FireCaptain 563 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 (edited) www.monoprice.com for cables. Cheapest anywhere I've ever seen. You beat me to this recommendation. Best price for lcd/plasma wall mounts as well. I have 3 mounts that I bought from MP and if you add all 3 together still cost less than 1 from BB/CC/etc. My setups: 37" Westinghouse 1080 LCD - bedroom 42" Westinghouse 1080 LCD - living room 47" Toshiba Regza 1080 LCD w/ Samsung 5.1 and wireless rear speakers (no cords to trip over!) - in the man cave (walls are painted RED WING red) Edited May 24, 2008 by FireCaptain Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwings1914 18 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 I have a 40" Samsung. My HDMI was free from Charter with the rental of the HD cable box i had to get in order to watch HD. I agree that the HD is amazing and beats out regular any day of the week. I went up north and got stuck watching the game in standard def and almost cried. The panning is ridiculous. I hate it lol. I feel your pain.....and i have your same tv =] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sgt Sharpie 4 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 I'm curious why the original poster is showing us a picture of a personal HD setup...? I don't understand. As for the cables, you act like the cables are very expensive to get an outstanding HD picture. Let me inform you on a little something I call, BEST BUY SUCKS ASS. Here's the deal, Best Buy and similar stores only stock the most expensive HDMI and component cables because they know YOU, the ordinary consumer, thinks that what you need. They are misinforming you and taking advantage of you. Here's a little comparison for you... HDMI cable Best buy $50+ newegg.com $10 or less RGB component cables... want to know a funny thing, these "special cables" are NO DIFFERENT than your current RCA (red, yellow, white) cables. They are the same exact thing! Just because a color is different doesn't mean anything. You could mix and match them all you want, just make sure the same color is going to the same color. For instance, you could do this... buy an RCA (red, yellow, white) cable for your HDTV and run the yellow cord from Green to Green, run the white cord from Blue to Blue, and run the red cord from Red to Red. Or you could even go crazy and run the yellow or white cable from Red to Red. It doesn't matter! They all are the same thing, just labeled by different colors. Mix and match all you want. DO NOT SPEND MONEY AT BEST BUY (or similar store) ON THE FOLLOWING... -HDMI cables (get them online and newegg.com or somewhere where they are priced at $10) -Monster RGB component cables (extreme rip-off which do not offer a better picture than normal RCA (red, yellow, white) cords. Buy RCA cables instead for as little as $5. -Never buy the gold-plated or other specialty RGB / COMPONENT / HDMI cables, period. GIMMICKS! Hopefully that helps at least one person out there save money! I actually work in TV / Film in Burbank and get pissed when companies like Best Buy completely mislead people. (on a side note, DVD up-convert players are a false gimmick as well, never spend more than $75 on a DVD player). i knoew all that except for the fact that rca and rgb cables are interchangable, i never stopped to think about that! thanks for the info! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinner 6 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Dish doesn't offer locals in HD. Will any old rabbit ears pick up HD transmissions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Nice TV! I have a 36" CRT HDTV at home. Once I went HD, I couldn't go back. It almost physically hurts to watch hockey in standard television now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Dish doesn't offer locals in HD. Will any old rabbit ears pick up HD transmissions? Kind of. You have to buy a special HD antenna for your TV. From what I've seen with my own two eyes, Antenna HDTV is actually a better signal than cable or satellite. But it has to come in 100%. A friend of mine has a 50" plasma HDTV and this is what he uses for HD. I couldn't believe how crisp the picture was compared to my Satellite feed. And my satellite feed is unbelievable crips and clear. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
russianswede919293 95 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 My roommate has an HDTV, but the year is up, so I saw the 1st 3 rounds in HD< but not the finals :-( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinner 6 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Kind of. You have to buy a special HD antenna for your TV. From what I've seen with my own two eyes, Antenna HDTV is actually a better signal than cable or satellite. But it has to come in 100%. A friend of mine has a 50" plasma HDTV and this is what he uses for HD. I couldn't believe how crisp the picture was compared to my Satellite feed. And my satellite feed is unbelievable crips and clear. Thanks, I had heard the the signal is all or nothing. Guess I need to get an antenna by game 3 and hope I get a clear signal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaVel DaTsYuK fan13 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 LG - 52" Flat-Panel LCD Completly changed the way I watch. My only beef is that I can't get CBC in hd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZabiOfDetroit 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 (edited) Yes, monoprice is awesome. I love watching the wings games in HD. I can't stand when FSN doesn't have them in it. Edited May 23, 2008 by ZabiOfDetroit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captainsteviey 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Dish doesn't offer locals in HD. Will any old rabbit ears pick up HD transmissions? Actually, hope is coming for Dish offering locals. I've been screwed for a long time with Dish and not getting locals in HD. that changed about 2 weeks ago. they came out and added a second dish to my roof, (not thrilled about that, but whatever). Now I get locals in HD and it's awesome. Really hard to watch it in standard def now. HD is a beautiful thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hitchhiker 9 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 (edited) I just had AT&T install their new Uverse (everything over your phone line) in my house and love the HD they offer. Get more HD channels than Dish Network including locals. I found it interesting that the Golf channel and Versus share their HD channel. I have to agree with everyone posting about the cables. As an IT Manager, I find it insulting that Best Buy sells cables for as much as they do. Especially HDMI, Ethernet and USB cables. I haven't used the recommended website but I have had great luck using http://www.pccables.com. Not the best looking site but they have great prices on everything. Also had some pretty good luck on getting some cables off EBay. Got my couch tickets purchased for the Finals. Parked right in my living room with my 40" Sony LCD. Nothing better than Hockey in HD! Edit: I know there actually is something better, but I couldn't get the real tickets Edited May 23, 2008 by Hitchhiker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mooker 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 60" JVC here with 6.1 surround, speakers mounted on walls around the room and an "extra" pair of tower speakers added to the equation. Really going to miss it on Saturday as I have to watch the game elsewhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 1,049 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 57" Sony with 7.1 surround. TV is getting a bit "long in the tooth" (5 years old now) and I'm looking to getting a nice, big new one to mount up on the wall once we move (whenever that is). Once you go HD you go never go back. I don't know how I watched hockey without it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilmickeyli 40 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 (edited) Here's my baby: http://roonweb.com/tv/Camera4%20004.jpg 52" sony bravia xbr4 yeah i know it's a mess, i need to clean up the cables, etc :-p and I agree Matt.. Once you go HD you simply cannot go back! Edited May 23, 2008 by ilmickeyli Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mooker 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 57" Sony with 7.1 surround. TV is getting a bit "long in the tooth" (5 years old now) and I'm looking to getting a nice, big new one to mount up on the wall once we move (whenever that is). I tied the TV purchase to moving to the new house myself. The wife got a new house, I got a new TV. I like to thing I got the long end of the stick on that one but a lot of people disagree with me You should see the look I get from her when I explain that the current system will become the secondary system when we move again in a couple of years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 1,049 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 You should see the look I get from her when I explain that the current system will become the secondary system when we move again in a couple of years. Yeah, I'm chomping at the bit to get a basement with room for a dedicated home theater/man-cave area. Right now the whole setup resides in the "family room" of the house, so it gets a ton of traffic. Not to mention it's right by the kid's rooms... I'm hoping that putting a whole floor between the rooms in the next house will allow me to actually blast it... it's been so, so muted since I had the kids. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueMonk 102 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 I just bought mine recently, a 52" Samsung LCD with 5.1 surround system. My only gripe is that my cable provider, WOW, doesn't offer Versus in HD. Since CBC isn't available in HD, either, I have to wait for the NBC broadcasts that start in game 3. So, no HD for me for games 1 and 2. But yeah, watching hockey in HD makes standard def viewing almost unbearable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks, I had heard the the signal is all or nothing. Guess I need to get an antenna by game 3 and hope I get a clear signal. Where do you live? You don't think you could draw in the CBC signal? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupcrazy 13 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 I'm curious why the original poster is showing us a picture of a personal HD setup...? I don't understand. As for the cables, you act like the cables are very expensive to get an outstanding HD picture. Let me inform you on a little something I call, BEST BUY SUCKS ASS. Here's the deal, Best Buy and similar stores only stock the most expensive HDMI and component cables because they know YOU, the ordinary consumer, thinks that what you need. They are misinforming you and taking advantage of you. Here's a little comparison for you... HDMI cable Best buy $50+ newegg.com $10 or less RGB component cables... want to know a funny thing, these "special cables" are NO DIFFERENT than your current RCA (red, yellow, white) cables. They are the same exact thing! Just because a color is different doesn't mean anything. You could mix and match them all you want, just make sure the same color is going to the same color. For instance, you could do this... buy an RCA (red, yellow, white) cable for your HDTV and run the yellow cord from Green to Green, run the white cord from Blue to Blue, and run the red cord from Red to Red. Or you could even go crazy and run the yellow or white cable from Red to Red. It doesn't matter! They all are the same thing, just labeled by different colors. Mix and match all you want. DO NOT SPEND MONEY AT BEST BUY (or similar store) ON THE FOLLOWING... -HDMI cables (get them online and newegg.com or somewhere where they are priced at $10) -Monster RGB component cables (extreme rip-off which do not offer a better picture than normal RCA (red, yellow, white) cords. Buy RCA cables instead for as little as $5. -Never buy the gold-plated or other specialty RGB / COMPONENT / HDMI cables, period. GIMMICKS! Hopefully that helps at least one person out there save money! I actually work in TV / Film in Burbank and get pissed when companies like Best Buy completely mislead people. (on a side note, DVD up-convert players are a false gimmick as well, never spend more than $75 on a DVD player). I guess because I'am excited about my setup, I wanted a flat panel like that for few years now,and was finally about to afford one.I'am a mid level gamer also,and just use to posting my HD set on the gaming forums I guess. As for the cable,I got two of my HDMI and the optical audio cable free with the purchase of my tv. The other HDMI came with my Directv HD-DVR. I agree with you about not spending high amounts on cables. I don't know much about those monster cables,but I know I'd never pay 100 bucks for a cable,when there's 20 dallor cables that will do the same thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupcrazy 13 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 57" Sony with 7.1 surround. TV is getting a bit "long in the tooth" (5 years old now) and I'm looking to getting a nice, big new one to mount up on the wall once we move (whenever that is). Once you go HD you go never go back. I don't know how I watched hockey without it. I have a question about this! HOw much better is 7.1 vs 5.1? Does Directv even support that? Also not sure if the 360 supports it or not either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evilmrt 636 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 Watching the Finals for the first time in HD, baby! I'll be watching on a 46" Samsung LCD with surround system. As great as watching hockey in HD is...I noticed a few things. One, NBC's HD quality is good...but not great. I'd give it a 8/10 score. Versus is better, and I think it comes in at an 8.9/10. CBC/TSN feeds rebroadcast on NHL Network are a slight step higher, around 9.2/10. And has anyone seen the games on HDNET? Holy crap...thats 10/10 for sure. Why can't NBC do that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MabusIncarnate 5,359 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 42" Samsung, I bought it for hockey and xbox gaming alone, not much of a TV or Movie watcher. Makes a world of difference for hockey, screw the glow puck, just go to high def. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pavyaz19 1 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 Dish doesn't offer locals in HD. Will any old rabbit ears pick up HD transmissions? yes, but you must have a TV with a digital tuner (if you have an HDTV that is no more than a few years old, chances are extremely good that it has a digital tuner built-in) and the channels are listed as channels with decimals. for instance, if you are in toledo, the normal analog channels are 11, 13, 24, and 36 which give you ntsc Standard Definition. But, if you have a digital tuner in your TV. Plug in your rabbit ears to that coax jack (regular cable jack on the back of your TV) and then have your TV search for channels. You'll see that channels such as 11, 13, 24, and 36 now have counterparts with decimals, such as 11, 11.1, 13, 13.1, 24, 24.2, 36, 36.1. You may even find some weather broadcasts at 11.2, 11.3, etc. Either way, you'll know right away when a channel is HD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pavyaz19 1 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 Kind of. You have to buy a special HD antenna for your TV. From what I've seen with my own two eyes, Antenna HDTV is actually a better signal than cable or satellite. But it has to come in 100%. A friend of mine has a 50" plasma HDTV and this is what he uses for HD. I couldn't believe how crisp the picture was compared to my Satellite feed. And my satellite feed is unbelievable crips and clear. Best Buy must have told you that you needed a special HD antenna... THAT IS COMPLETELY FALSE. regular old rabbit ears work, see my above post. Also, the signal is better through the airwaves because the video does not need to be compressed nearly as much as it does for cable transmission. From my experience, satellite compression is lighter than cable, therefore, satellite is better. Either way, through the airwaves is best... but there's only so many frequencies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
