Purchising my 1st flat panel

[jjmassey]

Hi folks,

I've been reading and reading and so I'm looking to you all for some advice because I'm more and more confused as I keep reading.

We just bought a home. The ONLY place to put the TV is above the fireplace. Seriously, thats it. With that in mind, I'm having the builder put an outlet above the mantle and run a PVC chase down into the basement. I'll be keeping all the components down in the basement and all the wires will fall neatly into it.

It's a fairly bright room so I'm thinking LCD. the mantle is 72" wide and so I'm thinking either 46" or 50".

The smallest viewing distance will be about 7 feet and average will be 10-13 ft. or so.

With that in mind:
1.) Should I get a 720P instead? I keep reading that you have to be close to view a 1080p set.
2.) If so would any of you recommend one? I can't find recent reviews...
3.) Should I stick with a 1080 set? If so, would any of you send me to a site that has reviewed equipment this year?

The only things I find are reviews and opinions from 2007 or from January of this year.

Again this is my first flat panel so my budget is no more than 2700 and I'd prefer to spend less.
I'll also be getting a swivel/tilting mount in case it need to be tilted downward or slightly to an angle and so on.

[Leopold BUTTERS]

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0092830&catid=

[cpgator]

A 50" TV viewed at 7' could possibly benefit from 1080p, but at 10-13', you will see no difference between a 720 and 1080p HDTV. It seems that most the new TVs now are 1080p, but you can still save some money by finding a 720p if you choose to go that route.

Not sure why you want to put your components in the basement - that seems so inconvenient. For the TV that I mounted, I have the components in the nearest closet. They are out of the way, but still close enough for when I want to put in a DVD, reset the sat box, etc.

[rogman]

As mentioned, at 10-13 feet, you may not notice the difference if you go 50" or smaller. One thing to consider too is that manufacturers know the $$ is in 1080P (bigger markup) so they're putting better components into them overall. So it may be hard to make an "apples to apples" comparison between the two.

Not sure why you'd put all the components in the basement either. Very incovenient. Even if you buy an RF repeater so you can control them from upstairs, there's still the matter of popping in the disc, etc. (Unless you're getting a media server or something!)

There are some tips at: http://www.finishabasement.com/home_theater.htm that may help.

Happy shopping!

[Beta Man]

Have you come up with a solution to control your components while you're watching the t.v. ???

[moviefan]

TV above fireplace ... DON'T DO IT! Guaranteed sore neck!
But if you insist ...
52" LCD 1080P sounds good
Basement components ... why? Very long expensive HDMI cables.
Tilt-only mount OK, new LCDs have wide viewing angle
What about LCR speaker mounts? Need to pre-wire.
Good luck, whatever you decide!

[jjmassey]

Have I found a solution to control my components?

Yes, I was able to see a similar setup and the inspiration for my setup. I'll have to do some work for speakers, but that will be fun.

I'll be using an infrared repeater. The system I got to view worked quite well.

As for long HDMI cables, well, they won't be that long. The chase runs down into the wall and I'm building up a cabinet set that will house the components right below the floor. Actually, we're having the builder remodel the kitchen and I'm putting the kitchen cabinets downstairs. I'll attach them to the wall right below the chase to house components. I'll then cut the top open to run cables and for the repeater.

We'll be able to control everything from upstairs except blu-rays/DVDs. The stairs for the basement are in the living room and so if we have to run down the stairs to put in a movie I'll live with that. I'll consider it exercise!

As for don't put it above the fireplace, well, the floor plan is completely open. That leaves us with one wall and it has the fireplace. It has to happen. My wife hates it, but, if I set it up so she does not have to see any components or cables she'll be all right. Thats why all the trouble.