Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

[rogerwa]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

I have a 42" LG LCD that I have hooked up to a boosted antenna signal. I get all our local channels flawlessly OTA. BTW, the OTA signal is the best you can get as it is the pure digital stream. Your cable or satellite signals all have some level of compression that reduces quality. Also, don't get sucked into buying special HDTV antennas. There is nothing special, it either a UHF or VHF signal depending on where you are. You can go to antennaweb.org and plug in your address and it will give you information on channels, what type of signal, and the distance and compass heading to the tower. This is very helpful when tuning your antenna.

I also have an Apple TV and LG Blueray player. Want to see something special watch the Bluray version of Avatar on the HD panel.

This is paired with a Polk Audio 2.1 Soundbar with wireless sub. I am very happy with the setup.

Once you go HD, you will wonder how you lived without it..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

BTW, the OTA signal is the best you can get as it is the pure digital stream. Your cable or satellite signals all have some level of compression that reduces quality.

OTA uses MPEG-2 compression so it is also compressed.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Nice purchase SF. "Someday" I plan on getting one myself. Just can't get myself to give up tvs that still work like new. I must be getting old..:laugh:

Not surprising since you are also Mr Flip Phone! :laugh:

 

[matt167]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Funny. TV in my living room, a Circa 2002 Sylvania 27" CRT bought when Ames was going out. finally decided to display a magenta colored image and deem the upgrade nessesary... I have arleady been thru 2 LCD computer monitors since switching to flat screen, so it's about time the last CRT in the house goes to the dump.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

OTA uses MPEG-2 compression so it is also compressed.

I read this a while back and it appears to be bad info. My bad. I will say that all of my relatives that have cable have picture quality that in my judgement is not as good as mine. Noticeably. Maybe it's the tv, maybe it's the signal. Who knows.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

It also depends on how much compression they do because they can control that as well even within the MPEG-2 standard.

As far as cable and satellite like DirecTv, depending on the channel, they can devote more compression to limit the bandwidth. That's why some channels won't look as good as others, especially where scenes change a lot like sports.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Enjoy your new TV.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

I'm loving this new TV.

Just watched the History Channel about the beginning and end of space shuttle.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

What would you recommend for that ?. Without breaking the bank.

I find 5.1 surround systems on C List all the time for $75. Try a Sony, I love mine! During the races, you can literally feel the sound from the engines as they take turn 1 at Daytona!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

If you don't want to go the full surround sound route and put rear speakers in, get a sound bar that comes with a remote sub woofer. Huge improvement and you don't have to run a ton of wires around.

Big problem with these new thin TVs is the sound is often lacking.

 

[jkust]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Can ya help me out with that ??. I don't know what that means.

Like I said earlier, I've owned many flat TV's over the years but only recently bought one that the SOE phenomenon is present as it is a 120hz refresh rate tv versus the old school 60HZ (what you bought). 120HZ is old news now as they go way, way beyond that.

Simply put the 120hz and above provides a motion smoothing effect whereby the tv actually adds frames to what you are watching that aren't actually present thereby smoothing out the picture. It is much more noticeable in some shows versus others. It creates the effect as though you are watching a Mexican Soap opera in the way they are filmed. Of course it could be a European Soap Opera as well. Here is a link What is the 'Soap Opera Effect'? | TV and Home Theater - CNET Reviews
It changes shows that you've watched for years to something that looks like it was filmed live. I actually keep the motion smoothing shut off because I can't stand the way it looks. The kids like it but I don't.

As for the sound even the really expensive TV's have poor sound as it is presumably assumed you are going to hook it up to your sound system. As was mentioned earlier, sound bars are becoming extremely popular as an easy and relatively cheap way to jazz up the poor sound. Everyone sells them nowadays and places like Cnet review them so you can get the best for the least amount of money.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Thanks for the advice guys. ...........

Found this on our local CL for $50 ... Should I get this one ??.

Brand new Logitech Z623 200 watt 2.1 Speaker System, THX-Certified

 

[jkust]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Thanks for the advice guys. ...........

Found this on our local CL for $50 ... Should I get this one ??.

Brand new Logitech Z623 200 watt 2.1 Speaker System, THX-Certified

That is a computer speaker set up. It will work but not set up as specific as a sound bar is. I've used a pc speaker set up for a bedroom tv and it was ok. It will need to plug into the headphone jack presuming the tv has one.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Your going to be happier with a regular TV set up, Look at the best buy black Friday ad as well as the Walmart black Friday ad, they both had pretty good buys on the sound bars and subwoofer combos. I tried to look at the link you sent me this morning and I couldn't get it to open.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

There will be great sales on black friday for sure. This is the type of system you can find... This one is 60 bucks.

Sony surround sound system

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

There will be great sales on black friday for sure. This is the type of system you can find... This one is 60 bucks.

Sony surround sound system

I actually own this exact sound system. I paid 200 dollars for it back in, oh 2003 I believe. The speakers are the limit of that system. If you upgrade the speakers, the system has far more capability. But even with those small speakers, it rocks. (you can go into the system settings and tell it whether you have small, medium or large speakers. Those are considered small so it limits the output of the receiver so you don't blow the speakers.)

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

OK Guys, This is what Brad found for me. Samsung 2.1Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer HWF450 - Best Buy

It was a return & opened box. He tested it and it works just fine...... $100.

He's gonna drop it off on his way home. If I don't like it he said he'll take it back.

Thanks again for the advice/help.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

OK Guys, This is what Brad found for me. Samsung 2.1Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer HWF450 - Best Buy

It was a return & opened box. He tested it and it works just fine...... $100.

He's gonna drop it off on his way home. If I don't like it he said he'll take it back.

Thanks again for the advice/help.

Looks good. It will probably be wider than your TV if you are ok with that.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

I'll never see it if it does.

The TV is black and the stand it sits on is black and the sound bar is black.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Bought my first 32" flat screen TV

Cool tv and set up, SF. I bought a 50" 720p a couple years ago. At that time the sales person showed me how unless you were using Blu-ray, there was very little difference in picture quality. Now, I see a difference, but the price I paid, I am happy with my 720p. Enjoy your new tv ... It is your tv and you are the only one that has to enjoy it!