Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site inmet.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ucbvax!decvax!yale!inmet!keenan From: keenan@inmet.UUCP Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Re: Orphaned Response Message-ID: <58200002@inmet.UUCP> Date: Mon, 7-Oct-85 15:45:00 EDT Article-I.D.: inmet.58200002 Posted: Mon Oct 7 15:45:00 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 16:44:11 EDT References: <58200001@inmet.UUCP> Lines: 109 Nf-ID: #R:inmet:58200001:inmet:58200002:177600:5981 Nf-From: inmet!keenan Oct 7 15:45:00 1985 Here is a summary of the responses I received from my query about High-End TV's, often called monitor/receivers. Thanks to everyone who replied, especially for the use of mail rather than posting to the net. The original request: > I'm looking for a TV receiver-monitor with these characteristics: > * 19" color * Remote control > * Quartz tuning * "cable" ready > * comb filter * Stereo > * RGB input * various VCR etc. inputs > Basically everything. Consumers Digest recommended the Panasonic > CTF2075 ($1050/$783), a 20" monitor with all the above features. > What are the other makes and models should I look for? Is there > anything wrong with the Panasonic? I ended up buying a Panasonic CTF2077 for $750 and am very pleased with it, supposedly the 2075 didn't have sterio. It sports the same variety of features listed below for the other manufactorers. Now for the recommendations: From: ihnp4!ukma!david (David Herron, NPR Lover) There's this Hitachi that I have. It's a 19" monitor. Has 3 direct video inputs, 2 using rca plugs and another using a squarish plug that's supposed to be a standard plug for rgb. It also doubles as a high-res monitor, with 400 lines resolution. It is cable ready. Has a fancy tuner. etc. It costs $550 or so. I don't think the model I have is still on the market though. Y'see, I bought it last april, it was a demo model at Circuit City at $300. But I'd think that would just mean they have a better model on the market now. And, no, I don't remember the model number, and I can't look at it right now because it's in the shop having the tuner replaced. --- David Herron --- UUCP-> {ucbvax,unmvax,boulder,oddjob}!anlams!ukma!david --- {ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!cbosgd!ukma!david From: ihnp4!otto!carl (Carl Shapiro) WAIT! Before you buy, check out the Sony XBR models (KV-20XBR, KV-25XBR). These two (20" and 25") are by far the best consumer units I've seen. They both have all the features you mentioned, and more. In particular, they have many inputs and outputs - including 3 video inputs and 2 RF inputs. One of the video inputs has a separate external audio input, useful for a tuner input for simulcasts, or for a laser video disc player with a separate external CX decoder, etc. One of the video inputs is on the front of the unit for easy access. Not only does it come with a remote control (a great one, that allows changing inputs, hue, contrast, bass & treble, balance (yes, it's stereo) and more) but two other remotes are available as options: 1 has a clock in it to turn things on and off at preset times; the other uses the IR to provide wireless headphones (any of the current small headphones can plug into it). Resolution is 330 lines/inch with the RF inputs, and 400 (genuine) with the video inputs. I bought the 25" model for $1050; we just ordered 200 of the 20" units for our videotex system and got them for ~$650 apiece. Demand is such that they may be hard to find, but believe me, they're worth waiting for. Of course, all current TVs will be obsolete in a year or so when vertical line interpolation hits the market. Short of adopting the Japanese 2000-line HRTV standard, unlikely in this country in the forseeable future, scan line interpolation and full frame buffering are our only real hope for improved video picture quality anytime soon. Full frame buffering is better, but both look very good in demonstrations. Both have been developed to counteract the effects of the interleaved scan broadcasts; interpolation looked good because it eliminated the need for storing an entire frame, but as memory costs plummet, manufacturers have been delaying its introduction with the hope of incorporating entire frame buffers at an affordable price. The technology is complete; the timing is now a marketing decision. Last year it looked like interpolation might make the Christmas market, but it didn't, and this year I've heard nothing. This makes me feel that they are expecting 1M memory chips to appear soon enough to relieve the price pressure on the 256K devices, enabling them to be used in consumer TVs either next year or in '87 at the latest. I'm sorry that I can't give you any good references on this stuff, I have come by it in bits and pieces. To get the real story, you have to read Japanese, which I don't. Carl Shapiro {ihnp4,sdcrdcf}!otto!carl From: ihnp4!hplabs!atd!tra (Ted Asocks) Before purchasing the Panasonic, I would look at Sony Monitors, especially the latest model with a "scan doubler". I have yet to see it but I understand it doubles the amount of horizontal scan lines by interpolating a new line to fit between the original 2 lines. Of course this cannot double the resolution but it must make for some very good color balance and picture improvement. We use an industrial model of a Sony, here at work, with a 'Trinitron' tube and it makes the best pictures. If you plan on buying, or already have a VCR why not just use the tuner on that? That way you don't duplicate tuners. Ted Asocks UUCP : {hplabs,ucbvax,turtlevax}!atd!tra From: ihnp4!tektronix!zeus!hercules!billh Stereo Super Stores has had the Panasonic CTF2075 available in the Portland, Oregon area for ~$500. I bought one and it's a real nice set. tektronix!teklds!billh From: harvard!seismo!utah-gr.UTAH-CS!utah-cs!utah-gr!thomas (Spencer W. Thomas) I've looked (but not too hard) at both the high-end Sony (I forget the "initials") and Fisher TVs. Both of them seem to have the features you are looking for, and are in the same price range. A friend who repairs TVs for a living strongly recommends Sony TVs as needing little repair. =Spencer ({ihnp4,decvax}!utah-cs!thomas, thomas@utah-cs.ARPA) Thanks again for the replies, --keenan ross UUCP: {bellcore,ima,ihnp4}!inmet!keenan Intermetrics, Inc. INTERNET: ima!inmet!keenan@CCA-UNIX.ARPA 733 Concord Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 PHONE: (617) 661-1840