Video Asylum

Posted by AbeCollins (A) on May 21, 2008 at 19:04:18

In Reply to: RE: None that I've bought or seen have high-def capability. posted by Wendell Narrod on May 21, 2008 at 17:51:06

"None that I've bought or seen have high-def capability.... Why would they? If you have an HDTV it has an ATSC tuner."

Not necessarily.

Most early "HDTV" capable TV sets did not include a built-in ATSC tuner. My Sony 34-inch XBR CRT has an outstanding high resolution screen but no ATSC tuner. Same for my early Plasma screen TV. Yet, both of these sets have component video and/or DVI inputs that will take a hi-rez signal from a cable tv converter, HD tuner, Blu-ray player, etc.

The more costly HD ATSC tuners do in fact have component video or HDMI outputs. My Samsung and Humax HD tuners both have component video outputs and Humax also has HDMI. But since the "cheapie" units that are "coupon eligible" are simply meant to give old analog sets access to the new digital formats, it's not clear to me if any of them will have more than a channel 3/4 RF modulator, composite video, or maybe S-video outputs.