Just bought a Sony KP51WS520

[moneytrain8]

From BB... Got a sweet deal on it (thanks to a matched Sears 10% coupon and an online PM!).

Anyway, it's being delivered on December 10th (the room it's going in is not finished yet). I am getting Comcast Digital Cable with HDTV...

My question is... What wires and connections do I need for optimium performance? The TV has a DVI and HDMI connection (so the specs say)... is one preferable over the other? Are there any wire brands recommended or any that I should shy away from?

Thanks for your time and help!

[talon1189]

From BB... Got a sweet deal on it (thanks to a matched Sears 10% coupon and an online PM!).

Anyway, it's being delivered on December 10th (the room it's going in is not finished yet). I am getting Comcast Digital Cable with HDTV...

My question is... What wires and connections do I need for optimium performance? The TV has a DVI and HDMI connection (so the specs say)... is one preferable over the other? Are there any wire brands recommended or any that I should shy away from?

Thanks for your time and help!Congratulations on your new Sony purchase :D HDMI connections are the newest and best connections available. My new Sony 60" set only comes with "2" HDMI connections. No DVI. I really doubt that you could tell the difference between the two.....so you can't go wrong. Just buy a cables that fit your budget :smokin: I would avoid the Monster Cable robbery. Good luck with your decisions!

[Blaster]

Welcome to HDTVoice moneytrain :cheers:
Congratulations with your new HDTV purchase (a great choice I might add- :D )

so I have read that the 520 comes with both DVI and HDMI (my 510 only has DVI)

so I am wondering if say, on Video 7 you have the choice of either DVI or HDMI
or if Video 6 is DVI, Video 7 is HDMI...

well I go to Sony.com Pull up the manual for the 520 and it shows ONLY (1) HDMI connection :headscrat (no DVI)

anyway the first question you will need to find out is if your stb has an
active DVI/HDMI output (then if necessary use a DVI/HDMI adaptor)
so depending on your application you could just use component cables (Y,Pb,Pr) for stb
and also (Y,Pb,Pr) for DVD player
Then if you get into a situation where you need a third Hi-Def input (eg. XBOX)
you will be interested in using the third Hi-Def input on back of TV (HDMI)
(or connecting thru a receiver is an option)

so the bottom line would be that comcast should supply the cables you need (for stb Hi-Def)
and if you're hooking up a DVD player you will want a Y,Pb,Pr cable
as far as spending big bucks for Y,Pb,Pr cable IMHO, you don't need to...

so let us know how it turns out for ya - Good Luck

: )

[brector]

Congrads!! You'll love your set!

[moneytrain8]

I went into Sears over the weekend and looked at the back of the set... Plenty of composite connections, a couple S-video ones, and one HDMI connection.

I don't know if Comcast Digital Cable can connect to HDMI... Anyone know?

Can anyone suggest the best HDMI cable for the money?

Thanks for all your input and suggestions! What a great forum!

[57U]

HDMI is basically DVI plus audio.

See the FAQ on DVI connections for several websites selling the appropriate cables/adaptors.

[Blaster]

moneytrain8,

I believe the Comcast stb will have DVI, not HDMI (but is it active?)
there are plenty of places to get cables - heres a good one:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI-hdmi_cables.html

Like your head isn't spinning enuff but more senarios would be :

if your comcast stb doesn't have DVI active you will use Y,Pb,Pr cable (comcast provided)

what is your DVD player situation?? have one, need to upgrade
maybe get a DVD Player with DVI/HDMI output:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-EcQpuV...00&I=033DVD1910

are you a 'gamer' ?? (ps2 / xbox) another Y,Pb,Pr cable needed

my point being is, if your Home Theater turns out like most, you are going to need to use
(3) high-bandwidth inputs on back of your TV (stb, dvd, game console)
- 1 HDMI
- 1 Y,Pb,Pr
- 1 Y,Pb,Pr

these are all just things I thought of while deciding on buying my TV
so I thought I would just pass them along so you can think about - MORE CHOICES- :whistle:

Good Luck

[moneytrain8]

I have a Toshiba SD400 DVD player with TiVo built in... It has a Coax, optical, and S-video out. I was going to use the S-video to hook it up to the TV.

I am unsure if Comcast has DVI active. I called yesterday, and told the phone suport that I had a TV with HDMI and if Comcast provided the wires and hookup... She said they did.

I am hoping to get an Xbox in the near future... The wife has not approved the purchase yet, however... I am hoping someone in the family will give it to me as a gift so I can avoid the hassle of her wrath... haha...

I guess worst case scenario is that I can see what Comcast has... I am sure they have the DVI... If they don't have the HDMI capability, I'll just get one of those adaptors referenced in the link you sent, Blaster...

Thanks for all your help. I'm getting this delivered on December 10 (we're still finishing our basement, so it's not TV-ready yet!)... I can't wait!!!

[remmnate]

It is an awesome TV just got mine 2 weeks ago.

It does not have a DVI in.

One note that took me some time to figure out is that if you use the audio out to your reciever you have to go to the audio menu on the tv and turn the speakers off to get any sound.

another note is in small print in the getting started guide it says to do a flash focus within the first 20 minutes of use. I dont know why but i am sure there is a reason. Didnt want you to miss that. :stop:

Let me know how your standard cable reception is I have had some issues with that but the HD picture is unbelievable. :D

Hopefully by the time you get it Ill have some more help for you.

[moneytrain8]

Awesome! Thanks for the advice! Keep me informed how it works out for you! And I'll do the same once I finally get it!

[Blaster]

One note that took me some time to figure out is that if you use the audio out to your reciever you have to go to the audio menu on the tv and turn the speakers off to get any sound.

does this depend on what setting you are using - Fixed or Variable ?

i believe mine does, but then it's not hdmi equipped

:)

[eklektique1]

Blaster, I'm new, what is Y, Pb, Pr? Composite? Component? I will make a purchase in the near future and will have what you describe as the usual set-up (STB, DVD, game console). Thanks.

[Ratman]

Component

[Blaster]

the Y,Pb,Pr cable is the same as "red/grn/blue-rca" Component Cable

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-7608_7-1016109-5.html?tag=tnav

(Composite being "yellow/red/wht-rca")

:)

[eklektique1]

Thanks for that link Blaster. Very very good info.

Anyone ever bought online. PC Mall is about $400 cheaper after shipping on the tv I'm looking at and the larger version (KDF-55/60WF655).

[moneytrain8]

You know, I am the king of shopping online... I go to the store, find the item I want, then find it online... Do it 95% of the time I buy stuff, and been doing it for years now.

But I just can't bring myself to make a purchase like this online... For a few reasons:

- Trust - I just don't trust a online retailer with a purchase this large. Maybe it's because I'm not rolling in the dough, but I just don't trust what I'll get.

- Warranty - Maybe some online retailers offer a warranty similar/better than Best Buy (or Sears or Circuit City, etc), but I have enough trouble getting in touch with an online retailer when I get the wrong size item or wrong style... How easy can it be to get warranty work?

- Stability - Sure, many online retailers have been around forever, and probably aren't going anywhere... But you never know.

- Tangibility - I like being able to have a physical place to go when I have a problem. You can only be so threatening over an e-mail... But if I'm standing right in front of the CSR, that lets me be more in control of a situation.

Like I said, I'll shop for clothes, computer toys, games, housewares, etc online very easily... But when something costs in the neighborhood of $2,000, I still like the face-to-face nature of B&M stores.

Just my opinion... I'm sure there are many more reputable and honest online retailers than there are seedy ones.

[Blaster]

You know, I am the king of shopping online... I go to the store, find the item I want, then find it online... Do it 95% of the time I buy stuff, and been doing it for years now.

But I just can't bring myself to make a purchase like this online... For a few reasons:
--------------------------------------------------------------
- Tangibility - I like being able to have a physical place to go when I have a problem.
You can only be so threatening over an e-mail... But if I'm standing right in front of the CSR, that lets me be more
in control of a situation.

Like I said, I'll shop for clothes, computer toys, games, housewares, etc online very easily... But when something costs in the neighborhood of $2,000, I still like the face-to-face nature of B&M stores.

Just my opinion... I'm sure there are many more reputable and honest online retailers than there are seedy ones.


:bow: Great Post - - I second those feelings and feel whole-heartedly the same way
I made an 'exception' to the rule couple years back when I bought a $1600.00
DELL laptop on-line (but we are talking dell on line)

I can't say it any better than "standing right in front of the CSR"

:cheers:

[remmnate]

To answer your question blaster if variable mode you have to turn the volume almost all the way up on the reciever to get any sound. best results are fixed and off.

[moneytrain8]

Well, Dell is certainly an exception... As is Crutchfield...

I have a question about the composite cable... I have many of the "Red/Yellow/White" cables... Will I be able to use these, or do I need to go out and get those new fangled "red/blue/green" cables? Is there a difference?

[oman321]

Don't buy any till you get cable out, if your going with cable. When they came out for me they gave me a whole kit of cables. 2 component, 1 DVI, 1 coaxil for audio, 1 optical for audio, and 1 S-video. Also got a couple of red and white audio cables as well as y cables to split the red and white audios.

[moneytrain8]

We'll have to see what the shysters from Comcast bring... thanks!

[oman321]

Ya when they came out for me I wanted to make sure they had a box with DVI out since not all boxes had this output. I wasn't home so the guy tells my wife that the box has the dvi out but that my set does have a dvi in, he then suggested to her that I did not do my research when I bought my set. Little did he realize that my set's HDMI connector was the next thing coming and I could adapt it to use the DVI from the Box. I spoke to him over the phone and im not sure why but something caused him to say i'll leave you the rest of the cables, so you might have to push a bit.

[Blaster]

When they came out for me they gave me a whole kit of cables. 2 component, 1 DVI, 1 coaxil for audio, 1 optical for audio, and 1 S-video. Also got a couple of red and white audio cables as well as y cables to split the red and white audios.

wow, thats a lot of cables (very cool!)
that was comcast ??

[derekp]

First off, congrats. I bought this model a few months ago and have only good things to say about it.

Second, as noted above, the set has HDMI only - no DVI. Your Comcast box will likely come with DVI output and component. To utilize the DVI output, you may get away with using a DVI to HDMI cable. I've not tried it myself, but I've read of issues with this. Worth a shot though.

Have fun.

[moneytrain8]

Derek,

Thanks for your input! Are you using composite cables now? Any issues?

Thanks.

[oman321]

Yes, that was Comcast that provided the cables Blaster. Moneytrain8 you should be fine with component, like I said try to get the DVI and other cables from them, just say you'll be rewiring with a new receiver or something.

[derekp]

money,

Unfortunately, I'm yet to buy an HD-STB for my dish. The recent *C price drop is making it tempting, but their current box offers component out only. I'm reluctant to plunk down that kind of cash, when an HDMI equipped model must be just around the corner.

To answer your question though, I'm currently using an S-Video cable to hook my dish up to the TV.

[moneytrain8]

Okay... Finally got the TV delivered on Friday the 10th... Woo hoo...

Of course, Comcast shows up a half hour later... and CAN'T DO THE JOB!!! The d@mned scheduler only put me in for an "add service" job... I needed an outlet put in my basement... BAH! The guy was SOOOOOOOOOO lazy...

Then, I call Comcast. The woman was very polite and apologetic. I told her that I was not mad at her; I was just mad that this was screwed up. Then she tells me, "Well, it looks like we can get someone out there to do that on December 22nd." :boo2: I told her, "No, you can't... that is unacceptable. I made this appointment a MONTH ago. I'm not waiting." So, after some finagling, they got me installed this past Wednesday.

So, now I have the Comcast HD... Now is where I am encountering a problem...

They gave me the composite cable (red, blue, green), and a composite audio cable. That's it. But I wasn't expecting any more, so that's fine.

Anyway, I go to Worst Buy and purchase a Monster DVI to HDMI cable. The STB is DVI, the TV is HDMI. Sets me back $125... YIKES. But, if you're going to pay $$$$ for the TV, you better pay for decent cable, I reckon.

I bring it home and hook it up... the picture looks great... EXCEPT...

There are these red "staticy" lines at various places in the picture. It looks to be in a lot of places where there is a transition between dark and light (like around the border of an object.

So, I went to Radio Shack and bought THEIR DVI to HDMI, thinking I had a bad cable.

Well, it's the same thing. I have trouble believing there are two bad cables.

Comcast says there are no settings on the box to correct this...

I tried the Flash Focus, but to no avail. The picture looks really wonderful, save for the red staticy lines... If they weren't there I would be in HEAVEN.

Does anyone have any ideas? Any suggestions? Did I actually buy two bad cables in a row? Is it interference? Do I need a signal booster or something?

HELP! :mecry:

Thanks!

John

[Ratman]

Does it happen with component cables?

[moneytrain8]

Not that I noticed... I had the component cables hooked up for a few hours, and I did not notice the static. Maybe I'll have to hook them up again and make sure.

Thanks.

[HDTVBob]

...Let me know how your standard cable reception is I have had some issues with that but the HD picture is unbelievable. :D ...

Remnate,
I have a Sony 60XBR950 with the same problem when running standard cable off the box. However, someone in this forum suggested splitting the cable connection between the box and the direct input to the back of the TV. There is a noticeable improvement in the standard cable picture doing this compared to component cables out of the STB. All I do is use the Sony Remote to switch between Video and Antenna 1 in to do this. I also have an audio out of the TV to my A/V Receiver so that the sound is sync'd up when I do this.

[remmnate]

So what type of connection are you using for your antenna 1 from the box to the TV. If I understand you right you watch HD through component and video 1 for example and when you watch sd cable you watch it through say rg6 or something through antenna 1??? Not disagreeing or anything I just dont understand the theory??

[57U]

See the FAQ on "Poor SD PQ".

[moneytrain8]

Just an update...

Comcast, who did not believe that the static could be in any way their fault, came out and checked things out... They put in a new cable box, and wouldn't you know it, the static stopped. So that's a positive.

Now, for the good part... After spending $130 on a DVI-to-HDMI cable at BB, then finding a $110 cable at Radio Shack, I found the ultimate:

http://www.monoprices.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10209&style=

I got a DVI-to-HDMI cable from this site for about $15... Yes, I said $15.

It's not "gold plated" or anything like that... But I have compared the picture to the $110 Radio Shack cable, and I don't see a difference.

This site has lots of other cables, too.

This is not a paid advertisement or anything! hehe... Someone in another forum recommended them, and I figured it was worth $15 to see what would happen. I'm glad I did.

[venez68]

Do you need separate audio cables for a DVI to HDMI connection?

BTW comcast hooked me up with composite cables when swapping out my old box for the HD one. No problems with my pq so i guess they gave me some decent cables but i still might upgrade the composites or go the DVI - HDMI route.

[moneytrain8]

You have to go DVI/HDMI if you have this TV... The difference is too much.

Yes, you'd need separate audio cables. I have an digital optical audio cable going from the cable box to my receiver. Good sound.

[venez68]

Did i say composite i meant component, gets a little confusing sometimes!

Anyways, you've had no other problems with this connection since the box was replaced?

[moneytrain8]

Not a one... and the HDMI connection is the best you can use, hands down... go buy a cable from BB or Radio Shack and just look at the difference... Once you're hooked, then order a cable from monoprice.com, and when you get that one, return the BB/Radio Shack one... hehe... that way you don't have a moment where you are stuck with an inferior picture.

[venez68]

Not a one... and the HDMI connection is the best you can use, hands down... go buy a cable from BB or Radio Shack and just look at the difference... Once you're hooked, then order a cable from monoprice.com, and when you get that one, return the BB/Radio Shack one... hehe... that way you don't have a moment where you are stuck with an inferior picture.

Sound like a good idea!

The reason i'm asking these questions is because i do have the same set and i use comcast as well. Like i said before my pq is pretty decent except for a few stations where the backround noise is pretty noticable. So i just wanted to know if you have the same problem down in MD and if that connection made the SD channels come in cleaner. But from what u said it sounds like it did. The backround noise/static/snow whatever you want to call it is something i probably wouldn't have noticed to begin with if i never saw an HD broadcast. But after seeing HD i guess i just want everything to come in that good!

Thanx for the info $ :rockon: