HDTV (home)

So I went to the cable joint today and got a DVR, and had the HD channels added to my package. They also gave me the hook up cords, of course.

My questions are.....

-Do you have HD channels and is it worth it? That much different?

-Do I really need to invest in HDMI cables? Or are the ones provided are fine?


Thanks in advance.

 

Yes, HD is worth it. You will thank me when movies like Die Hard or The Matrix come on.


Or when watching some Gators football!!

 

i think sports in HD is the greatest thing.... the hdmi cables they gave you are fine. enjoy!

 

depends on the tv that u have.if you have a big screen(projection)tv it is definetly worth it.i look for programs in hd to watch because it is that much better to watch.cant go wrong with high def.hope this helped.

 

There's an old timer in my shop that still uses rabbit ears! He's gonna break down and get cable in 2009!

 

I have a 50" Samsung DLP w/ COX cable.

HD is phenominal!! Must have.

Some people swear by the HDMI. From my cable box to the TV, & from my up-conv DVD to TV, I have had both cable & HDMI & cannot tell the difference.

 

I have a 52" LCD 1080p






Thanks for all the input folks!!!

 

I think hi-def is worth it. You get a good sized picture that isn't stretched. Like others have said, when watching sports, there's no comparison. I don't know about HDMI cables. I've read mixed reviews about whether or not you can actually tell the difference. It probably makes a bigger difference if you have a large screen TV. From what I've read, you definitely don't need the expensive cables. From what I've seen the low-cost cables work (~$40) just as well.

 

HD is the only way to watch tv. I record all my shows on my DVR in HD when available. Nascar & other sports are much better in HD. What you do not realize till you flip from analog to HD. Analog tv is really fuzzy or blurry. Since we grew up on that technology you never new how bad the reception was, even with cable. That is until you look at an HD program or movie.

The dish network techs said you won't see much difference from RCA to HDMI on their boxes. He said the DVR box has an HDMI plugin, but he thinks the technology in the box isn't up to full potential & the RCA plugs that come with it are fine.

I'm a big believer in high quality components.
I have HDMI cables for my PS3 to the TV. My PC is a DVI/HDMI cable. DVI on the PC side & HDMI on the TV side(yes, pc is wired into home theater & tv is the monitor). I only use the highest quality cables with my home-theater setup. Just like you wouldn't use a generic motor oil in your Tacoma. Monster brand are my cables & speaker wires, along with a Monster brand surge protector (which also filters the power).

 

I subscribes to Sound & Vision Magazine 6 months prior to my first HDTV purchase.

They have a pretty comprehensive website with great forums.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/

 

I'll tell you tonight, I did the same thing. I've got a 50" plasma being delivered tonight. Just got the cable company to turn on the HD and got a new receiver with HDMI outputs. Gonna try to hook it all up tonight. I'll let you know.

 

If you've spent the money on an HD TV...then YEAH, it's worth it!!

We actually have satellite and had to purchase the HDMI cables separately - and bought some good cables (not the most expensive).

Since you have cable - I'd *question* the integrity (and/or age) of the cables coming into your house. You can upgrade all your equipment in the house but the picture is still gonna suck if the cables running to your house aren't the most upgraded. When we went to digital cable, the picture didn't change at all. We contacted the cable company and they upgraded the cables going into our house (they were ancient cables).

 

www.monoprice.com for cables.

 

SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!! Let me know

 

Well I hooked it up last night, cable box with HDMI and 50" plasma. Man the shit is sweet!! The HD channels come in 1080i, there is this channel on there called HD theater, man that shit is sweet!! Even the regualr digital channels come in nice.

 

So far that is the best regular HD tv can do, 1080i. After Feb 09 when stations can drop analog, they will be able to put more money into HD. And I see all channels in HD & 1080p by 2010. Currently your PS3 will show movies & games in 1080p.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080i

Ability of the eye to see 1080p

A person's ability to distinguish small details is described by visual acuity. When individual pixels are barely resolvable, increased resolution brings little benefit for the viewer unless the viewing distance can be shortened or the display enlarged. Thus for 1080p television viewing, there is a minimum size to distance ratio to see a significant benefit. The ability of the eye to resolve 1080p content also depends on the amount of contrast in the picture. For optimum viewing, it is recommended to sit back approximately three times the height of the screen.[9][10][11]
To distinguish the difference between 1080p and 720p with the human eye with 20/20 vision and a 50 Inch screen, you need to be sitting within 6 feet of the screen[citation needed] - approximately half of this recommended distance.