What is CableCard?
I was just one generation away from getting CableCARD. I just had to wait one more year and my HDTV would have had a CableCARD slot, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. Ach, who am I kidding? It wouldn’t have done me any good anyway. Rogers doesn’t support CableCARD anyway, so it would have been worthless to me. (Rogers is my cable provider.)
But for some people, CableCARD might even be useful. What is it? It’s basically a technology to allow you to view protected digital content. You get a PCMIA card from your cable company, bring it home, plug it into your DTV, and you’re set. The problem is that it’s one way. No video on demand. No pay-per-view. So what’s a consumer to do? Wait for CableCARD 2.0.
A CableCARD version 2.0 standard is currently in the works to address many of the issues. The new CableCARD 2.0 standard should support high definition digital cable, two way features such as Pay-Per-View, Video On Demand, and advanced electronic programming guide information and allow for up to 5 channels to be tuned in at once, however the standard is not currently finalized and equipment with CableCARD 2.0 support is not available. CableCARD version 2.0 will not be compatible with existing CableCARD enabled products.
Check out our new sister blog on Home Theater, HTBlog.net
December 15th, 2005 at 1:22 pm
Okay, this isn’t at all about your post. But, seeing as you want your fried to buy you the Denon, if you had $5k to set up your home theatre, how would you do it. What TV, what receiver, what DVD player, what speakers, what cables, what everything.
I’m mostly interested in your opinion of the TV and receiver but I’ll hear what you have to say on the rest of it.
I’m looking into the 50 inch market and it seems that the 1920x TVs are becoming achievable but they don’t accept the 1080p signal?
Anyway, give me your choice for what you would do with $5k.
December 15th, 2005 at 1:43 pm
First, I’d divide up my budget. Half (or slightly less) to the display, and the rest for sound. For the sound budget I’d divide that in half again: half for the speakers and half for the electronics.
I’ll go from easiest to hardest.
Cables? I don’t really care that much. Personally, I just make sure I don’t use the crap cables that come with the equipment, and I think that’s good enough. Ultralink, Monster, whatever. Well, maybe not Monster - they’re overpriced.
Speakers. This is from a Canadian perspective, so that’s why I recommend Paradigm, Energy, or PSB. Those are all Canadian speaker manufacturers that make great speakers and give us Canadians a break on the price. So in Canada your bang for the buck would be biggest with them. I also like Linn and B&W. (At home I have Linn, B&W, and Paradigm all in different systems/rooms. My main home theatre is Linn.) Spend $1250 on a nice 5.1 surround sound system, then when you save up the cash, buy the extra two speakers. The more money you spend on the speakers the better. And remember this: speaker sound is highly subjective, so do lots of listening tests.
DVD player. I don’t think there is much differentiation between DVD players anymore. You can’t go wrong Panasonic, JVC, Maranta, Denon, HK, etc - just make sure you have the features you want and like the UI/remote. I know lots of people disagree with me on this one, but that’s my personal opinion. Spend maybe about $250.
Receivers? I’d buy one of: Denon, HK (they’re a little buggy sometimes but sound great), Sherwood, Rotel, Pioneer Elite, or Outlaw. Personally, I’d want a receiver with at least: HDMI switching and conversion, room equilization, bass management for SACD/DVDAudio sources, ProLogic IIx, 5 video inputs, defeatable OSD, flexible bass management, and digital connection for SACD/DVDAudio. Not many receivers have the HDMI thing yet. But I don’t know if you can get all those features for $1000, your budget for a receiver.
Display. Cheap front projector? Easy: Panasonic AE900U or Sanyo PLV-Z4. Rear projector? That’s not so easy. I know this whole site is about HDTV, but I’m really glad I’m not making that decision right now. I think that DLP displays are overpriced and I don’t like the idea of rainbows. (Even if you’re not affected by rainbows, what if a guest is?) CRT’s have burn-in, and manufacturers are starting to put cheaper optics etc into them, so the quality isn’t what it used to be. LCD - bad black levels. What does that leave you? Something like an SXRD set from Sony, which is way out of your budget. What trade-offs are you willing to live with? If you’re going with a front projector like the Panasonic AE900U, your decision is easy, and you can use some of your saved money (we originally had a $2500 budget for the display) on your speakers or receiver.
December 15th, 2005 at 9:04 pm
Cool man but you seem a little extreme.
LCDs don’t have bad black levels. The black levels may not be as good as they could be or as good as they are on a plasma, but it’s hard to call it bad.
So from your perspective, the sound is as important as the display. But sound is often noticable in comparison, not when it’s all alone only being compared to itself. If the main function is movies, is high end sound as important?
Why ProLogic IIx?
December 16th, 2005 at 12:05 am
Extreme? Just my opinion, man.
Don’t underestimate good sound - it makes a big difference to the movie experience.
ProLogic II is useful for all those sound sources that are still stereo, converting to 5.1 surround sound. Lots of TV shows and games are like that. ProLogic IIx goes a step further and gives you 7.1 sound.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:46 pm
I choked on my own budget and went for the Sony SXRD 50″ (KDSR50XBR1). I also got a Sony receiver because it was a good deal. They mispriced the $600 dollar model at $500 and then offered my $450 before they realized their mistake and I wouldn’t let them back peddle, although I’m sure I got screwed more than they did. HDMI cables cost 150 bucks? Give me a fuc#$* break.
Thanks for the help.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:03 pm
Congrats! I’m green with envy! Would you like to give a small summary of what you think of your new set?
December 20th, 2005 at 11:16 pm
Sure, in a bit when I figure everything out and when I get my HD cable receiver. Also, I don’t have a progressive scan DVD yet (MAN THERE IS A LOT OF FRICKEN STUFF TO BUY - You’re only as good as your weakest link) but I’m staying away from the upconverting dvd players right now. 200 bucks plus another 150 bucks for the HDMI after breaking my back on 6 grand worth of TV, cables and a receiver, it’s still the dark days of buyers remorse.
December 21st, 2005 at 8:45 am
Yeah, but then you sit down to watch a movie or play a game and it’s all worth it!
December 21st, 2005 at 10:28 am
True. I’ll get those things eventually. I’ve got to learn patience.
December 22nd, 2005 at 8:49 pm
You should come over some time and make sure I’ve set this thing up properly. DVDs like Shrek 2 are pixelated (I don’t have progressive scan but for this much money, I expect DVDs to not look worse than my old 23″ tube). I haven’t received my HiDef Cable box in the mail yet so the jury hasn’t had time to deliberate HD content but there really isn’t enough HD content out there yet which is why I’m considering exchanging it for the sony XBR 34″ HD widescreen tube. Gargatuan yes, but it will show everything with excellence and precision even though I would have to give up 16″ of diagonal size.
December 23rd, 2005 at 9:54 am
I’d be happy to come over! Are you in Ottawa?
What kind of connection do you have between your DVD player and TV?
December 24th, 2005 at 2:29 pm
I just got a upconverter DVD player and connected it to the TV via HDMI. Very, very nice.
But tell me honestly, is this TV worth the extra $2k when compared to the other Sony rear projection LCD? 720p is 720p. Just because this TV can do 1080p (although it can’t accept a 1080p signal? WTF?), there aren’t any sources for 1080p unless it upconverts all 1080i signals to 1080p.
The Sony manuals are not great. They don’t explain what things do or what they are for, they only describe how to use them.
December 25th, 2005 at 10:56 am
When I bought my Sony 35XBR48 standard definition television a long time ago, it was quite more expensive than other standard definition televisions. But I never regretted it. The picture quality was just astounding, and everyone who saw the set thought it was a great one and asked for it as a hand-me-down.
I think you got yourself a very good set. The picture quality is really good. Make sure to calibrate it with a calibration disc right away. In a couple months you might want to get it professionally calibrated. It’s a good set that will do you well. So sit back an appreciate it!
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:19 pm
cool, thanks man.