Video Asylum

Posted by Kenreau (A) on October 22, 2005 at 14:44:11

In Reply to: commercial model posted by Joe Murphy Jr on October 22, 2005 at 11:05:48:

Do you need an HD or an ED model? If you're 8' or more from the display, an ED model may be all you need. Compare ED vs HD models in Best Buy/Circuit City at your home viewing distance and see if you can see pixel structure. An ED model will save you some money if you can't see the difference. That said, will this be used as the main display or a bedroom display? If it's a bedroom (or other small room) display, get the HD model. If it's going to be the main display now, but will be moved later on down the road to a bedroom or smaller room, get the HD model. Pixel structure will be an issue in these cases so you'd be better off with an HD model.

>>> IT IS FOR A FAMILY/MEDIA ROOM. SEATING IS ABOUT 10' BACK. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE ED PANNYS AT COSTCO BUT I THINK I WILL STICK WITH THE HD MODEL.

With the price of the 50" model at around $2800 + shipping, why not consider this if you have the room and the finances. Just something to consider. When I got my 50" 6UY, I paid around $5900 and that was a deal. Today, just two generations later, the greater than 50% price drop is unreal!

>>> I AGREE, THE PRICES ARE FINALLY GETTING REASONABLE, IMHO. I WILL CHECK DIMENSIONS AGAIN BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL FIT. I HAVE A SALAMANDER A/V BASECABINET WITH TWO TOWERS ON EITHER SIDE.

>>> WOULD A 50" BE TOO BIG FOR THE 10' TO 12' VIEWING DISTANCE?

As for the boards, I recommend going with two HDMI boards. DVI is a step up from analog component, but it's limited to 8-bits per color. HDMI is capable of 10-bit 4:2:2 via YCbCr. The Faroudja processor in your Denon outputs a 10-bit signal and that 10-bit depth can be maintained via the HDMI path. If you use a DVI connection anywhere in the path, it becomes an 8-bit path. There are subtle advantages using 10-bit processing and preserving that bit depth throughout the signal chain even when the original source, a DVD for instance, is 8-bit. The Panasonic display uses at least 10-bit processing, if not having moved to 12-bit with this generation.

Not all HDMI sources or displays are capable of greater than 8-bit paths. It depends on the processing within and the format selected. For instance, only the DVD players with the newest Faroudja (like your Denon) and Silicon Optix/Terranex processing will allow a 10-bit path via HDMI. Other DVD players are still limited to 8-bit paths, even via HDMI. On top of that, the display needs to be capable of a greater than 8-bit path (with Panasonic, you're definitely safe).

As for your Dish setup, might as well go HDMI with this as well. I doubt it's a greater than 8-bit path, but at least you'll be able to use the YCbCr format to digitally feed the display. Combine this with the fact that the next gen optical format (most probably BluRay) will use an HDMI signal path and the choice between DVI and HDMI should be clear.

>>> SOUNDS GREAT. HDMI IT IS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE iSCAN HD SCALER (OR SIMILAR)ROUTE?

Don't spend your money on the speakers from Panasonic. They're high margin items (read high profit) and net Panasonic, just like any other company, more money. They're over-priced and are nowhere near the quality of $600 speakers from a dedicated speaker manufacturer. You can actually hook up any old speakers to watch the news or channel surf using the display's internal amps (I believe they're 8 watts each). Just try to use reasonably efficient speakers (90dB or more) that are 6 to 8 Ohms.

>>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT AS WELL. BUT, IN THIS CASE, ASTHETICS ARE IMPORTANT AS WELL (TO KEEP THE WIFE HAPPY). IS THERE A SAFE RECOMMENDATION IN THAT SAME PRICE RANGE ($300 TO $500) THAT LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE MADE TO GO TOGETHER? (POLK? INFINI? MONSOON?)

And before you pull the trigger, I would suggest a visit to AVS Forum to check out what owners of any display you are considering have to say.

>>> YES, DEFINITELY. THANK YOU!