" LCD from 2006

that's what we replaced- trashed the old 15'' and moved the 37'' to our bedroom

The Chief · « **Reply #34:** February 20, 2012, 03:12:45 PM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on February 20, 2012, 03:09:50 PM

that's what we replaced- trashed the old 15'' and moved the 37'' to our bedroom

Yeah, I mean it'd be great to get a fancy new set for baseball and movies, but it's hardly an urgent priority. Though I must say that plugging my cable box into my aforementioned 120Hz desktop monitor looks amazing (for Nats games and sports in general).

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #35:** February 20, 2012, 03:16:09 PM »

Also what type of aspect ratio do I need for a TV? 16:9? 5:4?

Nathan · « **Reply #36:** February 20, 2012, 03:18:21 PM »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on February 20, 2012, 03:16:09 PM

Also what type of aspect ratio do I need for a TV? 16:9? 5:4?

They're all 16:9.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #37:** February 20, 2012, 03:21:26 PM »

So where's the best place to check out TV reviews?

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #38:** February 20, 2012, 05:18:23 PM »

Quote from: The Chief on February 20, 2012, 03:12:45 PM

Yeah, I mean it'd be great to get a fancy new set for baseball and movies, but it's hardly an urgent priority. Though I must say that plugging my cable box into my aforementioned 120Hz desktop monitor looks amazing (for Nats games and sports in general).

our main goal was to push out the 15'' tv in the bedroom since we watch a lot of tv in there. It seemed better to get a nice living room tv than to spend a little less and get a new one for the bedroom

tomterp · « **Reply #39:** February 20, 2012, 06:26:24 PM »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on February 20, 2012, 03:21:26 PM

So where's the best place to check out TV reviews?

I just replaced our failing big box TV with a Panasonic Viera 50', 1080 top rated by Consumer Reports in its class. I would have considered any of the similar rated ones but got a good price ($750) and wanted it now.

Consumer Reports had just rated them in the most recent (March) issue. I'm sure there are plenty of other places to get comparisons but few of them don't accept advertising, which biases reviews.

MarquisDeSade · « **Reply #40:** February 20, 2012, 06:32:24 PM »

Did you get it at CostCo or through another group discount agency? When I got my glasses at CostCo the other day I noticed they had a super sweet Samsung 55" for less than a grand that was totally bad ass.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #41:** February 20, 2012, 06:36:54 PM »

Quote from: MarquisDeSade on February 20, 2012, 06:32:24 PM

Did you get it at CostCo or through another group discount agency? When I got my glasses at CostCo the other day I noticed they had a super sweet Samsung 55" for less than a grand that was totally bad ass.

My 47'' vizio was $599 at Costco (780 on amazon)- you really aren't going to beat their prices

MarquisDeSade · « **Reply #42:** February 20, 2012, 06:39:00 PM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on February 20, 2012, 06:36:54 PM

My 47'' vizio was $599 at Costco (780 on amazon)- you really aren't going to beat their prices

It's rare that you can beat CostCo prices on anything.

Kevrock · « **Reply #43:** February 20, 2012, 07:44:50 PM »

Just upgraded recently. Got an LED with the 240 refresh rate and Quattron. The picture is absolutely bonkers. It's not the best TV on the market (didn't get the insane Samsung) but I'm ecstatic and can't wait for baseball season.

As for "supersmooth" refresh rate -- you get used to it. It did bother me for a day or two.

I didn't even want a 3D television, but the Quattron picture quality is just amazing.

The Chief · « **Reply #44:** February 20, 2012, 07:47:15 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on February 20, 2012, 07:44:50 PM

As for "supersmooth" refresh rate -- you get used to it. It did bother me for a day or two.

No way. Just turn it off.

/personal opinion

MarquisDeSade · « **Reply #45:** February 20, 2012, 08:17:29 PM »

Quote from: The Chief on February 20, 2012, 07:47:15 PM

No way. Just turn it off.

/personal opinion

Then why pay the extra shekels for the 240 refresh rate?

The Chief · « **Reply #46:** February 20, 2012, 08:21:16 PM »

Quote from: MarquisDeSade on February 20, 2012, 08:17:29 PM

Then why pay the extra shekels for the 240 refresh rate?

Honestly I don't know. I mean if you like the hypersmoothing, great, but I don't know if I've ever met anyone who's initial reaction was better than tepid. I truly don't know what it's "supposed" to be for. Then again, most premium sets come with higher refresh rates now anyway, so I guess it's just one of those things.

GburgNatsFan · « **Reply #47:** February 20, 2012, 08:28:40 PM »

What's to get used to... doesn't a higher refresh rate just look better? My set is old and breaks up on fast motion...

Quote from: Kevrock on February 20, 2012, 07:44:50 PM

Just upgraded recently. Got an LED with the 240 refresh rate and Quattron. The picture is absolutely bonkers. It's not the best TV on the market (didn't get the insane Samsung) but I'm ecstatic and can't wait for baseball season.

As for "supersmooth" refresh rate -- you get used to it. It did bother me for a day or two.

I didn't even want a 3D television, but the Quattron picture quality is just amazing.

The Chief · « **Reply #48:** February 20, 2012, 08:32:40 PM »

I guess I take it for granted that everyone spends as much time window shopping at Best Buy as I do

Seriously though, it's tough to describe, but go to any big electronics store and look for a floor display with ads talking about "smoothview" or similar marketingspeak. They'll usually have a split-screen thing going with "normal" on one half and then the interpolated higher refresh picture on the other side. The effect is very strange. It makes shows and movies not look "right" because we're all used to movies and TV shows being 24 or 30 fps. The sets with higher refresh rates all have gimmicks that create fake "inbetween" frames, making the resulting video look far too smooth/swimmy.

GburgNatsFan · « **Reply #49:** February 20, 2012, 08:37:08 PM »

interesting. Thanks. My old DLP is making a bearing noise so I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I was looking at a 120Hz 1080 47" (I think) for $599. I think I paid over $2K for that 37" DLP in 2005 of 2006.

Quote from: The Chief on February 20, 2012, 08:32:40 PM

I guess I take it for granted that everyone spends as much time window shopping at Best Buy as I do

Seriously though, it's tough to describe, but go to any big electronics store and look for a floor display with ads talking about "smoothview" or similar marketingspeak. They'll usually have a split-screen thing going with "normal" on one half and then the interpolated higher refresh picture on the other side. The effect is very strange. It makes shows and movies not look "right" because we're all used to movies and TV shows being 24 or 30 fps. The sets with higher refresh rates all have gimmicks that create fake "inbetween" frames, making the resulting video look far too smooth/swimmy.