Just bought a new 60 xbr950

[jabroney12]

Me and dad were in the market for a new tv and the new SOny xbr950 looked amazing in the showroom, my main interest was gettinga HDTV monitor to watch basketball in Hi Def, my previous
monitor was a Sony Wega 36" XBR even though that wasnt in Hi Def the picture quality was amazing!
I just got the TV in yesterday and installed using our existing charter cable box, but one thing notice about the picture quality is that it is kinda fuzzy and not as sharp as my older Wega set.
My installer had told me that I needed an internal antenna to get HDTV channels? Is that true? Why does anybody use internal attennas in this day and age anymore.
I know thatI need to get a Hi Def cable box from my cable company, but would that significantly improve the picture quaility?
As for now the picture is very vibrant but it dosent look like a digital input with the channels being a lil fuzzy, kind of like those computer LCD monitors where you attach a tv tuner and watch tv on it, where it seems like everything is expanded 120% and not in a high resolution.
Any input would help alot.

[max]

Your Tv was designed to display an HD signal, if you get an HD cable box from your cable company you will be amazed at the picture quality! it will be far better than anything you have seen before. your TV also has a built in HD tuner and you would only need to get an antenna to be able to get your local HD channels for free over the air!

Trust me once you put an HD signal into your TV you will realize that you made an amazing purchase. I own the WE series Grand Wega III and the picture quality is out of this world.

Hope I could help,

MAX

[summerfun]

First of all, congratulations on your purchase. You have the XBR version of my TV. You will love it.

You have a couple of things going on here.

1) HD signals are broadcast on different channels than SD. Right now you are watching standard definition TV and SDTV always looks a little fuzzy on HDTV sets. The resolution of an LCD HDTV is so much higher than your old TV that the SD programs look blurry. Don't worry, you will not be watching many SD channels anyway now that you have an HDTV.

2) To watch HD channels, you have a few choices. First, because you have an HD tuner in your TV, you can put up an antenna and pick up the local channels that are broadcasting in HD. Second, you can get a HD satellite dish or HD cable box to get HD cable programming. You can probably also get your local HD channels from those sources as well and won't need an antenna at all. A lot of this depends on where you live.

[jabroney12]

Thanks alot guys, you guys reallyl built up my confidence in this set. I was starting to get dissapointed if thats how it looked like.
So what is the DVI input for? Is that for a computer or for the cable box that has that input.

Second I have a Xbox and I want to get Hi Def picture as well, if you guys have any experience with the console. I know I need a set of cables to recieve that quality. My question is that there is 2 cables currently out on the market one is the Monster Cable 300 that has 2 audio inputs and a S video that claims it gives HD signal and another is a Official Xbox Hi Def adapter. Now the cables for those come I think in 5 instead of 3. Which one should I purchase for optimal picture quality. I probably would've gone with Monster but how come the Xbox HD cables are 5 inputs?

[57U]

jabroney12, welcome to the forum. All "newbies" have many questions. May I suggest you start by browsing the FAQ section: for example, the FAQ on "Cables & Connections" will answer some of your cabling questions.

Then brouse using the site's search engine using keywords.

Then post specific questions.

[kevinw]

For Xbox get the official HDpack from Microsoft.
DVI is for content protection.
If your new HD tuner has DVI(the new DISH and Direct ones do) then use that so you have 2 component inputs available. One for Xbox and the other for a DVD player. Some cable boxes also have DVI but if yours doesn't or it is not active just use a component in.

[summerfun]

Originally posted by kevinw
For Xbox get the official HDpack from Microsoft.



I agree you should get the MS HDpack. It also has a fiber audio out for the true 5.1 surround sound to your reciever. X-box games sound awesome in 5.1.

If you don't have a reciever yet, I would get one that has some component inputs for switching. I use them so I can put both my x-box and DVD though one component input on the TV, otherwise you don't have enough compmonent inputs on the TV.

[jabroney12]

Is this the one you guys are referring to?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3080417612&category=41015

It seems like they are only inputs and no cables provided, so I would probably use my existing component cable to hook it up to this right?

[summerfun]

A set of componet cables and RCA audio cables are included in the original package. I don't know if someone has pulled them out to sell cheaper on e-bay. If you want to use the audio fiber cable, that will need to be purchased.

They sell at BB and CC for $19 if you would rather see before you buy.

[kevinw]

Originally posted by jabroney12
Is this the one you guys are referring to?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3080417612&category=41015

It seems like they are only inputs and no cables provided, so I would probably use my existing component cable to hook it up to this right?

It comes with a set of component cables with regular audio connector. Optical cable will be extra.

[max]

yes this is the one we are all refering to, it does come with cables but I wouldn't consider them to be of quality. you can use the component cables you already own and you will want to invest in a good quality fiber optic cable! Xbox is great in surround sound as was already mentioned. it adds a whole new experience to the gameplay.

MAX

[max]

seems we were all answering his question at the same time, now tell me another forum that has so many people willing to help all at once.

MAX

[jabroney12]

Problem is I dont have 5.1 speakers right now and everything is run off the TVs internal speaker, which I know is not great but alot better then my earlier wega set because it would buzz everysingle time the volume is on too loud.
As for the component cables provided, are they regular cables and not S video? I always though Svideo would be better especially hooking it up to an hdtv. I have a monster S video cable for my PS2 and the upgrade was phenomenal.

[kevinw]

Ok now your starting to venture into READ THE FAQ zone:D HD can only be displayed using component or DVI cables form the source. GO read those Faq's

[jabroney12]

Thanks for the help guys, I just purchased the Xbox HD adapter and tried the Ninja Gaiden and Espn Basketball game and it looked AMAZING!
I have direct TV at home too, can I just skip the HD cable box and go straight for a HD direct tv box instead? I don tknow if I have to pay additional for a new box from my cable company. But it would make more sense to just go straight to dtv.

[max]

How did you try Ninja Gaiden, I thaught the release date was March 2? and also since you are lucky enough to have played it is it widescreen?

Thanks,
MAX

[jabroney12]

I got the demo of Ninja Gaiden, its in the newest issue of Xbox magazine. I dont know about widescreen, i just selected it from my remote to get widescreen on tv.
Is there a selection to play xbox games in widescreen through the menus? I heard in espn basektball u can but i cant find it.

[kevinw]

Originally posted by jabroney12

I have direct TV at home too, can I just skip the HD cable box and go straight for a HD direct tv box instead? I don tknow if I have to pay additional for a new box from my cable company. But it would make more sense to just go straight to dtv.
You sure could. First of all with a Direct box-used for about $350, new a lot more, you will still need an antenna for local HD broadcasting channels.
Look at what cable offers vs satelite in your area.

[kevinw]

Originally posted by jabroney12
Thanks for the help guys, I just purchased the Xbox HD adapter and tried the Ninja Gaiden and Espn Basketball game and it looked AMAZING!


Take a look at SSX3 .. Outstanding audio and colors are superb....

[jabroney12]

How about ulitzing the widescreen mode on select games?
Do you select that from the Sony controller or is there a menu
within the game that selects that?

[jabroney12]

Nm, I just found you u select widescreen and hd mode through the menu. I was playing those games earlier with the cables but WITHOUT selecting HD 480 on the games and I thought it looked amazing boy was I wrong. It's like im playing a real nba game with the Hi-Def on now, unbelievable.
Well I just called my cable company for the HD box, except they told me theres a monthly fee involved which I expected but also only 6 channels will be in Hi-Def!!!
My question is if other channels would look excatly like what I have right now which is a bit pixelated and fuzzy, will the box also improve the picture quality of those channels or leave them as it is and just have the typical channels like fox and nbc in Hi-Def.I need to makek a cost benefit analysis before I make the purchase, any input would be helpful.

[max]

where are you located and what cable company do you use? I am in Canada and have Rogers cable. Rogers has over 20 channels in HD! and to answer your question, yes you SD or analog channels will still look fuzzy. Your TV was not designed to display analog cable it is made for High Def!!!

Hope I could help,
MAX

[jabroney12]

I live in CAlifornia and use Charter Pipeline for my cable service.
20 channels!! Can you tell me what other channels are they besides the typical non cable channels like fox, abc,nbc, etc..?

[max]

There are these channels right now and they are in the process of adding Global and Toronto 1, and there are rumors about HDNET.


277 - Rogers Sportsnet.

278 - TSN HD

279 – CityTV HD

280 - Rogers "HDTV Preview" Channel. This contains a short loop demonstrating HD, the channel sometimes shows "special events".

281 – HDABC Detroit (DD5.1)

282 – HDCBS Detroit. Occasional programme in DD5.1

283 – HDNBC Detroit

284 – HDPBS Detroit Occasional programmes in DD5.1

285 - EDFox. (480P Widescreen)

287 - HDCTV

289 – Discovery HD

290 – HDABC Seattle (timeshift)

291 – HDCBS Seattle (timeshift)

292 – HDNBC Seattle (timeshift)

293 – HDPBS Spokane (timeshift)

294 – HDFox Seattle (timeshift)

295 – HDTMN. HBO originating programming mostly in DD5.1. Some studio movies now also available in DD5.1

296 - HDPPV. Some movies available in DD5.1

297 - HDPPV2. Another HD PPV channel

MAX

[jabroney12]

I was looking up a service provide called Voom that offers over 30 HD channels, they have 21 exclusive HD programs and most their channels I watch like TBS, TNT, and MTV in Hi Def.
How come my local cable company dosent offer these channels in HI DEF???
I looked up Charters website and this is all i get
Local ABC, CBS, NBC
Local Fox in widescreen high resolution

This looks rather weak to me? How come Voom offers those channels in Hi Def and Charter cant? I mean if they were shot in Hi-Def wouldnt this cable box pick it up too. anybody have any experience with that company, here is their website www.voom.com , seems good but the price is high at $39.95 per month.

[57U]

1. Do a search for voom using the site's search engine.

2. Cable companies often have to negotiate rights or pay for certain channels - that's why there is often a delay in their acquisition.

3. Some Cable companies may not have the bandwidth for that many HD channels along with other services like VOD, etc.