Help me choose a TV

[Swass]

Greetings.

The Minister of Finance tentatively approved the purchase of a flat panel TV for our video game room! Say it with me now: WOOOHOOO!

This TV will be primarily used for gaming (Xbox 360). It won't even be connected to our dish - at least for awhile. Here's where I need your help: How do I convince the Minister that we need a full-blown 1080p HDTV? Do I REALLY need a 1080p, or would I be happy with a 720p?

I'm looking at a 32" Panasonic 1080p HD (Panasonic TC-32LZ800) for ~$875. Should I save a few Benjamins by going with a 720p? As I understand it, currently all broadcasts, even HD broadcasts, are in 720p, correct? And my XBox 360 is also 720p, right? Aside from Blu-Ray, what's the benefit right now to 1080p? Am I simply positioning myself for future bandwidth improvements to allow 1080p broadcasts?

[Swass]

C'mon! I wanna buy something!

[Swass]

If the Minister comes to her senses, I'm blaming you!

[Wakebrad]

Very few sources even broadcast in 1080p. Pretty much just very expensive BlueRay players. I'm not sure if the xbox 360 does. I doubt it though.

Not only that but with a 32" TV you will not notice the difference. I'd save the money.

[Swass]

Will my XBOX play a DVD?

[Swass]

The response has been underwhelming.

I'm goin' with the 1080p. Thanks for the feedback, Wakebrad. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing to excess, I always say.

[pet575]

Go with the 720p in that size of a TV. The only way I'd say not to do that is if you're not going to be able to make another purchase for 5 years. If that were the case, I'd say buy the 1080p so that you don't have out of date technology for a long period.

[chavez]

Swass,

I too think 720P/1080i will be more than adequate. Costco, as always, is where I would shop if possible.

Can't go bigger? What size is the room, and how far from the couch is the TV going to be?

[J-Ro]

Get the next size bigger than you want. Get a 1080p because you can. Enjoy the new TV.

[Swass]

I tried to go with the 37", but the Minister balked. I really like the Panasonic picture, so I want to stick with that brand. Ultimate electronics is selling the 720p version of the 32" Panasonic at the same price that I can get the 1080, so I'll go with that one, I guess. We're only about 8' from the TV, so it should work.

[Dragonlady8]

Hell you shoulda went for the 61" dlp.

[edrex]

You just missed a 42" 1080p from costco for $800! They had them yesterday and they are sold out today.

[Swass]

Was that an Olivea or Visio? Two people I work with had one of each, and they both died within 18 months of purchase. A 42" is a little too big for the space, anyway.

I'm still trying to work the 37". I should know better than to low-ball my estimates.

DL, I'm not sold on the "it's all about the mirrors" approach. I guess I don't know much about DLP technology.

[chavez]

Swass, DLP is great - especially the newest stuff (fantastic), but if you are stressing for space I don't know that you will have enough.

The smallest DLPs I have seen are around the 42" range.

[edrex]

Swass, it was an AOC Envision. Reviews were mid to fairly good on it. I almost picked one up, then decided against it.

[TnR6Rida]

Get LCD not Plasma since you are using it for video games.

[Chad H]

Swass,
You'll love the Panasonic. My friend has one at 42 inches, and it's one of the best pictures i've ever seen. Much better than my grandma's 52inch samsung LCD

[Swass]

Well, I am getting an LCD, but I'm curious: Why LCD vs. plasma for video games? I don't think burn-in is much of an issue. Panasonic tested their plasma by leaving a static image on the screen for 16 hours with no problems. (I wanted to go with a 42" plasma, but there's no way I'd get that one past the goalie.)

The TV is on the way - should be here Friday.

I'm pretty irritated with DirecTV right now. I need a new dish and receiver for HD, so I thought I'd do it myself (I installed the one I have now), but DirecTV won't let me. I was told the install is free, but I want the cable to run through the attic and down an interior wall. Apparently, that's a "custom" install that'll cost me extra.

[JoeyJojo]

Yeah, burn in isn't that big of an issue anymore on these sets. If you are a videophile, plasma would be the way to go due to it's (usually) sharper contrast and more accurate color reproduction. I am personally not one, so the energy efficiency of the LCD won.

You also mentioned about using your XBX360 for movie playback. If you are a member of Netflix, they are going to start offering streaming movies through the XBX. Down side is there is a limited selection of titles that offered to stream, something like 10,000. Most of them are also older movies, but it is unlimited with a $10 a month account. My GF is a big movie buff and loves the streaming movies (as well as the DVD delivery).

Yeah, and the satellite companies suck. Around here they just send a tweaker out to crappily slap the dish up and staple wire to the outside of your house. I have tried to explain to them that I will rip it all down and reinstall it anyways, but it usually doesn't help. I guess it isn't covered in their Customer Care flowchart =/

[Wakebrad]

Swass, I think the reason for LCD over plasma for video gams is burn-in. Plasma has gotten much better about this over time but there is still a little risk there. For a TV under 40 inches LCD is the way to go IMO.

DLPs are great TVs for the price if you want a large one > 50". But for a smaller TV it's not the way to go.

[pet575]

Swass, unless you are willing to run that cable yourself they are going to pop you for it. When I converted over to DTV's new HD system, I pre-wired everything I wanted but asked them to make one extra run for me to the DVR (I only had one lead going to it). Installer said, "No problem. We can do it for $150."

F-that. I did it for the cost of the cable and the appropriate mounting hardware. Attic/interior wall stuff is a pain if your wall access isn't good. I'd do it myself every time after seeing some of the jackleg stuff these installers do. Even with everything being pre-wired, the tech who came out most recently couldn't get 3 of my 7 runs to work. He got pissed and blamed my terminations on the coaxial cable as the problem. He had a solid signal from all 4 leads coming from the dish, so I finally asked him to leave if he was going to continue complaining. Once he left, I traced everything back to the 4X8 switch and found that the 3 runs he couldn't get to work WEREN'T PLUGGED INTO the switch.

I'll bet that guy has like 3 "junk" lamps at his house that he can't get to work, which are unplugged. Minimum effort people like this are why I won't allow the DTV installer to do ANYTHING but what their contract requires: mount the dish, run the wires, show me that the leads from the dish work, and get the hell out of my house.

Good luck.

[Swass]

pet575, did you run Cat 5 cable, or the Cat 5e? Standard Cat 5 is still what I want to use, right?

And, do I need an HDMI cable between the HD receiver and the TV? Will DirecTV supply the cable with the install?

[chavez]

Swass, HDMI is convenient, but not necessary. Direct will supply component video (3 wire Red Green Blue).

You can pick up HDMI cables at online sources for cheap. Or you can go to Fry's (if you have one) and get them for less than $20.

FWIW I am 100% happy with component.

[Swass]

Don't I lose signal quality with component video vs. HDMI? Component is even one step below S-video, isn't it?

Cat 5 cable? Gotta pick up what I need today.

[Wakebrad]

If you have to buy a cable :

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024012&p_id=4158&seq=1&format=2

If they supply you with one go with the component. I use component for a lot of my inputs. I can't tell a difference.

[Wakebrad]

Swass, component is better than S-Video. Are you thinking of RCA?

What would you need a Cat5 cable for?

[Swass]

I don't know what I'm thinking of. It's been awhile since I've done this.

Cat 5 is for the run from the dish to the wall? I'm sure that's what I used when I installed the dish I have now (that was ~10 years ago, so I'm a bit fuzzy).

[Wakebrad]

Swass, I've never used dish before but the system that was in our house already (DirectTV) used coax from the box to the wall. Either way I would guess that would be supplied by your satellite company.

[pet575]

Swass, sorry I was away and couldn't get back to you. No, it is not CAT 5 it is standard coaxial-the black or white round cable with the single copper wire in the middle.

Here is the hierarchy of connections:

WORST
Coaxial
RCA cables (Yellow for video, red/white for sound)
S-video (s-video, red/white for sound)
Component (red, green, and blue video, red/white for sound)
DVI (pretty much equivalent to component, red/white for sound)
HDMI (quality same as component/DVI, but also carries better sound than red/white)
BEST

Best

As stated, DTV will supply component cables. You're on your own if you want HDMI so that sound is included. The only advantage I've seen to the HDMI is that the synchro between the picture and sound CAN sometimes be a bit off when not using HDMI. But, it is not permanent and will fix itself sometimes on its own or with a receiver reset. I've not seen it happen using an HDMI connection, though.

[Swass]

If coax is worst, why are we running coax from the dish into the house?

[chavez]

Swass, coax carries a digital signal which is converted by the Directv box. Digital is digital, it's on or off.

[pet575]

I'm sorry if that was confusing, that was strictly for connection from the receiver to the TV. I think coax is best for carrying the signal to the dish because it is generally exposed to weather and the elements and it holds up better than something like CAT 5 would.

[Swass]

The cable is RG6 coax. I knew it was letters and numbers, anyway.

$60 for the "wall fish" as they call it. I'll gladly pay $60 to avoid my rediculously hot attic.

[chavez]

Swass, I'd also pay that $60 during the summertime. Forget the heat, it's that damn fiberglass insulation that sticks to sweat like a fly on sh*t that will get ya.

End up scratching like Dave Chappelle after a Red Balls.

[Wakebrad]