Clay some you bring up a good point with the DVI output that I forgot to mention. The DVI output is going to be VERY important to you EVEN IF you TV does not have it. Some channels will require you to go out the DVI output and into another box (*******s). The other thing that the DVI output will be used for is recording. So if you ever want to record HDTV then the DVI output is going be be something you WILL WANT.

Jon

Phantom the Optical cable is Digital.

Jon

So.....why is the coax better? The coax is analog, right?

Recording Dolby Digital Audio
 

What about recording Dolby Digital audio. If the DVI is video only, and if the box only has one (optical) Dolby Digital Output, how will you record the sound?

Audio- You know the cheapest place to find Descrambler boxes? (You gotta hate us saying the "cheapest" :D)

Phantom,

No, the coax AND optical Dolby audio connections are both digital, else there would be six of them. Don't think of the coax in the same sense as a TV antenna, think of it in the same sense as an ethernet coax or DTV coax. Digital.

Okay..........I have not seen the single "coax" for audio 5.1, but only the optical port. If the coax is digital too, then there would be no difference between using either one or the other.

PC,

Let's assume (for the moment) that optical and coax are the "same". The key to a home entertainment system is to look at it as an interdependent set of components.

Before you buy an audio receiver, you need to know how many "sources" it will need to handle and what type of "sources". The same goes for the TV.

I have a Harman Kardon receiver that has 1 optical input and 1 coax input. Most of the HDTV "boxes" only have an optical output, so I needed to buy a DVD player that had a coax output.

Since I was going to have two "component video sources" (HDTV and progressive scan DVD), I needed to buy a TV that had two component video inputs.

I can go on and on, but my point is to design your entire system on paper before you go out and start spending thousands of dollars.

I have everything in place EXCEPT the HDTV "box". That's why I started this thread. I would like to get one that will work for me for the next three to four years. I will use an set of "rabbit ears" and a low-definition Direct TV feed (for now). Later, I will add the satellite dish when more programming is available.

Clay-

If they are both digital, they function the same and have the same performance. You would need to have a BERT (Bit Error Rate Tester) to tell the performance difference.

My Mitsubishi Diamond 65” is two years old, and so is the HDTV RCA DTC100 satellite receiver box that I use for Direct-TV. I don’t have an antenna because I have a hill nearby that blocks the broadcasters. Within the next year, you will see more and more TV’s with the HDTV receiver built-in because normal NTSC broadcasting will be terminated by 2006-2007 since the format has been standardized now. It will all be HDTV.

The Sony V555ES (I know, Jon hates them) has multiple (4) optical inputs (TV/SAT, Optical CD, MiniDisk/DAT, DVD/LaserDisk) and one optical output (MiniDisk/DAT), so I chose to use the optical where I could.

The new Mitsubishi stuff also has the FireWire inputs.

Nort it is not that I hate them I just think there is better out there for the money :p :p :p Oh well in a couple years when you are ready to upgrade we will talk :D:D Anyhow I am fairly sure that your 555 has the Coax input as well. Should be either a black or orange color's jack. It looks just like a RCA input just uses either orange or black to differentiate itself from all the rest.

Jon

Yes.....there is only one.

HDTV Antenna
 

I think that this is the antenna to get to receive broadcast HDTV:

Terk Indoor/Outdoor Ampified Antenna

great post.

I also have a sony xbr, hoping it dies soon also.

What TV, AMP, speakers would you guys recommend to replace it, I have a 64 incher.

How much longer do I have to wait for the flat screen tvs price/quality to be there.

Curtis

There was just a substantial drop in Plasma Prices last week for Runco. They are now at 12,995 and 16,995 for the 43" and the 50" respectively at retail. These are for TRUE HDTV plasma's that can do a 720P image in its native resolution. Yes there are cheaper plasma's even ones that are 2500 bucks but they look like it as well.

Re: Recording Dolby Digital Audio
 

I do not have any info for you on that one. I have not done a ton of research for the DVI inputs. I will look into it for ya however.

Jon

At the risk of being partially incorrect again, :) DVI is being widely adopted by movie studios, cable and satellite providers for a very important reason. With DVI you also get HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Copyright Protection). At this time, DVI is not a recordable interface.

Most consumer electronics manufacturers recommend the use of the 1394CP (Firewire) interconnect as the interface between recordable high definition devices (D-VHS/DVD-R) while DVI/HDCP should become the standard for connection to the display device.

For example, to watch HDTV you could use DVI and go from your Set Top Box (STB) (DVI Out) to the TV (DVI In). If you want to record HDTV you should use the Firewire or component interconnect and go from your STB (Firewire or Component Out) to the recordable high definition device (Firewire or Component In). To play stuff recorded on your recordable high definition device you could use the Firewire, Component or DVI interconnects to connect the recordable high definition device to the TV.

Ain’t this stuff fun?

RRIIIGGGHHHTTT!!!
 

:D :D :D :confused: :eek: :rolleyes: :cool:

Ok...LOL

I have now forgotten how to use my DVD recorder..

Troutly of the Pioneer, Panasonic and Fujitsu that you have listed the Panasonic has the best image, very close with the Pioneer. I would stay away from the Fujitsu. They have HORRIBLE pixle drop out problems and also BAD color shifting over time.

Jon

great thread, in the process of moving from boston to charlotte, north carolina and just bought a 65" toshiba wide-screen. having direct tv hooked up tomorrow, jon, i may have to call you to get it all hooked up correctly. i want to use my yamaha dsp amp, its about 8 years old but still seems to have most of what is offered today, it was top of the line back in 94. or do you think i'll just be better off replacing it and using it for my neww garage stereo??? bill

Spitfire no problem just drop me a PM and I can probably get to ya in a couple days. The Yamaha DSP amps depending on what year are not bad units. I would have to take a look and see what ya god to know if if it the best thing for you or not.

Jon

thanks jon, i'll be in touch bill

Right on. The DVI output is for "future use" there does not seem to be any need for it yet, however the future is uncertain so if you are getting any new sets you better get one. Runco is making a killer video processor that will have the DVI input on it so if your TV set does not have the DVI input you can get this and not have to toss your set. :D:D

Jon

Update- March 29th
 

Well, I bought the Hughes in mid February. After some trouble with the Setup (my fault), I got is working. The HDNet picture is awesome! However, there are VERY FEW HD stations.

Today, something is wrong. Although the box says that is has a strong satellite signal, it cannot produce any satellite stations. I plan to return the Hughes box, and look for another HD tuner.

Right now I am considering the Samsung SIR-TS160. It has the DVI interface that Audiofn has been talking about. Plus, it has an "always on" 480i output. This will allow you to watch a show in 1080i, but record in on an analog VCR in 480i AT THE SAME TIME!

Anyway, I'll keep y'all updated... :D

Samsung SIR-TS160
 

Well, I returned the Hughes and got the Samsung. It was a sweet swap. I bought the Hughes for $500, and the Samsung is $600 (at Best Buy). But, I had a "10% off anything in the store email" from Best Buy (I guess for my birthday). 10% from $600 is $60, so I swapped boxes for only $40! :D

The picture from the Samsung is the same as the Hughes, but the speed of guide is faster. The guide is entirely different, and it will take me a day or two to get familar with it.

The Samsung has more outputs, but I don't need the "extra" ones, yet. All in all I am very happy with the swap.

HDTV is an expensive conversion, but I believe that 2003 will be a big year for HDTV viewers. If you are "on the fence", do your research and make your decision. I'm glad I bought when I did. :cool: