New TV config decissions
 

Our new 40" LCD tv arrived today, which means all I can think about sitting here at work is setting it up. I need some advice.

First off, we have no HD components right now. I refuse to commit to either BlueRay or HD-DVD, the Wii doesn't do HD, and we'd have to buy a pricey new TiVo. Reviews of the TV we bought said it does an excellent job of displaying an SD signal, so I'm crossing my fingers.

I'd like to make sure we get the best quality SD video on it. Right now our set up is as as follows:

Cable connected through TiVo via coax to the RF input of our TV
DVD player connected w/S-video
Wii connected with standard composite RCA video

I'm thinking I'll probably want to get away from the coax RF from the TiVo to the TV.

The new TV has several options. If I'm reading the manual correctly (won't be positive until I get home), it's got 2 composite inputs, 2 s-video inputs, and 2 component inputs. I'm thinking I'll stick with S-video for the DVD. I believe the player has component video out as well. Would I gain much going component instead? And can I get away with standard RCA cables if I do?

As for the TiVo, the docs online seem to indicate that it's only got either RF or composite, no s-video or component. That's unfortunate. If that really is the case I'll go with the composite, it should be a better signal than the RF.

Of course, the other consideration is an HD antenna. The TV's got a built in tuner. I've seen some reviews online for indoor antennas that make it seem like a viable possibility. And I could very easily locate the antenna upstairs for improved reception, possibly even in the attic if I get really ambitious. I'll just have to make sure that if we do buy an antenna, that there's a good return policy in case it sucks. Anyone one have any experience/recommendations?

If I were you, I'd go to radio shack and grab an off-the-air HD antenna for <$50. If you're in the right place, you'll be able to get most of the off-air network HD programming.

Or......

If your TV is cable-card ready, you could get a card from your cable TV provider for minimal extra cost - you can't record the shows, but at least you can watch them "live" in HD.

(Note: once we went HD, we dumped the TiVo and went with Comcast's HD-DVR box, which, compared to TiVo, sucks. However, it does allow time-shifting of all programming.)

I'm also not about to choose between HD-DVD and BluRay either, so we bought an Oppo player, which upscales SD DVDs to HD. The reason that the Oppo is the best SD DVD player, IMO, is because it will also convert from PAL->NTSC, and play DiVX files. Since your TV is on the smaller side, you could get the DV-970HD.

And as far as component cables go, you might get away with using analog audio RCA cables for component video, but since component video needs 75 ohm and analog audio cables can vary from 50-110 ohm, your mileage may vary.

This cartoon comes to mind:

I don't do HD yet, but isn't an HD antenna just a UHF antenna?

More or less. It's gotta be a digital UHF antenna, and there are 2 different digital signals (SD and HD). It's not quite like the color/b&w standard where there's one signal with the b&w info biggybacked on the color. But yes, for the most part any digital UHF antenna can receive both SD and HD digital signals.

There's no way we're giving up the TiVo for Time Warner's piece of crap. It's more expensive and orders of magnitude worse functionally. Plus we've paid for 3 years of TiVo service up front so we're (willingly and happily) locked in. We'll most likely live with standard digital cable through this TiVo until such a time as we feel like paying for an upgraded HD TiVo + HD programming, which at this point is not within our affordability.

Get out of my head NA! ;)

TW's DVR is not more expensive for service or equipment - not by a longshot.

However, I cannot argue with its absolutely sucky functionality. I got it so that I could have an HD DVR. But it only has 20 hours worth of HD capability. And, yeah, it sucks. But we kept our Series Two TiVo (240 Hours capacity, Lifetime Service) and have a separate feed (SD) going into it. But once you have HD, it is hard to go back to SD.

The DirecTV (which probably isn't as good as TiVo either) has 50 hours capacity on HD. The HD TiVo only has 32 Hours of HD recording capacity (I really don't care that it is THX certified - nothing broadcast is, so why do I care if the DVR is?!?), and it costs an arm and a leg ($800 straight from TiVo, I have seen as low as $650, but I have heard lower).

But the way I looked at it, I HAD to have an HD DVR - it was simply an issue of taking the least painful route. I would have preferred to have had the DirecTV option, but there were other mitigating issues (there was a long and painful thread on the subject).

Yes, it was. I did the math and that's why we ended up with the TiVo. It was helped by the discount we got by getting 3 years of service upfront, but it ended up costing us ~$5/month less to go with TiVo and get rid of the Time Warner box. No brainer.

So, any advice on s-video vs. component? Is there a significant enough difference to justify 2 extra cables? Is there any reason a standard RCA cable wouldn't be good enough to carry component signals?

For SD - go with S-video.

For HD - go with HDMI (but not from Best Buy) or DVI (which is basically HDMI without audio).

If you want to go the component route, see my first reply.

It'll be crap unless you buy $70/foot cables at Magnolia Hi-Fi. So make sure you do that.