Okay. So a few weeks ago I received a call from a woman who had just purchased her first home in Atlanta, GA. She stated that she wanted to invite her whole family from all over to partake of turkey (with gravy) and cranberry sauce (and mashed potatoes) in her new home (with stuffing). Or rather stuff. She wanted all new stuff.. tech stuff.. for her family to enjoy while they are there.
This would be simple: a couple of HDTV's and sound systems for their hearing and seeing pleasure. 2 of each to be exact. All for under $5000. (I love a challenge).
'Any preferences?' I ask.
Her: 'Yes. I would like a Bose system.
Me: 'O.K.'
Her: 'The Lifestyle® 48 Series IV home entertainment system to be exact.'
Me: 'That may be pricey. Let me research it and see what I can find out.'
I was right. A quick Google search for the Bose system gave me my answer. The Lifestyle 48 was $3,999. Leaving her just enough after taxes and shipping for a couple of 13" tube TV's with a pair of pliers to change the channel and a hanger for an antenna. Very Low Def.
Now let me clarify.. Bose system's are renowned for being one of the best sounding in the world, but these won't fit into her budget. I'll have to find something else.
Okay. In the meantime, I jumped into the HDTV research. I like to keep fresh on these things but knowing the techno-bable will help me (and you) make the best decisions.
Let's start here...
Types of HDTV's
Direct View CRT
Direct view HDTVs are the least expensive option when considering purchasing a high-definition television. They utilize traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology that powers standard analog TV sets, and as a result, are quite big and bulky -- some units weigh 300 pounds or more. Their relatively low prices make direct view displays popular with consumers, but they will fall out of favor over time as the prices of more sleek plasma and LCD displays continue to decline. It is also worth noting that direct view CRTs generally max out at about 40 inches in screen size.
Pros: Cheapest HDTVs available, excellent brightness and black levels
Cons: Bulky size, somewhat vulnerable to burn-in, not available over 40 inches
Rear-Projection
Rear-projection HDTVs are produced by a variety of technologies, including cathode-ray tube (CRT), digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD) and liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS).
Rear-Projection CRT
Rear-projection CRT displays are available in large sizes (up to 70 inches) and are popular due to their relatively low prices as compared with plasma or LCD. However, they are quite bulky -- with some units being nearly three feet deep -- and can be difficult to view when sitting angled from the TV.
Pros: Relatively inexpensive when compared to plasma or LCD, available in larger screen sizes than direct view CRTs, very good black levels.
Cons: Bulky size, picture quality can severely degrade at angles, vulnerable to burn-in, relatively high maintenance compared to other rear-projection technologies.
Rear-Projection DLP
Rear-projection DLP (digital light processing) displays are based on microchip technology from Texas Instruments. Light is projected through a color wheel by thousands of tiny tilting mirrors, which reflect the image off the chip onto the screen.
Pros: Better picture quality than rear-projection CRT, not as expensive as plasma or LCD flat-panel, essentially immune to burn-in, excellent brightness levels, great picture color.
Cons: More expensive than rear-projection CRT or direct-view CRT, average black level quality (although the latest 1080p models are much improved in this respect), can suffer from “rainbow effect”.
(I have one of these and love it. However there are other cons. One is that the repairs for Rear-projection DLP's tend to be higher than for Plasma or LCD's and there is a bulb life which tends to be up to about 8000 hours.)
Rear-Projection LCD
Rear-projection LCD (liquid crystal display) is based on the same LCD technology that powers the more expensive LCD flat-panel models with liquid crystals sandwiched between two plates of glass. However, as a microdisplay it carries the size and cost advantages of rear-projection.
Pros: Better picture quality than rear-projection CRT, not as expensive as plasma or LCD flat-panel, much less bulky than rear-projection CRT, essentially immune to burn-in.
Cons: Poor black levels, not as bright as other technologies, more expensive than rear-projection CRT or direct-view CRT.
Rear-Projection LCoS
Rear-projection LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) is a type of LCD that sandwiches liquid crystals between a plate of glass and a silicon microchip rather than between two layers of glass. Hitachi and JVC are two companies that have made serious investments in LCoS -- which is less proven in production than DLP as a microdisplay technology -- and Sony’s outstanding 70-inch Qualia 006 also features a proprietary form of LCoS, although it retails for a hefty $11,000.
Pros: Much higher resolution and picture quality than rear-projection CRT, much less bulky than rear-projection CRT, much larger screen sizes than plasma or LCD flat-panel.
Cons: More expensive than rear-projection CRT or direct-view CRT, economic viability of production is currently unclear.
Plasma
Plasma displays get their name from the gas that is trapped inside each of the roughly two million pixels that are contained in an HDTV unit. Plasmas are popular due to their elegance and flatness, as they can be as small as three inches thick. (They are traditionally quite expensive, however, low cost value brands such as Vizio have produced plasmas in the sub $1,000 range.)
Pros: High-quality picture, sleek flat-panel display, come in larger sizes than LCD flat panel, brighter and much better black levels than LCD flat panel.
Cons: Very expensive, susceptible to burn-in, concerns with life expectancy among lower-end models, consume more power than other types of HDTVs.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Flat Panel
LCD flat panel displays use the same technology behind many computer monitors in which light is projected through a layer of liquid crystals and then colorized, producing the on-screen image. Until the last few months, LCD TVs were only available in relatively small sizes compared to their plasma and rear-projection brethren, due primarily to manufacturing limitations. However, major LCD manufacturers such as Sharp, Sony and Samsung have recently introduced much larger screen sizes.
Pros: High-quality picture, sleek flat-panel display, essentially immune to burn-in.
Cons: Even more expensive than plasma on a per inch basis, larger sizes just now coming to market, not as bright as plasma displays, poor black levels, motion sequences often somewhat blurry when compared to plasma. - via http://www.buyinghdtv.com
Other things to take into account are contrast ratio, the higher the better.. the number of lines or display or resolution Standard Definition Television (SDTV) 480i (640 x 480), Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV) 480p (720 x 480) and High Definition Television (HDTV) 720p (1280 x 720) & 1080i/p (1920 x 1080) (the highest number now being sold)
Next: Choosing the Right Screen Size.
The seating distance will determine your sense of picture clarity and detail as well as the quality of the viewing experience. If all you watch are true HDTV images, then you can sit as close as twice the diagonal screen size-- about 8 feet away for a 46-inch or a bit more for a 50-inch diagonal screen. But sitting that close may not be practical, because until the final conversion to all-HDTV broadcasting is complete and that's 2 years away-- a lot of your TV viewing may well be conventional analog TV, and those images may look fairly crummy up close. If you watch regular non-HD TV sitting too close to a big screen, you'll see all the flaws. Figure on three times the diagonal screen size as a minimum viewing distance. So if you want a 60-inch diagonal screen, you should be 15 feet away to watch regular TV and still be pleased with the picture. For HDTV or DVDs, the picture will be fantastic at that distance; you could even move your chair up closer, to perhaps 10 feet. -forum.ecoustics.com
I'm already thinking of a 50 inch.
Okay. Now I'm (re-)informed.
Luckily. I needed to be in Atlanta for the christening for my cute little newborn baby girl cousin. (Awww.)
Now I could measure.
These TV's are going into 2 rooms (one of which is below).
..and by judging how far the TV's are going to be from the seating position (approx. 8 - 10 feet). The 50 incher should be okay.
This is what I've found:
I didn't have to look to hard or far..
Walmart has a great deal on a 50" plasma..
Philips 50" Plasma HDTV with Digital Tuner $1,397
Delivers 1366 x 768 resolution with over a million pixels for excellent picture quality at 720p
Built-in ATSC digital/NTSC analog tuner
Receives conventional analog broadcasts and digital broadcasts including HDTV programs, where available
10,000:1 contrast ratio
Ensures deeper blacks and brighter whites along with more vivid colors
Pixel Plus 3 HD technology
Enhances each pixel by reducing noise and artifacts to produce a sharp, natural picture with vivid color and smooth motion
HDMI, component video, S-video, audio, USB and computer connections
Accommodate DVD players, camcorders, surround sound systems, computers and other gear
30-watt stereo amplifier, two speakers, Virtual Dolby Digital and coaxial digital audio output
Furnish room-filling audio with surround sound effects and an interface for optional surround sound systems
Removable base
Mounts on a wall with an optional VESA-compatible 600 x 400 mm kit (sold separately).
14 Walmart Customers gave this TV a 5 out of 5 stars.
According to CNet.com
'So far, the Philips 50PFP5332D - 50" Plasma TV has received only positive reviews (8.6 out of 10). When discussing their level of familiarity with this product, some people mention that they "used it for quite a while". Among all reviews, most frequently written about was the Philips 50PFP5332D - 50" Plasma TV's picture (mentioned by 2 reviewers). The few user opinions written for this product were submitted one or more months ago. With only one opinion on which to base a conclusion, it is difficult to tell whether this product is worth buying. That being said, the opinion that has been submitted is predominantly positive.
Me Likey!
2 of these will run her $2,800. Well under budget thus far..
Next: Sound.
I found 2 great home theater options.. Also at Walmart.
The Panasonic SC-PTX7 HDMI Home Theater System with Hard Disk Jukebox $649.88
Key Features:
Amplification: 40 watts per channel for left, right and center channels (from 120 Hz to 20 kHz with 1% THD into eight ohms) and 80 watts for the subwoofer amplifier (from 45 to 120 Hz with 1% THD into four ohms)
Hard disk drive: rips CDs at up to 4x speed and writes MP3/WMA files from a PC at speeds up to 15x
DVD player: plays DVDs, as well as CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs plus MP3/WMA discs for hours of continuous music
Digital AM/FM tuner: includes 35 station presets and is XM-ready
Speakers: magnetically shielded design with two 2-1/2" drivers in each of the two main enclosures plus a 6-3/4" subwoofer in its own enclosure
iPod ready: This system includes an iPod dock which allows you to enjoy music from your iPod on your home theater system. Plus, the dock charges your iPod when connected.
Audio inputs: four including optical and music port for MP3 players Video outputs: HDMI, component video and composite video.
Remote control: offers the convenience of operation from across the room
What I like: It has a hard drive to RIP CD's and store, it is iPod ready, it will up-convert her DVD's to near HD quality.
What I don't: All the customer reviews on this model have been average.. 3 out of 5 stars. It doesn't ooze confidence like a strong home theater sound system should.
My other pick..The Panasonic SC-PT1050 Wireless Sub Home Theater System w/ Upconvert DVD Changer $499.54
Key Features:
Dolby Digital: Feel like you're in the middle of the action when you watch a movie with Dolby Digital decoding.
Super Surround: Experience all your media in surround sound. No matter what stereo signal you connect to your A/V receiver, this feature will convert it to 5.1-channel.
Wireless rear speakers: This system wirelessly transmits from the receiver to the rear speakers so you can avoid having to conceal cables in walls or piling messy wires on your floor. Plus, this system is multi-room wireless-ready with the purchase of SHFX85 wireless kit.
Wireless subwoofer: Concealing your subwoofer has never been easier. Wireless technology lets you place your subwoofer anywhere you like without having to manage cables.
5-disc DVD player: Load up to 5 DVDs or CDs and quickly change your disc choice with the high-speed rotary changer.
Multi-format playback: This player handles a variety of formats: DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW1, DVD-R1, DVD-R (Dual Layer) 1, +R1, +R (Double Layer) 1, +RW1, CD, CD-R/RW2, HighMAT (Level 2), WMA, MP3 and JPEG.
iPod ready: This system includes an iPod dock which allows you to enjoy music from your iPod on your home theater system. Plus, the dock charges your iPod when connected.
1080p: When connected to an HDTV via HDMI connection, the DVD player digitally "up-converts" the resolution of standard DVDs to 1080p high definition for super-sharp images.
XM ready: This system is designed to work seamlessly with XM satellite radio so you can access all your favorite music and talk radio. XM subscription required.
Universal remote: The included remote can be programmed to control all of your A/V components.
What I like: The upconverting DVD/CD changer and the wireless surround sound is a definate plus.. great for rearrainging the system for someone who has just moved in. It's iPod and XM salelite ready! Big, big plus.
What I don't like: No hard drive to RIP CD's, although the wireless surround sound is a great add, the look of them doesn't thrill me. Not unintrusive like a Bose, which is what she initially wanted.
Well. I was happy. I made the call.
All in all, she was very happy with the TV choice and the Home Theater selections would bring her in well below her $5000 threshold. PLUS her big sister gets some sort of Super-Walmart discount (who knew?) so that the taxes would pretty much be a wash.
She was pleased.
Well. I got an invite drop her a line if I'm ever in town again. Well maybe. Just to watch some TV. ;')
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