LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[Flompy]

It's here! SD picture quality is so far ahead of my old Samsung it's untrue, and HD stuff has much more detail. I'm currently using Andrewfree's settings, and still I'm unsure if I should use the built-in tuner or my iPlayer+ which outputs over component.

Only other problem is getting my Harmony to work with it properly- I can't get it to select the Component input properly (so have to flick through). I wonder if there are discreet codes available on this set? Would be a shame if not

[Daragon]

Can anyone recommend me a decent yet relatively inexpensive Component switchbox? Ideally one with room for 3 consoles.

[MarioMark]

It's here! SD picture quality is so far ahead of my old Samsung it's untrue, and HD stuff has much more detail. I'm currently using Andrewfree's settings, and still I'm unsure if I should use the built-in tuner or my iPlayer+ which outputs over component.

Only other problem is getting my Harmony to work with it properly- I can't get it to select the Component input properly (so have to flick through). I wonder if there are discreet codes available on this set? Would be a shame if not

I'm more or less decided on that TV too. Either 32 or 37". Everything I've heard on this HDTV has been positive and the fact that it's supposed to be mint at SD is the main seller for me (what's the Wii like on it?) The only negative comment I have heard is that the screen is darker than a lot of other HDTV's. Is this true?

I have the Sammy HDTV at the moment that you had so the chances are I'll agree with your comments.

[Geezer]

That would differ from set to set though and some screens, especially the cheaper ones, might not be so good with 1080i (especially ones that simply run 1080i content as 540p like the LG's).

Could you elaborate on this? I assume it deinterlaces the 1080i image into 540p somehow and then rescales it to 768p equivalent to match the panel's resolution. How do the higher end 1366X768 native LCDs handle 1080i?

Geezer

[Lyris]

Geezer, that's right, it doesn't so much Deinterlace as it does ignore every second line.

Better TVs have Motion Adaptive deinterlacing so use processing to either reverse 3:2 Pulldown pattern (for Film content) or to fill in the gaps (for video).

[Geezer]

Ouch, I've been watching MI3 in 540p then, it still looks far better than any DVD I've seen though
Hopefully Sony will come up with a 720p BD solution soon.

Thanks for the reply!

[Flompy]

It's awesome, and I would definatly pay extra for the 37". You'll be stunned at SD stuff compared to the Sammy, like I say the VGA looks quite similar but a little more detailed (I'd say that could be down to screen size more then anything). The backlight is adjustable. Only bad thing I can see at the moment is that the picture gets quite light when you're not looking at it directly (although our couch is directly infront of the TV so it's not an issue for us).

Here's some pics for you (not the best as they are from a phone cam)

[Kubrick]

Can anyone recommend me a decent yet relatively inexpensive Component switchbox? Ideally one with room for 3 consoles.

YPBPR Power Box

Yep, the WLT68 is a nice telly. I got one of them just before Christmas. My only complaint is that I need to use one of the 360's lower resolutions with VGA otherwise there's quite big borders.
Still, VGA is how I've got my 360 connected so it's obviously not a big problem for me.

[EvilBoris]

The Tv supports the 1280x768 which is just perfect for 360 Vga.

As Haribo said, the SD content really is such an incredible jump up from one of the old samsungs, but generally the set is lovely.

[sj33]

Could you elaborate on this? I assume it deinterlaces the 1080i image into 540p somehow and then rescales it to 768p equivalent to match the panel's resolution. How do the higher end 1366X768 native LCDs handle 1080i?

Geezer

Put it this way, 360 games upscaled to 1080i looks about as good as running them in 720p native. This is brill cause I can leave my 360 in 1080i because HD-DVD's look better in this anyway.

By comparison, it was essentially un-usable on my old LG, and probably only there so they could have HD-Ready certification.

[andrewfee]

I'm more or less decided on that TV too. Either 32 or 37". Everything I've heard on this HDTV has been positive and the fact that it's supposed to be mint at SD is the main seller for me (what's the Wii like on it?) The only negative comment I have heard is that the screen is darker than a lot of other HDTV's. Is this true?

I have the Sammy HDTV at the moment that you had so the chances are I'll agree with your comments.

The Wii is fantastic on it, even in composite. (though obviously you want to get component leads)

I'm not sure where you've read that it's quite dark. It can be as dark or as bright as you want it, as you've got manual control over the backlight.

I need to use one of the 360's lower resolutions with VGA otherwise there's quite big borders.
Still, VGA is how I've got my 360 connected so it's obviously not a big problem for me.

Use 1280x768 and set the TV to fill the screen. This won't look any different from telling the 360 to run in 1360x768. (if anything it could look better as the 360 is scaling less)

[Lyris]

I just got a Sony 40W. YUM

Andrew, you'll be pleased to know that they've totally changed how the WCG-CCFL backlight works. In "Standard", the reds aren't orangey/brown any more and in "Wide", they're nothing like as Purple-ish.

The halos are gone too, so it looks like they printed out all the e-mails I wrote them

[sj33]

Can you do me a favour Lyris? Can you test 360 Component over 1080p on that screen?

It's already beeen confirmed 1080p works over HDMI and VGA (by simply pressing the Menu button to get rid of the error messege, I'm told)... but I'd wanna use the VGA on my PC.

[Lyris]

I don't have an Xbox 360 sorry, but I've heard that none of the Sonys support 1080p over Component.

I do have a 1080p upscaling player in for review that I could unbox before it's sent away and double-check that though, so hang on!

[MarioMark]

Thanks for the info andrewfee and for the pics Haribokart.