Best Home Entertainment/Media Center Edition Setup

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euanandrews

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#11536 29-Jan-2007 19:55

Whats your home entertainment system configuration look like/setup?

I was thinking of adding the D-Link Medialounge DSM-520 and using WiFi to connect to my router/Maxtor NAS, but after seeing the results of streaming media over WiFi to my Toshiba Laptop, I'm going to wire the house for that segment of the network, so to provide a quality connection...

But I'm also in two minds if I should get the D-Link Medialounge DSM-520 at all, instead just buy another PC in a component type case with MCE instead, offering much more potential and allowing for future upgrades.

The D-Link Medialounge DSM-520 I am advised by an online retailer is not available in New Zealand/Australia, and would have cost around $200 American/$280 New Zealand....so now I want to compare with others media center systems the benefit and cost of such systems...excluding a screen.

Please post your home entertainment center configuration here and/or what you recommend...

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#59185 29-Jan-2007 21:32

I have most of my content stored on a regular XP box which is hardwired to the network. I access the content from two other boxes

1. a HTPC over 802.11a using gbpvr. Both MPEG2 and divx content play fine over this wireless connection
2. a Pinnacle ShowCenter 1000G. It comes with a wireless G card but that never worked too well for me so I use a Netgear wireless G bridge. The Pinnacle also displays content from the XP box, both divx and MPEG2 and plays it smoothly

I purchased the Pinnacle 1000G in the US but they are no longer made. Their new model is a 200C which is similar except it has built-in wireless G and also can handle HD content

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euanandrews

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#59186 29-Jan-2007 21:47

A very nice unit, but also very high end in price is the HP z565 Digital Entertainment Center

Prices at $2999 (US?) I think thats outa my reach, but would be exactly what I'm after, and leeson the load/usage on my lappy...
The next model down HP z560 Digital Entertainment Center is down in spec but at $1799 is much more affordable and still suitable for what I want, a multimedia hub...I'm not into gaming...

Edit: OK those prices are outdated already...cant find it here in NZ but selling at Walmart for $1610 US, current exchange rates would make that roughly $2100 NZ...thats not to bad (z560)

euanandrews

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#59192 29-Jan-2007 23:20

And here is my possible TV purchase...
I'm looking at 42 inch plama's...$3000 or less, and reading up on HD the best I've found to date for the money is the Panasonic TH42PA60A for $2499

Some quick specs:

42" (106 cm) Diagonal

16:9 Wide Screen Aspect

G9 Progressive Plasma Panel

Max 29 Billion Equivalent colours

1080p Digital Processing Chip-Set

1080p Digital Re-mastering Processor

3,072 Equivalent Steps of Gradation

Max. 10,000:1 Contrast

Contrast Management System

Advanced 3D Colour Management

Motion Pattern Noise Reduction

Sub-Pixel Controller

HDMI Input

HDAVI Control

Slim & Compact Design

2-Way 2-Speaker System

sbiddle

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#59203 30-Jan-2007 06:39

If you do plan on plugging a PC into it I'd highly suggest trying this out before you buy the TV. PC support on LCD's and Plasma's is a Plug and Pray experience.

lchiu7

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#59206 30-Jan-2007 07:01

I would agree with that. PC support on any digital device is a lot of work. Best if you can the PC to talk to the display over DVI or HDMI. That way you are assured of getting the full display resolution of the set available to you and with the right video card and drivers, can adjust for overscan etc.

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#59208 30-Jan-2007 07:45

TheBartender: And here is my possible TV purchase...
I'm looking at 42 inch plama's...$3000 or less, and reading up on HD the best I've found to date for the money is the Panasonic TH42PA60A for $2499

You do realise this only a SD plasma? There are plenty of HD models around now for around $3k - this explains why it's so cheap.

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chiefie

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#59209 30-Jan-2007 08:09

i'd avoid Plasma in 2007 onward as Plasma is making its way out of flat screen tv era and LCD is/will be what Plasma was in years ago, and soon LED backlighting LCD, then SED LCD (latest tech).

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#59213 30-Jan-2007 08:54

chiefie: i'd avoid Plasma in 2007 onward as Plasma is making its way out of flat screen tv era and LCD is/will be what Plasma was in years ago, and soon LED backlighting LCD, then SED LCD (latest tech).

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that right now but in a years time it may be the case.

I was looking at the current model 50" Pioneer Plasma vs several brands of LCD's on the weekend playing the same HD signal and there was absolutely no comparison - the Plasma rocked.

The new X series Sony LCD's could be interesting though - has anybody seen one in action yet?

euanandrews

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#59244 30-Jan-2007 15:39

sbiddle: If you do plan on plugging a PC into it I'd highly suggest trying this out before you buy the TV. PC support on LCD's and Plasma's is a Plug and Pray experience

Yup that was the plan, LV Martin's allow 2 weeks to try and return if not what want/thought...as I will definatley be using as a computer screen as well as TV.

I have gone through all the specs and come to the conclusion the trusty ol Phillips 42' PF7320G is better, as same spec but also has PIP and a PC input....

sbiddle: You do realise this only a SD plasma? There are plenty of HD models around now for around $3k - this explains why it's so cheap.

Yup I do, I am looking hard for a HD model within or $3k but have not found yet...plenty $4k onwards...
The TH-42PA60AC RRP is $2999 ($2499 LV Martins)...standard def
The TH-42PV60AC RRP is $4299....same model, high def.....big difference in price
If ya know of a model or two high def 42' around $3k, let me know what they are and where they are found.....

chiefie: i'd avoid Plasma in 2007 onward as Plasma is making its way out of flat screen tv era and LCD is/will be what Plasma was in years ago, and soon LED backlighting LCD, then SED LCD (latest tech).

To what I read, LCD is 'catching up', but is not yet the quality (big screens) nor price of plasma...plasma are still better quality in rendering blacks etc, and cheaper....
And while the those latest techs may be better, its a catch 2 situation....ya gota buy sometime, and when you finally do, there will be another new tech coming out...
I'm looking to buy now, so will try to buy the best thats available now within a price that I can afford.

richms

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#59296 30-Jan-2007 22:40

I would be hesitant to get any of those stand alone media playing boxes after using several of them. Needing propriatry software on the PC was my biggest gripe. HD is also a joke on these things, some of them only supporting mpeg2 for hd.

Get an old xbox, mod it, and use xbox media center to play media on that. Once these things start showing up with functional HD playback then re-look at a dedicated solution

Richard rich.ms

euanandrews

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#59298 30-Jan-2007 22:54

richms: I would be hesitant to get any of those stand alone media playing boxes after using several of them. Needing propriatry software on the PC was my biggest gripe. HD is also a joke on these things, some of them only supporting mpeg2 for hd.

Get an old xbox, mod it, and use xbox media center to play media on that. Once these things start showing up with functional HD playback then re-look at a dedicated solution

I have decieded against it not because of what you have mentioned, but because
1) I'm struggling to find a retailer who can supply the device I want...they only seem to have old outdated and cheaper models
2) I need a second computer as my lappy is overused...

So I'm going with another full computer, but component style, such as the HP z565 Digital Entertainment Center mentioned above...its a full blown MCE desktop but in a component case and with all the AV connections needed, including HDMI.

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euanandrews

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#59303 30-Jan-2007 23:45

Some comparisons...

The Phillips 42' Plasma 42PF730G is ya standard def, 852 x 480p....$2500...LV Martin/Bond & Bond

The Phillips 42' Plasma 42PF750G is high def, 1024 x 768p....N/A in NZ
The Phillips 42' LCD 42PF7421 is high def, 1366 x 768p...$3036...PB Technologys
The Hyundai 40' LCD Q401...high def????....., 1366 x 768p...$3000...Bond & Bond
The Samsung 40' LCD LA40S71BX is high def, 1366 x 768p...$3300...Bond & Bond
The Acer 42' LCD AT4220B is high def, 1366 x 768p...$2896...Softwareshop

Have yet to evaluate these models in detail, just posted here for reference and others looking themselves...

I must say I overlooked LCD's TV's thinking they were more expensive, but looking at this it seems I am mistaken, so I retract my last statement Chiefie lol

Prices UPDATED!.....
Suppliers UPDATED!....
Cheapest HD Models UPDATED!....

Evaluation coming...........

richms

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#59305 30-Jan-2007 23:53

The last 3 are rear projectors so not really valid comparisons to a flat panel display.

Richard rich.ms

euanandrews

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#59437 1-Feb-2007 02:47

Updated....

For those looking for High Definition TV's, check just above, have updated models, suppliers and prices....and will keep updating as and if I find better...
Trying to keep within $3000, Plasma or LCD, and high def (768p)

(links provided will go to the manufacturer and cheapest retailer)

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#59439 1-Feb-2007 07:31

I'll add a picture in later to it's related to my lan configuration but I'll describe.

Coax Aerial and TCL to a PVR 500 (dual analogue)
Composite connection from TelstraClear digital box to a PVR 150 (USB-Uirt to change channels).

Both cards in the Windows XP machine running GBPVR. This machine connected to my Yamaha RX-V540 receiver, connected via Digital Coax, and S-Video. PC also connected direct to a Tv via stereo audio and composite (this bit lets me down, only got a 200 inch non svideo cable tv

)

Server is also connected via to the rest of my network (DI-624), and running off this is a Hauppauge Media MVP in the bedroom and a client of the gbpvr server.

Then the GBPVR has also got web access so my other pc, my I mate K-Jam and my laptop can all access content off the gbpvr server.

Stored on the server is all my music, and recordings, the odd movie, accessible from anywhere.

Things to do, upgrade the server PC and make it a dual core, so I can handle a bit of transcoding better, get a panel screen (thinking one of the pany 42" HD or 50") - maybe a little 8" touch screen for controlling the PC - and potentially a DVB-S card - but not sure what I want that for - just to be a geek I guess).

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