New HDTV - Thanks for all the info

[Bobasaurus]

I would like to thank all the people here who have posted information on HDTV. After many hours online and at various retail stores I purchased a Sony KDF-55WF955. It is awesome.

Things learned by a beginner.

1. Screen Door Effect - SDE - I read much about SDE, worried about it, took multiple trips to the stores. I cannot see it on the Sony. A non-problem in my particular case.

2. Fan noise. I can hear it. Just a little. Bothers me, but not real bad.

3. Did I mention the picture is fantastic?

4. I took the advice of many and bought good cables, but not the super high priced ones. Mostly GE and factory cables from components. I have no problems so far. I went COAX digital from the DVD/CD to AMP and FIBER from the TV to the AMP. Odd that the best price I found for these cables were from GE. It's odd because I work for GE and all these products are off-shore stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with GE besides the name. ( I begin to ramble :mic: )

5. Go big. At 12 feet viewing distance I love the 55" screen.

6. I live in a great reception area. Upon initial set-up my "in attic" channel master antenna found 32 analog and 19 digital stations. I get ABC/CBS/NBC/WB/UPN in HD via the antenna

7. The digital stations rock. I was worried that the Sony claims to output audio only when the speakers are off. It does however output the optical on all the digital stations while the speakers are on.

8. My ancient Sony DTV receiver only outputs S-Video and analog sound. I was worried about the quality. It is nowhere near as clear a the HDTV OTA signal, but it is watcheable until I can feel goo about jumping into a DirecTV HDTV box.

9 Did I mention progressive scan DVDs look awesome?


Well enough rambling. As I learn more stuff I will post.

A thankful beginner signing off. :patriot:

Bobasaurus

[labatt90]

"7. The digital stations rock. I was worried that the Sony claims to output audio only when the speakers are off. It does however output the optical on all the digital stations while the speakers are on. "

I have a sony that so far only does output sound when speakers are off.

You are saying that with an optical cable from the tv to my reciever, that it will do both? Or are you saying only the digital channels will do this?

I use optical cables from my dvd player and reciever, but not from my tv to reciever. I will if sound doesn't constantly have to be turned off. Help

[Bobasaurus]

The optical outputs only work on digital stations as far as I can tell. The optical output on digital stations does work even if the speakers of the TV are on.

Bobasaurus

[mfabien]

Will one of you say if when using an audio HT system, if your optical audio connection between the TV and the a/v can give you DD5.1 or is it strictly DD2.0?

In answering, please specify if your are using:

- the internal ATSC tuner with OTA or

- a STB with HDMI?

Reason I ask is that some people are stating when using HDMI from a STB, that the digital audio connection at the TV's back panel to an a/v limits audio to DD2.0.

[labatt90]

mfabien, I am using a plasma tv with a built in ATSC tuner. I have only had it for a short time and haven't tried it out to see, but I have heard and believe that if I was to listen to a HD program like CSI, that it should also be sent in the 5.1 surround. I am excited to watch a HD tv show that has the same 5.1 as most dvd's do. I will try it out this week and let you know. I however am wondering if you know if all HD programming is also 5.1 or only some? Are they mutually exclusive?


James

[Ratman]

Not all HD programming is DD5.1

[mfabien]

mfabien, I am using a plasma tv with a built in ATSC tuner. I have only had it for a short time and haven't tried it out to see, but I have heard and believe that if I was to listen to a HD program like CSI, that it should also be sent in the 5.1 surround. I am excited to watch a HD tv show that has the same 5.1 as most dvd's do. I will try it out this week and let you know. I however am wondering if you know if all HD programming is also 5.1 or only some? Are they mutually exclusive?
James

You will get DD5.1 for "LOST" on ABCHD Wednesday nights, NFL football on ABCHD on Monday Night Football, CBSHD and FOXHD on Sunday afternoons.

Movies on ABCHD and CBSHD are normally in DD.5.1. I recall the following having very good LFE as well, Jurassic Park III, Tomorrow Never Dies, Space Cowboys and more recently, Spiderman. Last Sunday we had "The Sound of Music" on ABCHD and it was interesting to hear the separation of dialog between the sides and the middle of the scenes...I guess in 1965 they carried 3 tracks. The HD conversion was extremely good and the sound gave us the original music qualities.

Most programs, like the 3 CSI's, House, Crossing Jordan, Jag, Without a Trace and others, are in DD but if you use a DSP option in your receiver, you will sometimes get some good effects. For these types of programs my favorite setting is DSP Adventure and I do get dialog in the Center channel.