I’m not sure. I only have it hooked up to a stereo. I haven’t ever check on 5.1.
Currently there is no sound system planned for that room, but I want compatibility for stuff for the future.
I wish they had automatic switching to the input with the active device. I really hate having to switch everything for the DVD or whatever device for everybody. If i could only get her to buy a fancy remote that can do that with a one button push.
Funny. That is the one thing I was told to ensure my next TV had: 120 Hz. Would it make a difference watching fast sporting events, you know like hockey for example? We watch a bit of that here.
My Westinghouse does this. It might be the same moel-line a couple other posters have mentioned (37" 1080p, no tuner, they’re about $600 right now). Mine does work with an All-In-One universal remote, I had to have the Universal remote “learn” a couple keys, but the Westinghouse remote sits in a box with the other 7 remotes now.
HDMI inputs would be my advice. I’ve already had to get a separate switcher.
I have a 40" JVC LCD HDTV. The blockiness Harmonious Discord mentions is a problem on PBS, CBS and NBC, which broadcast 1080i, but I’ve never noticed it on Fox or ABC, which broadcast 720p. I’m not sure what to make of that. I’ve always wondered if my TV couldn’t handle the computations fast enough for the definition conversion for that case, or if it was the network broadcast that had the problem.
Things I like: I was comparing side by side with similar plasma TVs, and the image was sharper. This is the one set that could show two pictures side-by-side, not picture-in-picture. This is nice.
Things I don’t like: Time lag when changing channels, like others have mentioned. A lot of stupidity in the remote (very non-intuitive, different parts seem to work different ways). When watching side-by-side, there’s no way to just swap the audio to the other picture, which would be even nicer. Swapping the two pictures blanks the whole screen for a second or two.
Westinghouse 32 inch. Good TV, Good price but it did develop a line of dead pixel. Called westinghouse and had to ship it to them at my cost, but they would cover the cost of shipping it back me. Of course that assume they do ever ship it back to me. I shipped it to them July 14 and it is now November 3 and according to my call today they will be shipping it out tomorrow or the next day. They could not give me any reason why I should belive them this time unlikethe last 20 times they told me it would be shipping out tomorrow.
If you go here http://briancarper.net/2008/03/15/westinghouse-do-they-suck/you can read about one guyes 7 month ordeal to get his replaced when it failed.
DO NOT BUY A WESTINGHOUSE UNLESS YOU CAN TAKE IT BACK TO A STORE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.
If I say any more this thread may get moved to the pit
(size 7 removed for sanity sake.)
From your link:
Check into the Crutchfield return policy too as another option. I bought mine through Crutchfield for the free shipping and at the time excellent return policy.
Check the speakers. I bought a really cheap 22" LCD TV and the internal speakers sound pretty bad. I added some external powered speakers. The other thing that I noticed is that it doesn’t have a program guide, which is a standard feature on most ATSC TV receivers. Still, for $270, I think it was a good deal. I expect prices to drop considerably as the technology is improved and refined, so I may replace it in a few years when larger screen models have dropped in price.
I hadn’t even thought of that.
This is another thing. The program guide on my set only shows two time slots, the current show and the next.
Also, it won’t add stations when you searching for digital channels. I have a rooftop rotating antenna, but I have to put it in just the right spot, on a day with the right atmospheric conditions, to have it find most of the stations I can receive.
Which set do you have? I recently bought the LN52A550 and the sound was horrendous when I first set it up. However, the sound was 10x better once I had adjusted the settings to those listed on the following site:
The picture settings make a big difference as well.
Note to everyone that has an HDTV. Calibrate your set!! The factory settings are designed to look good in Best Buy, not in your living room. The brightness is usually much too high (should be ~50%) and the color is often very blue.
I’d definitely look at the picture in person if possible. At home it should look at least as good, if not better than in the store. Also check out the viewing angle, LCD’s often have a narrower viewing “sweet spot” and the blacks aren’t as black due to the fact that the panel is backlit.
I have a plasma but I’d also have no problem considering a LCD.
I my case my sanity would have been save by Size 7 letters warning against buying Westinghouse :).
Anyway Yes the page I linked does say they have a policy with Best buy, with is why I did not say just say “Don’t buy from Westinghouse” I added the “UNLESS YOU CAN TAKE IT BACK TO A STORE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM” Because some store will handle them selves. Unforunatlly for me Best Buy Canada and Crutchfield Canada do not appear to carry Westinghouse.
I purchased throught the Dell Canada website (I worked for Dell at the time and got 15% off purchase throguht the website) and had no choice but to deal with Westinghouse when the problem occoured.
Again I thought the TV was great when it worked. And the dead pixel weren’t even that noticeable. My problem is if you have to get it serviced throught Westinghouse they keep there part of the bargin.
While this is true, aren’t there going to be LED LCDs out soon? I remember hearing about this, which changes the dynamic from complete backlit to backlit with local dimming, causing black to look like black. I’m not sure how soon this will be a factor, but it seems like something to consider.
Brendon
Thanks Scoob. Yes, I believe that is the exact same model I have, and I even read through that AVSFORUM thread back when I first got it. The tweak made it better, but it’s still not acceptable as far as I’m concerned. I could get the speakers to sound decent for watching a sit-com, but anything with music still sounded ass to my ears. I just don’t think you’ll ever get decent bass from a speaker that’s probably only an inch wide. It wasn’t that big an issue for me since I already had a surround system, just a matter of having to buy an extra optical cable.
Leaffan - can’t say I’ve ever watched hockey on my set, but I watch plenty of other sports (tennis in particular looks great in HD) and have had no complaints with the refresh rate. I encourage you to go to your Electronics store and look the models side by side, if you can tell which sets are 120hz, you’re more man than me.
I bought a 32" SCOTT (mongrel brand?) LCD TV. OK, except for one weird thing: with a COMCAST DVD/Tuner, the audio amplifier was overdriven, and we got stange breaks in the sound. We got rid of the DVD (replaced with conventional VCR), sound is fine.
I like the Sharp LC-32SB24U and the LC-32SB220U maybe. It all depends on what ma decides she likes though, since it’s her television for the living room. maybe something else will show up locally later on. There’s still a month and a half before Christmas.
I have a 37" vizio lcd which is fine, and the 52" samsung lcd noted by above posters. Another thing about the samsung–it has a swivel feature in the base so it can be tilted a few inches.