
Below is an intervew of the HD Guru by Kevin Hunt appearing in the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers around the country this week. Kevin asked questions about my favorite subject.
OUR A/V GUY
Up close and personal with HDTV expert
By Kevin Hunt
Tribune Newspapers
Published November 26, 2006
Gary Merson must see pixels in his sleep. This industry analyst, reviewer and HD freak has tested 150 HDTVs this year, presides over the trade publication HDTV Insider Newsletter and is launching a Web site for consumers called HDguru.com.
Q. What do most people not know about HDTV but should?
A. That there is a vast amount of free high-definition programming available via a roof or indoor antenna, though one’s ability to receive it depends upon his proximity to the broadcast antenna. Many stations multicast, turning a single digital channel into two or more [channels]. The extra channels can be more news or around-the-clock weather services, music videos or whatever the stations want.
Q. What advice do you give people before they go out to a store to buy their first HDTV?
A. Be aware of the distance you sit from the screen, the amount of ambient light in the room and if you plan to get your HD programming from the cable or phone company, satellite, over the air (with an antenna) or a combination. This will help the salesperson guide you to the best choices.
Q. What are a couple of your favorite affordable big-screen (42 inches or bigger) HDTVs?
A. I like Mitsubishi’s 1080p DLP-based rear projection sets (starting at about $2,000) as well as 42-inch Hitachi ($2,500) and 50-inch Panasonic ($2,000) plasma models.
Q. Any simple tips for people to improve their picture without a DVD calibration disc?
A. First, change the factory default picture setting (usually called Vivid or Brilliant) to a less-bright one (sometimes called Cinema or Pro). Next, turn down the contrast (also known as “picture”) to around 50 percent to 60 percent of maximum. Picture quality will improve and the life of the display — or the bulb, in the case of rear-projection sets — will be extended. Many bulb-driven sets also include a low or “natural” setting, which should be selected for extended life.
Q. Is the picture supplied through cable boxes true hi-def, or something less (compressed)?
A. Depends on the cable system. Many cable systems transmit fewer bits than they’re sent by using an HD image-quality degrading technique they call statistical multiplexing, or “stat mux.” Stat Muxing sacrifices picture quality in order to provide more channels.
Q. What are your favorite networks for HD picture quality?
A. CBS consistently broadcasts the highest-quality HDTV pictures, but they have fallen behind in upgrading their live telecasts, showing only three out of eight NFL games a week in HD (Fox shows all the games in HD). On cable, HDNet and the “in studio” content on Wealth TV, currently available via Verizon’s FIOS system, look amazing.
Q. Are you a plasma guy? Or DLP, LCD, LCoS or CRT?
A. Each has particular benefits depending upon needs and desires. CRT offers excellent 30-inch and 34-inch images for less than $1,000, though the sets tend to be heavy and bulky and don’t produce as bright a picture as flat-panel LCD, the only alternative below 37 inches.
At 37 inches and bigger, LCD offers the brightest, highest resolution (1920×1080) performance, though color gamut (range and accuracy) and viewing angle suffer compared to CRT and plasma. Also, with the exception of the top-of-the-line 37-inch JVC and Hitachi and 42-inch Philips sets, LCD suffers from slow response time, resulting in “motion lag.”
Sports enthusiasts are better off with plasma, which is my technology of choice — at least this year — for flat-screen sets 42 inches and bigger (some new 1080p models are now available, too, for a heavy premium). The 1080p microdisplay rear-projection sets using LCoS (Sony’s SXRD and JVC’s DiLA models) and DLP (Toshiba, Samsung and Mitsubishi) offer the biggest picture and most performance for the money, though they lack plasma’s thin, sexy form and wider viewing angle.
Q. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the following on their move into HDTV: the federal government, TV manufacturers, cable and satellite companies?
A. The feds get a 7. They lose points for not mandating a “must carry” rule requiring cable to rebroadcast all local HD programming, in native resolution and at full picture quality.
TV manufacturers rate a 9 for producing an explosion of HDTVs in a wide variety of sizes, technologies and price points. They could do a better job explaining the merits of the various HD sources (cable, satellite and over-the-air), as well as how CableCARD operates along with built-in free program guides.
Cable scores anywhere from 1 to 9 depending upon the provider. Verizon’s new FIOS fiber optic system promises to deliver the best picture quality because the system has sufficient bandwidth to deliver full resolution. Some systems reduce bit rates to fit more channels into the system.
Satellite bottom dwells as 2. DirecTV and Dish Network seem to be racing to the picture quality bottom, delivering less than full HD resolution, or what I call “low hi-def.”
Broadcasters get a 7. They’re almost all broadcasting digitally as required by the government, with many having already converted their studios to HD and others about to. Unfortunately, they’ve done a poor job of promoting the transition to digital and inviting viewers to switch over for a much better picture and better sound.
Q. How long before1080p programming arrives? And who will be first?
A. Blu-ray and HD DVD discs already are 1080p. 1080p is within the ATSC (digital) broadcast standard but there has been no indication from the content providers as to when they may make the switch.
Q. Do you believe you should be able to make a copy for personal use of a DVD, a hi-def program or, for that matter, a CD?
A. Yes, though content providers can and do use digital rights management (DRM) to prevent legal copying. This struggle will not go away, and the public’s only recourse is to vote with their wallets and purses against overly restrictive DRM schemes.
Greg Tarr
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You wrote today that the noise-cancellation ATH is 50 dollars on the Internet. They say it is $99.95. What gives?
I read your article published in todays Chicago Tribune, about programing you cable remote. I tried using the information in the article to program my Directv remote to operate my Apex Digital HD television. It would not work. None of the codes given by Directv in their system work on my Apex Digital. I wonder if there is any way to program the directv remote without having the proper code?
This channel assignment information will not show up as the channels frequency when you have scanned in the channels. it could come up as any channel number i.e. 79.12 or 105.68. You will have to channel up to find it and write the number down so you could return to the channel by direct input of the channel number into the TV remote keypad.
I was surprised about your comment relating satellite “low-def” I was considering the Dish Network because they have the highest number of HD stations. Would like to see comments from those that have satellite HD, also what is the the resolution of the satellite broadcasts?
I have read all of your information and have found this site to be very helpful, thanks.
Hi!Q
Great site!
Following up on Nick’s question from Dec. 1 —
1.Does the Panasonic 50PX600U pass the deinterlace and 3:2 pulldown test?
2. Does the Pioneer 5070HD allow display at 72 HZ ?
1. Yes (deinterlace); no (3:2 test)
2. Yes
The HD GuruÂÂ
I am testing the top rated JVC LT-46FN97 LCD. It does not accept a 1080P input directly, but upscales all input signals to 1080P, for whatever that is worth.
Will this set(or similar sets) display a true 1080P signal if and when a 1080P signal is broadcast over the air?
Thanks,
Marvin
I just bought the Sony KDF-50E2000 LCDRP Tv in september and got hold of your article in October and could not believe what i was reading.
Now i want to go HD DVD and spoke with another guy about this, should i still go ahead with my purchase or would it not make any sense as my tv failed both tests.
Planning on buying the 2nd Gen 720p dvd player.
Many thanks
Jonathon
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Although your Sony does not have the best signal processing in industry, the image you will see on HD DVD will be better than anything broadcast , thanks to its higher bit rate. You should experiment to which way it looks the best, setting the output of the player to 720p or setting the player to 1080i and letting the Sony HDTV downconvert the signal.  By the way the new Toshiba HD DVD player (HD-XA2) will have the Silicon Optix HQV chip which will properly convert native 1080p recording to 720p output. ÂÂ
The HD GuruÂÂ
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how expensive are the 3 replacement bulbs in the CRT? how long do they last on average?
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I haven’t purchased “guns” (CRTs) in awhile. If I recall correctly it used to be $75-$300 per gun plus about $300-$400 labor. My advise is ,if the set is over 7 years old don’t put any money into it. If it is younger the most I would invest is $500 in repair, remember you when get a 5 year old set repaired ,you end up with a 5 year old working set, something else can fail.’
 Half brightness (the industry standard measurment) is 15,000 hours with the set properly adjusted .
The HD GuruÂÂ
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My father has an HD-TV with an HD receiver, he wants a dvd/vcr recorder. Can he get a dvd/vcr recorder that does not have an HDMI connection and still be able to record movies from his HD programs onto his dvd/vcr recorder and if so what is the hook-up procedure?
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Probably, he would need to take the standard def output of his cable box or TV (usually labeled monitor out on TV) and connect it to the DVD recorder. Most DVD recorders accept S-video and composite a few acceopt component.
The HD Guru
1st, Id Like To Thank You For Getting Back To
Me So Soon, That Was Awesome… Thanks.
I Have A Couple Of Other Questions,If U
Don’t Mind.
1. Honestly, When Do You Think We Will See The
1st Available Channel Broadcasting 1080P ?
2. Why Is It That Box Stores Push The Sale Of
HD Cables If Honestly The Customer Does Not
Need Them, Unless They Are Watching Scrambled
Channels Like HBO, Ect… ?
3. I Read A Part In One Of Your Articles On This
Site. It Had Mentioned That Satalite Is
Probably The Worst Picture Quality For HD.
I Wanna Know Why You Think That, I Have
Direct TV, And I Must Admit, It Does Look
Better Than The Picture Quality Coming From
Cable At My Friends Houses, Watching The Same
Source. Is It Really Worse ? I Watch A
FootBall Game, Live In HD, And It Looks
Amazing,,, If It Is Worse, Is There Anything
I Can Do To Get A Better Picture ? Without
Going To Cable.
I just found your site. It’s extremely informative and unbiased. Thank you for that. I’m in the market for a new T.V. to replace my old 36″ rear projection. I sit anywhere from 8′ to 13′ away and the T.V. sits above my fireplace. The center of the screen is 75″ high. I have been debating over the Sony KDLV46XBR2 and the Sharp Aquos LC46062U. Both are around the same price and are both 1080P. After reading your site I’m wondering if I should worry about the 1080P since the viewing distance is farther than 8′. The room is well lit with 2 sky lights. Any recommendations?
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You are too far away to see all the detail within a 1080p display. Sharp uses 3M Vikuiti on all their LCDs resulting in significant drop off in brightness as one moves off center(as well as a color shift), considering your vertical viewing angle I can not recommend any of their LCDs for your application.
Have you considered shades for your skylights for daytime viewing and 50″-60″ (768p) plasma?ÂÂ
The HD Guru
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Great Website, Very Informative… I Really
Had Questions Though. I’m Hoping I Can Reach The
Hd Guru This Way Since There was Not A Way To Reach You On The Site Via E-Mail.
Question 1. Can You Get A True HD Signal Using Just A Coaxial Cable Line Directly Into Your TV,Using No Cable Box, No Cable Card, No Satalite, Just A Cable Line With basic Cable, If Your Tv Has The QAM Tuner Built In ? & Is It True Full HD ?
Question 2. I Noticed That The Pioneer FHD1 Plasma TV Was Not Rated The Best In Your Site,,, What Is Your Personal Feeling About The FHD1, And Is It True That It Is The Only Tv That Can Produce A True 1080p At 60 frames per second Image?
Thank You…
Jay Gonzalez
Boston, Ma.
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Part 1 – If the coaxial cable is carrying a cable signal from your cable provider and if your TV’s built-in digital tuner tunes 256QAM signals (the modualtion scheme used by cable providers) yes you will be able to tune in any unscrambled HD cable transmissions. These by regulation must include the local HD stations that your cable provider is carrying (and problably little else).ÂÂ
However there is a slight rub. The cable system uses out of band information to assign a channel number such as channel 702 for the local CBS-HD station. This channel assignment information will not show up as the channels frequency when you have scanned in the channels. it could come up as any channel number i.e. 79.12 or 105.68. You will have to channel up to find it and write the number down so you could return to the channel by direct input of the channel number into the TV remote keypad.ÂÂ
Question 2- The Pioneer FHD1 is an excellent true 1080p 50″ plasma monitor. It passes my 1080i deinterlace, 3:2 and bandwidth tests. The FHD1 and the other 1080p plasmas (panasonic) display at 1080p/ 60HZ. The Pioneer also permits display at 72 HZ which eliminates judder, a topic for another post one day.
The HD Guru
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Does the Panasonic 50PX60U pass the deinterlace and 3:2 pulldown test? I know you said the 50PX600U does.
I love your HD Guru website. I have not yet purchased an HDTV. I have a 13 year old 60″ Mitsubishi VS-60VX2. It has been a great set with a very good bright picture. (it will die someday) I’m not too crazy about a lot of the HD set I’ve seen. It seems that some things look too glossy that shouldn’t. I was under the impression that plasma and lcd sets didn’t have long lifes. I have DirecTV and wonder if I will have better picture quality with an HDTV? I sill have my roof antanea for broadcast HDTV. I have about 12′ viewing distance. What size would be OK for this distance?
Thanks, David M
Good article. I do think there is one error, everything I have read says the HD-DVD is 1080I, with only the BluRay at 1080P. Something to check on… To me, it will be interesting to see if, with the advent of lots of 1080P sets, FiOS, Cable, and Satellite start to get involved in “quality” wars (verus the “qty” philosophy, which crams as many services at lowest tolerable bit rates). It would be nice if someone started advertising not only whether they run 720P, 1080I or someday 1080P, but also, what their average and maximum bit rates for SD and HD service are. Seems eventually consumers will demand better (non-rate limited) services to get the picture quality they want on all their new big screens.
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When I was interviewed a few weeks ago, the 2nd generation top model HD DVD players were scheduled to ship by Thanksgiving. They have been delayed by a few weeks but should show up by Christmas. They have 1080p/60 output and new signal processing. BTW, if a HDTV passes the deinterlace test and 3:2 test it should make no diffference if you feed the set 1080i or 1080p.
The HD GuruÂÂ