Hi guys,

Was wondering if any of you gurus can comment on this plan of attack for a Home Theatre setup? I am no expert but would like to make sure that I am taking advantage of the gear that I currently have and also if the gear that I am looking to purchase will compliment it.

Gear that I currently own and am not looking to change at this stage:

TV - Philips 42PF9831 42" LCD (up to 1080i)

Speakers - DB Dynamics 5.1 Setup

Foxtel iQ

Standard DVD player (intend to replace with the PS3)

Gear that I intend to purchase:

Sony PS3 (for Blu-Ray movies)

Yamaha RX-V863 Amp

Nintendo Wii (for the wife!)

A few questions I have about the gear I intend to buy....

1) Will my TV display the Blu-Ray movies in 1080i (as that is the best my TV can display) or will it display it another format and will it be a huge improvement on the standard DVD player that I currently have?

2) Will the Yamaha Amp be a good choice as I intend to connect the PS3 (via HDMI), the Wii (via Component) and the iQ (via Component) all to the amp and connect the Amp (via HMDI) to my TV? Is it best to watch everything (including everyday TV) through the Amp or is is better to connect some components dirctly to the TV?

3) Is this amp overkill for my setup?

4) Will this amp still be suitable and compliment my setup considering it is a 7.1 system but I will only be using a 5.1 speaker setup?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I do not want to waste my money, especially seeing as I am no expert in the field of Home Theatre equipment.

Cheers,

Gurtofen.

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by Gurtofen

1) Will my TV display the Blu-Ray movies in 1080i (as that is the best my TV can display) or will it display it another format and will it be a huge improvement on the standard DVD player that I currently have?

On a 42 inch the answer is NO unless you sit about a metre from it.

2) Will the Yamaha Amp be a good choice as I intend to connect the PS3 (via HDMI), the Wii (via Component) and the iQ (via Component) all to the amp and connect the Amp (via HMDI) to my TV? Is it best to watch everything (including everyday TV) through the Amp or is is better to connect some components dirctly to the TV?

If the amp handles HDMI in and out then run everything through the amp.

3) Is this amp overkill for my setup?

NO, certainly not.

4) Will this amp still be suitable and compliment my setup considering it is a 7.1 system but I will only be using a 5.1 speaker setup?

Yes, many of us run 5.1 from a 7.1 amp. Down the track you could either bi-amp the front speakers or go 7.1.

Hi Lyle,

Thanks heaps for your reply.......but if possible can you tell me how will my TV display a Blu-Ray movie in 1080p format on my TV? Will it be in 1080i?

It is just that this is my main concern at the moment. I knew when I bought the TV that it was only 1080i capable and my understanding was that it would simply display the images in the highest format that it can support (1080i) but now after reading a few things I am not so sure.

Cheers,

Gurtofen.

Hi Lyle,

Thanks heaps for your reply.......but if possible can you tell me how will my TV display a Blu-Ray movie in 1080p format on my TV? Will it be in 1080i?

It is just that this is my main concern at the moment. I knew when I bought the TV that it was only 1080i capable and my understanding was that it would simply display the images in the highest format that it can support (1080i) but now after reading a few things I am not so sure.

Cheers,

Gurtofen.

Your philips screen won't show anything in actual 1080 resolution (1920x1080) as it's native res is 1366 x 768, so anything you watch will always be shown at this res, regardless of what res it starts out at from the source.

Your philips screen won't show anything in actual 1080 resolution (1920x1080) as it's native res is 1366 x 768, so anything you watch will always be shown at this res, regardless of what res it starts out at from the source.

I didn't answer that one specifically because I did not know the t.v.

However, this is correct.

Based on my personal experience feeding 1080i (or p) into my 50 inch is great.

And yes I can see the difference at 3+ metres.

I doubt, however, that on a 42 inch at the same distance that there will be a 'huge' difference.

But depends how close you sit.

See the viewing distance thread for a discussion.

I didn't answer that one specifically because I did not know the t.v.

However, this is correct.

Based on my personal experience feeding 1080i (or p) into my 50 inch is great.

And yes I can see the difference at 3+ metres.

I doubt, however, that on a 42 inch at the same distance that there will be a 'huge' difference.

But depends how close you sit.

See the viewing distance thread for a discussion.

Thanks guys, your help is very much appreciated. Sounds like if I go ahead and buy this stuff I have got nothing to lose but everything to gain. Thanks once again.

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by Gurtofen

I run a 40" Sony(1366x768), feed it 1080i and at about 2.5 meters the difference between SD DVD and Blu-Ray is quite noticable. Even those who don't know of or understand blu-ray comment on the picture quality.

I have Pioneer XDA SD 50" TV and sit about 3m can't believe how good pic is at this distance. Many say its hard to tell difference between SD and true HD at 3m or more.