High Definition Televisions

[GameCynic]

I bought this TV a few months back and i love it:

Sony 32" Flatscreen HD TV

This isn't true. We have the 32" Sony HDTV at work and it displays progressive XBox signals just fine without doing the anamorphic squeeze.

Yep, I think K3V might be talking about 1080i and 720p modes. 1080i is always in widescreen, and since most Sony HDTV's upscan 720p to 1080i, 720p is always widescreen by default. Not that many games support 720p anyway, and all the ones i've played with the exception of Soul Cailbur 2 have a widescreen mode so its not a problem.

And on a related note, how can I force my analog 36" Wega XBR to go into anamorphic mode on games that offer 16x9. It does it on the XBox dashboard but then defaults back to 4:3 when the game starts.

Yeah, I have the same problem. I played PD Orta for about half an hour right after I got my TV before I realized it was supposed to be in widescreen mode.

[K3V]

This isn't true. We have the 32" Sony HDTV at work and it displays progressive XBox signals just fine without doing the anamorphic squeeze.

And on a related note, how can I force my analog 36" Wega XBR to go into anamorphic mode on games that offer 16x9. It does it on the XBox dashboard but then defaults back to 4:3 when the game starts.

I might be wrong, but all the research I did claimed that was the case. GameCynic probably has it right, but I never personally tested out the TV for myself so I can't say for sure. Just what I read.

As far as plasma, everything I read steered me away from them. Yes, they are cool, but they have a short lifespan, burn in easily, and don't offer high enough resolutions. And they're damn expensive.

[GohanX]

I'm finally upgrading my television (27" Sony Trinitron), and I've decided to go HD. I've got a couple of models in mind:

I can't say that I know too much about HDTV's, but I accept donations of old 27" Trinitrons

[Tojo]

If the trinitron works great still and is in tip top shape, i'd buy it.

[Master]

I have a widescreen HD and I will never go back.

NEVER!

[Teddman]

And on a related note, how can I force my analog 36" Wega XBR to go into anamorphic mode on games that offer 16x9. It does it on the XBox dashboard but then defaults back to 4:3 when the game starts.

Well, on my standard analog Wega, there is an option under the "setup" heading of the onscreen menu. You go down to 16:9 enhanced mode and switch it from "auto" to "on." That will force it into the anamorphic squeeze.

Seems like your TV doesn't auto-detect the anamorphic signal with Xbox for some reason. Funny because mine does, but doesn't with anamorphic PS2 games.

[Masaka]

Thanks much for all the input guys. I may actually see about taking a console up to BB and trying them there. I'd like to see how Metroid, GGXX and SSX3 all look.

I'm giving plasma a wide berth. I've heard the burn in stories as well, and even if they come down to the 2k range, the risk isn't worth it.

I can't say that I know too much about HDTV's, but I accept donations of old 27" Trinitrons

I've had this TV since '99 when I picked it up in Chicago. One of my friends is actually going to buy my old one off of me, which is partly why I'm bothering with the upgrade.

That and 12 month no interest financing I could buy it straight up, but I'd rather put the money somewhere it can grow and just make the payments.

[Nomi]

I have an old Sony 66 inch projection Tv. We bought this TV at a store-closing the same day we got our N64 (and Starfox!). So, it isn't the best of televisions out there. The sound isn't half bad, since we had it upgraded, but it's nothing to marvel at and certainly pales in comparison to sorround sound or the like.

The thing is, my father's been looking into HD's for a while. Because of money being very tight, we wouldn't be able to get anything too impressive. Maybe a 27-32 inch... In a year or so. Right now we couldn't buy a 27 inch regular.

Would it be worth it? I've been on this massive beast of a TV so long, I don't really know if a thirty-some inch widescreen HD would be worth the sacrifice in size.

[Grave]

Instead of buying a new TV, I'm just saving up for a decent quality projector. Unfortunately, that's not gonna happen for a long-ass time, because I'm saving up for a motorcycle first.

Though, I am very wary of plasma screens, because of the burn-in problems I've heard of.

However, standing outside of Tweeter and watching Discovery HD on a huge Mitsubishi TV has made me want to apply for a job there, just so I can see more of it. Insane. Never knew TV could look that good... probably still boring, though.

[Compass]

Yep, I think K3V might be talking about 1080i and 720p modes. 1080i is always in widescreen, and since most Sony HDTV's upscan 720p to 1080i, 720p is always widescreen by default. Not that many games support 720p anyway, and all the ones i've played with the exception of Soul Cailbur 2 have a widescreen mode so its not a problem.

You sure about 720p always being displayed widescreen? I saw someone playing THUG at work and it looked sharp as hell (even sharper than normal 480p I thought). I assumed he was using the 720p mode (which I think this game supports) but I suppose it may have just been 480p. It was in 4:3.

Well, on my standard analog Wega, there is an option under the "setup" heading of the onscreen menu. You go down to 16:9 enhanced mode and switch it from "auto" to "on." That will force it into the anamorphic squeeze.

Seems like your TV doesn't auto-detect the anamorphic signal with Xbox for some reason. Funny because mine does, but doesn't with anamorphic PS2 games.

What model tv do you have? I have a KV36"XBR250 and I'm pretty sure I don't have that option in my menus (gotta check at home).

It auto-detects the anamorphic signal just fine (and it looks great) with DVDs on my regular Toshiba DVD player. Don't know why XBox is hassling me.

Anamorphic PS2 games I've tried don't activate the mode on my set either by the way.