NEW to HDTV / Just got the KD30XS955 need suggestions

[BrianSLA]

Hi all,

I am new to HDTV, just bought & will receive my Sony KD30XS955 from the JR site for $699 on Monday. BUT since I am a total noob / HDTV idiot what are your suggestions

-1.) for HDTV content for my new set? I have Dishnetwork now but I am also
considering Comcast HDTV ( I am in L.A. ). I am leaning to staying w/ Dish ( getting the HDTV 2 tuner DVR ) just because I noticed I still get the East Coast feeds on my Favorite channels ( the HBOs , Sci Fi, etc ) but Comcast has 2 additional HD premium channels ( Starz HD & Cinemax HD ).

-2.) Connections for the HDTV. What is the rankings for connections? Is HDMI the best followed by component? Since I finally converted to HDTV I finally went out & bought my Xbox 360 a few days ago. It is still in the box - I thought I'd wait for the HDTV to come before I start it up.

THANKS IN ADVANCE

[JohnGZ28]

There are a whole lot of suggestions right here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=446406

Spend a few minutes or hours reading and you'll be well on your way to enjoyable viewing.

[kny3twalker]

1. cable will have you locals in HD, satellite you will have to use an antenna
I would you do use the HD tuner in the TV rather than in your Dish box through

actaully since you are wanting a DVR from Dish, connect the antenna to both


2 component at 1080i is actually better than HDMI on most CRTs, I would connect the xbox360 and HD box via component leave HDMI to Blu Ray or HD DVD which require HDMI connections

[DSperber]

[QUOTE=BrianSLA]-1.) for HDTV content for my new set? I have Dishnetwork now but I am also considering Comcast HDTV ( I am in L.A. ). I am leaning to staying w/ Dish ( getting the HDTV 2 tuner DVR ) just because I noticed I still get the East Coast feeds on my Favorite channels ( the HBOs , Sci Fi, etc ) but Comcast has 2 additional HD premium channels ( Starz HD & Cinemax HD ). [/QUOTE]I'm on Comcast (specifically for HD and the DCT6412), and also on D* for SD around the house. I like D* for SD because of the East/West time zone alternatives (including for remote networks, which I also have)... but this is only important for me in SD. I have a Hughes E45 receiver and firewire-connected Hughes HDR-205 SD D-VHS VCR pair of boxes, at each of four locations. I use these as "tape-based Tivo" mechanisms, as the record/playback is the 100% identical digital bitstream originally broadcast by D*, just like JVC D-VHS recording HD. Plus, I can take a D-VHS tape recorded at any of the four "pods" and play it back at any other of the four pods. Very convenient.

For me, archiving HD to D-VHS is an absolute MUST criteria for my video supplier. I used to be on E* as well, using the 5000 + HDTV modulator connected to my Panny combo as my HD recording solution (from off-air as well as HBOHD and SHOHD), but discontinued E* in Feb 2004 when they discontinued support for the 5000 + HDTV modulator. At that time I went to Comcast and the 6208 STB (which was all that was available at that time), since it had an active firewire port. I also bought a JVC 40K which was 5C-compliant and could record from the 6208.

In November 2004 I upgraded from 6208 STB to 6412 DVR, with the initial availability of the DVR by Comcast. The 6412 still has an active firewire port for archiving to D-VHS, which is still part of my requirement.

I have a Phase-II 6412, which has DVI (rather than HDMI as in the Phase-III) but I don't use that path to my 34XBR960. Instead I use component video, mostly for convenience and also because the Sony CRT shows zero difference in picture quality no matter how you feed it. I'll save HDMI on the XBR960 for BRD when it comes out.

The 6412 only has a 120gb hard drive, which is certainly a problem if you don't get to watch things instantly, or if programs are very long (e.g. Olympics). But otherwise it has been very stable and solid for me (in contrast to the newer Phase-III boxes which seem to be giving people problems). But if I need to, I can offload to D-VHS... either just temporarily (sort of as an offline tape storage medium for time-shifting), or permanently if I want to keep the content. I even have the luxury of copying selected portions of programs from 6412 to D-VHS, sort of like a "mix tape" of "favorite or demo/reference HD broadcast segments".

I'm very happy with Comcast for HD (I don't watch their SD at all, so can't tell you anything about it). Of course about $47 of my monthly charge is paid for by my homeowner's association, for "basic service". So I only have to pay the additional charges for digital tier, HD, DVR, and HBO/SHO. I also have Comcast Internet cable ($43/month), saving $14/month over their standard price because of their "multiple product discount".

For me, I MUST have D-VHS recording ability via firewire, and Comcast is the only way I can get that.

As far as StarzHD and CinemaxHD, well those two stations have about as much sales appeal to me as TNTHD... namely ZERO, or even minus. I went with SHO and HBO because I like their content (and Comcast gave me a 1-year discount price on the second premium).

[BrianSLA]

THANKS guys for all your info.

-Brian