Home Theater Questions - Please help!

[Mojtaba]

I just have one question before seeking your help for choosing a 32 in. TV set. What extra features does a Surround TV has compared to Simulation Surround since both come with 2 speakers.

Now, the TV. I am more confused than ever and I am already spending so much time in looking. First, there are so many conflicting consumer reviews and not enough expert reviews. Which ones are to believe?

Second, very limited numbers of TVs are actually available in shops compared with Internet. I simply do not feel comfortable to buy it over the web. So, with $600 to $650 maximum I am willing to spend it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the best bargain. I thought it would be easier if I choose from a few selected brands. So, I narrowed it to Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba. Then, I looked at some of their models in a few shops over the past weekend.

For Sony, the cheapest is KV-32FS100. For Toshiba, 32A42, 32AF42F, 32AF43. I was told 32AF43 is the new model of 32AF42. Is this right?

For Panasonic, I only saw 32D32 in one of the places I looked. At BestBuy in Milwaukee, where I live, they had Sony FS100 next to Toshiba 32AF43 and Toshiba was clearly dimmer. Both TV sets were broadcasting Direct TV satellite. And Panasonic 32D32 picture was not comparable to the other 2.

On the other hand, the adjustment in color and contrast might have been a reason for these differences. I am completely open to any suggestions and recommendations in regard to any brand and model that you know is good.

By the way, I saw a refurbished Home Theater System (HT-1700D) in a Sony outlet store that included a DVD-NS315, A FM/AM receiver STR-K740P, 100W High Power Subwoofer and SS-MSP2 and SS-CNP2 speakers for $250. They said the original price is $500. Do you think if this is a good deal? Well, thanks for all your help.

Mojtaba

[HTguy]

I just have one question before seeking your help for choosing a 32 in. TV set. What extra features does a Surround TV has compared to Simulation Surround since both come with 2 speakers.
Mojtaba
A TV that claims to have the actual "Surround Sound" feature has a Dolby ProLogic decoder on board with an amplifier & speaker terminals for surround speakers. A TV with "Simulation Surround" such as Virtual Surround (TM) or SRP (TM) uses a circuit to give a "sense" of surround sound just using the on-board speakers.

If the display you choose comes with either of these features, fine, but don't pay extra to get them.

For a real Home Theater at some point you will want to buy a Dolby Digital/dts Audio/Video multi-channel receiver. Then you connect the TV's audio output jacks to it if you are using the TV tuner in the set for off-air or cable. But you connect all the other A/V devices such as DVD, DBS Satellite receiver, VCR, CD, etc. to the A/V receiver and run a video cable (or cables) back to the display's video inputs and use it as a monitor. Of course, you wire up some good speakers & a subwoofer to the A/V receiver as well.

[Nick]

Forget about getting "surround" from a TV.

For your $650, you should be able to get a decent 31"/32" set for under $350, and a "starter" HT audio system for less than $300. Look for a decent HT-in-a-box system with a sub-woofer, which takes the low-frequency burden off your main speakers. While not high-end gear, if you've only used tv speakers before, you will be impressed with the improvement in sound.

Narrow your choices down to two for the TV and for the HT audio system, then make your decision and stop agonizing. You will soon be enjoying your fiirst step into the world of "home theater". If your are like most of us, over time, and as finances permit, you will want bigger and better as you move your first sytem into the bedroom. :D

Good luck, and be sure to let us know what you get.

[Bill D]

I personally would go with the Toshiba or Sony. The toshiba will probably have better features for the price. Don't pay too much attention to how they look in a store, there are too many variables, including the picture settings and how long the TV has been on for (6 months straight could put some strain on the CRT's)

What is really important is the number of connections, definetly atleast one component input, and one S video input, plus one composite. My only complaint about my Toshiba (6 years old) is that on the one S-video rear input (input 1) there is also a composite input you can use either one but you can't use both and let the TV take the one that has a video signal. If you plug in both on my TV it freaks out.
Also I helped my Dad pick out a Panasonic and am a little disappointed because the audio outputs (he uses regular cable no box) are only fixed level when you go into a menu and tell it so. Rather then just being able to turn on your external amp and lower the TV volume. although if you have any kind of sat or cable box this doesn't matter..

Lastly I believe only the Sony has discrete remote codes, in case you ever use a high end univeral remote and want to build macros, if that is the case go with the sony
good luck