Entry-level, decent component Hi-Fi system

Agree with Dolby on Sammy...

I would go Mede8er and uncapped internet before bd player though...
 
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I have an LG tv and a ps3 as dvd/bd/streamer and I have no complaints of either one.
 
Yea ... LG isn't bad, as I said.

But I prefer Samsung myself.

I had an LG plasma which I sold for a Samsung LCD ... And wouldn't go back. Parents called me about a year ago to go purchase a TV with them and although I kept recommended the Samsung, they ended with an LG LED. My older Sammy has more features and IMO, even a better a picture than the LG.

I checked some recent stats of the latest sets, an I notice black levels aren't in Sammy league


Up to the OP though
 
My older Sammy has more features and IMO, even a better a picture than the LG.

What features are you referring to? I'm not sure about the whole "smart tv" thing - how much of the extra bells and whistles would I really use and what could I do without...
 
What features are you referring to? I'm not sure about the whole "smart tv" thing - how much of the extra bells and whistles would I really use and what could I do without...

It cooks dinner for you while you watch tv :p
 
What features are you referring to? I'm not sure about the whole "smart tv" thing - how much of the extra bells and whistles would I really use and what could I do without...

My TV is over 2 years old ... so they're not all fantastic now. But back then it was one of the first Internet TVs with 4 x HDMI, 2x USB2.0 (played most formats/containers), 120hz screen, LAN port for network access, Internet@TV, DLNA support for wireless streaming, Media 2.0 with 2GB onboard Flash memory, content library etc ... but you're right ; I don't use anything.

However for someone like my parents that hate millions of external gadgets, a TV that can do pretty much everything onboard is actually pretty decent.

I was surprised when the newer LG lacked streaming, DLNA, has less connectivity etc
 
I'm not sure about the whole "smart tv" thing - how much of the extra bells and whistles would I really use and what could I do without...
Nothing you could do without. Think of Smart as a crappy tablet stuffed inside the TV with a sparse apps store to download apps to run directly on the TV.

In my experience Samsung's smart is better/more advanced that LG's with quite a bit more apps. 95% of them a rubbish, but there are a few nuggets. On Samsung the best is the Plex media server client, and their Explore 3D app and streaming 3D content library aint bad (if you have a fast Internet access).

There are a few other usable ones e.g. News24, YouTube (3D), Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter etc. but generally they're piss poor compared to their tablet/PC counterparts.
 
What I want out of a set is 50", plasma, 1920 x 1080 res, at least 3 hdmi inputs, USB 2.0 port with full media playback functionality and 100htz...

Anything more is a bonus but that would be the default requirements...
 
What I want out of a set is 50", plasma, 1920 x 1080 res, at least 3 hdmi inputs, USB 2.0 port with full media playback functionality and 100htz...

Anything more is a bonus but that would be the default requirements...
Samsung PS51D550 ... darn cheap these days if you can find one.

PS: Not really 100Hz (processor), but plasma works a bit different, panel refreshes at up to 600Hz.
 
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Ok I'm sure this is a silly q but - why would I need many hdmi inputs and USB inputs on the tv? All devices would connect to the avr and the avr would connect via hdmi to the tv... Or am I missing something?

In other words, if the avr has USB support and adequate hdmi inputs then the tv would be less important wrt those specs?
 
I totally agree with you, mikaME

In theory, you need only one. But not everyone has an HDMI AVR or even an AVR with enough inputs.
 
Ok I'm sure this is a silly q but - why would I need many hdmi inputs and USB inputs on the tv? All devices would connect to the avr and the avr would connect via hdmi to the tv... Or am I missing something?

In other words, if the avr has USB support and adequate hdmi inputs then the tv would be less important wrt those specs?

No, you connect receiver to tv via HDMI. Everything must run through a HDMI cable to maintain high definition...

EDIT: Oh sorry, I mis read your question. Yeah... That Marantz has 4 HDMI in and 1 out so yeah, surplus to your needs...
 
Ok I'm sure this is a silly q but - why would I need many hdmi inputs and USB inputs on the tv? All devices would connect to the avr and the avr would connect via hdmi to the tv... Or am I missing something?

In other words, if the avr has USB support and adequate hdmi inputs then the tv would be less important wrt those specs?

If your avr doesn't support HDMI 1.4 then you will need your 3d equipment directly connected to the tv.
 
If I am correct the avr has 6 hdmi 1.4 ports... So i would technically only need one hdmi input on the tv (to connect the avr), and other devices - bd, hdpvr, ps3 - can be connected to the avr?
 
If I am correct the avr has 6 hdmi 1.4 ports... So i would technically only need one hdmi input on the tv (to connect the avr), and other devices - bd, hdpvr, ps3 - can be connected to the avr?
S hit, yeah you right, the SR5006 has 6 in... Yeah, one would be ample but sets these days mostly ship with 2 by default...
 
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