getting a new tv!

[chalnger86]

Also keep in mind that there are some settings/adjustments that the normal user remote can not do. You have to have a service remote to have access to those settings.

+1

My Panny AE700 has a submenu that has to be accessed via remote with a secret code.

Very true. All HDTV's have hidden set-up menus that the general user just shouldn't mess with. they are there for professionals ISF technicians. They aren't cheap, but your TV will be guaranteed to be set up to the best it can be! Some of the settings can screw your Tv so bad that it can render it unwatchable. Hence the pro ISF technician.

 

[chalnger86]

I think the DLPs are improving as well. Now they are using LEDs in place of the lamps that burn out and they are getting rid of the color wheel technology. I wonder how long the LEDs will last??

I think for my next TV, hopefully this Summer, I'll look at another DLP or a LCD. Though the LCD TVs are still pretty expensive. I guess I'll just have to check them all out and see what looks best. The technology is changing so fast!!

Well, if they last like normal LEDs, that's about 80,000-100,000 hours.
That's a lot of TV mang!

I agree about the technology changing too fast. Whatever you buy today is pretty much 'old tech' in about 3 months

I was reading last month in my Home Thater Mag that there are prototype LCD TV's that are using LEDs for backlighting now. They're supposed to be able to adjust the brightness of the backlighting in each area of the screen based on the picture to increase the contrast ratio and get a better black level. Haven't actually seen it, but it sounds like it will make LCDs an extremely viable contender in those two fields!

 

[jonny toetags]

I think the DLPs are improving as well. Now they are using LEDs in place of the lamps that burn out and they are getting rid of the color wheel technology. I wonder how long the LEDs will last??

I think for my next TV, hopefully this Summer, I'll look at another DLP or a LCD. Though the LCD TVs are still pretty expensive. I guess I'll just have to check them all out and see what looks best. The technology is changing so fast!!

Well, if they last like normal LEDs, that's about 80,000-100,000 hours.
That's a lot of TV mang!

I agree about the technology changing too fast. Whatever you buy today is pretty much 'old tech' in about 3 months

I was reading last month in my Home Thater Mag that there are prototype LCD TV's that are using LEDs for backlighting now. They're supposed to be able to adjust the brightness of the backlighting in each area of the screen based on the picture to increase the contrast ratio and get a better black level. Haven't actually seen it, but it sounds like it will make LCDs an extremely viable contender in those two fields!

I remember reading about that happening to TVs when Mac announced they were doing it for the Macbooks.
Aren't they the model that was shown with a LED strip behind the TV also that 'glows' off the wall, supposedly making the TV watching experience more enjoyable?
I think I saw those on G4 at last year's CES coverage, but haven't heard anything since.

 

[cyndicate]

Hmm sorry to Hijack or anything, but I've had my TV for awhile now and never calibrated it lol, to me it looks awesome already, will it make a bigger difference doing so?

Im using a 46" sharp aquos, forgot the model but its the 1080p one with 4ms and 120hz or something.

Will doing it myself be pretty much the same as hiring a tech from like bestbuy or something to do it?

 

[jonny toetags]

Hmm sorry to Hijack or anything, but I've had my TV for awhile now and never calibrated it lol, to me it looks awesome already, will it make a bigger difference doing so?

Im using a 46" sharp aquos, forgot the model but its the 1080p one with 4ms and 120hz or something.

Will doing it myself be pretty much the same as hiring a tech from like bestbuy or something to do it?

It's always made a difference, imo, when watching TV, DVDs etc...
Not so much for games.

My parents have the latest Aquos and after i was done, the settings were quite far off from the factory settings, especially in the contrast department.

A Bestbuy guy will just run a calibration DVD, like the ones you can get at the store.
If you have time to spare, I'd do it myself.

 

[cyndicate]

Hmm sorry to Hijack or anything, but I've had my TV for awhile now and never calibrated it lol, to me it looks awesome already, will it make a bigger difference doing so?

Im using a 46" sharp aquos, forgot the model but its the 1080p one with 4ms and 120hz or something.

Will doing it myself be pretty much the same as hiring a tech from like bestbuy or something to do it?

It's always made a difference, imo, when watching TV, DVDs etc...
Not so much for games.

My parents have the latest Aquos and after i was done, the settings were quite far off from the factory settings, especially in the contrast department.

A Bestbuy guy will just run a calibration DVD, like the ones you can get at the store.
If you have time to spare, I'd do it myself.

What about those "special menus" that only techs can access that someone mentioned, will I be able to access those as well, or will they make any difference?

 

[jonny toetags]

Hmm sorry to Hijack or anything, but I've had my TV for awhile now and never calibrated it lol, to me it looks awesome already, will it make a bigger difference doing so?

Im using a 46" sharp aquos, forgot the model but its the 1080p one with 4ms and 120hz or something.

Will doing it myself be pretty much the same as hiring a tech from like bestbuy or something to do it?

It's always made a difference, imo, when watching TV, DVDs etc...
Not so much for games.

My parents have the latest Aquos and after i was done, the settings were quite far off from the factory settings, especially in the contrast department.

A Bestbuy guy will just run a calibration DVD, like the ones you can get at the store.
If you have time to spare, I'd do it myself.

What about those "special menus" that only techs can access that someone mentioned, will I be able to access those as well, or will they make any difference?

All the menus i needed were accessible.
You need all the usuals, color, hue, contrast, brightness.

The Contrast/Brightness are the most important for LCD TVs, imo.

 

[chalnger86]

If you're running the calibration DVD yourself, all the menus you need are accessible to you like jonny toetags said. There are other menus you won't be able to access that only an ISF technician can access and will know how to use correctly. You won't find anyone at a big-box store like Best Buy or Circuit Sity that is ISF certified (although carzier things have happened) I've heard mixed reviews from people that have had an ISF tech calibrate their TV. Some people have grown so accustomed to how it was set out of the box that the drastic change was too much for them and they didn't like it. It's really all up to what you like...just like guitar amps. One guy will like a Marshall and I'll hate it!

Anyway, here's a link to the ISF website to find a tech in your area if you're interested: http://www.imagingscience.com/isf-trained.cfm

edit - I just noticed that you use a Marshall jonny toetags...I wasn't jabbing at you in particular...just Marshall Heads in general

 

[jonny toetags]

If you're running the calibration DVD yourself, all the menus you need are accessible to you like jonny toetags said. There are other menus you won't be able to access that only an ISF technician can access and will know how to use correctly. You won't find anyone at a big-box store like Best Buy or Circuit Sity that is ISF certified (although carzier things have happened) I've heard mixed reviews from people that have had an ISF tech calibrate their TV. Some people have grown so accustomed to how it was set out of the box that the drastic change was too much for them and they didn't like it. It's really all up to what you like...just like guitar amps. One guy will like a Marshall and I'll hate it!

Anyway, here's a link to the ISF website to find a tech in your area if you're interested: http://www.imagingscience.com/isf-trained.cfm

edit - I just noticed that you use a Marshall jonny toetags...I wasn't jabbing at you in particular...just Marshall Heads in general

In my defense, it's modded (not that i need to defend myself though )

 

[chalnger86]

In my defense, it's modded (not that i need to defend myself though )

I'll let it slide this time!

 

[Slaytallica]

Avoid the plasmas....they're a dying technology (you'll thank me 5 years from now)....spend the xtra $$$ and get a Samsung LCD.

It depends what your using it for.

Plasmas have a far superior image for video images movies and such. If your gaming then you want an LCD but if your just watching DVD's Plasmas are far better.