LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[gIzzE]

One thing I have to ask all you guys using the Samsung and the Oppo players, have you actually compared it to a decent progressive player like the Philips 963SA or the Philips 9000S?

The difference is not subtle.

[MJ]

could anyone please recommend me a descent dvd recorder with decent playback to upcscale normal dvds into hd quality.

Samsung DVD-HD850: Great player for the money, got mine for ?74 delivered, and it comes with a HDMI cable.

Samsung DVD-HD950: Same as above with a slightly higher spec, i.e. more connectivity and plays SACDs and DVD-Audio discs.

Both support DivX with updates from Samsung's site and upscale to 720p/1080i.

[yesteryeargames]

thanks for the advise guys, i was looking for a dvd recorder with hdmi playback or a decent upscale for my new hd tv, not just a dvd player. has anyone got any advice on this?
thanks again
chris

[oblivion_6]

Guys ive just ordered my Samsung LE32R41BD and Im wondering if someone can post the ideal settings for this?

I remember a while back reading that you could fiddle with the settings for hours and I was wondering if anyone out there has any recommendations



Oh and Cheers MJ i think ill buy that panasonic HDMI DVD drive you mention looks well tasty

[mid]

gIzzE - surely that's going to depend in no small part on how good the upscaling inside the TV is? I suspect that people being most impressed with the Oppo player have got lower-end sets like the Samsung, while you've got a TV with relatively good scaling abilities, and so can get a set that spends its efforts making an SD signal as good as possible.

[sj33]

DVD Recorders, as a general rule, don't tend to make as good players as a standalone player.

[MJ]

Guys ive just ordered my Samsung LE32R41BD and Im wondering if someone can post the ideal settings for this?

I remember a while back reading that you could fiddle with the settings for hours and I was wondering if anyone out there has any recommendations

This might help:

http://digitalliving.cnet.co.uk/weekendproject/0,39030265,39188333-1,00.htm

Oh and Cheers MJ i think ill buy that panasonic HDMI DVD drive you mention looks well tasty

I think you mean Samsung.

I believe the Freeman's voucher has now expired. I'm not surprised they've ended it, a lot of people were using it.

[Kevvy Metal]

Today i got a call from Empire Direct. When i first started speaking to the woman on the other end i was thinking " Thank God i've been waiting 25 days and now they're phone to arrange a delivery date!" but no she said that they are totally out of stock of the LGs and i would have to wait another 2 WEEKS!! . I'm really getting pissed off now. I went with ED cuz i order a TV with them in the past and it came super quick. I see they got the Samsungs in stock and was tempted to switch but the LG is the one i want.

I there much difference between the two? I'm going with the LG for it's faster response time, better contrast ratio and i've read here that it handles SD RGB signals a bit better.

[gIzzE]

LG measures their contrast ratios in a completely different way to everyone else, their plasmas are rated at over 10,000:1 but they are more like 800:1 in truth and when tested.
Contrast ratio is marketing bull****, what we all want to know with digital displays is hpw much light is output when showing a 0 ire (absolute black) signal.
The manufacturers will never show this as really there is only Panasonic and Fujitsu who have managed to get it half way decent yet.

Can't help you with the samsung vs LG question though, but I can't see it being as bad as the Samsung, their plasmas are far better than Samsung plasmas and I would have thought they use the same type of processing in their LCDs.

[FelixofMars]

I am seriously looking at this 23' so it fits on my PC table but I can use it for gaming (splitscreen.) etc, when needs be.

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=3TQ2&CategorySelectedId=11229&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11229,50290

Anyone know if its good or is it just worth looking at the Samsung/LG, also how do you guys switch DVI output on a console to a PC. I looked at switcher boxes and they cost between ?100-200 quid!

[EvilBoris]

I think some people are using a DVI and VGA Y cable, you just have to only have one thing switched on at a time or unplug the one you aren't using.

[FelixofMars]

OK, I am a complete DVI n00b, could you talk me through the cable, links to would be useful also. I am mostly going to use my 360 and PC on it but I can scart in my older consoles.

[EvilBoris]

None of the consoles actually support DVI yet, so You wouldn't need to worry about, you could just put your PC in the DVI socket and your 360 in the component, then if you felt the need to spend extra and do your 360 through VGA aswell, you could buy some other cables and adapters

[Dock]

Using a PC through HDMI isn't a good idea though, because it tends to have terrible overscan... at least it does on the Samsung models. VGA input tends to be better for PC input because it doesn't lose any of the picture.

[oblivion_6]

what kinda quality do u get using svideo to svideo from pc to the samsung?

my current **** telly is connected this way and it looks not too bad, and im wondering if i should get a massively long vga cable or if i can still use this