HDTV advice

[MOX]

Since my 24 yr old CRT isn't doing so well for my eyes (with the picture shaking constanty and color temp going on and off) I decided to get a HDTV. I have $250 on me so I'm looking for a 22 inch HDTV around this range (my room isn't that big so 22 inch will be perfect for space and my wallet). Anyone here who has experience with HDTVs knows any good ones?

Coby: http://www.amazon.com/Coby-TFTV2224-22-Inch-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B001QSVF9K/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237008367&sr=1-16

Sylvania: http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-LC225SL9-22-Inch-LCD-HDTV/dp/B00148X3Q0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237008367&sr=1-4

Ones I found so far, the coby is the cheapest but it has no reviews so I think I'll probably end up getting the Sylvania one. Then again these are both unknown brands to me. What are your guys' thoughts?

[Johncarllos]

I'd go with the Coby.
It has a VGA input, which means you can use it as a second monitor for your computer.

Either that or wait a bit to find something else with more of a quality guarantee in your price range.
It's my personal recommendation for it to have a VGA input, as it's the best bet for watching any HD movies.

I'll search around and see if I can find anything better for that price range.

Posted on: March 14, 2009, 08:53:20 AM

Here are some links, I found a really nice one for $215  Only 5ms lag, perfect for gaming.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=hz9&q=22%22+HDTVs&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3860880339317624724#ps-sellers

And this is a $680 one for $300, which I'm tempted to buy right now. 1080p HD as well. 
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Touch-Color-T220HD-Monitor/dp/B0019HGTLC?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1217856634&sr=8-1

I'll keep searching. I love doing this stuff.

Posted on: March 14, 2009, 09:03:23 AM

Weird, it seems the 2 that I found don't have regular inputs listed...

They probably do have them, but aren't listed.
Strange.
I wish they had a picture of all the ports on the back...
That's like my #1 thing when looking at TVs.


I know the Samsung for $215 has no composite connection, but it's a great TV regardless, although not 1080p.

[Abominator]

I don't see the point in paying for an HDTV if it's not 1080p and composite and huge.

[Chron]

Unless it's extremely cheap and used just as a source of television, I don't either.
But there's nothing to watch anyway, so why bother.

[Abominator]

MGS4!

[Johncarllos]

This looks like an awesome bet.
$209
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889107056

[Mikero]

I'm not into HD yet, but when the time comes to get a new TV (which won't be for a while 'cause I find TVs last a long #####ing time) I guess I'll move into the present.

[Johncarllos]

Protip- Converters to DVI/HDMI/VGA are cheaper than new TVs.  Any monitors you have just became television candidates.

[MOX]

I got a really good deal today at Costco. I got a Samsung HDTV which looks exactly like the one JC posted, except its 23' and 1080p. This is the first time I've used something other than tube monitors for gaming and computers and i'm just blown away. I'm currently using the monitor for both gaming and my computer, and the remote control can switch over from DVI to HDMI which is really cool. It's $300 but with the $50 coupon + California's horrible sales tax the total cost was $280 which is a nice deal.

Now I got to find a way to use my computer speakers for TV since they work a lot better than the monitor's speakers. Also since there's no composite cables I dunno how I'm gonna play my PS2, N64, and SNES. Hopefully there's some component cables for these systems or something that I can use.

LOOKING FOR 1920X1080 WALLPAPERS WILL BE FUN

[ASR]

I'm at 1920x1200.

It's nigh-impossible.

It's part of why I still haven't changed my Robert Downey Rainbow background.

The other part is because it's freaking awesome and there will never be a better desktop background.

[Johncarllos]

Hey, glad I could somehow help a bit MOX.

I suggest a converter box that has the inputs you want and a DVI/HDMI output.

[Mikero]

LOOKING FOR 1920X1080 WALLPAPERS WILL BE FUN

I'm at 1920x1200.

It's nigh-impossible.

Just make one.

[Chron]

I use a 1680x1050; that's hard enough to find, it seems.

[Johncarllos]

I got a really good deal today at Costco. I got a Samsung HDTV which looks exactly like the one JC posted, except its 23' and 1080p. This is the first time I've used something other than tube monitors for gaming and computers and i'm just blown away. I'm currently using the monitor for both gaming and my computer, and the remote control can switch over from DVI to HDMI which is really cool. It's $300 but with the $50 coupon + California's horrible sales tax the total cost was $280 which is a nice deal.

Now I got to find a way to use my computer speakers for TV since they work a lot better than the monitor's speakers. Also since there's no composite cables I dunno how I'm gonna play my PS2, N64, and SNES. Hopefully there's some component cables for these systems or something that I can use.

LOOKING FOR 1920X1080 WALLPAPERS WILL BE FUN

There is this site, they have this board called /hr/
Lots of high res pictures there, as well as wallpapers.
Also, /wg/

[Chron]

Yes, but they have maybe 20 different desktops at any given time except late nights when all of the American children are asleep.

[ASR]

I'm at 1920x1200.

It's nigh-impossible.

Just make one.

Almost all of my desktop wallpapers except the Downey one and a few others are ones that I made. Usually involving the letter A and the color green.

[Mikero]

Then stop complaining!

Yes, but they have maybe 20 different desktops at any given time except late nights when all of the American children are asleep.

Because, you see John, the children everywhere else in the world sleep in the daytime.

[Johncarllos]

Oooooh I see now.

[MOX]

Just want to note that my TV has the same exact ports as the Samsung LCD JC posted earlier.

I've been researching on how to hook up my PC speakers to my TV. I dont want to spend extra money on speakers since my 9 year old 5.1 speakers (but still want something better than the speakers on the tv) still work very good.

My speakers have three little plugs: orange, black, and green, and they plug into my PC's sound card. Is it possible to connect my HDTV to my PC's sound card to play the speakers? If that is possible, then would the PC have to be on for the speakers to work?

[Johncarllos]

It's easy to do that if you have a line in on your computer.

You just need to see what the TV has for audio out, either that or run all your sound through the PC.

My room mate has his XBox's sound running through his PC.

[MOX]

A port on the back of my TV says HDMI/PC/DVI-D/AUDIO IN and another port says DIGITAL AUDIO OUT (OPTICAL).

Yes I also want to have my PS3 run sound through my PC, though does the PC need to be on for that?

Also, what do you mean by a line on my computer?

[Chron]

If your sound card has an audio line-in that's compatible with the speaker-out for your TV, it should be OK.

Your PC would need to be on, yes.

[MOX]

I'm not sure if my sound card has an audio line-in, this is what mine looks like. Three of the ports are plugged in with my speaker's plugs. (the green, orange, and black plugs)

[Johncarllos]

Pink is line in.

You need one of these.

Posted on: March 19, 2009, 08:10:06 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021058&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Audio+/+Video+Cables-_-Rosewill-_-82021058

Posted on: March 19, 2009, 08:10:27 PM

Oh yeah, you can find them at just about any Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and definitely best buy or radioshack.

[Chron]

Radio shack is your best bet on price, if I recall from my quest for one.
Totally don't use it for anything now though.

[MOX]

I see, thanks guys. Will this produce 5.1 surround sound from my 5 speakers or will it atleast have sound comming through all of them?

EDIT JUST TO VERIFY: Also, are the cables for these called RCA to Stereo cables (http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=2009&sku=40424)? So the RCA adapter sticks to my sound card's line-in, then I connect the RCA to stereo cable to the adapter, and then plug in a stereo cable from my TV to the RCA to stereo cable? My TV came with a stereo cable that fits into the HDMI/PC/DVI-D/AUDIO IN port.

Also, I dunno how the adapter would fit with my speakers arleady plugged into the sound card.

[Johncarllos]

What you just showed me is backwards.

Hook the PS3 into your computer.
Screw the TV as the middleman.

All sound should be taken care of by the computer, and your computer will produce 5.1 sound if that is what the input is.

There should be enough room, for it. If not, just get a cord like the one you linked to with switched male and female parts.

Also, you CAN run all the sound into your TV, then out into that same thing and it shouldn't effect it much, but if anything there would be a drop in sound quality.

[Chron]

That input is a stereo jack, JC.
Just letting you know.

[Johncarllos]

Your point?

[Chron]

It's not capable of sending a 5.1 surround signal.

[Johncarllos]

Are you 100% sure?

[Chron]

Yes.

You require special ports on a sound card to provide 5.1 surround, if I recall.

[Johncarllos]

I'm borrowing headphones from a friend.
They have a USB sound card attached, but a 7.1 signal is sent though a simple stereo jack to the headphones (which are 7.1 and oooh so nice)

[Chron]

... 7.1
Headphones.

You only need two speakers for headphones to get 3D sound; one for each ear.
You only have two ears, and that's all you need to locate sounds.

[Johncarllos]

They project from behind, in front, and from the sides.
Multiple speakers inside of one unit.
Which means more than stereo sound.

[Chron]

Let me explain this again.
You only have two ears.
The speakers are on them.

[MOX]

Even if it doesn't produce 5.1 sound, will I atleast have sound comming out of all 5 speakers? My 5 speakers are connected to a subwoofer which is connected to my PC's sound card. Do you guys think I can use the bass from the subwoofer for the speakers if its connected to the TV/PS3?

Also JC, If I decide to hook it up to the TV instead would it be the method I mentioned before?

For plugging it to the PS3: My PS3 is plugged into my TV via HDMI cable, and the only ports it has left is the Digital Audio Out (Optical) and the AV video port where I used my composite cables before I had my new TV. What cables would I need to hook up my PS3 to the RCA adapter?

[Fatso]

Proof that 5.1 headphones are unnecessary.

You'll need a real pair of stereo headphones however.

[Chron]

Even if it doesn't produce 5.1 sound, will I atleast have sound comming out of all 5 speakers? My 5 speakers are connected to a subwoofer which is connected to my PC's sound card. Do you guys think I can use the bass from the subwoofer for the speakers if its connected to the TV/PS3?

If you're jamming the PS3's sound into the card, and you have that going out on the speaker line, and all of the speakers and the sub-woofer are connected to the sound card, then yeah, probably. I dunno how much good it'll do, but it's worth a shot since that's a pretty inexpensive solution.

For plugging it to the PS3: My PS3 is plugged into my TV via HDMI cable, and the only ports it has left is the Digital Audio Out (Optical) and the AV video port where I used my composite cables before I had my new TV. What cables would I need to hook up my PS3 to the RCA adapter?

The DAO can be connected to RCA with a converter, but you'll lose the surround sound.

Now, what you can do for that computer is get a sound card with an optical input. Looks cool to me.

[Johncarllos]

This is why I recommended that you get a TV with different ports.
I NEED 2-3 RCA inputs, at least one RCA output, as well as VGA in, HDMI, and Composite.

I will never buy a new TV without at least those.

[MOX]

I haven't gone to the speakers part yet but today I tried putting in my composite cables from the PS2 into the component ports; I put the yellow cable into the green port and the red and white ones to their corresponding ports. It worked but the picture was in black and white.

[Johncarllos]

You'd need to get some component cables for the PS2 for it to work right, or get a box.

[MOX]

I'm working on that. Also if I'm connecting my PS3 to the RCA adapter, can I just plug the composite cable that came with the PS3 (since im already connected to TV with the HDMI) put the red and white plugs into the adapter and leave the yellow plug hanging?

[ASR]

I NOMINATE THIS "MOST BORING THREAD EVER."

...MMM Awards are when?

[ChaosVortex]

Like everything else...

Never.

[Johncarllos]

I don't think you can transmit any other sound if using the HDMI cord.

Also, I happen to enjoy this thread.

[ASR]

I HAVE AN OLD TV FROM 1999 WITH A BROKEN INPUT AND A CABLE JACK THAT'S LOOSE

...but at home home (yes, it's called home home because my college dorm is currently home so I call my home home home home, it's kind of like like like) we have a bunch of rather nice TV's scattered throughout the house and even a couple in storage. We've always had a rather comfy amount of televisions because my dad likes upgrading and keeping the old ones for various reasons.

[MOX]

ONE LAST QUESTION CANT PROMISE

Forgot to say thanks earlier; I've been able to have my TV play through my computer speakers with a stereo cable from the TV's headphone jack to my computer sound card.

My computer is slowly dying, and I'm getting a new computer for college. The motherboard will have an HDMI port.

So the question is, if I connect my computer to my TV by HDMI (connect tv to motherboard) instead of DVI like I currently do, will my tv play sound through the computer speakers without the need of the stereo cable? (since HDMI carries both video and sound).

[Fatso]

Probably.

[Johncarllos]

I think that if your computer is on, it will be sending a video output to the TV regardless of what setting it is on, and I don't think HDMI can signals going both ways.
I'm not that familiar with HDMI though, but I don't think TVs have an HDMI audio OUT option.
If it does, all the more power to you, if the PC has HDMI audio in.

If not, which is also very possible, just do what you're doing now.

I just hook all my sound into a receiver, which has 4 speakers, and also have a computer speaker setup attacked to it. 6 speakers, 1 sub, only stereo audio, but it sounds nice.