Total Serious Happy Thread

Ghoulish Delight · 01-26-2012, 10:23 AM

We could have gone 60" for cheaper, but 55" definitely feels like the limit for our room. A 60" wouldn't physically fit well in the room. On top of that, sitting in front of the 55" I can tell that any bigger and I wouldn't be able to watch anything without having to pan-and-scan with my eyes.

So far the biggest benefit can be seen with the xBox. I can actually read all the text from the couch without squinting or scooting forward! I will never understand, however, what manufacturers are thinking with their preset "game" picture modes. Not one TV I've owned that had that setting have video games look any good in it.

I'm off to Fry's today to grab the one extra HDMI cable I need to hook up the new receiver. Nothing fancy, just a 500W Yamaha. Haven't even added any speakers yet, sticking with just our 2 Kenwood floor boxes that do a find job of filling our room. Maybe come birthday time we'll consider adding channels.

I spent a while debating whether I cared whether any of the AV components (TV, blueray, or receiver) was "smart" (i.e., internet connected with streaming apps built in). It felt stupid to get a brand new system that lacked such a forward-looking feature. But with a real computer connected to the TV I just can't see the point in worrying about whether my TV had slow, featureless apps that I can't even use a keyboard to input with. That made shopping much easier since we didn't have to compare any of the connected options between models and in the end we ended up with zero connectivity (actually, I think the BlueRay player can connect for firmware updates).

Ghoulish Delight · 01-26-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I'm off to Fry's today to grab the one extra HDMI cable I need to hook up the new receiver.

Which reminds me, can anyone give me some pros and cons of running all my components through the receiver then to the TV vs. running components to the TV and optical audio out from the TV to the receiver? Or a mix (e.g., I've read that some receivers have issues synching game system video, so perhaps I should put the BlueRay, TiVo, and cpu through the receiver but the xbox through the TV)? TOO MANY OPTIONS.

I'm going to stock up on all the cables I need to do any of the possible combinations, just so keep things flexible.

Moonliner · 01-26-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Which reminds me, can anyone give me some pros and cons of running all my components through the receiver then to the TV vs. running components to the TV and optical audio out from the TV to the receiver? Or a mix (e.g., I've read that some receivers have issues synching game system video, so perhaps I should put the BlueRay, TiVo, and cpu through the receiver but the xbox through the TV)? TOO MANY OPTIONS.

I'm going to stock up on all the cables I need to do any of the possible combinations, just so keep things flexible.

On the "con" side, it means you have to have your receiver powered up and set to the correct input anytime you want to watch TV. At least in my house this has a low WAF. I had to add a learning remote to the mix.

WAF = (Wife Approval Factor)

CoasterMatt · 01-26-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner

On the "con" side, it means you have to have your receiver powered up and set to the correct input anytime you want to watch TV. At least in my house this has a low WAF. I had to add a learning remote to the mix.

WAF = (Wife Approval Factor)

Not necessarily true, depending on the TV and receiver- an HDMI 1.4 spec setup with audio return, you don't have to have everything turned on to watch tv. It's called standby bypass on our receiver.

Moonliner · 01-26-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

Not necessarily true, depending on the TV and receiver- an HDMI 1.4 spec setup with audio return, you don't have to have everything turned on to watch tv. It's called standby bypass on our receiver.

And use the tv's built in speakers? No thanks.

01-26-2012, 10:23 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	We could have gone 60" for cheaper, but 55" definitely feels like the limit for our room. A 60" wouldn't physically fit well in the room. On top of that, sitting in front of the 55" I can tell that any bigger and I wouldn't be able to watch anything without having to pan-and-scan with my eyes. So far the biggest benefit can be seen with the xBox. I can actually read all the text from the couch without squinting or scooting forward! I will never understand, however, what manufacturers are thinking with their preset "game" picture modes. Not one TV I've owned that had that setting have video games look any good in it. I'm off to Fry's today to grab the one extra HDMI cable I need to hook up the new receiver. Nothing fancy, just a 500W Yamaha. Haven't even added any speakers yet, sticking with just our 2 Kenwood floor boxes that do a find job of filling our room. Maybe come birthday time we'll consider adding channels. I spent a while debating whether I cared whether any of the AV components (TV, blueray, or receiver) was "smart" (i.e., internet connected with streaming apps built in). It felt stupid to get a brand new system that lacked such a forward-looking feature. But with a real computer connected to the TV I just can't see the point in worrying about whether my TV had slow, featureless apps that I can't even use a keyboard to input with. That made shopping much easier since we didn't have to compare any of the connected options between models and in the end we ended up with zero connectivity (actually, I think the BlueRay player can connect for firmware updates). __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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