Ask S&V

Sort By:  Post Date TitlePublish Date
Ask S&V
Projection Screens, 3D AVRs, HDMI Cables
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 14, 2010  |  17 comments
Diamonds Are a Light's Best Friend
I am installing a new home theater, starting with a Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector, and I wonder about which screen to use. I would like a 16:9 or 2.35:1 screen. The room has some ambient light, but it can be made totally dark. What do you think of the Screen Innovations Black Diamond II? I have seen some YouTube videos about it, and it really looks great, but I wonder if it's worth the high price?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Gamma, HDBaseT, Projectors
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 07, 2010  |  0 comments
Gamma Chameleon
I notice that most projectors don't have a spot-on gamma of 2.2. They are either a little above or under the ideal 2.2. Is this less important than color temperature and contrast ratio?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
CRT Upgrade, 3D PJs, Best Connections
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 30, 2010  |  10 comments
Golden Oldie
I have a 34-inch Sony KD-34XBR960 direct-view CRT HDTV, which works fine, but it's a beast. Are the current LCD/LED TVs equal in picture quality to the 960? Other than multiple HDMI inputs, weighing less, and consuming less electricity, are there any visual benefits to replacing the 960?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Broadcast Calibration, Podcast Questions, Premium HDMI
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 28, 2010  |  9 comments
Calibration Conundrum
It has been mentioned in many articles that a professional calibrator can enter adjustments for different lighting conditions and different inputs. But how do you calibrate something other than a DVD or Blu-ray player that can play test discs? How do you generate test data from a cable box, game console, etc.?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Projector Problems, Pixel Mapping, Power Protection
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 16, 2010  |  2 comments
Time to Upgrade
I have an InFocus LP130 projector for my home theater. I love the projector, which works great with a computer (Orb, Netflix, etc.). But when I connect a Time Warner HD cable box to the projector's M1-DA/DVI input with an HDMI cable, I get a notice on the screen saying it's not HDCP compliant. The cable box worked great with my old projector's component input. Can you suggest a way to connect the projector to my cable box, DVD player, and Wii? Do you think it's possible to use a component-to-HDMI converter?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Optimize Your New TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 09, 2010  |  6 comments
Out of the Box
For the average consumer who takes a new LCD TV out of the box, what is the best way to set it up for home use? What is the name of the DVD used for adjusting and fine tuning?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Panny Troubles, D/A Conversion, LED Illumination
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 02, 2010  |  7 comments
WTF?
I just bought a Panasonic TC-P58V10 plasma to replace a Panasonic TH-42PA20 that I've had for about six years. I was expecting an even better, crisper picture with more detail, but it's not even close to being as sharp and detailed as my old TV! Both DirecTV HD and my library of more than 600 DVDs look awful in comparison. What's wrong?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Oppo, Task Lights, Best Connections
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 26, 2010  |  2 comments
Oppo vs. Oppo
What is the difference between the Oppo BDP-83 and BDP-83SE? I have HDMI capabilities, so should I go with the 83, considering the price difference?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Primary Colors, Bi-Amping, DVRs
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 18, 2010  |  First Published: May 19, 2010  |  11 comments
Little Blue & Little Yellow
I've heard you talk about Sharp's new RGBY color system, and it started me thinking about something. I have always thought that red, blue, and yellow are the primary colors, and these colors can create any color there is. So why do TVs use RGB?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Panny Plasmas, Maggie Speakers, 3D Headaches
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 12, 2010  |  11 comments
Perennial Panny Questions
Love your segment on The Tech Guy radio show and your podcasts. I'm thinking about buying a 50- or 55-inch plasma or LCD. I heard you mention that the Panasonic plasmas have rising black levels. Do you know if the 2010 Panasonic TC-P50G25 or TC-P50VT25 have the same issue, or have they fixed it? I watched some of the interviews from CES, and the Panasonic people said that their 2010 models are based on Pioneer Kuro technology.
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Surround Formats, Defeating Overscan, Glassesless 3D
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 05, 2010  |  6 comments
It's What's Up Front That Counts
I have an Onkyo TX-NR807 receiver, which provides seven channels of amplification, and it can do 7.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, and Audyssey DSX. Which of these surround formats do you recommend?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Cracked Screen, Bitstream Indicators, Ceiling Speakers
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 28, 2010  |  28 comments
Superkid
I recently bought a 58-inch Samsung plasma for only $1200, and I loved it—that is, until my 4-year-old threw a small toy and cracked the screen. This totally disabled the TV; it would not even turn on. Is it normal for plasma screens to crack so easily, and if so, are LCD TVs more durable? Thank goodness I was able to return the TV and get a full refund, but I do not have the money to take another chance like that. I have a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old in the house, so what should I do to protect the TV?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
TV on Blu-ray, Sound Problems, Misdirected Audio
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 21, 2010  |  8 comments
To Boldly Go
Like you, I am a fan of Star Trek (the original series) on Blu-ray, and I'm wondering if other TV shows I love will possibly be transferred to Blu-ray. What is required for old shows like these to go from standard-definition to high def? Can any show be converted to Blu-ray or do they have to be recorded in a particular format? What does the process involve?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Multiple Screens, Video Noise, Plasma Choice
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 14, 2010  |  20 comments
Fanatic Fans
We are currently in the process of setting up a home-theater room with one projector and three 32-inch TVs, and we want to be able to watch four different sports channels at the same time. Do we need four separate cable boxes to do this, or can something else, such as some kind of matrix, solve the problem?
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Panasonic Kuro, Wireless HDMI, Dynamic Contrast
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 07, 2010  |  23 comments
Technology Migration
I was in Best Buy this morning, and one of the salespeople mentioned that Panasonic has purchased the Kuro technology from Pioneer. Is there any truth to this, and if so, is Panasonic going to use the technology in the 2010 plasmas?
Continue Reading »

Pages

X