EXPERT VIEW ' BY ROBERT HERON
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HDMI Evolves
`
`when shopping for a new HDTV. it's
`
`
`
`
`
`
`always a good idea to consider your
`
`
`
`
`
`
`current and future video connection
`
`
`
`
`needs. Also keep in mind that viewing a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`high-definition video source on an HDTV
`
`
`
`
`
`set requires the use of a cable (and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`corresponding port) that supports high-
`
`
`
`
`definition signals. Sorry, folks. the yellow
`
`
`
`
`
`composite video port and the S-video
`
`
`
`
`
`port are for standard-definition video
`
`
`
`
`only! The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`found on all modern HDTVs. and this all-digital interface has
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`become the port of choice for connecting modern A/V gear.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`One of the primary benefits of HDMI is that it maintains
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the digital pathway between the source and display. This
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`method avoids any image softening that usually results from
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`digital-analog—digitai conversions. If you must use analog
`
`
`
`
`
`
`video. though, the tried-and—true component-video input
`
`
`
`
`
`continues to be the analog HD (and SD) video connection
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of choice.
`
`HDMI technology is also based upon a continuously
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`updated spec. and the various versions of HDMI that have
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`been developed so far have led to some confusion about
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`which iteration is the best. For HDTVs the answer is simple:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`it doesn't matter. All versions of HDMI can support the maxi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mum resolution of today's best HDTVS. which is ‘|O80p.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Still. two features available in the more recent versions of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HDMI may prove useful: Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and iip—sync. A CEC-enabled television and connected
`
`
`
`
`
`
`source device can communicate via the HDMI connection.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The beauty of this setup is that a source device (such as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`an HD disc player) could be placed out of sight. yet still
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`receive remote-control commands as they are received by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the television and passed along the HDMI connection. A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lip-sync—enabied HDMI port on an HDTV takes into account
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`any delays introduced by the TV's video processing and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ensures the audio track is properly delayed. so what you
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`see is aligned precisely with what you hear. Keep in mind
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`that these extra features of the later HDMI versions are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`optiona|—not required. An HDTV equipped with HDMI v.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1.3a ports (the latest version available in televisions at press
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`time) may support CEC but not lip-sync. or it may support
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`neither. Check the specs carefully if certain HDMI features
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`are critical for your needs.
`
`
`
`
`HDMl’s “one cable" solution for audio and video trans-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`port is certainly convenient. but it isn‘t always a flawless
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`experience. One of most frequent complaints about HDMI
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in HDTVs relates to compatibility issues with other HDMI-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`enabled devices. I've experienced seemingly random losses
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of connection between HDMl—connected devices. or the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`initial "handshake" between two HDMI devices has failed,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`leaving the screen filled with DRM-induced snow (or noth-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing at all), A company called Simplay Labs offers an HDMi
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`verification service that stamps any HDMI-enabled product
`
`
`
`
`
`
`that passes its tests with the "simplay HD" logo. Television
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`manufacturers such as Mitsubishi. Hitachi. Pioneer. HF’, LG.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and Samsung have all submitted various displays for "Sim-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`play HD" verification. and the odds are pretty good that you
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`won't experience any HDMI-related troubles when connect-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing devices that display this logo.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`For full HD color and hcyond. LED5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(lighhcmitting diodcs) have begun to
`
`
`
`
`replace fluorescent tubes in some pre-
`
`
`
`
`
`mium LCD designs. The environmentally
`
`
`
`
`mnscious should also note thatthc switch
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to LEDS as a backlight sourcc eliminates
`
`
`
`
`
`the need for the bit ofmercury present in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`fluorescent backlight tubes. Another ben-
`
`
`
`efit of LED lighting systems: They stabi-
`
`
`
`
`
`lize faster than fluorescent tubes. further
`
`
`
`
`
`speeding up a television's startup time.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Because LEDs can be precisely controlled
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(in terms of beam pattern. luminance, and
`
`
`
`
`color qualities). displaymanufacturcrs are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`also looking to use them to overcome clas-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sic LCD shortcomings. such as poor black
`
`
`
`and motion-performance problems. The
`
`
`
`
`downside oftoday's LED-backlit LCDs.
`
`though. is cost—Samsung and Sony's 70-
`
`
`
`
`
`inch models‘ list prices top 330.000 each.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for example. Smaller l‘C displays that
`
`
`
`
`
`offer LED backlighting typically cost five
`
`
`
`
`
`times as much as a similar model bncklit
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with fluorescent lubcs. LE[‘is and l.(‘.Ds do
`
`
`
`
`
`
`play well together. but it will be Ll couple
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ofycars before this technology hccomcs
`
`
`
`
`
`affordable.
`
`Rear-Projection Sets: More for
`
`
`
`the Money
`
`Perhaps the most exciting thing about
`
`
`
`
`
`roar-projection televisions ll{l"l'Vs)
`
`
`is that they provide big-screen HDTV
`
`
`
`
`
`cnioymcnt at a fraction ofthc price of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`similar—slze l'lat—pancl displays. Unlikc
`
`
`
`those of the last century. today's RPTVS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`offer‘ brighter inizigcry. improved longev-
`
`
`
`
`ity. slimmed-down (‘:1billL‘ldCSlgn5.tl]ld
`
`
`
`
`cvcr—thinncr bczcls. And when viewing -.1
`
`
`
`
`
`modern RPTV only from the front. many
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pcoplc assume that it is a flat-pzincl TV.
`
`
`
`
`
`All modern l'{l"l'Vs have one of three
`
`
`
`
`
`
`competing microdispluy lcchnologics at
`
`
`
`tl‘lL‘ll'l’1l.‘1.lTlS2l)lll’(l)l[1llI(lll..l{.‘El'l[Pl'OCl3S5ll'!§-‘E.
`
`
`
`
`
`proprietary to 'li::<'.is Instruments). liquid
`
`
`
`
`crystal on silicon (LCoSl. and LCD. Rl’TVs
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`that use l)l.I‘ employ millions of hinge-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mounted tiny (we're talking: micromclcrs
`
`
`
`
`here) mirrors. each ofwhich rcllccts two
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pixels onto the screen. Some. such as the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`65~inch Mitsubishi WD-E5833 and the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`So-inch Samsung HL-SSGTQW. provide
`
`
`
`
`
`1080p resolution and a useful selection of
`
`
`
`
`
`A/V inputs. including multiplc HDMI and
`
`NOVEMBER 20. 2007 PC MAGAZINE 77
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`HDTV MINIMUM
`
`
`VIEWING DISTANCE
`For viewing high-definition video on
`
`
`
`
`an HDTV, the optimal seating
`
`
`
`
`position ptaces you close enough to
`
`
`
`
`
`provide an immersive experience
`
`
`
`but not so close as to cause you to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`strain to see the whole picture.
`
`
`
`
`
`SCREEN SIZE IN INCHES
`(MEASURED DIAGONALLY)
`
`
`
`
`
`1371
`
`65
`
`BUYING GUIDE HDTVS
`
`
`
`Samsung I-IL-S5679“!
`
`$3,999.90 llsl
`CODCC;
`
`
`Samsung's 56-inch RPTV torgoes the
`
`
`
`
`traditional color wheel to minimize
`
`
`
`
`those annoying rainbow artifacts that
`
`
`
`
`have bothered some viewers for years.
`
`
`
`
`
`Still. its poor color accuracy and limited
`
`
`
`
`
`
`brightness make the set difficult to
`
`
`
`
`
`recommend.
`
`Sony KDS-55A202O SXRD
`
`
`$2299.99 list
`
`00000
`
`This S5-inch RPTV delivers impressive
`
`
`
`
`Color and big-screen1080p resolution at
`
`
`
`
`
`an affordable price. If you seek plenty of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`picture for your money, this Sony should
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be high on your shortlist.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`l‘1't)pL‘rlycoliiigured. most modern
`
`
`
`Rl'TVs can deliver neztr-reference-level
`
`
`
`image quality in terms ofcolor accuracy,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`contrast. atid detail. All Rl"[‘Vs. ltowevcr.
`
`
`
`
`
`exhibit specific picture quirks that may
`
`
`
`
`
`make them less suitable for some room
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lighting and viewing situations. The view-
`ing “sweet spot" for Ri"1‘Vs is relatively
`
`
`
`
`
`
`narrow—particularly for vertical view-
`
`
`
`ing atigles. Ideally, you get the best view-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing Cxpcriciicc with RI"l‘Vs when you're
`
`
`
`
`
`watching the screeit from the Ct‘I1[L‘l',:Ji eye
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`level. Most RI"I‘Vs exhibit a noticeable
`
`
`
`
`
`loss oflttininance and image detail when
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`viewed from as little as 25 dcgreesoffl'ri'it1t
`and center. Also. Rl‘TVs direct most of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the light emitted from the lamp moduli:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`toward the center ofthe screen. resulting
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the outer edges and corners ofthe pic-
`
`
`
`
`
`ture tncasuringonly about a third as bright.
`
`
`
`
`Interestingly. differetit RPTV screen sizes
`
`
`
`within a particular mariufactttre r’s series
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`use the same lamp and light engine; thus
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the largest models often appear (and mea-
`
`
`
`
`sure) significatttly dimmer than smaller
`
`
`
`
`
`versions. Finally, Ri"l'Vs exhibit about 5.5
`
`
`
`
`percent picture ttverscati. compared with
`
`
`
`
`
`the latest flat-panels. which keep every
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pixel ofan l-iii video signal on the screen.
`
`An overscanncd picture suclt as this
`
`
`
`
`
`results in a softer, less-detailed intage.
`
`
`
`
`Some of the latest Rl"t‘Vs. including
`
`
`
`
`
`the Mitsubishi WD-65833. offer I20-IIZ
`
`
`
`
`display technology that, like its flat-panel
`
`
`
`
`
`LCD counterp:tt'ts. atttenipts to create it
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`clearer-looking picture when displziying
`l"a5t-tnoving imagery. The latest iteration
`
`
`
`
`ofthis so-called 120-l-lz display technol-
`
`
`
`
`
`ogy works by compacting each frame
`
`
`
`
`
`from the original no-H7 tot) l't'ames per
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Second) signal down to l/120 ofa sec-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ond and then inserting an ittterpolated
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ft':tlI1C (10 t‘l1.~‘.. Although not foolproof", this
`
`
`
`
`method tisttally provides some improve-
`ment in .'-,tppat'ent motion resolution.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Another capability stipportcd by the Hit-
`
`
`
`
`
`subishi WD-65B33‘s 120-l lz display tech-
`
`
`
`
`nology is the company's self"-described
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“PX tiairting" option. which syncs with at
`
`
`
`
`pair ofconnected liquid-ci'ystal shutter
`
`
`
`
`
`glasses to create a convincing RD ellcct.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The bencfitofa130-H‘.I display in this
`
`
`
`
`
`
`situation is that each eye (behind a liqtiid
`
`
`
`
`
`crystal shutter) receives no fps, thereby
`
`
`
`
`tnininiizing flicker and other potentially
`
`
`nausea-inducing artifacts-when coni-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pared with similar 31) displays that oper-
`ate at slower refresh I'£1t’L‘S.|
`'
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘Far viewing 5‘l3l'ldal'|1-dEfiI'|lll0|'I video rm an HDW. it is always
`a good idea tn add some extra distance so the relatively pour
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`video quality isn't quite as obvious.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`component-video ports.
`
`Sony's version of l.CoS tech is dubbed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SXRD. and the new Sony KDS-55A202O
`
`
`
`
`
`SXRD uses a trio of these tiny panels to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`process the primary colors independently
`
`
`
`
`at 1080p resolution. These so-called three-
`
`
`
`
`
`chip projection systems typically offer
`
`
`
`
`motion perftirtnance superior to that of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the single-chip light engine used in DLP
`Rl"['Vs. My lab testing showed the {(D5-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SSAZUZD did qti itc well at preserving imagt
`detail when displaying video containing
`
`
`
`
`lots of motion. A TV screen that ol't'ers
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`superior motion performance is less tiring
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to watch over extended periods of time.
`78 PC MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 20. 2007
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`Copyrighf of PC Magazine is The properfy of ZB-Ne1' and i1's oon1'en1' may not be copied or emailed
`1'o mu|1'ip|e si1'es or pos1'ed 1'o a |is1'ser'n.-' wi1'i1ou1' 1'he copyrighf holder's express wri'|'1'en permission.
`However, users may print download, or email arfioles for individual use.