Q. We are looking at either 32, 37 or 42 inch plasma or lcd tv's. Normally we watch tv at night so which type of tv would have a better picture quality at night. Can anyone recommend some good models?
A. Plasmas are better for night viewing than LCDs.
The size to get depends on the viewing distance and the programming types. If you are going to be watching mostly HDTV programming, you can be as close as 2 times the screen measurement away (so, for a 42-incher, you don't want it any closer than 7 feet away from your viewing spot).
If you watch a lot of standard definition, you probably want a smaller screen or want to have it a bit further back, so that it is at least 2.5 or 3 times the screen dimension away.
Plasmas generally don't come any smaller than 42 inches. If 42 inches is right for you, among the top choices among reviewers right now are the Samsung HPT4254 / 4264 and the Panasonic 42px75 / px77. Check reviews at CNET below.
Good luck.
What is the best way to conenct these audio components?
Q. I just bought an intro home theater system. It includes an LG 32" LCD HDTV with HDMI, a Yamaha HTR-5840 6.1 surround receiver, two Klipsch Synergy F-1 speakers, and a Sony DVP-NS70H DVD/CD player with HDMI.
In order to get the BEST quality out of this combination, how should I connect everything?
I currently have the HDMI from the TV to the DVD directly since the receiver doesn't do HDMI. I then have a coax from the DVD to the receiver, and a fiber from the TV to the receiver.
1. Is this going to give me the best possible sound for what I have right now, or should I reconfigure it a bit?
2. Is fiber or coax better?
3. When I turn on my DVD and receiver to play a CD, I also have to turn on the TV. When I turn on the TV though, it doesn't see the DVD player until I force the menu to choose HDMI as a primary output. Is there any way to make the DVD visible to the TV by default?
A. Whenever in doubt, keep things digital for as long as possible by using Digital I/Os. It appears that you are already doing that. If this is the case, then you should be getting the best signal reproduction that your receiver can deliver!
Keeping things digital for as long as possible, decreases the chances of Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) and eliminates the effect of this interference, which in the end, provides you a window of opportunity to maybe not buy the "Highest Quality" interconnect cable. Simply, 1s and 0s are 1s and 0s that all represent amplitude and frequency. Truly, how would you lose any signal, using 1s and 0s to represent that signal? Without signal loss, then the most accurate reproduction of the source material is practically guaranteed (of course, limited by the capabilities of your receiver). Of course signal loss is a product of using metal based conductors (such as with coaxial connections as opposed to the light-based operation of fiber-optic technology), but unless you plan on having your source equipment in one state and your receiver in another, this provides no further complication in having to purchase Monster Cable digital interconnectors,
Another thing, start saving now for a new receiver! Although Yamaha will always be remembered by me as my first receiver manufacturer once I began seeking high-quality equipment, their quality has decreased with their insistence on providing more budget oriented receicers. Although I would unwaiveringly purchase a Yamaha budget over one made by Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, or Panasonic, there are more capable receivers that are more accurate by other less well known manufacturers such as Denon and Harman/Kardon. Attempt to get a receiver with the highest quality Burr-Brown Digital-to-Analog conversion. High quality DACs are your final chance at getting the best sound quality from your system! Look around the net (visit manufacturers' websites and such) until you find the receiver that melts your heart! Upon finding that "magic-receiver," search online retailers to discover the least expensive manner in which you can obtain it.
Truly, the most important pieces of your sound system come before the loudspeakers! In reality, the best DVD Player with comparable quality digital signal interpretation to maintain signal integrity is most appropriate! Read reviews of source equipment published in Home THeater focused magazines such as "Home Theater Magazine" and "Sound and Vision Magazine" (which was formerly known as "Stereo Review").
You deserve it!
Especially with those Klipsches! The fact that Klipsch generally produces highly efficient loudspeakers, receiver power requirements can be scaled back a little to get a higher quality (build-wise) receiver to bring out the ambience and presence of the Klipsches! Although I do not personally own any Klipsch loudspeakers, I have yet to be let down by any Klipsch based listening session.
With that said about the in-store listening sessions hardly ever being letdowns, I don't see any reasonable explanation as to why you should be let down in your own home.
...
Regarding your other questions, you should really examine your DVD Player's manual to see if you can set HDMI as the default output method, that way, you won't have to "force" it everytime... There's no reason to have any other output as the default since you are using specifically the HDMI interconnection to deliver the digital video information.
Finally, with the question of which digital interconnection is better between coaxial and fiber-optic, remember that the chance of signal loss is far less with fiber-optic connections, because light can travel much farther through a tube than an electrical pulse through a metal conductor. In the end, again, if money is the issue, coaxial connections use the same RCA cable that your analog devices have used over the years.
Using fiber-optic based installation prevents corrosion, for there is no metal connector that can corrode. However, again, be advised that there is no direct quality improvement by using fiber-optic interconnection for your device as opposed to coaxial, for a 1 is a 1--whether it is being transferred over coaxial or fiber-optic cable.
I would say to use the coaxial I/O to save money initially, but look forward to making use of the fiber-optic connection as time moves forward or if you're thinking of permanently installing the receiver in a particular location.
Hope that helps!
Happy listening!
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