05-11-2003 07:18									#1
	Purchasing Home Theater System...Advice Wanted Tired of ads?

I've been looking at several different televisions and DVD players/theater systems, and have selected what I hope is my final decision. Here is a brief summary of the two items.


Philips 500 W Home Theater System w/ 5 DVD Changer

quote: Features 500 watts 5 disc progressive scan DVD player Wide center speaker for increased sound quality 4 full range 2-way speakers 85 watt subwoofer Sleek design Price: 258.34 USD

Daewoo 27'' Flat Screen Television

quote: A short list of features: Component Input Digital Comb Filter Rear & Front A/V Input Price: 285 USD

I'm hoping someone will have some first-hand experience with and knowledge of either of these two products, as I've never purchased either of these two companies' products before.

	05-11-2003 07:45									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Daewoo? Are you suicidal?

	05-11-2003 07:56									#3
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Asher Daewoo? Are you suicidal?

Is that all you can say? What is wrong with it?

	05-11-2003 08:30									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Daewoos are notoriously crap.

It's the Lada of electronics...

	05-11-2003 10:28									#5
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

get Sony

	05-11-2003 11:45									#6
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Get a pass on the new TV, wait for HDTV to roll out.

	05-11-2003 11:49									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

And remember: Plasma screens' brightness drops in half over the first few years of ownership, stay away from those money-black-holes.

	05-11-2003 11:52									#8
	Tired of ads?

Verto, buy only an HDTV with a DVI input, and only a DVD player that has a DVI output. Both have to be HDCP compatible. Congress just approved a law that makes that mandatory in all future devices. If you buy anything else, you will quickly be SOL.

Here is a link to a site that gives you more on digital TV:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/index.php?

	05-11-2003 12:01									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

And make sure you buy a widescreen TV. With a normal 16:9 TV you will get some serious black stripes at the top and bottom when watching those DVD:s.

Also, home theater packages like the one you suggest usually have crap speakers. Make sure you can change them for better ones later on, when you can afford it.

	03-12-2003 20:42									#10
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Home Theater system advice:

Onkyo DVD Player
Yamaha Receiver
Paradigm speakers

	03-12-2003 20:57									#11
	Put an end to popups!

Yes, widescreen format, HDTV capable.
Don't bother spending extra to get the HDTV tuner.
My cable company provides the HDTV tuner as part of our service. (the converter box handles it) It saved me quite a few dollars.

	03-12-2003 21:00									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Only a 27" television??

WUSS

	03-12-2003 21:07									#13
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Hmmm... $550 isn't much. But if that's your budget, then this seems like a good enough combo.

If you had an extra $350 or so, I would buy separates on sound. A receiver, speakers, subwoofer and DVD player, all separate.

Only after you upgrade your sound should you deal with a better TV. The price of higher end TVs has been plummeting the last couple of years and will likely continue this trend for several more. So it's better to wait, if your marginal dollar is very important to you. The price of higher end audio isn't going to go down much, if at all, so you could just as easily buy now as later.

Last edited by DanS on 03-12-2003 at 21:16

	03-12-2003 23:03									#14
	Support Apolyton

Hey, could you explain:

I thought that Widescreen ratio is 16:9 - the traditional being 4:3.

So is widescreen something else than 16:9 (perhaps 2.35:1?)

	03-12-2003 23:13									#15
	Increase Your PM Length

Widescreen can have any number of different ratios, but when describing a TV, everybody means a 16:9 ratio. Many movies are shot in variations of 2.35:1 ratio and will have black bars on the top and bottom when shown on a widescreen TV.

	04-12-2003 00:44									#16
	Remove this text

Yes, sorry Aaglo, my bad. I meant 4:3 of course for normal tv, 16:9 for widescreen.

	04-12-2003 01:06									#17
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by DanS Widescreen can have any number of different ratios, but when describing a TV, everybody means a 16:9 ratio. Many movies are shot in variations of 2.35:1 ratio and will have black bars on the top and bottom when shown on a widescreen TV.

Yes, but those bars are quite thin.

	04-12-2003 02:18									#18
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Whenever possible... Buy Toshiba/Sony/Panasonic. In that order.

	04-12-2003 03:21									#19
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by MrFun Only a 27" television?? WUSS

Tis the size that fits the entertainment center I've already got. And if you think that's disappointing, just wait. I ended up getting a 24''.

I purchased the Philips 500W Home Theater System (not the least disappointed, BTW) and decided to go Philips for the television as well; my first and second choices were too wide, as they had full-length speakers on either side of the TV. This had a better image than the more expensive models anyway.

Yes, only 24'', but my couch is only five feet or so from the screen. Nice picture, the progressive scan/component video gives a very crisp image. Not disappointed.

I also picked up a cheap Sylvania VCR for the rare occasions I watch VHS.

EDIT:

P.S. Why was this brought back from the dead?

	04-12-2003 03:32									#20
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I can close it if you want.

RAH
And Congrats on your purchase. Your satisfaction is the only matter of importance.

	04-12-2003 03:47									#21
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by rah I can close it if you want.

No, we do not question the powers of RAH! Spare us a demonstration!

	04-12-2003 06:26									#22
	Put an end to popups!

quote: Originally posted by Verto EDIT: P.S. Why was this brought back from the dead?

Because I felt that you needed my expert opinion on home theater components. The components I advised you to buy are the same components I have. I did a lot of research before buying. It sounds better than any of my friend's home theater systems. Always go with Asian electronics. There's an even mix of good Asian, European, N. American speaker makers. My preferred company for speakers is Canadian.

	05-12-2003 00:05									#23
	Got spare money?

Are there any industry standards one can rely on? Or is it still a hodge-podge of competing and/or similiar technology, with each company basically doing as it pleases?

I plan to get a DVD player, but I want one that's compatible with an HD television (and vice-versa). Then there's talk about that Blu Ray DVD technology that's supposed to put the red laser DVDs to shame not too long for now. Jiminy crickets!

Gatekeeper