Is the price of HDTV worth it????

[CAMAROBOY69]

I am about to buy a 27" Tv on friday and I need to know if it is really worth all that extra money for HDTV??? I have been researching for what seems like a week straight and cant seem to decide.
This TV will be mainly for DVD movies since I hardly watch any cable TV. I have separate tvs for my game room already but if HD is really that nice I might consider getting one for the game room eventually too. Really need any of your hands on advice or opinions.

~Moderator edit. Thread title modified by request~

[Jagarang]

YES If you can get HD cable and or broadcasting.(or if you have an Xbox :ssst: )

[rob07002]

You will only notice a difference if you have an HDTV cable or sat box and subscribe to HDTV channels, currently an add. $10 for Dish Network. Currently there are only a dozen or so HD channels out there, so for the add $10 not really worth it IMO. You do however notice a real diff between HD and SD, It looks like your watching a dvd, sometimes better, almost like the images are in 3D. You also need to buy and expensive DVI or HDMI cable to connect the HD receiver to your TV to get the best results. I've heard that cable and sat co's will be coming out with a new technology very soon called MPEG 4 that will replace all the HD cable and sat boxes shortly. I've heard in less then a year to a couple years from now, who knows. This MPEG is supposed to be unbelievable, and will be broadcast from the start in at least twice as many current HD channels. I do beleive that this new tech will require an HD ready tv as all the analog tv's will be obsolete. My opinion is that right now its cool to have and catch the occasional game or Nascar race on, but the current programing sucks and is anemic. I really couldn't tell you if there is a diff when watching dvd's. If its a secondary Tv for the bedroom or basement, then I would save the money. If its going to be the primary Tv or main viewing source for DVD's and such the make the investment and go HDTV.... I would also tell you IMO you don't get the full feel from a TV smaller then 42" ....

I hope I helped, I'm not some AV guro just have done a bit of research for my basement project and what I currently own.

[JoshStratton]

Actually the federal govt has said that all stations must move over to HD technology by (i think) 2008. I am not sure what that means for their current technology, but if you try to watch a HD channel on regular tv I dont think it will work.

From experience, I can tell you that I had HD broadcasting for a while, but there were only 7 or 8 channels at the time. It wasnt worth 8 bucks extra a month, so I canceled it. There are more out there now, so I am considering going back. The picture is untouched...simply amazing. It is better than watching a DVD with monster cable. Wait I cant WAIT for, is the new HD DVD platform to come out and to a realistic price. I saw Shrek through HD and then watched it on DVD and the HD was MUCH better.

If you get an XBox 360 or the next PlayStation, you will wish you had HD. The picture quality is outstanding....kinda wish I had purchased a 360 now :(

[CAMAROBOY69]

Keep in mind I want this TV mainly for dvd movies. Dont care much about cable. So with that in mind is it still worth it?

[JoshStratton]

Honestly I didnt know you could still get TVs without it.

I guess that depends on if you plan to move to the HD DVDs when they ever come out. Personally if it were me and it were ONLY for DVDs, I would probably still do it since media technologies move so quickly. VHS 10 years ago, DVDs now, in a few years, who knows what will be out.

It is a hard thing to decide, but usually when the fed govt steps in, it becomes the standard for a long time. HD will probably be around much longer than DVDs will. I guess I would plan based on the future. This thing is an invesment.

My disclaimer is that I am a surround sound/home theater buff. I dont know too much about the technologies, but I try to prepare myself for future changes.

[CAMAROBOY69]

I am also EXTREMELY anal when it comes to electronics. But some times I get carried away and I want to make sure this isnt one of those times. I already have 4 other televisions just for my game room alone. But if I am going to do this I just want to make sure I do it right. But not tooo right that im eating Ramen noodels for the rest of the year.
I would also have to get a HD DVD player if I do this. (That will come later since I just bought a new DVD player)

[TonyL]

if you get a hd dvd player then yes. it's worth it. the clarity is amazing. However. there is a down side to seeing how "imperfect" stars are. you see things you never would have otherwise. skin pores, wrinkles, clothing textures, it gets distracting.

[rockdogz]

Can't you just get a set that supports HD? Most seem to nowadays. When I first got my big screen, I wasn't too impressed with the picture since it took my already flawed reception and magnified it. Now with HD, I'm back to where I was before the big screen - the greatly improved picture looks awesome. If you just get an HD ready set, it shouldn't cost too much more and then you'll be prepared.

[rob07002]

what is the price diff between a 27" HDTV and a SDTV? can't be too much right?

[Jagarang]

about twice as much...

Standard...

27-INCH STANDARD-DEFINITION MODELS
1 Sony FD Trinitron Wega KV-27FS120 $325

Same maker, same size, BUT HD....

26- TO 28-INCH HIGH-DEFINITION MODELS
7 Sony FD Trinitron Wega Hi-Scan KV-27HS420 $600

[harshman]

Bagh!!!! Go with a projector and eliminate the word inches form your electronic vocabulary. Feet is where it is at!!! I'm happier than a two ******** billy goat with mine.












Sorry, you were saying something about HD? :poke:

[CAMAROBOY69]

My boss has a projector at home and the quality is no comparison at all to HD. Sure he can make it 100" if he wants but it looks like crap. :moon: :poke:

[rob07002]

My boss has a projector at home and the quality is no comparison at all to HD. Sure he can make it 100" if he wants but it looks like crap. :moon: :poke:
He probably has a business projector rather then a home theater pj, big diff. I've seen a DLP home theater pj, and OMG! what a setup....

[harshman]

He probably has a business projector rather then a home theater pj, big diff. I've seen a DLP home theater pj, and OMG! what a setup....
yup!!! :firefire:

[J-Rod]

i could be wrong, but i think the federal mandate is to use only ONE type of HD broadcasting, not requiring all channels to switch over. If not, most public access channels are screwed.

HD-DVD and BluRay are still locked in battle over who's going to be the next movie media. Microsoft backs one, Sony the other, and there's a MAJOR division inbetween. Anyway, I *hope* this is going to be worked out before they start manufacturing drives and disks, because having two hd-dvd players is just nonsense. Until then, all your existing dvds are 480/720; no need for 1080i.

BUT!!!!!!!! Lemme say this; if you're gonna be using a ps2 or ps3 or xbox 360 on it, AND if you're gonna be playing GT4 on it, don't even think twice. HD it up, no joke. Best. Quality. Ever.

i've got a wega 60" HD screen out in my main room ,and I'll never eeeeeever go back. Ever.

[1970cuda]

spend the money on hd then down the road you won't be kicking yourself later. nascar and football are great in hd

[JoshStratton]

i could be wrong, but i think the federal mandate is to use only ONE type of HD broadcasting, not requiring all channels to switch over. If not, most public access channels are screwed.

HD-DVD and BluRay are still locked in battle over who's going to be the next movie media. Microsoft backs one, Sony the other, and there's a MAJOR division inbetween. Anyway, I *hope* this is going to be worked out before they start manufacturing drives and disks, because having two hd-dvd players is just nonsense. Until then, all your existing dvds are 480/720; no need for 1080i.

BUT!!!!!!!! Lemme say this; if you're gonna be using a ps2 or ps3 or xbox 360 on it, AND if you're gonna be playing GT4 on it, don't even think twice. HD it up, no joke. Best. Quality. Ever.

i've got a wega 60" HD screen out in my main room ,and I'll never eeeeeever go back. Ever.

Ok. Now HE knows what he is talking about. I must not have had my facts all there. At least I was close! LOL

[C4Bird]

We just purchased a 26" HDTV LCD and it really is amazing. The new HDMI capable DVD players make movies look awesome. If you are going to buy a HDTV definately get the upgraded DVD player.

Only have 10 HD channels right now with 4 more coming in a couple months. I still find my self watching the lame channels just because the picture is so amazing. For example, I am not much of a baseball guy, watched maybe 1-2 hours in the last 10 years. After HD, I have seen 10+ hours, just can't pull away :)

-Nate

[CAMAROBOY69]

Ok I have done a lot of research and also talked to Kevin on the phone for about an hour yestereday. I am going to get a 27" HD TV tomorrow and just do it right. :icon996:
To answer the question above yes I will probably end up playing PS2 and xbox on it. Especially GT4.
The TV is supposed to be for the living room but I have a feeling after I play a few games on it I will want one for the game room.
I dont watch cable tv very often at all so im not concerned about HD cable.

[MrQuick]

go 32" dude, best deal out there....HDTV worth it? hell yeah....I got a bloody nose watching UFC on my Dad's 50". Go big

[CAMAROBOY69]

After much research I think I am going to try and get something very close to this.
Sony FD Trinitron Wega Hi-Scan KV-27HS420
It was one of the highest on the www.consumerreports.org web site and it seems to be getting extremely high marks everywhere in quality. :)
It has the highest ratings in the 26-28" hdtv list.

[CAMAROBOY69]

I bought the Sony TV that I listed in the previous post. WOW!!!! I played GT4 in 1080i and holy crap I honestly never ever expected to see the graphics look like that. It truly looked like the top of the line PC game but it was a PS2 game. Absolutely mind blowing how incredible the graphics looked. My girlfriend and I sat like this for most of the weekend looking at the new TV. :eek: :eek: :eek:
I dont have HD cable yet but games looked amazing. Movies looked really nice but no where near as nice as xbox and PS2 games. Most xbox games are 480i. It is like I am putting in a new game every time I put one in with this new tv. :cheers:

[Tim_in_NC]

Glad you are enjoying the experience Adam...

I love my HD set as well... I'm pretty big into home theater and have loved being involved in the hobby for a while...

Man, we have way too many expensive hobbies these days...

Check this site out if you have time ... lots of info and cool people... There are always tweaks/calibrations, etc... that some people perform to optimize Picture Quality even further...

http://www.hometheaterspot.com (http://www.hometheaterspot.com/)

I need to find an XBOX 360 now to add to my HD setup...but I think I'll wait till the hype blows off...and till I actually have more time to enjoy it...

-TIM

[CAMAROBOY69]

Its really an experience that cant be explained in words. If someone doesnt have HDTV they are really missing out.
You are right about having too many expensive hobbies. You should see my game room and now this for our living room. I had to buy component cables for the xbox, PS2, and VCR. Also keep in mind I have 2 ps2 and 2 xbox and now they are completely set up and can be played in both rooms. Good thing my girlfriend is 100% into games like I am. :)
I just cant wait until they start making DVD movies in HD.

[CAMAROBOY69]

I rented the xbox360 for 4 days. I finally really had a chance to see movies in a lot better HDTV format. They look sooo much better on the 360. I could actually see the pores on the actors faces as mentioned above in one of the posts. I was able to rent 4 xbox360. The most impressive game I have seen in my life is on the 360 called Kameo. My god the graphics and the color are absolutely insane!!! Project Gotham Racing 3 is really good too but no where even close to how good Kameo looks. The reds, greens, blues and any other color of the rainbow are so brilliant it seems impossible when you see it in 1080i HDTV. :worship: :worship:

[F70t/a]

HD makes Paris Hilton look even hotter :fingersx:

[1970cuda]

i've seen her in hd i really feel sorry for all you none hd people if that is as good as it gets

[Charley Lillard]

I just bought a 62" HD Mitsubhisi DLP. Also have a 42" Plasma and a smaller LCD. The feds have extended the deadline to about 2008 for the shutoff of analog broadcast. The HD is amazing and worth it. Talk to a sales guy and have him explain the highest HD resolution. I think it is 1080P...1080I I think they told me comes out to 800+P. Get the highest resolution. my 62" 1080P replaced 65" Mitsh HD projection and I think it was 1080I. The difference is amazing. Watched War of the Worlds the other night and it was much clearer that any DVD's I had watched before.

[rob07002]

I just bought a 62" HD Mitsubhisi DLP. Also have a 42" Plasma and a smaller LCD. The feds have extended the deadline to about 2008 for the shutoff of analog broadcast. The HD is amazing and worth it. Talk to a sales guy and have him explain the highest HD resolution. I think it is 1080P...1080I I think they told me comes out to 800+P. Get the highest resolution. my 62" 1080P replaced 65" Mitsh HD projection and I think it was 1080I. The difference is amazing. Watched War of the Worlds the other night and it was much clearer that any DVD's I had watched before.
Hey Charlie, check out the whole first 15 mins of WoW, that was shot in my hometown of Bayonne, NJ Pretty cool to watch them build that entire gas station in 3 days... They actually wanted to blow the thing up for real but the city and state port authority wouldn't let them because its right under the bridge.... They actually built it on a little league field, and when they were done filming they resodded and rebuilt the stands and eveything... One thing Hollywood did right...

[Charley Lillard]

What is WOW ? Sounds like something on the Womens channel...

[CAMAROBOY69]

What is WOW ? Sounds like something on the Womens channel...
That might be the most funny thing I have seen you say Charley. :lmao:
WOW is War Of the Worlds

[JJSmitches]

I would go to your local Fry's, home theater, or other local electronics store and watch an HDTV with an HD connection, its beautiful. Then ask to see the same set without the HD connection, its terrible.

I don't think the extra money spent for the 6-8 channels I get is worth it and this month they are going bye-bye.

It is still great for HD movies tho.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Its most beautiful on xbox360 games. They look even better than movies. If you have an xbox360 play a game called Kameo. Ive never seen so much color or graphics on anything in my life-ever!

[rob07002]

What is WOW ? Sounds like something on the Womens channel...


:lol: War of the Worlds...... Womens Channel Lol

[GetMore]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the government mandate was for DIGITAL broadcasts, not necesarily HD broadcasts.
Yes, the channels that do already broadcast in digital also use the HDTV format, but all they are required to use is standard definition digital.
The reason the gov't is doing this is so they can compact the broadcast media spectrum to allow them to sell more wavelengths. Right now they are just about out.

Regardless, you will enjoy the HD capabilities of the HDTV set. If you need to buy a TV I'd go with one.