Year 2020 home theater.

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Next year when we will be in Canada,
we will buy a new TV  and DVD or BluRay
(Here on planet Vietnam we have four TV sets
three LG cathode tube and one Sony 32'' flat screen.
Unfortunately they are all PAL system, so, not compatible with NTSC)
The same goes for the three DVD players.
Sooo... After some research on the Internet I am looking at a Sony
or Panasonic (The later is much more expensive) between 43 to 55''
compatible with the Internet.
I think they call it a 4K Smart TV ?
I'm a long time Sony user, not only for TV.
For the DVD I was looking at Panasonic Zone free unit,
because we have hundreds of DVD
but the reviews don't look good at Panasonic, Sony and many other brands.
Many units will show a display saying it's not the right zone
or something like that ? ? ?
In addition, looking at the specs and features, the BluRay players
have more opinions and connections.
I don't own any BR disc, but a BluRay player can play DVD.
One feature that I must have is a usb key input to play my usb music.
We already have a Pioneer receiver (Old one, but still good)
and I am looking at stereo two channels (Not 5.1 or 7.1)
I have two GR Research speakers.
Of course with new TV I will have to use my Arcam DAC for the digital sound
from the tv to the receiver.
Looking for suggestions.
My budget is 1,500 CND $ for TV and DVD or BR.

Guy 13

[S Clark]

So...  you are asking for TV and zone free disc player recommendations under 1500 CND, USB required ???

[Folsom]

Couldn't you just buy a player in Vietnam, then buy a second player when you get to Canada?

[S Clark]

Actually, when I look at it, all of that stuff together isn't worth $100 USD, so it's not worth moving.  Cathode TV's have negative value, and a used DVD player is worth maybe $10.  A used 32" flat screen is worth about $40 tops. Give to your wife's family if they'll have it.
Just bring your DVD's and buy a new flat screen and player after you get to Canada.  Keep the stereo gear, except the V-1 cabinets. 

[Guy 13]

So...  you are asking for TV and zone free disc player recommendations under 1500 CND, USB required ???

Hi,
yes, that's exactly what I am asking for.
Recommendations, so I can see if what I looking at makes sense.

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

Couldn't you just buy a player in Vietnam, then buy a second player when you get to Canada?

Hi Folsom,
look like my English is not very good,
so, I will try again.
All my TV and DVD will stay in Vietnam,
the inlaws will use them.
When in Canada, I will buy a TV plus a DVD player or Bluray player.
What I am looking for is recommendations on the purchase of the TV and DVD,
what make, model would you recommend that is reliable and perform well.
Hope this is now more understandable ?

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

Actually, when I look at it, all of that stuff together isn't worth $100 USD, so it's not worth moving.  Cathode TV's have negative value, and a used DVD player is worth maybe $10.  A used 32" flat screen is worth about $40 tops. Give to your wife's family if they'll have it.
Just bring your DVD's and buy a new flat screen and player after you get to Canada.  Keep the stereo gear, except the V-1 cabinets.

Hi S Clark.
My intentions are clear,
leave everything TV and DVD here on planet Vietam,
because all of them are not compatible with North America standard (NTSC)
plus most of them are 220V.
Soooo... I have t start from scratch once in Canada.
So I need a 4K smart TV 43 to 55'' I want to be able to browse the Internet
with my TV mainly watch You Tube video.
LED or something else that is affordable.
For the DVD or BluRay player it will be use to play music on CD and USB.
Since both units (TV + DVD) will only have digital audio output,
I will put to use my Arcam DAC because I want to keep
our very old (Read 20 years) Pioneer receiver.
I will sell the GR Research V1 speakers (Too big)
and use what I am using now, the GR Research M3 speaker.
I might be also looking at a Sound Bar to henance the voices on TV.
Any recommendations according to your personnal experiences.

Guy 13
 

[S Clark]

I'd just wait until you get to Canada and find the best sale.  Sony and LG are common options for region free at lower prices.  Oppo will cost more and you have to buy a kit to modify it to region free, but are high qualtiy.

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Well look like I am on my own deciding what to buy.
Soooo, I will stick to the results of my research on the web.
Sony TV 43 to 55'' depending on price, uless Panasonic is on sales.
I saw that the difference in price between 43 and 55'' with some
dealers is only 50 USD more.
The price jump a lot when you go to 60''.
LG, Samsung and other unknown brands are out f the question.
Probably go with the LED which seems the most popular.
Definitely go for 4K Smart TV.
Fot the DVD, I might go with BluRay because of better features,
I think I will forget about '' Zone free '' feature, too many
unsatisfied customers on all the reviews...
I will not buy one of those 33 USD DVD player, I want something better,
too bad OPPO is out. I think a BluRay at 300 USD + is what I will go for.
Now for the sound bar, that will depend on how clear are the voices with my set up.
I will not pay 800 $ for a Sound bar regardeless how good it is.
Once on Montreal, I will shop at Fillion Electronique and Best Buy and see who offer
best prices and good after sales service.
Soooo... That's it.

Guy 13

[Barry (NJ)]

You don't want a DVD, player, as any Blu-Ray player will play DVD. Flat screens are a commodity item, unless you're talking High-End big screens. You should be able to get a decent TV and player for your budget. I'd wait until you're situated, or at least have your room size known before you even begin shopping, so that you can know what size you want. Also models are released at least annually, so what you're looking at now, may not even be available after you've moved...

[Guy 13]

You don't want a DVD, player, as any Blu-Ray player will play DVD. Flat screens are a commodity item, unless you're talking High-End big screens. You should be able to get a decent TV and player for your budget. I'd wait until you're situated, or at least have your room size known before you even begin shopping, so that you can know what size you want. Also models are released at least annually, so what you're looking at now, may not even be available after you've moved...

Thanks Barry.

Guy 13

[tmazz]

Guy, I would not give this another second of thought until you get to Canada.

The pricing on TVs has been so fluid in recent years that planning now for a purchase as  little as two or three months away is an exercise in futility. Just wait until you are ready to buy and then go out and see what the prices are then. Two years ago 40 inches was the point at which prices started to jump, but now 50-55 inches seems to be the sweet spot for pricing. As the biggest sets get bigger, the prices of the smaller sizes tend to drop. Also there are more technology changes just over the horizon as manufacturers are now starting to talk about introducing sets with 8k video. And when that happens, 4K will no longer be king of the hill and prices on those sets will fall even further.

The bottom line here is that things change so quickly in the video world that it does not pay to look into particular models until right when you are ready to buy or you risk either that model being discontinued before you are ready to buy, or having is displaced in the best bang for the buck category by something newer.

This really need to be a game time call.

[Guy 13]

Guy, I would not give this another second of thought until you get to Canada.

The pricing on TVs has been so fluid in recent years that planning now for a purchase as  little as two or three months away is an exercise in futility. Just wait until you are ready to buy and then go out and see what the prices are then. Two years ago 40 inches was the point at which prices started to jump, but now 50-55 inches seems to be the sweet spot for pricing. As the biggest sets get bigger, the prices of the smaller sizes tend to drop. Also there are more technology changes just over the horizon as manufacturers are now starting to talk about introducing sets with 8k video. And when that happens, 4K will no longer be king of the hill and prices on those sets will fall even further.

The bottom line here is that things change so quickly in the video world that it does not pay to look into particular models until right when you are ready to buy or you risk either that model being discontinued before you are ready to buy, or having is displaced in the best bang for the buck category by something newer.

This really need to be a game time call.

Hi tmazz.
Thanks for your advice - recommendations.
I am aware that technology is changing rapidly
and that the prices are melting by the day.
I saw a price difference of only 50 $ between a 43 and 55''
by the time I will be ready to buy,
probably the 60'' will be at the price of a 55''.
I've also noticed that most of the connections are digital
and RCA analog in-output are exceptions.
Now, what about the LED Oled, etc... ? ? ?
I am not looking for 8K TV because I am sure that the choises of 8K sources are limited,
at least for now....
Even if I buy an 8K TV who knows maybe next year they will come with a new 19K....
I think the suppliers of different sources cannot keep up with that resolution upgrade.
What about movies on TV (Standard cable or optical cable) can they supply such resolution ? ? ?
For the DVD I am sure I will go with a BluRay instead of DVD.
We don't have much DVD disc, most of them are in PAL format,
but I do have a few good CD of music.
Even if the TV has a usb input I prefer the usb input on the Bluray,
mainly because it's more accessible at the from of the player.
To make inteconnections between TV - Bluray and (An old analog only) receiver
I will need a DAC, I have two units (FiiO and Arcam) but that's more cables
and walwart.... Therefore I might buy an (Inexpensive) 5.1 receiver
most of the 2.1 receivers I saw don't have the HDMI connectivity.
Any one of you have a sound bar ?
On some movies, sometimes it's difficult to understand clearly the speeches.
Soooo.... What I am looking for from AN members is what they have
and if they had to buy again, what wuld they buy.
Share your experience good or bad....
Also I was wondering if it's worth going to optical cable ?
Will the image be better ?
I also might install my PI Audio Majik Buss to see if it improve the sound and images...


Guy 13

[tmazz]

Wow Guy, that's a lot of questions in one post. I'll try to address them in order.

Yes, technology in video is rapidly changing. But just like computers the only thingf you can count on is that next year TVs will be bigger, cheaper and higher technology. So at some point you just have to draw a line in the sand and decide to buy. If you always wait for the next new thing that is just around the corner, you will never buy anything. Luckily, in your case you have the move which will force you to buy something at a specific time. So my advice in that regard is to just lay back and see what is on the market when you move.

Digital connection are going to dominate the TV inputs because the old fashioned RCA connections limit you to standard video, which by the way will look like on a 40+ inch flat screen. Keep in mind when the standard video formats were developed in the late 40s/early 50s home TVs had 5 inch cathode ray picture tubes. When the number of scan line was set the assumption was that nobody would ever have a set bigger than 19 inches (which was HUGE compared to what they had at the time.) SO most of the connections are digital because that is what is required for higher resolution signals that will look good on the larger wide screen sets.

LEDs vs OLEDs - OLEDS most definitely produce a better picture than standard LEDs, but they are still in the area of three time the costs of a similarly sized standard LED set. The biggest difference is that the blacks on an OLED set are much deeper and darker. The OLED sets I have seen in the store seem to have a richer color saturation, but I think that is just a result of the colors standing out better against the deeper blacks. To put it in photography terms, Think of LEDs as Ecktachrome and OLEDs as Kodachrome. Better, but at a cost. And while the cost of OLED sets has come down, it has been at about the same rate as flat screen TVs in general, so the 2 or 3  to 1 price ratio has remained pretty much the same in spite of the price drops.

As long as 4K has been out, there is still not all that much source material out there for it, either recorded or on cable. SO I think you are right, even if 8K comes out soon, it will be a long time before it becomes widely used. (and if I remember correctly the 4K sets were on the market the better part of 2 years befoe the was any source material available for them at all.)
 
Buying a Blu-Ray player is the way to go. There is a very small difference in price between DVD and Blu-Ray players and I think that it is worth the extra if for not other reason than to give you the option if you ever need it.

I think a HT Rcvr is the way to go as it will give you the ability to easily switch among sources (at least your disc player and the cable box.) But just be careful when looking at cheaper model. HDMI like USB has several revisions and earlier HDMI ports will not pass 4K signals. So just make sure whatever rcvr you choose is 4K compatible as some of the lower end models may not be.

Never owned a sound bar, so I can't help there. I use a Sony HT Rcvr and all Paradigm speaker in a 5.1 configuration (Not a matched HT set, but all Paradigm speakers. Very happy with what I have and would have no reason to buy anything else.

As for optical digital. I have never heard an optical connection that sounded better than a coax connection between the same components. But I certainly have not heard everything out there. That said a lot of HT stuff only offers optical, so you may not have a choice.

[Guy 13]

Thanks tmazz
for taking time to share with me your experience and views,
that's exactly what I was looking for.
You are my hero !
Of course I will wait until I'm back into civilisation,
yes, I know, that's not nice for the Vietnamese....
That's my twisted sense of humour and it's not about to change.
For the sound bar, I will wait first to see - hear how my new HT sounds.
I also need to by for my wife and me a pair of headphones,
in case we have to listen to different systems.
I am pretty much decided on the Sennheiser HD595cs over the ears closed back,
they are less than 200 USD.
That's it, that's all,
thanks fr the help my hero.

Guy 13