OT: Home Theater for dummies

TM · #1 November 11th, 2005, 07:20 PM

Slick,

Tough question to answer not knowing what equipment specs you have, including display type. In general Component Video is much better than S-Video and will become especially noticeable with progressive scan DVDs on any display, and even more so with an HD display. Always use Component or better (DVI or HDMI) with an HD display and always use Component with digital satellite. If you primarily watch cable (digital or analog) on a standard NTSC TV you may not see any benefit from Component over S, it will depend some on your eyes.

Hope this helps.

Slick · #2 November 11th, 2005, 10:19 PM

Since it just came down to the cost of the cable, I upgraded to component video. Haven't watched anything but momentary testing on various DVD's. In the brief checking I did, I couldn't see much difference in picture quality, but I had pretty good video before. I'm not going to switch back and forth to look for a difference, though. If component video is supposed to be better, so be it; it certainly doesn't look any worse than before.

If someone wants to make a million dollars they should make a standard connector for all audio and video, maybe USB or something. After all, since everything is moving to digital signals, this is the next logical step. Today I spent some time in connector hell, 9th level, and I don't want to go there again.

Now spending time tweaking in the (seems like) thousands of audio settings to get everything balanced. Last time I did this I used a friend's decible meter, might need it again. Haven't done this sort of thing in like 10 years. A learning experience indeed.

TurinTurambar · #3 November 13th, 2005, 03:37 PM

I install mid to high-end home theater for a living. PM me a list of your components and model numbers and your email and I'll draw a diagram in paint and email it to you.

Fyron · #4 November 14th, 2005, 05:47 AM

http://avsforum.com/ has forums filled with home theater nuts. I mean, umm... gurus. Yeah, that's it.

TM · #5 November 14th, 2005, 12:11 PM

Yeah, that forum is filled with home theater nuts, kinda like we're galactic domination nuts.

Seriously, the AVS forum is awesome. I learned everything necessary to access all of the factory settings on my projector for fine tuning as well as all the details needed to create a screen that out performs almost anything commercially available.

narf poit chez BOOM · #6 November 14th, 2005, 06:36 PM

Personally, I kinda resemble a peanut.

'Diet is just 'die' with a 't' at the end.' - Garfield.