My new home theatre set-up - Ajarn Forum

esoteric1 · 14th December 2007, 02:16

ok I finally scraped my shekels together and went shopping for a new HDTV and other assorted goodies.

Results:

42" Sanyo HDTV LCD (720p)

new Onkyo Digital Dolby 5.1 surround receiver to replace old Sony Pro-Logic 'surround' receiver(wanted the digital optical audio inputs).

Samsung DVD/VCR Recorder with HDMI upconversion.

damage done:

a little north of 1300 US $ including extended warranty on the TV.

Here's a couple of videos(both from the Comcast HD cable box) with it in action. First one of Big and Rich on the HD Music Channel and the second one of a movie(Day of the Jackal) from the HD channels:

Video of HD music channel - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Video of HD Movie - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

will take some regular pics if anyone's interested in seeing more, since these videos are pretty dark and all you can see is the screen.

I'm pretty happy so far, even though I did originally want a "Full HDTV" at 1080p...having to buy a new water heater recently nixed that.

More impressed with the audio actually as my old Sony was rated at 100 watts/channel and the new Onkyo is 65 watts/channel, but it absolutely blows the Sony away!

also will take video of the DVD 1080i upconversion in action with a standard DVD if anyone wants to see that...it makes them look pretty good for not being actual HD or Blue-Ray discs.

Magpie · 14th December 2007, 04:31

discus2000 · 14th December 2007, 05:13

mine's going to be:
cambridge azur 340r surround receiver

cambridge azur 540d v2 DVD

a pair of B&W DM685

or DALI concept 6

or (depending on wifey

)

DALI concept surround (center, 2 x concept 1 and 2 x concept 6)

probably going for a NAD a1 32'' tv

Getting it on Saturday

esoteric1 · 14th December 2007, 05:57

cool!

I didn't have that kind of money...had to go with lower end stuff.

of course I already had my surround speakers so that helped...Infinitys front, rear, and ctr(they look very similar to those Dali's only black) and an Onkyo powered subwoofer.

working on some pics to post...but first it's dinner time!

-----
ok here's a few pics:

as you can see I still need one of those universal remotes, but I want the Logitech Harmony remote that goes for about 100 US $ and right now I'm tapped out...maybe after a tax refund next spring.

or one of you rich ex-pat types could get it for me for Christmas

but anyway I think what I've cobbled together here works pretty well considering the amount of money I had to work with....not top of the line stuff, but good enough for me.

------

p.s.

the only thing I can't figure out is why my local broadcast stations(networks like FOX, CBS, ABC, etc) that are on the HD channels don't fill the screen like all the other ones do??

They look like the shape of my old square 36" tube TV with big black borders on both sides....I've got all settings that I can find set to 16:9 output

aging one · 14th December 2007, 08:13

God Dammit when are they going to start broadcasting in Hi Def here?

Sanuk Canuk · 14th December 2007, 15:40

Eversince I bought my 1080i Panasonic LCD TV with HDMI and my HDMI multiformat DVD player, I have been pissed off because the extra image quality just highlights the shit quality of the media. When I try watch a typical 100baht DVD copy it is a lot shittier than it was on a lower resolution TV. I guess I am gonna hafta figure out this torrent crap so I can start getting some higher quality media.

esoteric1 · 14th December 2007, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanuk Canuk

When I try watch a typical 100baht DVD copy it is a lot shittier than it was on a lower resolution TV.

Have you ever tried a bought from the store DVD that's not a copy?? If so do those look any better? My standard DVD's(no copies) look better than I expected upconverted to 1080i, but still not as good as one of the actual HD channels from the cable box.

buddahas · 16th December 2007, 06:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanuk Canuk

Eversince I bought my 1080i Panasonic LCD TV with HDMI and my HDMI multiformat DVD player, I have been pissed off because the extra image quality just highlights the shit quality of the media. When I try watch a typical 100baht DVD copy it is a lot shittier than it was on a lower resolution TV. I guess I am gonna hafta figure out this torrent crap so I can start getting some higher quality media.

Get original DVD's with proper aspect ratio. It should look better, but not great. Most torrents are encoded in Divx, and it's usually a lower resolution than 480p.

keeshou · 16th December 2007, 09:49

Plug your computer into it Eso, then you can watch at 1920x1080 any videos you have in AVI format..

I only have my DVD and computer pluged into my LG 32". I run it at 1360x768 and get my TV shows off the net.

Umbuku · 16th December 2007, 11:39

Lots of confusing numbers on this thread.

It's a conspiracy of mercantilism.

Blinding us with red LEDs and acronyms.

Where do I buy one?

daneel · 16th December 2007, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by discus2000

mine's going to be:
cambridge azur 340r surround receiver
cambridge azur 540d v2 DVD
a pair of B&W DM685
or DALI concept 6

or (depending on wifey

)

DALI concept surround (center, 2 x concept 1 and 2 x concept 6)

probably going for a NAD a1 32'' tv

Getting it on Saturday

The cambridge is good, nice power delivery and stable, be aware with the Dali's though they need a lot of space to work propperly. Hope you have a room big enough for them.

Eso the Onkyo is a fine choice!

SageAndOnion · 16th December 2007, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by daneel

The cambridge is good, nice power delivery and stable, be aware with the Dali's though they need a lot of space to work propperly. Hope you have a room big enough for them. Eso the Onkyo is a fine choice!

Couldn't you have said that without quoting all those pictures?

daneel · 16th December 2007, 13:06

Edited it ohh my overlord.

SageAndOnion · 16th December 2007, 13:12

Thanks, you're a darling.