HD Setups

[Tenbatsuzen]

OK, So I finally took the plunge and got HD TV.

My current set up is this:

Cable feed is split; split goes into the cable box for digital channels on RCA inputs, the other split goes directly into the TV for over-the-air cable channels in HD.

Do I need a special HDMI cable for my XBOX?

Is it even worth doing a special hookup for my PS2?

Since most of the sports I watch are over-the-air HD right now, should I even bother with the HD cable box until baseball season starts?

I'd also appreciate any advice, links, forums, etc. for HD Setups.

I still need to buy the specific remote for my TV; the universal remote I bought doesn't work with it.

[Fallon]

If you have an original 360 the HDMI cord is not compatible (sucks for me). You'd be better off getting a HDMI for the cable box (comcast does provide free ones).

[PhishHead]

the HD box from my cable company is free so you may as well get it now, if its still free. I only pay extra for the DVR.

if you buy any cables please do not buy monster.

buy all cables from http://monoprice.com/home/index.asp you will save a ton of money and they work just as well.

[angrymissy]

Did you get the HD Cable box? You need to be running the cable box off of component (RGB) or HDMI cable to get most out of HD. But first you need the HD Box.

Do you have XBOX Elite or an old school one?

My setup:

HDMI: Cable Box
Component 1: 360
Component 2: PS3
AV1: Wii
AV2: VCR/DVD

I'll most likely swap out the PS3 to the HDMI port once I get a new set of Component cables to use for the cable box.

[Team_Ramrod]

I'd use HDMI for everything wherever possible. HDMI makes everything much better, and use optical for your sound (even though HDMI carries sound).

But don't go with the 'service provider' cables for anything. They are of a cheaper quality and you end up losing out in clarity, brightness and definition in end.

Spend a few (or 50) extra dollars and go with Monster Cables or something.

Also, buy a box. You will get higher quality with a box because your signal is decrypted right there at your box instead of 'somewhere through the stream.

I'm glad you jumped on board... you missed out by a few years though, there was nothing more captivating than watching post season baseball and seeing Benito Santiago's face in HD.

[Hottub]

Get the HD Box. Broadcast TV is spotty and unreliable. Plus you get around 25 more HD channels with it (Cablevision, anyway)

HBO, Discovery, Yes, MSG, etc all ROCK in HD.

[Tenbatsuzen]

monster cables.


Thank you for the suggestion, but Monster Cables are the biggest scams in AV today.

[underdog]

I'd use HDMI for everything wherever possible. HDMI makes everything much better, and use optical for your sound (even though HDMI carries sound).

But don't go with the 'service provider' cables for anything. They are of a cheaper quality and you end up losing out in clarity, brightness and definition in end.

Spend a few (or 50) extra dollars and go with Monster Cables or something.

Oh, so you're the guy that wastes his money on the Monster Cables.

HDMI cables under 6 feet are no different from brand to brand. They transmit an uncompressed digital signal.

Go to monoprice.com and pick up a cable for like $6. And then send me the $44 left over.

Actually : 2 pack for $10.99 (http://www.meritline.com/193-257-0021.html)

[angrymissy]

Yeah, I did the research, and especially w/ HDMI (digital) cables, the $6 cable performs just as well as the $99 cable.

[Tenbatsuzen]

I have switched the XBox to a component hookup, and the old DVD player and PS2 are now using RCA inputs.

The XBox is indeed "old-school".

I'll go to the Cable Company and get the HD Cable box tomorrow.

I still want a wii.

What pisses me off the most about this is that the TV has no remote. I've been using universal remotes to try and access the menus, but certain settings need an "OK" button to confirm them and I haven't found a remote yet that can mimic that.

[PhishHead]

yea i listed the monoprice website above its definitely the best site for all cables.

[badorties]

the HD box from my cable company is free so you may as well get it now, if its still free. I only pay extra for the DVR.

if you buy any cables please do not buy monster.

buy all cables from http://monoprice.com/home/index.asp you will save a ton of money and they work just as well.

i'd also throw in newegg.com as well ... and i second the anti-monster sentiment

[PhishHead]

I have switched the XBox to a component hookup, and the old DVD player and PS2 are now using RCA inputs.

The XBox is indeed "old-school".

I'll go to the Cable Company and get the HD Cable box tomorrow.

I still want a wii.

What pisses me off the most about this is that the TV has no remote. I've been using universal remotes to try and access the menus, but certain settings need an "OK" button to confirm them and I haven't found a remote yet that can mimic that.

WII isnt HDMI so you are fine with that.

[mikeyboy]

WII isnt HDMI so you are fine with that.

True, but pick up the HD component cable if you get a Wii. (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10830&cs_id=1083001&p_id=3566&seq=1&format=2)

[PhishHead]

True, but pick up the HD component cable if you get a Wii. (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10830&cs_id=1083001&p_id=3566&seq=1&format=2)

thanks mikey forgot about that

[angrymissy]

True, but pick up the HD component cable if you get a Wii. (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10830&cs_id=1083001&p_id=3566&seq=1&format=2)

Dammit! I didn't know they sold video game cables there too, I paid like $20 for mine

[Fallon]

What pisses me off the most about this is that the TV has no remote. I've been using universal remotes to try and access the menus, but certain settings need an "OK" button to confirm them and I haven't found a remote yet that can mimic that.

What kind of TV is it? You can usually call or visit the manufacturers website and order a replacement remote.

[underdog]

Dammit! I didn't know they sold video game cables there too, I paid like $20 for mine

Yeah, me too. Damn.

[HBox]

The Wii only displays in 480p, but it still displays natively in widescreen and looks much better through component.

[Bossanova]

Yeah def go to monoprice.com I got my HDMI cable for like $6.95

[Goatweed]

I'll echo everyone else in the praise for monoprice - it doesn't get any better, and the shipping is really fast.

my TV is HD but it's older (Sony XBR400) so it's not a widescreen and it does 1080i so I don't use HDMI, but on my brother's & friends plasma/LCD sets, component and HDMI look the same resolution wise. The advantage to HDMI seems to be that it carries audio & video so thats a few less cables to worry about but if you're running a home theater receiver that may or may not make a difference.

Time Warner's HD DVR boxes are also hit & miss with HDMI - I'm not sure who your cable co is but I'd check AVS Forum if you already haven't.

My TV only had 2 sets of compnent inputs so my DVR gets one and I bought a pelican system selector (http://www.viewonline.com/pages/articles/pelicanselectpro.htm) and I run my PS2, DVD and Xbox 360 thorough that, then I connect it to the other available set of component inputs and it works perfectly.

[Dan G]

What pisses me off the most about this is that the TV has no remote. I've been using universal remotes to try and access the menus, but certain settings need an "OK" button to confirm them and I haven't found a remote yet that can mimic that.

Get yourself a Harmony 880 (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/372&cl=us,en). It's pricey, but well worth it, especially if you have a lot of components.
I bought one for myself last summer and bought one for my parents for Christmas. Bought both on eBay, brand new, for nearly half the retail price.

Here's a thread (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=62756) where the remote gets a lot of praise.

[DJEvelEd]

Monster Cables™ last forever. You can cut them into tiny little pieces and mail them back and they will send you new ones. Not much of a scam....

Cheaper cabling out there, sure. But they ALWAYS go bad over time when used alot. Monster cables get replaced for free....

[Team_Ramrod]

Thank you for the suggestion, but Monster Cables are the biggest scams in AV today.

How come? I always thought they were a really good cable, no matter the type....

Oh, so you're the guy that wastes his money on the Monster Cables.

Yeahssum.... I'd be that guy.

And really, it's either that or hookers... and like Ed said; if you cut up a Monster cable, they'll give you a new one.... not such a good return policy with hookers.

[JPMNICK]

Did you get the HD Cable box? You need to be running the cable box off of component (RGB) or HDMI cable to get most out of HD. But first you need the HD Box.

Do you have XBOX Elite or an old school one?

My setup:

HDMI: Cable Box
Component 1: 360
Component 2: PS3
AV1: Wii
AV2: VCR/DVD

I'll most likely swap out the PS3 to the HDMI port once I get a new set of Component cables to use for the cable box.

if I did not know you were a hot chick who I have met in person, i would think 400 pound smelly ape. that is a sexy setup you have there.

[SatCam]

Monster Cables™ last forever. You can cut them into tiny little pieces and mail them back and they will send you new ones. Not much of a scam....

Cheaper cabling out there, sure. But they ALWAYS go bad over time when used alot. Monster cables get replaced for free....

that's easy to do when your cable costs 15x as much as it does to make

[Goatweed]

for a breakdown of how they're a scam, see this link : http://consumerist.com/353938/monster-cables-monster-ripoff-80-markups

apparently Monster has since rebutted this posting on cosumerist here : http://consumerist.com/358006/monster-responds-to-monster-cables-monster-ripoff but they seem to cite "independent labs" and Disney as somehow backing up their claims of being the "best of the best" in cables.

I don't understand the idea of cutting up cabling over time & getting it replaced for free - who cuts up cables? Speaker wire I can see, but once you have the right length why would you continue to slice it up? Most times cables "fail" sue to some kind of erosion or signal loss due to poor shielding and/or conductivity if you cut your own ends for speakers...most noobs can buy a speaker kit for $20 and do it right or moreover get the cables pre-cut & fitted.

I recently renovated my living room and while my home theater isn't on the cutting edge of tech, I had a bunch of old crappy cables keeping it all together. I bought all new component & rca cables for my dvd, xbox, etc and the bill came to around $150 for 10 cables - everything looks and sounds phenomenal.

It's been well established for years that Monster is the Sony of the a/v cable world - yes they're great products but nowhere near worth the retail price.

[DJEvelEd]

You can find that cable cheaper online somewhere than at a Guitar Center or Scam Ash. They mark the shit up alot. I think Direct Buy offers Monster Cable alot cheaper if you're a member.

[EliSnow]

I had Best Buy set up my home theater system with speakers around my house. Bought a new tv, television system, receiver, new speakers, the whole schebang.

[DJEvelEd]

Cables aren't the only thing that's horribly marked up these days. EVERYTHING is marked up.

I like Direct Buy for that reason. For large purchases it's great. I buy alot of my electronics from them. Cabling included.

[PhishHead]

I had Best Buy set up my home theater system with speakers around my house. Bought a new tv, television system, receiver, new speakers, the whole schebang.

can I come hang out and watch movies?

[DJEvelEd]

Monster Cable has a "Home Theater Automatic Voltage Stabilizer AVS 2000"

Sam Ash has their "LOW PRICE" at 1,699.95

when the actual MSRP is only $1,499.95

and Direct Buy has it for $999.97

So if you can find Monster products cheaper, buy them. They are worth it IMHO

[angrymissy]

Doesn't it cost like $5k to join directbuy?

[DJEvelEd]

It's around 5k for a 10 year contract. I wouldnt join Direct Buy just to buy a cable. Me and Sweety are buying ALOT of shit because we are renovating. We're re-doing bathrooms, kitchen, attic, and I'm always buying electronics so it works for us. I wouldn't suggest it unless you're planning some large purchases over the next decade.
If you know someone who is a member, just have them order the stuff you need.