Topic: Recommendations Wanted For Blu-ray Player & Titles & HDTV

[Dragonfire]

Sounds like a plan

[Rogmeister]

I wonder if I could run something by you guys and ask if this makes sense to you?  I mentioned at another site about my plans for a new set and one guy there said I should be careful if I choose a Vizio because their TVs come in several grades.  He said to make sure I get a set with at leaszt 120hz and not 60hz as this makes a huge difference in image quality, especially for action films.  He also added that 240hz would be best but sets with that can be pricey.  I have dialysis tomorrow but after that, if the weather isn't bad (it was snowing earlier today), I may stop at my local store where I was checking out sets before and see what "hz" the sets I was considering are rated at.  If I'm satisfied with a choice, I might actually pick up a set sometime this week.  So...any thoughts?

[Achim]

I am not sure how bad a 60Hz can be, but I think lower grade models may struggle with "high velocity" images (lack of a better term). I don't think my Sharp is 120Hz and I never felt troubled with the image during action sequences.

If given the choice between 60Hz and 120Hz, I believe the 120Hz should give you the more stable image.

However, this is just with my amateurish knowledge spiced up with some guesswork.

[Rogmeister]

Well, I just looked up the Sony set I was considering at Amazon to see the numbers (I think I had the right model anyway) and it looks like the set I was considering is indeed rated at 60hz.  The reviewers for that did say they didn't really notice any blurring issues.  If I want 120hz, I'm guessing I'll either have to go for a smaller set or be prepared to pay at least a couple hundred dollars more than I had planned to.  At least that's the impression I'm getting.

[Najemikon]

I'm suspicious of 100+Hz capability in regards movies. Only be bothered about it, Roger, for your gaming and sports. Don't worry about the Blu-Ray player.

Using 100Hz and above on Blu-Ray creates an unusual effect that I personally find very off-putting in movies which still look like traditional film at around 50Hz. My TV isn't capable of 100Hz, but it has an option called Tru-Motion which emulates it. I find it very weird. It's tough to explain unless you see it for yourself.

Digital home video has a certain look about it, in the way that people move. It's low quality for the most part, but it's "life-like", which is fine. Film is not life-like, but that's what Tru-Motion and 100+Hz does to it. It's astonishing quality like Blu-Ray always is, but the movement just doesn't suit it.

So, don't go thinking it's something special for movies, because it isn't.

[Rogmeister]

I may not worry about it then.  I checked in today to check prices...the 40-inch set I've been thinking of getting from Sony is $498 for 60Hz...a silmilar set for 120Hz goes for an additional $250.  I should have studied both to see if I could really tell any difference.  I actually saw one set that was listed at 600Hz!  Holy crap!  I bet that's just like having stuff happening right in your living room!  A misprint?  Aw, go ruin my fun, why don't you...? 

[Dragonfire]

I don't know what mine is...but I've been happy with the set.

[Dr. Hasslein]

I may not worry about it then.  I checked in today to check prices...the 40-inch set I've been thinking of getting from Sony is $498 for 60Hz...a silmilar set for 120Hz goes for an additional $250.  I should have studied both to see if I could really tell any difference.  I actually saw one set that was listed at 600Hz!  Holy crap!  I bet that's just like having stuff happening right in your living room!  A misprint?  Aw, go ruin my fun, why don't you...? 

If you're going to go 40" you may as well go 50" and spend that little bit extra.

[Rogmeister]

Ummm...yeah...maybe not.  I think 40 inches is more than enough for me.  I went to my store again today after a visit to the eye doctor.  I wanted to take a look at similar sets but one running at 60Hz and the other at 120Hz...I couldn't make out that much of a difference myself, but then my eyes had been dilated and then my doctor had shined insanely bright lights into my eyes so my slightly foggy vision was probably not at its best at that moment.  I will look at the sets again another day when my vision is clear, but I will likely settle for the less-expensive 60Hz set.

I could receive my first Blu-ray titles tomorrow, by the way.  Lonesome Dove and The Searchers are coming, though in separate packages (I think).

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Ummm...yeah...maybe not.  I think 40 inches is more than enough for me.  I went to my store again today after a visit to the eye doctor.  I wanted to take a look at similar sets but one running at 60Hz and the other at 120Hz...I couldn't make out that much of a difference myself, but then my eyes had been dilated and then my doctor had shined insanely bright lights into my eyes so my slightly foggy vision was probably not at its best at that moment.  I will look at the sets again another day when my vision is clear, but I will likely settle for the less-expensive 60Hz set.

I could receive my first Blu-ray titles tomorrow, by the way.  Lonesome Dove and The Searchers are coming, though in separate packages (I think).

The 120 Hz are better if you watch sports or generally content with fast movements (less blurs). If you don't watch those 60 Hz should suffice.

[Rogmeister]

Well, I do like my baseball and I watch an occasional football game as well.  Decisions, decisions! 

[Fasteddie33]

The way I explain watching a 120hz and above,is like watching a soap opera in hi def...you actualy do lose a little of that "movie" feeling...almost like watching a play...I guess it's all in what each individual prefers...

[Rogmeister]

I wonder if that's what another online friend of mine (not a member of this board) meant when she recently wrote the following...

We have a 42" Sony LCD TV.  Ours has 120 Hz to it, but it thankfully goes down to 60 Hz which we changed right away.  The 120 was too weird for us and we spend the majority of our time watching TV.

I just wrote her back and asked what she meant by "too weird".  So I'm now wondering if perhaps I shouldn't go with 120 Hz.  We'll see.

[Dr. Hasslein]

I have a Sony 46" LCD 200Hz Motionflow and it doesn't have that soap opera looks.
It's quite an advanced TV that has a lot of auto adjust functions to get the best possible picture. Plus I watch almost everything via my PS3 which goes with the TV like peas and carrots.

[Najemikon]

This is pretty good, Roger, but seems to make the case for higher refresh rates which confused me until they spoke about "cadence" of movies (between 3.40 and 4.20), which is the very word I think we've been dancing around!

I thought I'd try and find something once and for all because of the Doc's comments above. After watching the video I'm confident that a decent TV, running at 24fps, will simply reduce flicker if set-up correctly but not spoil the effect. Things like TruMotion, which I described earlier, is kind of attempting to take it to another level, which movies really do not want.

In other words... 100Hz = Good. I think.