Building your High-Definition Home Theater System
With up to six times the resolution and superior sound compared to traditional formats, high definition is the perfect way to watch your favorite movies, TV shows, and sports.
Only true HDTV’s are capable of displaying the amazing picture and resolution of an HD signal. Look for a TV capable of displaying a resolution of at least 720p (ideally 1800p) and you’ll have the display. Now all you’ll need is a signal and a way to tie it all together. And special signals require special cables. For the best high-def picture quality, you’ll want to connect your satellite or cable box and high-def movie player to your HDTV via HDMI or component cables.
For people looking to step up to full 1080p resolution in a 46-inch flat-panel LCD, Samsung’s 2007 model LNT4661FF is a good choice. Besides offering full 1080p resolution the LNT4661F also features a 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for rich blacks and subtle texture display, an 8ms response time panel for smooth motion, hidden side speakers, an NTSC tuner, and 3 HDMI ports.
Consider a programmable universal remote to control every component of your home-theater system, a sound system, or a wall mount to bring out the high style in your high-def home.
Better picture begs for better sound. So make sure you’ve got an amplifier and speaker set capable of delivering 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. A home theater system sounds only as good as its speakers, and good speakers don’t have to cost a fortune.
The Sony DAV-FX900W DVD Dream System is a home-theater system with integrated 5 DVD/CD changer, incorporating the latest audio and video technologies, including wireless rear speakers, a five-disc DVD changer, and XM-ready satellite radio connectivity. A 5.1-speaker system, with an automatic speaker setup program and a microphone to assist with proper speaker placement and optimizing sound quality, along with an HDMI output, means that you can quickly convert your living room into a full-fledged digital and high-definition theater in no time.
High-Def Programming
Just because you have cable or satellite TV doesn’t mean you’re automatically getting high definition. Make sure you’ve signed up with your cable or satellite provider to receive their HD service. This may require a special set-top box. To decode and deliver the lifelike picture and flawless surround sound of high-def movie, you’ll need a special movie player that uses unique blue-laser technology.
Movies in High Def
The high definition replacements for DVD have up to six times the resolution of standard DVDs and offer exclusive interactive features not possible with ordinary DVDs.
The HD-XA2 is our flagship HD DVD player and incorporates our latest technologies. With a chassis reinforced by solid brushed aluminum panels, the HD-XA2 uses advanced digital and analog video processing technology and includes 1080p with Deep Color support specified in HDMI 1.3a.
Video Game Systems
Ready to take a break from the action and simply watch a story unfold? Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (with add-on Xbox HD player) allow you to play high-def discs.
High-Def Computers
Home isn’t the only place to enjoy amazing high-def picture quality and exclusive interactive features. Now you can experience your HD or Blu-ray movies on the road, or wherever you may roam with a capable laptop.
Tags: HDTV, High Definition, Home Cinema, Home Theater, TV
December 29th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Filed under: Fun, Photo, Apple, Beta. Dave Winer, the pervasive and inventive programmer, has released an early beta version of his new program called FlickrFan. The new application is a screensaver program that can display photos from …
December 29th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Frys.com offers the Panasonic 42" Widescreen Plasma HD Television, model no.
December 30th, 2007 at 2:00 am
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CircuitCity.com has the Vizio P50HDTV10A 50" Plasma HDTV for $1250 , available via in-store pickup only. [ BizRate ] 720p (1366 x 768) resolution, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, Built-in HDTV tuner 2 HDMI inputs, 16:9 aspect ratio, Faroudja DCDi processor, 1-Year Warranty
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December 30th, 2007 at 9:45 am
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December 30th, 2007 at 10:43 am
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December 30th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I remember back when I first started messing with computers the monitors were huge, but at least the sizes were simple to keep track of. Most of the time you would see 15, 17, 19 or 21-inch screens for sale. (Yes, Iâ??m aware that the viewable screen area was smaller than advertised on CRT monitors) Somewhere along the way it was decided that wider is better, and so is small. Now we have sizes like …
December 30th, 2007 at 11:16 am
TrustedReviews gives us a review on the Hitachi P50XR01 50-inch Plasma TV. Hitachi P50XR01 features a resolution of 1920Ã?1080, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,100cd/m2 brightness and has a digital tuner. The P50XR01 has also a SD card slot in addition to the 3 HDMI ports and USB port. TrustedReviewsâ?? Verdict: The P50XR01 is a really great idea that has, for the most part, been very well executed. Itâ??s …
December 31st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
China promised OTA HDTV in 2008, and they’re not waiting to deliver it. Starting January 1, China’s Central Television HD station moves from digital cable-only to the airwaves in Beijing, and progressing to the rest of the country over …
January 1st, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Slashdot It! What if nobody wins the high-definition DVD format wars? That increasingly looks to be the situation for the next-generation DVD technology, which is available to consumers in two incompatible formats. A little more than 18 months after their introduction, the two systems â?? Blu-ray, developed by Sony, and HD DVD, from Toshiba â?? have sold around one million stand-alone players combined. …