====== Home Theatre ====== ===== General Information ===== * [[http://www.dtvforum.info/|DTV Forums]] - great Aussie forum * [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=31244|Home theatre FAQs]] * [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=16325|Viewing distance calculator]] * [[http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/109262.html|Ten Biggest Mistakes of Speaker and Home Theater Shopping]] * [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=11403|Getting the best TV reception in Perth]] ===== Video Formats and Terminology ===== * [[http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html|DVI vs. HDMI vs. Component Video -- Which is Better?]] * [[http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/0,239035250,240000380,00.htm|Digital TV in Australia]] * http://www.stevengotz.com/hdv * [[http://www.100fps.com/|100fps.com]] - What is deinterlacing? * [[http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/index.html|Guide to anamorphic widescreen]] ==== VGA to Component ==== I want to be able to hook up the VGA port on my HTPC’s graphics card to the component input on my Yamaha RX-V1500B receiver. * [[http://www.techlore.com/article/10061/|How To Connect a Computer To Your TV]] * Video converters * http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/video-to-vga.html * http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/howto-pc-tv.html * http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/9A60.html * http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/PC-TV_video_adapter.html * http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/40-880.html * http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/kd-vtca2.htm (discontinued; replaced by KD-VA5) * http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/KD-VA5.htm (replaces KD-VCTA2) * Video convertors in Aus * Key Digital VGA to Component Transcoder $275 at [[http://www.hometheatrepc.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=111|hometheatrepc.com.au]] * Avermedia AVerKey Lite $88 at [[http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=AL-AVERKEY-LITE&input[category_id]=108|AusPCMarket]] * [[http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/5/150612.html|Good thread on different video connection types]] * "VGA and Component video are essentially the same thing. If you pull apart a VGA cable you will see that inside there is a RED, GREEN and a BLUE wire inside. All VGA is is component with additional wires to control the monitor from the computer. A VGA to Component adapter can easily be made simply by splicing pins 1 and 6, 2 and 7 and 3 and 8 while shorting 4 and 5 as vsence (ground). Each of those pairs in that order are; RED, GREEN and Blue." * http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/3/7446.html * [[http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/vgacable.html|Make your own VGA to component cable using CAT5 cable]] ===== HTPCs ===== * [[http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/3/8661.html|Ecoustics Forums: Home Theater Computers]] * [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow|FFDShow]] (Afterdawn page [[http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm|here]]) * DTV Forums: [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=48306&view=findpost&p=635294|HTPC for the Sony SXRD]] * [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=48306&view=findpost&p=635294|good response]] * [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=48306&view=findpost&p=635597|another good response]] * [[http://www.superiorpapers.com/|custom essay writing service]] * DTV Forums: [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=45424|An Htpc Success Story, Wow - this stuff really works!]] * DTV Forums: [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=47593|How To Get Best Video Quality For A Htpc?]] ==== Linux HTPCs ==== * [[http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm|Linux is NOT Windows]] * [[http://www.mythtv.org/|MythTV]] * [[http://www.linuxis.us/linux/media/howto/linux-htpc/index.html|Linux HTPC howto]] * [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=389230&page=8|Linux MCE thread]] on Ubuntu Forums ===== My Home Theatre Setup ===== Equipment: * Samsung 107cm widescreen SD rear-projection TV * [[http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/htavreceivers/RX-V1500B.asp|Yamaha RX-V1500B receiver]] * [[http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/Product_range/Aegis_series/index.asp|Acoustic Energy Evo 3 front floorstanding speakers]] * Acoustic Energy Evo centre speakers * Acoustic Energy Evo 1 rear speakers * [[http://www.richter.com.au/index1.html|Richter Thor 12" active subwoofer]] * [[http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/dvdplayers/DVD-S550.asp|Yamaha DVD-S550 DVD player]] * Self-built home theatre PC (details below) * DGTEC digital HD set top box (broken) * Sony Playstation 2 * Old VCR Home theatre PC specs: * Coolermaster black case (accepts microATX motherboards) * Zalman quite PSU * AMD Duron 2200+ (socket A) * Corsair 512MB PC3200 ValueRAM * Albatron microATX socket A motherboard with integrated GeForce MX440 graphics and onboard sound * Maxtor 200GB HDD * Pioneer DVD-RW * Netgear WG311 802.11g wireless * Logitech MX3200 wireless keyboard & mouse * Windows XP Pro ===== Equipment of interest ===== ==== New TVs (April 2007) ==== In April 2007 looking to upgrade my Samsung 47" widescreen SD rear pro to one of the following: * Samsung PS42Q7HD, 42" plasma, 1024x768 * http://www.samsung.com/au/products/tv/plasmatv/ps_42q7hd.asp?page=Specifications * 2 yr warranty, with HD tuner built in * Around $2100 * Samsung PS50Q7HD, 50" plasma, 1366x768 * http://www.samsung.com/au/products/tv/plasmatv/ps_50q7hd.asp?page=Specifications * 2 yr warranty, with HD tuner built in * Around $2900 * Samsung LA40S71BX, 40" LCD, 1366x768 * http://www.samsung.com/au/products/tv/lcdtv/la40s71b.asp?page=Specifications * 3 yr warranty, no HD tuner * Around $2200 * Samsung LA40F71BX, 40" LCD, 1920x1080 * http://www.samsung.com/au/products/tv/lcdtv/la40f71b.asp?page=Specifications * 3 yr warranty * Around $3100 * Samsung 46" LCD, LA46F71BX, 1920x1080 * http://www.samsung.com/au/products/tv/lcdtv/la46f71b.asp?page=Specifications * 3 yr warranty, no HD tuner * Around $4000 * Sony KDS60R2000 60" BRAVIA SXRD Full HD Rear Pro TV * http://www.sony.com.au/homecinema/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=34379 * 1080P (1920x1080) * Around $4100 Useful forum threads and articles: * DTV Forums: [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=47420|Samsung PS50Q7HD opinions]] * [[http://wwwmirotvorets.com.ua|электрооотпление]] * DTV Forums: [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=48736|46" Samsung 1080p Lcd Or 50" Plasma?, Descision time...]] * DTV Forums: [[http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=45167|Owners Thread Sony Bravia "r" Series (sxrd) 60"-70" 1080p]] * [[http://freenet-homepage.de/koolkolo/|Pics of Sony 55" Bravia SXRD]] (German)