HDTVoice.com - High-Definition Television Talk - Just got new TV and I know very little!

sfetaz

07-04-2002, 02:28 PM

My family just got this new TV (click here to see) (http://www.sonystyle.com/home/item.jsp?hierc=9685x9795&catid=9795&itemid=36583&telesale=null&hidden=null&cps=null&type=o). It's the Brand new Sony Wega HI Scan 32-HV600 model.

Now I know a little about TV's and HD but what I know maybe wrong and I am looking for information. This TV has a DVI input. I know it won't work with PC monitors. What is the point of it and what can it be used for?

My cable company, Time Warner, says they will be coming out with a HDTV digital cable box in the near future. I know my TV is HDTV ready. Along with the DVI input are 2 Component Inputs that support all the formats (480p, 480i, 1080i, and some new 720p which is convereted they say to 1080i). Since most of the people when you call the cable company are idiots, do you know what inputs their boxes could support? And will my TV have better quality using those inputs even without an HDTV decoder, as the TV is HDTV ready but not HDTV out of the box.

And most importantly, there are a lot of settings to play with. DRC, choice of progressive, interlaced or cinemotion, the color schemes, etc. Do you know what would be the most optimal settings for a TV for the best and clearest picture quality?

I know I talk a lot but I am very thankful for any help you can give me.

zarlor

07-05-2002, 10:06 AM

DVI is a digital interface. It WILL work with computers, in fact some video cards utilize a DVI interface instead of or as well as an RGBHV (or VGA, if you prefer) output. (Like the Radeon 8500). That interface is also fairly common for laptop displays. There are converters available for uner $10 that will convert a DVI output to RGBHV, if you needed it.

Now, as for the STB (set-top box) for cable. And HD Ready set is simply a set that doesn't have a box like that built into it. In all other ways it is an HDTV, it just doesn't have some way to tue into a digital TV channel. Most STBs use Component outputs, with some models having RGBHV instead. These days more and more STBs are coming out with DVI and/or IEEE-1394 (aka Firewire aka iLink) connections as well. In other words, you have very little to worry about, I'm almost positive you'll have at least a component connection on those boxes to use to get HD on your TV.

Finally, as for settings... that's a tough one. I don't have this set so I cannot speak to it specifically, but I can make a few suggestions in general. First off get a calibration DVD, such as Avia or Video Essentials. (Easily found on Amazon.com). That chould help you calibrate your set to your environment. However, in order to have those settings really be useful, you should probably turn OFF all those little extras that TV manufacturers like to throw in to "enhance" the picture. In reality all they are doing is adding or removing information what was never in the picture to begin with.

For some of the specific items you mentioned, though, I would say you would normally select Warm for your color scheme (or whatever color scheme is stated to be for 6500k, if that is mentioned anywhere.) And you would probably prefer progressive scanned for most viewing. I have no idea what the heck cinemotion is supposed to be, but just the name scares me. ;)

Also check out http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/index.htm and see if there is more info there on your set. I'd also check out the general areas and even stuff for other sets if you really want to get into the nitty gritty of squeezing out every last drop of performance from your TV. After all most TVs are, essentially, similar in design and what might work well for another set will probably have a similar affect on your set.

Finally, once you have had your set for a couple of months you could look into getting an ISF calibration. Calibration services vary, but at the very least you would probably want to get your set color calibrated to the 6500k standard. Some techs also offer alignment and convergence service as well as generally tweaking things, often using the same methods already mentioned on the Keohi site I mentioned. The more you know before they get there, the better position you'll be in to understand what they are doing and why they are doing it, not to mention knowing which services you think you need and are willing to pay for, and those services that you don't.

Best of luck!