Replace 35" TV with something bigger

Sean, Angela and Swampwalker:

I would like to thank all three of you for influencing my decision to purchase a "Video Essentials" DVD. As I feel that I am as serious about home theater as all three of you, I feel that this DVD is an indispensible tool that is necessary for getting all of the performance that I have paid for out of MY home theater. I just won one on an auction on "E-Bay" myself. I am getting one off of "E-Bay" for $23.36 (which includes shipping and insurance.... my price before shipping and insurance was $18.26....... and considering how much it will cost a tech to come out and calibrate my TV ($150.00+), I think that's going to be the best $25.00 I'll ever spend).

However though, if any of you already own a HDTV set, just note that Joe Kane will be coming out similar disc pretty soon that is designed specifically for HDTVs and Progressive Scan DVD Players. But I am sure that the current version will have its uses for HDTVs as well. I don't know how much this new disc will cost. But, just know that it will be coming out pretty soon, if it hasn't already. Just a friendly heads up for you all.

--Charles--

The book DVD Demystified has a nice test disc that come with the book. It retails for $50 but then you get the big fat book too. I bought it, just for the disc, wholesale $$$32

You can pick up a brand new copy of DVD essentials at Borders for $30. All there DVD's are quite cheap.

A rear projection tv is a great idea. I have a 60" that is a little big but great for the letterbox. Letterbox movies are what made me go bigger too. I had a 32" XBR and although the picture was incredible I have never looked back.

Since were drooling and dreamimg how about the Faroudga widescreen rear projection for thirty thousand.

Perfectimage:

I happen to get my "Video Essentials" DVD on E-Bay for just under $25.00 (including shipping and handling), and bought it from a hometown guy (which makes it even sweeter). So far, I have used it twice, and let me tell you, my DVDs have never looked better after I have used "Video Essentials" to calibrate my TV. But I must say that television broadcasts look pale as hell by comparison after looking at a DVD. I have to reset my TV's controls constantly after looking at a DVD. Makes me sort of wonder, are the networks using crappy signals when they are broadcasting their shows??? I think what I must do is come up with a medium somewhere, meaning that I may have to make a note as to what my movies settings are after I use "Video Essentials", and make a note as to what settings I use when I am watching broadcast TV. That way, I can reset the TV controls to those respectable positions when I am watching DVDs or just watching TV.

And now, back to the subject of TVs. I am also in the market for a RP HDTV right now, and will continue to do so for the next year or so. The sets I am looking at though, range anywhere from 42-Inches to about 50-Inches. And I am looking at sets from Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Toshiba (with me leaning a little toward the Toshibas right now, as they seem to offer that elusive balance of picture, performance, and features at an attractive price). Those sets range anywhere from $2,000.00 to about $3,000.00. I believe that I am going to end up with a set along those parameters. But now, if I want to dream a little, then I'll be happy to take a Runco PlasmaWall PL-61cx, a 61-Inch Plasma set, for a cool $32K. Now, how's that for dreaming and drooling?? :)

Charles- You are absolutely correct. The DVD image on my Loewe Planus (16:9 dtv, 420p via internal doubler) is awesome, on TV its very dark and sometimes fuzzy as well. One advantage of the Loewe is each input has a separate memory for video parameters. Basic problem is garbage in, etc.- these high end displays appear to be very dependent on signal quality. Glad you like the Video Essentials disk. I found that the default settings on the Loewe are very close to the Video essentials settings, but that the contrast and brightness need to be goosed up somewhat.