Video Asylum

Posted by late on February 22, 2000 at 05:06:04:

In Reply to: Re: Looking for budget 480-progressive display posted by Allan Moyse on February 21, 2000 at 10:52:10:

hi,
the current issue of Stereophiles Guide to Home Theater is the recommended components issue. Get that, and take a look at the tv's it mentions. There are a number of choices to make. The first is direct, or rptv; it is a classic quantity vs quality situation. i picked a rptv a few years ago, but the new tube tvs are so astonishingly good; i am not sure
i will make that choice for hi def. Then there is the size, you can buy almost any size; my feeling is that the old rules don't really apply, so go with looks good to you-at the distance you will be sitting at home. Lastly,
my intent ( when i go hi def in a couple of years) is to go 16:9. I think
you will see a lot more widescreen, it's become almost the standard in europe. The reason is simple, movies come down in a number of different ratios, 16:9 is a better compromise (providing the screen is big enough that 4:3 material does not look dinky). With your budget you can get almost any of the better tv's; and i think you would be happy with any of them ( i am quite sure i would, from what i have seen ( and drooled over ) of my friends new tvs) If you like sci fi, after you get it, rent the dvd of ST: First Contact, Picard's dream at the beginning of the movie is just amazing on a really good tv.