New Sony LCD Projection... Recommendations?

[Mark Strube]

I just got this BEAUTY for my birthday today.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-42--Grand-WEGA--HDTV-Monitor--KF-42WE610-/sem/rpsm/oid/77746/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

The Sony 42" Grand WEGA Widescreen LCD Rear Projection HDTV Monitor.

I'm absolutely LOVING it, I'm still in disbelief I actually have this, and in my BEDROOM nontheless.

To the point... I currently have TWC's Pioneer HDTV box, the latest model... hooked up thru component. Just to be thorough... I also have an RCA progressive scan dvd player hooked thru component, an XBox hooked thru S-video, and a Gamecube hooked thru composite. I also have a 5.1 receiver hooked up thru digital coax to the cable box, and optical to the DVD player and XBox.

I'm delaying getting the HDTV DVR until the DVI is activated and they've worked more of the kinks out, so I'll be watching this forum for that info.

Also, I have a DVI cable on its way in the mail, for hookup to my cable box.

I'd like to know any specific settings you guys would recommend on my cable box or television? Right now I have the cable box set to output only 1080i and 720p. Is that the best for this TV? Or should I let the tv upscale 480i/p and 720p signals?

Thanks for any advice or pointers... new HDTV owner here!! :wave:

[HiFiTy]

I'm not 100% sure about the Sonys, but most LCD projection TVs are native 720p which means that they pass through a 720p signal as is and convert a 1080i signal to 720p.  You may want to set your cable box to only output 720p and 480p to avoid having your tv perform the conversion.

Also, unless you are short on component video hookups, there is probably not much difference between the component video and DVI pictures.  Since you already have it on order, give it a try, but don't expect a significant improvement.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by HiFiTy
I'm not 100% sure about the Sonys, but most LCD projection TVs are native 720p which means that they pass through a 720p signal as is and convert a 1080i signal to 720p.  You may want to set your cable box to only output 720p and 480p to avoid having your tv perform the conversion.

It depends if his TV is better than the set top box at deinterlacing and scaling.  If your TV really is native 720p, don't set the set top box to output 1080i for everything.  You want to make sure if you are native to a format that you get those signals in without adjustments.  They will look their best that way.  As far as the non-native signals, you can see which looks better.  If the set top box is better at scaling and deinterlacing than just leave it to output one format (hopefully your native one).  If the TV is better at deinterlacing and scaling, have the set top box send things out how they came in.  As long as your TV accepts everything offered.  It is a bit complex I guess.

My two cents.

[gparris]

Great for you. I have a 48" Mits in my master bedroom suite that rocks.
It was too low on the floor to the bed, though far enough away from the viewing spot to work, especially with PS DVD and HD programmes, just too low and plasma was out of the question.
So I had a small stand made using deck posts for height and strength and hid them behind oak panels all around with stop ledge and recessed 2" wheels and sprayed it jet black polyurethane flat paint. This way I got the eye level height I needed, the ability to pull it out for HT changes and it looks quite like a custom job, overall.
Originally,  I wanted the Sony like you have , but was asked to get the same type and manufacturer as the main HT room set, only smaller.  
Nice to know that someone else in the forum (at least) has a set close in size and in the bedroom.

My set only accepts the 1080i and the 720p should be the correct setting for you unless this newer model downconverts.
Is their any information on the set from the owner's manual that could better assist you? :blush:

[summerfun]

I have just about all the same stuff you have. Here are my thoughts.

Don't wait on DVI, get the DVR HD box today. You are missing out on a fantastic service. Who knows when DVI will come, if ever and who cares unless your short inputs. DVI is not about better PQ.

Get the HD converter box for X-box and put that on your component inputs. Many of the games are 720p and 1080i.

Try your RCA PS DVD both on and off and see what is best. I found that my Sony TV does a better job of de-interlacing than the RCA PS DVD player.

Set your STB to 1080i only. It stops you from flicker between channel changes with different inputs and gives the best overall PQ from my experience. The Sony is a native 720p, but the 1080i still looks better for what it's worth.

[Bebop]

The Sonys are 768p. So, the Sonys don't actually have a native HD resolution.

Pick the best signal that looks good on your tv.

[Mark Strube]

Thanks for the replies! I did find that it looks the best when I set the box to only output in 1080i. There's no mention in the manual (that I could find) about the best settings for this tv.

I'm not so sure about the progressive scan on the DVD player Vs PS on the tv. When I set the dvd player to normal and let the tv take care of it, the picture looks a bit sharper, but it's kind of an artificial sharpness that isn't too pleasing. I tried playing a trailer that always appears partially interlaced, and the dvd player seemed to to a better job of making it progressive scan. So for now, I'll leave PS turned on on the dvd player.

Gparris, I've actually got this sitting on a TV stand with rollers that i was using on my 27'' flat tube Apex before I had this screen. It had a couple extra inches on each side when I had the apex, but now obviously the TV goes over the edges about 3'' on each side... I was paranoid at first but it's quite stabe. This puts the tv at just about the perfect viewing level. I STILL haven't figured out how to rearrange my room to somehow fit a couch into the mix, so I'm usually lying the opposite direction on my bed when I'm watching TV, and it's just about perfect. It'll still be the right height if I ever do get a couch in here.

I did give in and get the HD DVR awhile ago (as you can see I was posting about it in the recording forum... and in my signature). I love it... I could do without the bugs like pixelization and audio dropouts (and a slightly softer picture when compared to the Pioneer box), but it's all worth it when you can record HD programs. (Especially without buying a 1,000 dollar tivo heh.)

I configured some of my video settings using the THX configuration thing on one of my DVD's... any other recommendations of what I should do? Any specific recommended settings?

Thanks for the replies!

[Andrew Grall]

Speaking of Sony LCDs...

I have waited for over two months for the JVC 61" DILA set that I bought to come in stock. It is finally in and is set to be delivered on Monday. It has, in general, one of the best pictures I have seen, although I have seen some digital noise in some of the brighter whites on this set.

On the other hand, I finally saw the new Sony 60XS955 yesterday. It is probably the best RP LCD set I have seen. Very nice picture, SDE is minimized, lots of display controls, built-in tuner and cable-card, and one more HDMI input than the JVC has.

Has anyone else compared these 2 sets? I really need to make a decision no later than Saturday to switch my order before they deliver the JVC. They would need to special order the Sony, so that might take a while, but I still have a "loaner" Samsung HLP5663 in the meanwhile from the store...

Any thoughts? Recommendations?

Thanks.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by Andrew Grall
Any thoughts? Recommendations?

Thanks.

What do the members of AVS forums have to say about the two?  I would go with the consensus opinion from that group of people.  If there is no consensus, I would buy a product that has a clearly positive majority opinion with those people.

[Andrew Grall]

Well, I have spent quite a bit of time there.  My user ID is PackFan.

There seems to be quite a split.  I was wondering if anyone here has seen the two and has an opinion.

[gparris]

Both sets are worth the money, IMO, as I have seen them with the same HD material.

The JVC set I believe got a good recommendation in recent issues of more than one A/V magazine.
The JVC set also has a three-chip DLP design as I understand it and this does away with the color wheel and "rainbow"effect some see with DLP sets.

RCA's new set at Best Buy/Crutchfield (lists $8999) has a 6-7/8 inch depth, is wall-mountable and has the best picture I have ever seen, exception being the 82" LCoS Mits for $14999.
So you could go more expensive with a different 61-incher, too.

Sony's Wega LCD RPTVs have been around longer and I think that they have been tweaked as far as this technology can go now...not a bad thing...the set's picture was fantastic, although I preferred the deeper blacks and greens on the JVC, but that was in the store and you know that can be. The picture details you mentioned could have been due to a number of factors not with the set itself, too.

If you waited all this time for the black instead of silver unit, buy it and remember, there will always be a bigger and better out there after you buy any technological device, but it doesn't mean you didn't make an intelligent purchase decision to begin with when you finally purchase anything.

[Andrew Grall]

Actually the JVC is a 3-chip LCoS device.

But thanks for the advice.  

I think one of the biggest reasons I am leaning toward the Sony is that I would REALLY like the option of having a built-in tuner.  It would be really nice to be able to use an antenna to pick up HD-WB, and any other stations that might crop up OTA.  Not to mention that the cable-card option would basically free up 2 HDMI inputs for the Sony, since I would have my cable box hooked up the the only HDMI on the JVC.  (My component inputs are taken up by DVD player and X-Box.)

[gparris]

Sorry about the error, the JVC is a three chip LCoS, not DLP, nevertheless a great set.

Be careful about CableCard technology as it is not two way and as I understand it, the technology is not fully developed to include IPG and PPV functionality and you if you want to record HD the the HD DVR will have to get connected from TWC.
May I suggest getting a component video switcher or a different A/V receiver that has a very least, 3 component inputs?
Most sets have at least 2 component inputs and if you use one of them for the three in the A/V receiver, you have four, so maybe this will do for you and keep the JVC set.
Just my thoughts...

[Mark Strube]

Wait so cable cards won't let a cable card-enabled DVR record in HD? Great another hurdle. :bang:

[gparris]

Here is a link from the TWC site - You decide how wonderful it is to have a CableCard instead of a cable box...

http://www.timewarnercable.com/milwaukee/products/cablecard.html

The choice is yours.
Perhaps that the newer sets with built in HD DVRs and the HD DVR standalone boxes not supplied by TWC will interface with it, but the functionality should remain the same as a CableCard...poorer.
The feature is great if you want to have multiple TV sets in your home and you do not plan recording from all of them, but want the ability to get digitally-delivered/premium channels without the box, that is assuming you are planning to rush out and buy new CableCard-ready sets:
Hint: they aren't commonplace or cheap (yet).:rolleyes:
Andrew Grall: Stick with the component video as much as possible using the suggested A/V receiver and/or component video switcher ideas, IMHO.:wave: