essential hdtv equipment

[dynamota]

Hi All,

I just bought a Toshiba Regza 40'' super narrow lcd tv.
(http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-...-Narrow/dp/B000W3JHJK)

Though bought it from beachCamera($1339.00)

I am a total newb when it comes to HD Tv

I realized that I now need a:

1. comcast HD box
2. some kind of a surge protector, though many say "surge suppressor". (Whats a good one out there)

3. dvd upscaling dvd player. Can this convert a normal movie to a hd movie?

4. Audio/Surround sound system. (was planing to get a Bose surround sound system because of its compact nature. But very open to other options)

5. what kinda cables? I see a the term "hdmi" thrown around a lot.


Tx in advance

dyna

 

[MustISO]

Step #1. Sign up @ AVSForum. It's a great resource for home theater.

1. comcast HD box - If the TV has a QAM tuner you can get unencrypted HD signals from your current cable line.

2. some kind of a surge protector, though many say "surge suppressor". (Whats a good one out there). You get what you pay for with these, get a good one.

3. dvd upscaling dvd player. Can this convert a normal movie to a hd movie?
If can never be HD, since you're started with a standard def. video but it can make it better.

4. Audio/Surround sound system. (was planing to get a Bose surround sound system because of its compact nature. But very open to other options)

Bose is a waste of money. You can get much better for a lot less.

5. what kinda cables? I see a the term "hdmi" thrown around a lot.
It depends on what you are connecting. Most new devices can use HDMI for video and audio. Not everything works perfectly so it may take some experimentation. Component Red/green/blue is also acceptable

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: MustISO

1. comcast HD box - If the TV has a QAM tuner you can get unencrypted HD signals from your current cable line.

Tivo HD FTW.

2. some kind of a surge protector, though many say "surge suppressor". (Whats a good one out there). You get what you pay for with these, get a good one.

Actually, it's more like "they all suck, so get one you can collect the equipment coverage on".

The only thing that will stop a serious surge is the ~$200 Brickwall (a non-MOV-based protector). But that doesn't protect you from power spikes through your cable line. Unfortunately, I've never gotten a HD signal to survive the attenuation that running a cable tv line through a surge protector causes anyway. So? I dunno, I think we're screwed.

My advice: buy the cheapest (MOV-based) one that shuts off when the MOVs blow out, so (1) a big or multi-part surge doesn't kill your system, and (2) you know when to replace the thing. Panamax is supposed to work this way, but there are also others.

3. dvd upscaling dvd player. Can this convert a normal movie to a hd movie?
If can never be HD, since you're started with a standard def. video but it can make it better.

DVD is better than SD, but not as good as HD.

Buy a PS3 -- not only the best Blu-Ray player but an excellent upscaler. And it plays games too...

4. Audio/Surround sound system. (was planing to get a Bose surround sound system because of its compact nature. But very open to other options)

Bose is a waste of money. You can get much better for a lot less.

Yup. Bose is crap. See Jello's FAQ stickied at the top of this forum.

5. what kinda cables? I see a the term "hdmi" thrown around a lot.
It depends on what you are connecting. Most new devices can use HDMI for video and audio. Not everything works perfectly so it may take some experimentation. Component Red/green/blue is also acceptable

Component may give you things like ground loops, etc. Use HDMI if at all possible (again, read the FAQ). Make sure you buy all your cables from Monoprice: store prices are crazy.

 

[dynamota]

MustIso,

when yo say "If the TV has a QAM tuner you can get unencrypted HD signals from your current cable line. "

The spec of the TV says it has QAM tuner. Is there something I need to do to activate this?

I have regular comcast at hme(just digital). Are the signals being distorted by comcast so that we end up renting their box?

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: dynamota
MustIso,

when yo say "If the TV has a QAM tuner you can get unencrypted HD signals from your current cable line. "

The spec of the TV says it has QAM tuner. Is there something I need to do to activate this?

I have regular comcast at hme(just digital). Are the signals being distorted by comcast so that we end up renting their box?

By law, they CANNOT encrypt the digital signal for local OTA stations. Now, all of the other, non-local digital channels are going to be scrambled and you'll have to get a digital cable plan for that, but not the local ones. However, the image quality is much better using an antenna than the cable feed, since the cable company compresses the signal to increase the number of channels they can send out. To use the QAM tuner, just have it auto-scan for channels, and they should show up.

 

[dynamota]

Tx Guys.
Some of the info you have shared are eye openers.

If I say that I have a $150-$200 budget for a surge protector/supply etc, what are the products I should start looking at?

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: dynamota
If I say that I have a $150-$200 budget for a surge protector/supply etc, what are the products I should start looking at?

Brickwall/Zerosurge (same thing, different names). The only real protection -- everything else is pretty much just a warranty.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: dynamota
If I say that I have a $150-$200 budget for a surge protector/supply etc, what are the products I should start looking at?

Brickwall/Zerosurge (same thing, different names). The only real protection -- everything else is pretty much just a warranty.

If the company will replace anything plugged into their surge protector, why spend more money?

Here's one with $15,000 connected equipment protection.

 

[Jumpem]

1080P HDTV
Blu0ray player
HD-DVD player
Receiver that handles Dolby HD and DTS HD

All connected via HDMI.