Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: MillCreek on January 10, 2011, 10:39:37 PM
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I had been pondering a new TV for a while; the last TV I bought was a 26" Magnavox 15 years ago. I have been doing a little bit of research and keeping an eye out on the ads.
This week, Target is selling a Vizio 37" LCD-LED 1080p TV for $ 499, compared to the regular price of $ 629. I saw that it had some pretty good online reviews (except for the sound system) and went out and bought one. I am still experimenting with it, but have some initial impressions:
Blu ray DVDs are a revelation
Even regular DVDs look pretty good with the upcoding blu-ray player
Regular (not HD) TV looks worse than it did on the analog TV
So far, pretty interesting.
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Sounds like a nice TV.
What's the deal with the LEDs? I have a 2 year old Sony LCD. Now I see that LED TVs are the new "kid on the block." Is there something about LEDs that make the TV better -- and how do they work with a LCD TV anyway? ???
(I still haven't quit figured out the old electron tube TVs :facepalm:)
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From what I understand, the LED-backlit TVs are simply more energy-efficient.
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What he said. More energy efficient, and allegedly a longer service life for the LED's.
We got a Vizio 32" for Christmas, and I find that the standard channels look about the same, if not a little better, than my old 25" set (don't recall the brand), but not as good as my Sony flat screen (not flat panel). On the HD channels, the picture is great. Haven't popped for teh Blue Ray yet. Any suggestions?
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Wife and I bought ourselves a Vizio 32 inch 1080p for Christmas and it's been great thus far. Picture quality is very good across the board, IMO. My only complaint is the remote buttons suck.
Have you set it up with WiFi and played with the widgets yet? They've been fun to play with and the netflix one especially has been useful. Should also have access to Amazon's VOD service as a widget. Prices range but I found them to be reasonable and the picture quality was very good. Signing up and linking gets you various credits, I think when setup was complete I had like ten dollars in credit to check out the service. Depending on the movies you try it should cover 2-3.
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A few days ago for my birthday, my wife got me a Sony Blu-Ray that networks, either with an ethernet cable or the built-in wireless. That is a pretty cool feature; I will have to look at the streaming Netflix for $ 8/month.
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I have a Samsung DLP 1080p TV. It was the one with the commercial with the little girl talking about 1000's of tiny mirrors. It has a single bank of LED backlights in the middle. I think the LED's are an advance on that with basically smaller LED all across the back of the screen with the mirrors or whatever they are controlling the image. I'm not sure though.
I saw those Visio TV's at WalMart and Target. Had other priorities on my money though.
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I have a Samsung Blu-ray player that I got from Sam's Club for $63. It had some problems playing certain discs at first, but after a software update, it works great.
I recently started streaming Netflix through it, and I must say it's the best entertainment value out there. For $11 per month I get unlimited streaming plus one Blu-ray rental at a time (not everything is available for streaming).
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Sounds like a nice TV.
What's the deal with the LEDs? I have a 2 year old Sony LCD. Now I see that LED TVs are the new "kid on the block." Is there something about LEDs that make the TV better -- and how do they work with a LCD TV anyway? ???
(I still haven't quit figured out the old electron tube TVs :facepalm:)
LED is the type of backlighting. It's still an LCD panel, but backlit with LEDs rather than flourescent. Truer color temps, better light control, more energy efficient, and full brightness for the life of the light source (vs gradual dimming of flourescents).
Brad
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A few days ago for my birthday, my wife got me a Sony Blu-Ray that networks, either with an ethernet cable or the built-in wireless. That is a pretty cool feature; I will have to look at the streaming Netflix for $ 8/month.
Indeed. Check out the Vizio for the netflix widget. I can't speak for certain but streaming directly to the tv seems like better quality then streaming to a player and then piped into the TV. I could be wrong of course, but if nothing else it's easier to hit a button on the remote and open the widget then to turn on the player, switch inputs, and then go through the same basic process with the players remote as you would have done from the start. I haven't tried wired but both Netflix, Amazon VOD, and internet video widgets on the TV had all played just fine without needing to rebuffer from a wireless connection.
The streaming netflix for eight bucks a month is defiantly worth it, and since you have the blu ray player now also it's wroth it to tack on a blu ray movie or two to the subscription. If you rent more then a couple movies a month it's a good value, since there is a lot that doesn't stream, and the blu ray is a better quality then the streaming.
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Careful with NetFlix. It ain't HD unless you have the connection to support it. They claim a minimum bandwith of 8Mbps for true HD streaming. From what I'm seeing with a couple of friends, it takes more like 10 or 12 before it works. If it doesn't sense sufficient bandwith it downconverts to 720.
There are also NetFlix HD problems on PS3 consoles (not getting the right resolution no matter what the connection speed). Google NetFlix PS3 and it's a pretty lively topic.
Brad
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Indeed. Check out the Vizio for the netflix widget. I can't speak for certain but streaming directly to the tv seems like better quality then streaming to a player and then piped into the TV.
I did not get one of the Vizios that is internet enabled, so for me, it is the player or nothing.
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Just bought a Visio 37" LCD and a Magnavox DVD/VHS combo player/recorder. Spent nearly the whole morning setting everything up and programming the Direct TV remote to control everything.
Had a peculiar glitch. Connected the three video & audio cables between the Direct TV box and the DVD/VCR. The DVD/VCR caused a 60 Hertz hum as soon as I conected the video cable and I got no picture, only sound. Then I ADDED a S-Video cable between the two units and all problems went away. ???
Did I miss something? I was under the impression that only the 3 video/audio cables were needed, as the DVD/VCR unit instructions stated. In fact, hooking directly between the Direct TV box and the TV with only the 3 video/audio cables worded just fine. It was only trying to put the DVD/VHS unit between the other two units that gave me a problem as stated above. I haven't a clue why the addition of the S-Video cable solved the problem but it did. [BTW, the S-Video cable alone did nothing at all. I had to connect both sets of cables to get the unit working properly.]
For what it's worth, my prior configuration had older units interconected with coax cable. I have had zero experience with the new(er) connection types until now. Can someone enlighten me?
Warhorse
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I your Visio the 1080 or 720 version?
Also, were you trying to go DirecTV -> VCR -> TV or something else?
Brad
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I just bought a Vizio 37" LCD. Now I'm looking for a Internet-ready upconverting DVD player so Wife can watch Netflix and I can watch hulu.com, etc, and so our DVD's will look better. I think that means I'm really looking for a used PlayStaion 3. My Vizio doesn't have S-video input, it has 2 HDMI ports, one each composite video and component video, and I think that's all (besides a coax antenna input.) But that's enough barely. Another couple of inputs would be nice.
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The model my wife bought me is the Sony BDP-BX57, and it seems pretty good. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11529737&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|90607|80&N=4047269&Mo=47&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=80&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=
Currently on sale at Costco for $ 130 until the end of January.
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I your Visio the 1080 or 720 version?
Also, were you trying to go DirecTV -> VCR -> TV or something else?
Brad
My Visio is the 1080 version and, as I said, I connected it to go Direct TV -> DVD/VCR -> TV.
I have a suspicion that my (yellow) AV cable is superfluous with a S-Video cable connection to the DVD/VCR unit. I still don't understand why the link thru the DVD/VCR unit with the 3 AV cables alone won't work when it does work with a direct to TV connection of the same 3 cables. I am beginning to believe that it is simply the basic, inate perversity of inanimate objects that is plagueing me. (My patron saint is Capt Murphy of "Murphys Laws" fame.) :mad:
Warhorse
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The model my wife bought me is the Sony BDP-BX57, and it seems pretty good.
Currently on sale at Costco for $ 130 until the end of January.
Looks pretty good, but it needs an "app" for Internet content. (hulu needs a "hulu plus" subscription service, etc) To do what I want, the box pretty much needs an Internet browser. So I think that means a PC or a PS3.
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If in your research, you come across a DVD player that does offer open Internet access with a browser, could you please post back here? That would be good to know. In my reading they seem to just connect to certain sites, and you cannot browse generally.
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My Visio is the 1080 version and, as I said, I connected it to go Direct TV -> DVD/VCR -> TV.
I have a suspicion that my (yellow) AV cable is superfluous with a S-Video cable connection to the DVD/VCR unit. I still don't understand why the link thru the DVD/VCR unit with the 3 AV cables alone won't work when it does work with a direct to TV connection of the same 3 cables. I am beginning to believe that it is simply the basic, inate perversity of inanimate objects that is plagueing me. (My patron saint is Capt Murphy of "Murphys Laws" fame.) :mad:
Warhorse
It likely is. I got one of the HDMI cables to use. I think they do a better job on the video. You can get the cheap at walmart.
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My Visio is the 1080 version and, as I said, I connected it to go Direct TV -> DVD/VCR -> TV.
I have a suspicion that my (yellow) AV cable is superfluous with a S-Video cable connection to the DVD/VCR unit. I still don't understand why the link thru the DVD/VCR unit with the 3 AV cables alone won't work when it does work with a direct to TV connection of the same 3 cables. I am beginning to believe that it is simply the basic, inate perversity of inanimate objects that is plagueing me. (My patron saint is Capt Murphy of "Murphys Laws" fame.) :mad:
Warhorse
:facepalm:
Your TV is only going to run in VGA (480p) mode if you are hooking it up this way. Composite video (yellow RCA connector) does not support high def signal. You should do it this way:
DirectTV >------hdmi--cable-----> VISIO <-------yellow--wire-------< VCR/DVD
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You can get HDMI cables online cheaper than you can at Walmart, and *much* cheaper than places like Best Buy. I got mine at firefold.com for a couple of bucks apiece -- even the 10' one.
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You can get HDMI cables online cheaper than you can at Walmart, and *much* cheaper than places like Best Buy. I got mine at firefold.com for a couple of bucks apiece -- even the 10' one.
YES! This eleventy!
Cable makers of yesteryear are still trying to milk the consumer with the leftover attitudes of the analog age where bigger was better and wire quality was important (not really but people believed it).
HDMI is a digital signal. The cable either works or it doesn't work. There is no spectrum of quality for the signal passing through it. If a $4 HDMI cable works (and they do!) it is working just as well as a $40 hdmi cable.
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Like everyone says, don't try to run the signal through the DVD player. Hook everything directly to the TV. If your DVD player doesn't have HDMI upconversion (which sometimes works well, sometimes not) then use the composite connections. Your instruction manual should show you how. Will take one three-way cable for the video side and one dual cable for the audio.
I'm curious why you didn't go agead and get a Blu-Ray player. They are backwards compatible with DVDs.
Brad
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http://www.sears.com/shc/s/c_10153_12605_Computers+&+Electronics_Televisions
sale!
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OK, Folks. Thanks for all the input. Although I didn't get an answer to the original question on the 60 herz hum phenomenon, I'll respond to your set of questions.
BTW, apologies if I managed to hijack this thread. It just seemed pertinent to me.
1. There is no HDMI connection possible between the Direct TV box and the DVD/VHS unit. No HDMI output on the Direct TV box and no HDMI input on the DVD/VHS unit, only component and S-Video input conectors.
2. I wanted a record capability on both DVD and VHS from the TV channels, as well as from a camcorder, and you cannot (yet) get a blu-ray record capability. There is an upconvert capability on this DVD/VHS unit and it DOES connect to the TV with an HDMI cable. =D
3. The instructions on the DVD/VHS unit ONLY show a component cable conection between an "external tuner" and the DVD/VHS unit. NO MENTION is made of the S-Video cable at all, other than shown on the display of the back panel as being there. ??? ???
4. This begs the question of "What is an S-Video cable and what data does it transfer?" I can find no info on the #$%^&* thing. :mad: [barf]
5. The bottom line is that everything now works properly. I just don't understand why, especially why ADDING the S-Video cable to the 3-cable component conection solved the problem. ??? ??? ???
Warhorse
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Is it possible you got "component" and "composite" mixed up? red/blue/green cables (which are not separate color signals, btw) or red/white/yellow cables? Or inputs/outputs mixed-up on the DirectTV box? Sounds to me like you got most of it right but one cable end is plugged into the wrong jack. (but I don't know that much about it cuz I just got into this stuff)
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Is it possible you got "component" and "composite" mixed up? red/blue/green cables (which are not separate color signals, btw) or red/white/yellow cables? Or inputs/outputs mixed-up on the DirectTV box? Sounds to me like you got most of it right but one cable end is plugged into the wrong jack. (but I don't know that much about it cuz I just got into this stuff)
No chance of mixup. There are only the 3 input and 3 output connectors on the Direct TV box (red/white/yellow). The other outputs are S-Video and Coax. That's it! They are hooked to corresponding input conectors on the DVD/VHS unit. Once again, I only eliminated the hum and got picture when I ADDED the S-Video cable. This makes no sense to me but it DOES work! Perhaps I should give a call to Magnavox, the DVD/VHS unit manufacturer, if only to satisfy my curiosity. [If it works, don't fix it!]
Warhorse
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S-Video sends luminance data on a separate pin out
its moar better than a component signal on RCA jacks
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S-Video sends luminance data on a separate pin out
its moar better than a component signal on RCA jacks
Did you mean component? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video
Or composite? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_video
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No chance of mixup. There are only the 3 input and 3 output connectors on the Direct TV box (red/white/yellow). The other outputs are S-Video and Coax. That's it! They are hooked to corresponding input conectors on the DVD/VHS unit. Once again, I only eliminated the hum and got picture when I ADDED the S-Video cable. This makes no sense to me but it DOES work! Perhaps I should give a call to Magnavox, the DVD/VHS unit manufacturer, if only to satisfy my curiosity. [If it works, don't fix it!]
Warhorse
The RCA connecters on the back of the DirecTV box are all output, or should be based on my DirecTV box. The only input is coax (the antenna style screw-on connector).
If you want to record from the TV, use the composite A/V outputs from the TV back to the VCR.
Which model Maganavox and Visio do you have?
Brad
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The RCA connecters on the back of the DirecTV box are all output, or should be based on my DirecTV box. The only input is coax (the antenna style screw-on connector).
If you want to record from the TV, use the composite A/V outputs from the TV back to the VCR.
Which model Maganavox and Visio do you have?
Brad
Brad
I stand corrected. You are right that all the connectors on the Direct TV box are outputs. I mis-spoke. :facepalm:
The Visio is a model E370VL and the Magnavox is a ZV427MG9 A. I doubt that has any significance in the present discussion.
I understand what you are saying about connecting from the TV to the DVD/VCR but there is another factor I haven't mentioned. My wife is a total mechanical moron. I have to keep it as simple as possible or she will screw it up and blame ME. Therefore I need to connect the units as stated so she doesn't have to change any inputs. This way, the TV operates normally with the Direct TV remote and all that is necessary to play a DVD or VHS tape is to put the DVD or VHS tape into the unit, select which one she wants to use and press "play" to make the damned thing work. Press "STOP" and it immediately reverts to TV. I don't think that it is possible to make it any simpler.
Trying to get her to learn anything else is like arguing with a determined liberal on gun issues. As far as I am concerned, my favorite control is the "OFF" button! I leave the room (and sometimes the house) when she is watching her cr*p TV shows. [Have you ever had "The View" inflicted on you?] [barf] [barf]
As I said before, "If it works, don't fix it!"
Warhorse
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I downloaded the rear panel view of both your units. I know why you were getting the hum. You were connecting to the DIGITAL AUDIO OUT. That's for receivers with a digital audio decoder which your TV doesn't have.
Also, your combo DVD/VCR player is about to cause you a huge headache. You think your wife would hate learning to use the INPUT button? Wait until she has to figure out the SOURCE button on the DVD/VCR. Combo units are notoriously a PITA to use for the technically challenged.
Here's how it should be hooked up to (hopefully) accomplish what you want...
First, put away the s-video cable. You won't need it.
DirecTV box to DVD/VCR - Run from the Video and Audio R/L OUT on the DirecTV box (either 1 or 2, doesn't matter) to the Video and Audio R/L IN on the DVD/VCR. Should be easy as the connections on both ends should be color coded, Yellow for video, White for audio L, and Red for audio R.
DVD/VCR to the TV - Run the cables from the Video and Audio R/L OUT under the DVD/VCR side of the Magnavox's connections (the right side, the same side as the INPUT connections) to the Video and Audio R/L inputs labeled AV (GOOD) on the TV.
The above setup should allow you to do exactly what you proposed... being able to watch a DVD by simply putting it in the machine, then returning to DirecTV by simply ejecting the disk and turning the DVD/VCR off. (Hopefully, presuming the DVD/VCR will throughput the DirecTV signal when it's turned off.)
Now, if you want to set it up so can watch a DVD and want to get the absolute best possible picture, but still be able to switch it back to the above operation so your wife can use it, make this secondary hook up as well...
From the DVD/VCR run leads from the DVD side of the connections (the left side) using the COMPONENT VIDEO and AUDIO R/L ouputs. Connect them to the TV using the COMPONENT (BETTER) jacks. Take special care to make sure you get cables from the Y, Pb, and Pr connections matched. They can't be interchanged or Really Funky Things happen. I use a little trick with the 3-way video cables available most everywhere. They will likely have a yellow, red, and white boots on the cable. You can save confusion by attaching the yellow connector to Y, the red connector to Pr ("r" for red), and the white connector to Pb (it's the only cable left and has to go somewhere!). It's an easy way to keep yourself from being confused. The AUDIO R/L jacks are pretty obvious. Now you can deftly switch over to the COMPONENT input on the TV when you put in a DVD, but switch it back to AV and leave it there for ease of use by Mrs Warhorse.
One final note, if you have DirecTV's standard def service, the picture will be broadcast in standard (4:3) aspect ratio. That means it will be pillar-boxed on the screen (black bars on either side of the screen to take up the extra room that occurs when you put a square picture on a rectangular TV). For an extra fifteen a month you can get DirecTV's HD service with the integrated DVR. It's WAAAAYYYYY better. I recently made the upgrade when I got my flat screen and the difference is stunning.
Brad
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I once hooked my dvd player into my TV via component, composite & S
then i played a DVD and changed the input on the tv to look at the various source methods
they looked different, but to my eyes nothing was OMG better
HDMI is interesting because the audio & video are on that one bus connector
on a digital TV the resolution of a VHS 640x480 signal might look crappier then on an old analog Tube TV
comcast SD video sub sets on my 40 inch LCD tv into a letterboxed & curtained view thats 20 percent smaller than the potential
on my samsung I can zoom it bigger, but I gather I need an HD comcast feed to see "full screen" data
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HDMI is good, but only as good as the upconversion circuit in the player. Some are okay, some aren't. In all honesty most of in these kind of combo units are pretty crappy. A quickie add-on that's long on marketing potential and short on performance.
Brad
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Brad:
Thanks for your efforts. I actually do have the Direct TV box conected to the DVD/VCR unit as you suggested except that I also have the S-Video cable connected. Will try disconnecting the S-Video cable and see if the hum comes back. If not, will let you know. That's the part that was driving me nuts, the hum.
The DVD/VCR unit is connected to the TV with a hdmi cable and that works just fine with the TV signal and the DVD or VHS tape output. I do get full screen left to right with a small black bar top and bottom. There is no "stretching" either.
As I said earlier, the TV normally goes directly through the DVD/VCR unit unless a tape or DVD is inserted AND playing. If the tape or DVD is stopped, the system reverts to displaying the TV signal on the TV. NOTE: the combo unit MUST be turned on for the TV signal to pass through it. I presume that this is because the hdmi cable connection is used. I may experiment with the composit/audio cable connection to the TV from the combo unit to see if the TV signal passes through to the TV when the combo unit is turned off.
For now, the configuration works in a maner that the frau actually understands, so I think I will leave well enough alone, other than for experimenting purposes.
It may take some time for me to get her away from the #$%^& TV long enough to experiment. Will post again in a couple of days when/if I actually have something to report that makes sense.
I truly hate that noise generator so have very little incentive to even try for maximum quality. As is, it's a huge improvement over the old configuration with the antique CRT TV.
Warhorse
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The HDMI upconversion is likely causing the hum problem due to problems with audio signal integration to the HDMI upconverter on the composite side. Ditch the HDMI cable. It's useless anyway because you're not running HD. Use the composite outputs like I outlined above. It might actually give you a better picture because you're not running your nice clean video signal through what is likely a second-rate upconversion circuit.
Brad
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i don't know about vcrs, but the newer bluray players have this thing there calling HDMI-CEC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI) when you turn on the bluray player, it turns on you're receiver(if you have one) and you're TV. and sets everything to the right inputs. then when you turn off the tv it turns off the bluray player. or the bluray player will turn off(or back to your tv/cable signal) =) it's kinda fun to watch. my receiver (http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?class=Receiver&m=HT-RC270) remote has buttons at the top that read my tv, my movie, and my music. that turn on everything you need on for what you hit. but if you hit the wrong button, you've missed 5 minutes of the show you were watching. :laugh:
oh, if you can part with enough money. (http://www.logitech.com/en-us/remotes/universal-remotes) :O (i haven't been able to bring myself to yet. =)) there are remotes that will do the same thing without replacing all your equipment. :cool:
One-click activity buttons*
No more complicated lists of what to turn on or which button to select. Once you’re set up, you just select what you want to do—such as “Watch a DVD”—and your Harmony does the rest.
oh, the samsung tv/samsung bluray player/onkyo receiver setup works like it's supposed to. but i'm having a little trouble getting it to go back to the motorola cable box. =|
and having the streaming setup built-in to the tv is really cool. =D
edit: added quote.
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OK, folks. Evidently I did do something stupid in my first try connection between Direct TV box and combo DVD/VHS recorder/player. I removed the S-Video cable and the normal composit (Yeah, I know, NOT "component") cable connections did NOT produce the hum I originally had a problem with. The only thing I can figure is that I somehow managed to plug the yellow video cable into the wrong conector on the DVD/VCR unit. I still have no idea what I did wrong but when I pulled that end of the cables and re-conected to the combo unit, there was no hum. :facepalm:
[It's not those things that you don't know that will come up and bite you. It's those things of which you are absolutely certain that simply aren't so.] ;/
I have not (yet) tried connecting the composit cables between the combo unit and the TV to see if the TV still gets a signal with the combo unit OFF. I may not bother as everything works exactly the way I want it to now. Der frau actually claims that she understands how the setup works. (Yeah. Right! :O That's good as I cannot make the arrangement any simpler to operate.)
Perhaps I can actually stay away from the CR*P she insists on watching without her bawling for help and crabbing about it every 30 seconds. [Have you ever had "The View" or "The Real Housewives of ????" or similar noise inflicted on you? These are even worse than the loud, obnoxious commercials that blast out every 5 minutes that, for some reason, she won't mute. OK. End of my crabbing about that.] [barf] [barf] [barf]
This will probably be my last post on this subject. Frankly, I want nothing more to do with this annoying thing. I would far rather go off shooting if the weather would only start to cooperate a little. [ar15]
Warhorse
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This will probably be my last post on this subject. Frankly, I want nothing more to do with this annoying thing.
Warhorse
*snicker*
If you get really bored you can try to walk my mother, who has trouble finding the "ENTER" key, through downloading photos onto her computer. By phone.
Brad
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Hey Brad! Can you help me download some photos to my computer? I'm having problems, and for the life of me, I cannot find the [Any] key. Where the heck is it? =D
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Back slowly away from the computer...
Brad
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:laugh: (http://www.amazon.com/Panic-Button-Any-Key-Set/dp/B000L0YVT0)
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Great round, guys. Don't know if we solved anything but it does seem that we had a lot of fun trying. =D =D =D
Now sit back and enjoy the show. [popcorn] [popcorn] [popcorn]
Thanks for the help.
Now signing off this thread for good.
Warhorse
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OK, folks. Evidently I did do something stupid in my first try connection between Direct TV box and combo DVD/VHS recorder/player. ......... This will probably be my last post on this subject. Frankly, I want nothing more to do with this annoying thing. I would far rather go off shooting if the weather would only start to cooperate a little. [ar15]
Warhorse
Warhorse, have you by any chance considered reading the instructions? [popcorn] :angel: :angel: ;) :lol: :lol:
(just razzin' you a bit.) :angel: