HDTV and Plasma

[JohnCarterofMars]

I just recently purchased a 42" plasma tv and I am about to get HDTV from my cable provider. Anyone else have a plasma screen? I was wondering if you all had any experience with these pieces of technology and might have some tips and pointers on how to get the best out of it. I can't wait for the next LAN party at my place cause I'll be running my computer through the 42"! HA!

[Hamese]

Start using HDMI cables for all your peripherals. If you do not have enough cables or need longer ones... do not buy them in a local store. Shop online and you can save so much money (like $50+ a cable).

[MasterChef]

Yeah, definitly use HDMI cables. They make a big difference.

[Nanite]

Yeah you can get HDMI cables online for like 10 bucks. Don't pay for the 50 buck ones at the stores.

[gator]

Buy HDMI cables from MonoPrice, so you don't have to shell out $50/cable from Best Buy.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subde ... p_id=10240

Actually, buy a couple so the shipping costs don't hurt so much.

[Reipin]

What brand and specific model number is it? most TV's come out of the box with horrible picture settings. Knowing the proper settings for a TV can go a LONG freaking way to making it great.

[gator]

This is true. Go over to AVS Forum and look for a thread on your specific manufacturer/model... most likely you'll find people who have already posted settings that are good for the specific TV.

[Blown65]

Yup, get all my cables from monoprice also. Great quality for even the cheapest cables.

[mujo]

Wow, didn't know we had so many AV freaks here like me I was going to recommend www.avsforum.com and www.monoprice.com for all your TV and cabling needs

Reipin is right. Pop in your favorite DVD, and pause on a scene with lots of colors, and one scene with dark shadows and bright whites. Then adjust accordingly. TV's come out of the box set for extremely bright environments. (I work at Sam's Club in Electronics). If you really want to get the calibration right, buy a calibration disc (Digital Video Essentials, or THX certified discs).

Always, if you have any specific questions, it seems like we have enough people here who can help

[JohnCarterofMars]

eggcellent fellas! thanks for the info.

Most of my components don't have HDMI connectors, but I am using component cabling on the dvd player and the Wii. it seems to look really nice using those.

The HD cable box has HDMI and I have connected the TV to that, however I have noticed a significant degradation of picture on the regular non HD channels, more so than using the Coaxial connection. Thus I have reconnected the coaxial cable to switch between HDMI and Antenna/coaxial for the regular stations.

I will definitely shoot over to the avs forums for some more pointers. thanks again for your input!

BTW, the TV is an LG brand model#42pg20

[Gizanked]

aww you guys mentioned monoprice before i could... i love telling people about monoprice.com. this could be a bad thing seeing as i work in a walmart electronics department but ohhh well.

[mujo]

[quote="Gizanked";p="113709"]
aww you guys mentioned monoprice before i could... i love telling people about monoprice.com. this could be a bad thing seeing as i work in a walmart electronics department but ohhh well.
[/quote]

So you do it too? I send people to monoprice all the time from Sam's Club. Of course, sometimes you get those ol grumpy people who don't want nothing to do with teh internetz.

[Gizanked]

(not to go too far off topic) but i suggested to a guy to shop online for his cellphone battery ,which we dind't have. We don't sell any cell phone batteries at my store and most definately woudln't have it for the phone he had which is one we dind't sell from a carrier we don't offer. He got mad and stormed away.

[MrBlah]

[quote="Gizanked";p="113716"]
(not to go too far off topic) but i suggested to a guy to shop online for his cellphone battery ,which we dind't have. We don't sell any cell phone batteries at my store and most definately woudln't have it for the phone he had which is one we dind't sell from a carrier we don't offer. He got mad and stormed away.
[/quote]

lol people like that always make me wonder....do they expect it to be in stock all the time even if you dont carry it

I got a lot of that working at MicroCenter. it always made the days go by faster

[gator]

[quote="JohnCarterofMars";p="113704"]
The HD cable box has HDMI and I have connected the TV to that, however I have noticed a significant degradation of picture on the regular non HD channels, more so than using the Coaxial connection. Thus I have reconnected the coaxial cable to switch between HDMI and Antenna/coaxial for the regular stations.

I will definitely shoot over to the avs forums for some more pointers. thanks again for your input!
[/quote]

I've noticed with my TV (32" Toshiba LCD) that I had that problem also with non-HD channels. I found that letting the cable box output at 480i for non-HD channels and allowing the TV to upscale was significantly better than setting the cable box to upscale non-HD channels to 720p.