New question for the Home Theatre set: which way do you go?

[The General]

Originally Posted by cblakey1

What General said.

However, my 37" Panasonic plasma has the worst sound ever. I'd definitely hook it up to a compact system if I had the space for it.

Wow, really? I'm surprised. I always thought of Panasonic as the Godfather of Plasma. Most of the new TV's I've heard sound great. I've heard the speakers on Zurbs TV and they sound good.

[candyrocket786]

Now that I think about it....

Are you putting the HDA1 in the basement or in the bedroom?

[kaza5555]

Upconversion is a nice feature but you really can't tell much difference on a DVD 'already 'enhanced for widescreen' or equipped for 'anamorphic widescreen', which seems to be the standard for DVDs the last couple of years. Older DVDs will benefit most from upconversion. And Zurb, to answer the question, go for HD-DVD player rather than the speakers. Just make sure you buy good, quality headphones so you can crank the movie while your wife is asleep.

[Zurbaran1]

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

That's a tough one right there.

Personally... I need both. Which is why I plan on setting up a 5.1 system in the bedroom. Getting management to approve an HDA1 for that room will be somewhat difficult.

Therein lies the rub.

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

The vast majority (including myself) all agree that the Tosh simply does a superb job with SD-DVD upconversion. Quite simply... SD-DVDs look and sound amazing with this machine.

I know. That's why I really want one.

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

However... if you're using that player, you definitely need the 5.1 setup for the kickass sound... especially if you're going analog to get the full DD+ sound on HD-DVDs.

Which is my problem. The surround set up is a lot less hardware but then I loose out on the HD-DVD player. If I get the DVD player and then want the sound not only will I have to get the speaker set up but I'll need a receiver too, won't I? My understanding is that you can't process the speakers through the HD-DVD player like you do on the surround systems.

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

Version 1.4 Firmware is being released this week for the Tosh. I believe current players are shipping with V1.2.

Interesting. If you get one with the V1.2 firmware how do you upgrade it? Do you get a DVD from them with the firmware upgrade on it?

[candyrocket786]

Originally Posted by Zurbaran1

Interesting. If you get one with the V1.2 firmware how do you upgrade it? Do you get a DVD from them with the firmware upgrade on it?

You have to mail out the Update Card that comes with your player.

Once Toshiba gets you in their system, you'll start receiving the Firmware CD as its released.


or... you could hook up your player's ethernet connetion to your network and simply download the update from Toshiba.

[Zurbaran1]

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

Now that I think about it....

Are you putting the HDA1 in the basement or in the bedroom?

bedroom.

[candyrocket786]

Originally Posted by Zurbaran1

bedroom.

So you don't care to watch HD-DVDs on your basement HT setup? :

[Zurbaran1]

Originally Posted by The General

Wow, really? I'm surprised. I always thought of Panasonic as the Godfather of Plasma. Most of the new TV's I've heard sound great. I've heard the speakers on Zurbs TV and they sound good.

I'm surprised too. I've heard nothing but good things about the speakers on my set and that's why I may go with the HD-DVD player for now.

And just to make it perfectly clear, The General has never been in my bedroom nor heard the actual speakers on my set.

[Bullseye]

Zurb how is the Sony 32". I'm thinking about this one for the bedroom too?

[candyrocket786]

By the way Zurb... if you order the HDA1 through valueelectronics.com, you get two free HD-DVDs