Finally Made my own HDTV plunge

[rammstein]

Back in November my wife wanted to get a TV. I said- wait till after Christmas- they will be cheaper. Then after Christmas, I realized that the Superbowl was going to keep prices up as well (at least I thought so).

So the models we liked were finally under out price threshold. Ended up with a Sharp LC-42D62U. Its a 42" LCD. For my eyes, it was the best picture within our range in flat panels. The Sony SXRD projection units were darn nice, but the wife wants to have the thin panel.

The most important part was a 6ms pixel response time. I always hated LCDs because of the poor refresh rates resulting in blurriness during motion, but this suffers from none of that.

Anyhow, it looks phenomenal. Shows up great in daylight, and can be fine at night too, so long as you adjust it. I still need to get a caibration disc to get the colors and contrast just right. I have somehow gotten free HD channels over our cable (basically we pay for a cheaper package and they have us on a better plan). But I did know that the BEST picture can be acheived over the air. Unfortunately, the signals are ALL blocked by the tower across from my apartment. However, I DID get it to work breifly when a line of cruise boats was in the bay. The signals were bouncing off of them. Anyhow, my next place in Miami will have to have an unobstructed northern view.

SO NEXT- I will have to get a sound setup to complete this. I already know what I need for receivers, but if anybody has speaker recommendations I am "all ears". Looking for something on the middle level of normal (not including the $6000 audiophile unobtanium). I dislike the sound of most small satellite setups I've heard. Not a fan of the Bose setups (some are, its all about YOUR ears). Within car audio, I always liked infinitys and polk. I heard a DefTech60 set at BestBuy that was pretty good. Also gave the Mirage Nanosat setup a try, and did not like those. I want music to sound great too. I am thinking to accomplish this I will need to be bookshelf-tower sized.

What do you guys think about used speakers too? There's a lot of high end used stuff out there. Steer me right Pelican!

[wcc]

I just picked this up and so far I've been really happy with it.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/YSP1/idx_ysp1100.htm

I also have a Sub for the bass.

Give it a listen.

[rammstein]

Oh man- I listeded to that at a store. It is a phenomenal little unit. Ever see how it looks with the grill removed? Its pretty sweet.

I am reluctant to try it in my apartment for 1 reason-

1. It needs to have a setup with walls to reflect off of, and the right side of my viewing room is wide open.

With the right room, I think that the YSP1100 is the future of Home theater for most people.

[wcc]

Actually, mine is set up in a Great room with only 3 walls and one of those walls has windows. It is set up in the corner so it's not the ideal set up and it still is amazing. It sends signals around to measure your room and it takes everything into account. The other nice thing about it is the wife can actually use it. Before with the receiver and having to set everything she would just use the TV speakers. Now she can operate it easily.

It is cool to watch! I HAVE to leave the grill on it cause if I don't I end up watching the speakers dance instead of the movie I'm watching.

Video games are a blast on it too!

No aff with Yamaha at all, just a satisfied customer.

[nota]

I like older A/Rs when Mr speaker made them
or any other of his corps WHEN HE WAS THERE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Kloss

[Bill Verburg]

You want voice coil matched speakers, especially for the front and center channels. I had Polk towers from my stereo, so got a voice matched Polk for the center channel.

The rear and side are just fillers there isn't much coming form them. So something unobtrusively small and efficient would be best.

If you are cheap like me, you can use another pair of old stereo speakers, I'm using my ancient JBL L100s for that chore. Not small but i live w/ it.

Lastly a versatile Preamp and amp section is mandatory to match volumes correctly, a setup tone or disc helps a lot w/ that job.

[rammstein]

Good points- I plan to get all speakers in the same series. I'll have to look into the ARs. Keep the advice flowin!

[Big Ed]

I'm not sure from your description what price range you see as "normal," so these may be a bit pricey for your taste. Having said that I bought speakers from these guys recently and the sound is very, very impressive.

Axiom Audio

[legion]

I'm still waiting for content other than football games before I buy an HDTV. (And the longer I wait, the cheaper they get...)

[Bill Verburg]

Originally posted by legion
I'm still waiting for content other than football games before I buy an HDTV. (And the longer I wait, the cheaper they get...)

Most anything is better in HD, sure the prices drop. The one I bought is now 50% cheaper, but who cares, I've had 2+ years of enjoyment.

[legion]

Yes, well, the 951 needs a new cylinder head. I'd rather have that to enjoy...

[rammstein]

Originally posted by Big Ed
I'm not sure from your description what price range you see as "normal," so these may be a bit pricey for your taste. Having said that I bought speakers from these guys recently and the sound is very, very impressive.

Axiom Audio

I read VERY good reviews about these. What sucks is that I have to trust the words of other people, cause I can't test them myself. That being said, the cheapest theater set from them is $1350. I was honestly hoping to get a speaker set for $700 or so. Thats why I think what I need to find is something like a set of Axioms used, but locally so that I can hear them and verify that they are in working order. I would LIKE to do something similar with a receiver, but only the most recent receivers have HDMI switching, so I think I may be up the creek on that. Denon has a decent (at least in specs) unit for about $800 new, and hopefully I can score an open box or something.

[rammstein]

Originally posted by legion
Yes, well, the 951 needs a new cylinder head. I'd rather have that to enjoy...

What did you do to her?!?!

Good to hear your priorities are straight though- car before life

[Jims5543]

I know you don't like this brand but, I did not want a full surround setup in my living room, the houses architecture prohibited me from doing that.

So I got the Bose 3-2-1 system, sort of an entry level one but the sound it puts out in my acoustically challenged house is very satisfying. Really simple setup too. But then again I am no audiophile at all.

[gr8fl4porsche]

New Pioneer Elite receiver for about $500 on ebay with shipping.
Has HDMI pass thru.


Pioneer Elite VSX-80TXV

[rammstein]

I should have said more about this: Receiver needs to have HDMI switching AND upconversion from components.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Sorry, wrong receiver

PIONEER ELITE VSX-81TXV has HDMI upconverting

$690.00 on ebay - new

[hytem]

I've had a plasma for 4 years. HD is phenomenal.