TV Help needed...I think...

[Youngun5]

The TV's have an HD Tuner?

These are hooked straight up to the cable. No Box, or anything, and we're getting HD. Not on very many channels, maybe 18 or so, but we're getting all the important ones like ESPN, CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC etc.

I believe our provider broadcasts some channels in HD regardless?

I'm new at this, but all I know is, its working, so I'm going to stick with it.

[N.V.M.]

never heard of that.

[BigJim13]

never heard of that.

I know DirecTv broadcasts our local channells (NBC, ABC, CBS etc) in HD without having to pay the extra fee or having any special sort of tuner/reciever.

[FATC1TY]

NVM,

We can get HD signal OTA with an antenna. I can watch most of the major networks, like ABC, NBC, etc for free digitally.. That was the whole mess around here a few months ago about people having to get converters for their ancient TV's, who only watched the free OTA broadcasts. Everything went digital, and with that, they can do 720P HD broadcast, which is the highest quality you can get from even a cable provider for HD.

I don't normally do that, simply because I have the same channels through my provider though. But depending on your TV, some people can watch HD, without the box.

[FATC1TY]

The TV's have an HD Tuner?

These are hooked straight up to the cable. No Box, or anything, and we're getting HD. Not on very many channels, maybe 18 or so, but we're getting all the important ones like ESPN, CBS, FOX, ABC, NBC etc.

I believe our provider broadcasts some channels in HD regardless?

I'm new at this, but all I know is, its working, so I'm going to stick with it.

Ehhh.. I've never heard of that. You may have had your TV scan and find the OTA channels, but I know ESPN is not one of those. CBS, FOX, ABC, those you can get free without anything but a TV with a HD tuner, which most these days have.

If you got ESPN, and didn't upgrade your programming, it wasn't HD more than likely.

[N.V.M.]

Youngun also mentions they have a "DVD" home theater, and a DVD is only good for 480P resolution, unless its some sort of upscaler. but we all know Blu-ray is the only true HD format going.

[Strider]

Great info here guys. I am also in the market for a new TV and a total Newb to the flatscreen world. I am wondering what you guys think of this TV and if its a good price or could I do better?

Panasonic TC-P42X1 - 42'' Widescreen 720p Plasma HDTV - 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio - TC-P42X1 - Buy.com

[BigJim13]

Great info here guys. I am also in the market for a new TV and a total Newb to the flatscreen world. I am wondering what you guys think of this TV and if its a good price or could I do better?

Panasonic TC-P42X1 - 42'' Widescreen 720p Plasma HDTV - 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio - TC-P42X1 - Buy.com

I think that is the same TV I was considering. I would strongly recommend going to a store that carries them to check them out. I would have just bought it from the internet where I could find the best price 2 days ago. Yesterday I got a chance to actually see this TV in person though. After the initial shock of just how big a 42" screen is the next thing I noticed was that the picture seemed dark. I didnt play around with the settings but it just seemed to me that all the Panasonic TV's were darker than the others. So, go to the store and check them out. After I did I can't get this 42" LG LCD TV out of my head, the picture just seemed to POP, it was a 1080p and was only $100 more.

[Strider]

Thanks for the heads up Jim. The problem I have is I live miles away from anywhere so looking at these TVs is going to be hard to do unless they are at Walmart. As a matter of fact, the Walmart in my town doesn't even carry any plasmas anymore so they are useless to me. I wonder if it was just the settings of the TV that made it look so dark? Any input or recomendations would be appreciated. Let me know what you end up going with Jim.

[Youngun5]

....i invite any of you to come see. I can flip to Normal ESPN, channel 31 here, and then I can go to DTV 121-1 and get ESPN HD.

I don't believe the DVD thing is completely HD, which I never actually said it was, but it is hooked up by an HDMI Cable, and looks pretty damn good...could just be the TV tho.

here's the DVD system. DVD home theater system HT-Z320T (5.1 Ch, DVD) - Home Theater Systems - Home Theater | SAMSUNG


I took these on my phone.

[BigJim13]

Thanks for the heads up Jim. The problem I have is I live miles away from anywhere so looking at these TVs is going to be hard to do unless they are at Walmart. As a matter of fact, the Walmart in my town doesn't even carry any plasmas anymore so they are useless to me. I wonder if it was just the settings of the TV that made it look so dark? Any input or recomendations would be appreciated. Let me know what you end up going with Jim.

Yeah, I definitely will. I went to the stores fully expecting to fall in love with the Panasonic and was a little disappointed. I ended up liking the LCD's much better although I don't know what exactly the reason for that was.

[FATC1TY]

Thanks for the heads up Jim. The problem I have is I live miles away from anywhere so looking at these TVs is going to be hard to do unless they are at Walmart. As a matter of fact, the Walmart in my town doesn't even carry any plasmas anymore so they are useless to me. I wonder if it was just the settings of the TV that made it look so dark? Any input or recomendations would be appreciated. Let me know what you end up going with Jim.

It's the settings and the lighting in the stores. My plasma is no where near considered "dark"... But it would appear dark if you put it next to a LCD TV that had the contrast and black lighting turned all the way up. It's pretty obnoxious to watch TV like that, and it makes the half-life of your TV drop considerably.

The 42" Panasonic Plasma is a fantastic TV for the price. Right now they are hovering around $450-550. You simply can't beat the deal. 720P is plenty for ANYONES needs. 1080p if you feel that you have money to throw away. Now that everyones has figured out that unless you have a real big screen, and feed it pure 1080p format, which would be Blu-Ray, or something like a PS3 or XBOX360, then you will NEVER get a real 1080p format. Kinda like having a sports cars, and it has a governor on it for 45 mph. You'll never use it for what it was made for.

Panasonic is one of the top tier brands as well. For years, if you wanted a plasma.. It was Pioneer($$$$$) or Panasonic.

If you get a Panasonic, I'd be happy to share the calibration settings to have the TV set up to the true color gamut, so it looks far more real than the bright junk they display at the stores.

[FATC1TY]

....i invite any of you to come see. I can flip to Normal ESPN, channel 31 here, and then I can go to DTV 121-1 and get ESPN HD.

I don't believe the DVD thing is completely HD, which I never actually said it was, but it is hooked up by an HDMI Cable, and looks pretty damn good...could just be the TV tho.

here's the DVD system. DVD home theater system HT-Z320T (5.1 Ch, DVD) - Home Theater Systems - Home Theater | SAMSUNG


I took these on my phone.

Just an up-convert DVD player. It's just a fancy new DVD player they market so people will buy them with their HDTV's instead of BR. The HDMI and upconvert does clean the picture up a good bit though.

And you must have basic channels if you get ESPN without your DTV, because ESPN doesn't come in OTA.

[FATC1TY]

Yeah, I definitely will. I went to the stores fully expecting to fall in love with the Panasonic and was a little disappointed. I ended up liking the LCD's much better although I don't know what exactly the reason for that was.

You liked them probably because they are "brighter" than the plasmas you compared them too.

[Strider]

It's the settings and the lighting in the stores. My plasma is no where near considered "dark"... But it would appear dark if you put it next to a LCD TV that had the contrast and black lighting turned all the way up. It's pretty obnoxious to watch TV like that, and it makes the half-life of your TV drop considerably.

The 42" Panasonic Plasma is a fantastic TV for the price. Right now they are hovering around $450-550. You simply can't beat the deal. 720P is plenty for ANYONES needs. 1080p if you feel that you have money to throw away. Now that everyones has figured out that unless you have a real big screen, and feed it pure 1080p format, which would be Blu-Ray, or something like a PS3 or XBOX360, then you will NEVER get a real 1080p format. Kinda like having a sports cars, and it has a governor on it for 45 mph. You'll never use it for what it was made for.

Panasonic is one of the top tier brands as well. For years, if you wanted a plasma.. It was Pioneer($$$$$) or Panasonic.

If you get a Panasonic, I'd be happy to share the calibration settings to have the TV set up to the true color gamut, so it looks far more real than the bright junk they display at the stores.

720p should be more than enough to suit my needs. I am looking to stay in the 42in range and not really into gaming but i do have a new Wii system thats been sitting in a box for some time. I really didn't want to even bother hooking it up to our 10 yr old box TV.

Any way you can fill me in on where I can find one in the $450 range?