The Home Theater Thread

[dmbphan041]

cnet loves the new Panny pz800. As do I, I'm thinking either this or the 85 is going to be my first HDTV come summer's end. (or the 8g Kuro if I can get some kind of ridiculous deal, but I dont realistically see that happening)

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...tag=prod.txt.1

[dmbphan041]

man I wish I lived in the States! BB has ridiculous deals in the 8G Kuro's right now. ugh.

I'm tempted to drive to Buffalo, pick one up and attempt to drive it over the border, it's that good of a deal.

[dmbphan041]

I just found a good deal on the 9g Kuro's in the GTA. blololololol

[john baptiste]

what does this mean?

1080p-compatible HDMI digital video switching (2 in, 1 out) — pass-through only (a separate cable connection is required for audio)

from this link: http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...TXS505B&tp=179

[devilandthelord]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

what does this mean?



from this link: http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...TXS505B&tp=179

It means that you can take 2 devices that use HDMI and plug them into your receiver, and then have one HDMI going from your receiver to the TV that can control both of them.
You just tell your receiver which HDMI you want to use, and it will switch the signal both from the sound coming from the receiver, and the image you are supposed to see on the TV.
Its pretty cool.
Best quality, least amount of cables. Its win/win really.

I installed a setup like this at a guy's house once a while back, and it was very cool. First time I had seen it in person, not just talked about in a store.


Edit: I just noticed it said on your's that a seperate cable is needed for audio, which I guess means that particular receiver will only switch the video. You'll still need an optical or RCA cables for sound I guess. But I thought they usually switch video and audio. Must be different by model.

[john baptiste]

Originally Posted by devilandthelord

It means that you can take 2 devices that use HDMI and plug them into your receiver, and then have one HDMI going from your receiver to the TV that can control both of them.
You just tell your receiver which HDMI you want to use, and it will switch the signal both from the sound coming from the receiver, and the image you are supposed to see on the TV.
Its pretty cool.
Best quality, least amount of cables. Its win/win really.

I installed a setup like this at a guy's house once a while back, and it was very cool. First time I had seen it in person, not just talked about in a store.


Edit: I just noticed it said on your's that a seperate cable is needed for audio, which I guess means that particular receiver will only switch the video. You'll still need an optical or RCA cables for sound I guess. But I thought they usually switch video and audio. Must be different by model.

i should have bolded that part because that's what i was confused by. i thought HDMI carried both audio and video, so it doesn't make sense to me that switching HDMIs wouldn't switch audio.

[chevman]

Anyone have any experience using OSXBMC as a media center application? Specifically on a Panasonic 46PZ85U?

This is the OSX version of X-Box media center, most commonly run on a mac-mini.

More info here - http://www.osxbmc.com/

[devilandthelord]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

i should have bolded that part because that's what i was confused by. i thought HDMI carried both audio and video, so it doesn't make sense to me that switching HDMIs wouldn't switch audio.

Usually it does. Thats kinda the point of HDMI. But maybe some receivers circuitry is not set up for that. I dunno.
In any case I would just get one that would carry both your audio and video.

[Styx Cover Band]

I'm look at getting a HDMI 1.3 reciever and look to spend ~$300 and I see that circuit city has a Denon in that price range. Anyone have experience with Denon recievers, good/bad?

Reciever: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Denon...oductDetail.do


Edit: nevermind on the above reciever, after doing further investigation on it, it only has HDMI pass through and is not HDMI 1.3

[john baptiste]

"only has" HDMI pass through as opposed to _________?

(i'm in the receiver market as well.)

[Styx Cover Band]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

"only has" HDMI pass through as opposed to _________?

(i'm in the receiver market as well.)

as opposed to the new HDMI 1.3a switching.

IE if it only has HDMI pass through and you connect your cable/sat box or say PS3 to the reciever with an HDMI cable you will only get sound via your TV speakers not through your surround sound setup via reciever. To get sound outputted to your surround sound setup you must also hook up a seperate audio connection from the source to the reciever (via optical or what ever)

The new HDMI 1.3a switching (like what is found on the Onkyo TXSR606S) will do everything via HDMI. So I can plug one (hdmi) cable from my satellite box into the reciever and then one HDMI cable from the reciever to the TV and that is all I'll need (for that source)

(I'm by no means an expert so if anyone sees fault in my explanation please chime in)

[john baptiste]

cool. thanks for the explanation. i have a ps3 and at some point i'll be getting directv HD so i definitely don't want the pass through.

let's say i'm looking to spend between $250-300, what are my options?

[Styx Cover Band]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

cool. thanks for the explanation. i have a ps3 and at some point i'll be getting directv HD so i definitely don't want the pass through.

let's say i'm looking to spend between $250-300, what are my options?

For that price (right now) I think you'll only get HDMI pass through (whichisn't terrible, it just adds more cables)

[john baptiste]

Originally Posted by Styx Cover Band

For that price (right now) I think you'll only get HDMI pass through (whichisn't terrible, it just adds more cables)

so basically the "pass through" just turns HDMI into component video cables?

[Fishbulb290]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

so basically the "pass through" just turns HDMI into component video cables?

Pretty much.

[john baptiste]

well, my wife just bought me this tv (i picked it out) for my birthday!

http://www.secondact.com/product/46LX177RB

woohoo!

[Styx Cover Band]

120hz TV's are nice

[devilandthelord]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

well, my wife just bought me this tv (i picked it out) for my birthday!

http://www.secondact.com/product/46LX177RB

woohoo!

She bought it refurbished?

Better get that extended warranty they were offering on the page.

[Styx Cover Band]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

well, my wife just bought me this tv (i picked it out) for my birthday!

http://www.secondact.com/product/46LX177RB

woohoo!

Did you wife buy that from Secondact? How was dealing with them?

After looking at their site their prices for TV's (even though they are refurbished) and warranties seem amazing. I did a quick research of them on line and almost everyone gives them positive reviews and say the customer service was great

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by john baptiste

so basically the "pass through" just turns HDMI into component video cables?

No because HDMI maintains it in the digital realm whereas component is analog.

HDMI, regardless of which version (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3), will either be "switcher" or "repeater". The switching HDMI allows you to do video only, the repeater is audio and video. Depending on the version you'll get the following audio specs with "repeater" HDMI receivers.

1.0 and 1.1 - supports 1080p video and uncompressed 7.1 PCM up to 24/192
1.2 - same as above but adds support for native DSD audio (1-bit) as found on Super Audio CD (SACD)
1.3 - same as above but adds support for deep color and the new Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio lossless audio codecs

Deep color means nothing as there are no deep color sources in the works. My guess is we're more than 15 years away from it.

Originally Posted by john baptiste

cool. thanks for the explanation. i have a ps3 and at some point i'll be getting directv HD so i definitely don't want the pass through.

let's say i'm looking to spend between $250-300, what are my options?

Pick up a refurbished Onkyo receiver from www.ubid.com or www.ecost.com
Unlike most other CE's, Onkyo offers 1-year warranty through the Onkyo service network on their refurbished receivers (2-year on new). Most other refurbished receivers will only offer you 90-day warranty for refurbs.

If you can squeeze out $433 you can get the THX Select2 certified Onkyo TX-SR705 in black - http://www.ubid.com/Onkyo_TX-SR705_7...a11272703.html

It's $517 new right now from Amazon with free shipping.

Alternately you can get the TX-SR605 for $264 - http://www.ubid.com/Onkyo_TX-SR605_7...a11275245.html

Both of these support HDMI repeater with version 1.3, so they're capable of the new audio codecs found on Blu-ray. If you have a PS3 for Blu-ray then you don't need HDMI 1.3 as the PS3 converts everything to uncompressed PCM which is compatible with HDMI 1.0 and up...but with the prices of these receivers the HDMI 1.3's are likely to be cheaper anyway.

The differences are 10 more watts of power in the 705, THX certification and 3 HDMI inputs rather than 2. Either one is a great receiver.

Just remember to order your HDMI cables from www.monoprice.com for around $4/each rather than over $100/each at places like Best Buy. There is NO DIFFERENCE in performance in a 10ft HDMI cable between the $4 Monoprice cable and the $150 Monster Cable. None, zero, squat, bugger all.

Originally Posted by devilandthelord

Usually it does. Thats kinda the point of HDMI. But maybe some receivers circuitry is not set up for that. I dunno.
In any case I would just get one that would carry both your audio and video.

Even today it still varies by model. Generally the lower end models of any receiver line, be it Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo, Denon, Pioneer, etc., will only support HDMI switching. The real point of HDMI for the companies behind it is to have a copyright protection method for 1080p resolution that someday will limit 1080p viewing to an HDCP-compatible device only, which pretty much all HDMI devices are. If the HDCP handshake isn't met (like, because you're trying to copy it digitally) it will change the default resolution to 480i.

That's the point of it, but the BENEFIT of it to someone like me and you is pristine 1080p24 and lossless 7.1 audio. Yummy.

A great read from my friend Josh over at Blu-ray.com at the moment on his thoughts after seeing WALL-E the other day. It's entitled - "Blu-ray: A Difference You Can Hear"
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=1478

Originally Posted by dmbphan041

I just found a good deal on the 9g Kuro's in the GTA. blololololol

Please tell me more!

[Styx Cover Band]

Thought I'd top this,

Anyone have/use a HTPC (Home theater computer)? If so are you using MythTV? Are you using two different machines for the backend/rontend?
I'm thinking about building a single HTPC so i can run everything through it and have easy access to my Flac'd shows

[dobyblue]

If you pick up a Denon 4308CI or 5308CI receiver you can stream .flac files through WiFi.

[dmbphan041]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

If you pick up a Denon 4308CI or 5308CI receiver you can stream .flac files through WiFi.

you get my pm @ the blu forum?

[john baptiste]

Originally Posted by Styx Cover Band

Did you wife buy that from Secondact? How was dealing with them?

After looking at their site their prices for TV's (even though they are refurbished) and warranties seem amazing. I did a quick research of them on line and almost everyone gives them positive reviews and say the customer service was great

it was easy peasy. we saved $50 on the shipping and picked up our TV locally. it's beautiful.

i'm now thinking i may want to get the extended warranty though, as this is pretty much my bday present for the next 3 or 4 years...

did you see a link on how to get it after the fact? i saw that i have 30 days after buying it to get a warranty, but i can't find where to get the warranty (or how much it is).

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by dmbphan041

you get my pm @ the blu forum?

I did, thank you my man and good to see you over there.
I have super mod priviledges, so if anyone's even being a dink, allow me to help out.


Looks like some great deals, way cheaper than my local dealer. I'm interested in that S model with no speakers and thinner design, that could be my baby in about 5 months. A little, xmas present to myself so to speak.

[devilandthelord]

So I've picked out the new TV I'm going to buy.
I'm not gonna get it for about 2 months, but I've been narrowing down which one I want for a couple weeks and I've come down to this.
I'm upgrading from my 32" Samsung 720p LCD I got about 2 years ago, which will be moving to the bedroom.

I give you my new baby:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...6523#prodspecs


50" Panasonic 1080p Plasma.
30,000:1 NATIVE Contrast Ratio (Unbelievable!)
So many other great features, but thats the part that blows me away.
TVs have just continued to get better and better, so quickly and more affordable than ever too.

I am so excited to watch football, play PS3 and watch BluRay movies on this!

[dmbphan041]

Originally Posted by devilandthelord

So I've picked out the new TV I'm going to buy.
I'm not gonna get it for about 2 months, but I've been narrowing down which one I want for a couple weeks and I've come down to this.
I'm upgrading from my 32" Samsung 720p LCD I got about 2 years ago, which will be moving to the bedroom.

I give you my new baby:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...6523#prodspecs


50" Panasonic 1080p Plasma.
30,000:1 NATIVE Contrast Ratio (Unbelievable!)
So many other great features, but thats the part that blows me away.
TVs have just continued to get better and better, so quickly and more affordable than ever too.

I am so excited to watch football, play PS3 and watch BluRay movies on this!

what made you pick this over the 800U?

[devilandthelord]

Originally Posted by dmbphan041

what made you pick this over the 800U?

About 700 bucks!


But seriously, I don't think it would make that big a difference to me to justify spending the extra dough for the 800u.
I really don't need to be getting a new TV, I just wanna upgrade.
I've got more important things to spend the money on.

[dobyblue]

Excellent ******** choice my friend.
You will be the envy of all your friends - that's a beautiful plasma, blows any LCD on the planet out of the water.

[Dmbsst]

System is finally up and running. Ill have get better screen shots, I only had my crappy camera on me at the time.
The projector is the JVC DLA-RS1U reference (contrast ratio is 15,000:1 on this thing...its inSANE)
DVD player Esoteric (audio output from this player is the best I have ever heard)
B&K power amp pre amp
7 channel M&K speakers S-150 THX
the front sub is M&K dual 12" MX-5000THX MK II
There is a 10" single M&K in the rear of the room
Panamax power conditioner
All Nordost wiring/digital interconnects, and power cables etc
Vutek Silverstar screen 96"

Curtains just went in after i took pics

Testing the limits of the component cabinet as the power amp and pre amp wiegh about 140lb together, and the DVD player is another 60lbs or so