[mythtv-users] LCD HDTV recommendations (that are Myth friendly)...

[Steven Adeff]

On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 10:29 AM, Andrew Close <aclose at gmail.com> wrote:
> hey all,
>
>  i've been given the 'ok' from the CFO to upgrade our 10yo CRT to a
>  modern day LCD HDTV.
>  currently, 95% of what we watch is SD content captured by Myth.  the
>  other 5% is DVD and Internet content.  i know that a lot of the
>  earlier HDTV's really struggled to make SD video watchable.  is that
>  still the case?
>
>  aside from brands/models of LCD's to look at, do you have any content
>  suggestions?  most of the retailers either have a dedicated HD feed
>  that they loop or some other high end signal to show off the maximum
>  picture the sets can possibly display.  of course, these signals are
>  rarely real world examples.  i'm in the process of putting together a
>  small library of content that i'll be taking to various retailers to
>  view on various screens.  at the moment i'm planning on taking a
>  couple captures from my PVR-500 via Myth on my MacBook Pro to play
>  with mplayer or VLC on the HDTV's.  i may take a DVD or two, but
>  depending on the dvd player used, that kinda skews the results as
>  well.  are there any other tests/data sets that anyone thinks should
>  be covered?  i may also download 'Elephants Dream' in a couple
>  different formats/resolutions so i have some HD content.
>
>  the LCD's we'll be looking at will be in the 52"-60" range :D doubling
>  our current display.
>  a couple that i've done preliminary research on via the web:
>  Samsung LN52A550P 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTV ~ $2,328.76
>  Sharp Aquos LC52D64U 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTV ~ $2,149.06
>  Sony Bravia XBR KDL-52XBR4 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV ~ $2,919.96
>  Toshiba REGZA 52RV530U 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTV ~ $1,949.00 - Not Energy
>  Star Compliant
>  Mitsubishi LT-52144 52-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV ~ $2149.77 - Not
>  Energy Star Compliant
>  Westinghouse TX-52F480S 52" 1080p LCD HDTV ~ $1699.99 - Not Energy
>  Star Compliant
>
>  i will be overhauling the MythBox as well to 'support' this new tv.
>  an HDHR will be thrown into the mix and i'm seriously eying the new
>  Hauppauge HD capture device.  my current MythBox will be retired to a
>  development/test box and may be used to help out with
>  CommFlagging/Transcoding, etc.  the /new/ MythBox will be connected to
>  my AVR with HDMI for the video and digital optical via
>  SPDIF/pass-through for audio.  (current MythBox is connected to the
>  AVR via S-Video and sound card analog out stereo jack)
>
>  TIA for any help/suggestions

at those prices, if your room isn't ridiculously bright, get a plasma!
Better colors, better blacks, glass instead of plastic. I have a
Panasonic TH50PZ700U hooked up to my main MythTV frontend and it works
wonderfully.

but if you insist on an LCD here's my thoughts...
stay away from Sharp Aquos larger than 30", they have a manufacturing
issue that causes the infamous green lines (due to the fact that LCD's
use plastic screens), from what I understand they haven't gotten rid
of the issue, only lessened its prominence.
Westinghouse, while cheap, and decent monitors, aren't very good for
TV and movies.
I'm mixed on Sony, and to be honest haven't read much on their newer
LCD models, but at the time I was researching my plasma I did not hear
very good things about the Sony LCD's.
Samsung makes some excellent excellent LCD TV's.
Toshiba the same as the Sony comment *except* I have heard some decent
early reviews of their new models, still wouldn't buy one over an
equal level Samsung.

That said, you can find the Panasonic TH50PZ700U for around $2,300,
perhaps cheaper if your company has employee pricing with Panasonic.
I've yet to see an LCD that looks as good.

-- 
Steve
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