1. I take it this means you do not have surround speakers? NO. I have some JBL 'Jubal' LC-65 speakers, circa. 1977, about the same age as the receiver. They have been re-coned once a few years ago, and still perform magnificently. 2. Do you want surround sound? Maybe. But I only have two ears. I remember '4-channel stereo' that came out and died in the 1970s. Probably 'surround soud' is good for movies. But I am not a big movie watcher. I watch TV for mostly news and sports. 3. Does your U-verse have analog out, left and right stereo? YES. 4. Do you have a blue-ray/dvd player? Not yet. If not, are you willing to spend $200 for a new one? Yes, actually, I would like to get a player that will do all formats and including audio formats, and some of the high end CD formats. I have a few of those in my classical colelction. They are SACD I think. -----Original Message----- From: nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Osthus Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 5:08 PM To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [nikonf4] Re: It's starting.... Yes, older gear is generally better. To a point. Let's take this in order: 1. I take it this means you do not have surround speakers? 2. Do you want surround sound? 3. Does your U-verse have analog out, left and right stereo? 4. Do you have a blue-ray/dvd player? If not, are you willing to spend $200 for a new one? http://www.amazon.com/LG-BD590-Network-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B0036WT1V8/ref= sr_1 _1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291071932&sr=8-1 John -----Original Message----- From: nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jay Paxton Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 4:54 PM To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [nikonf4] Re: It's starting.... I have AT&T U-verse. The Panasonic set does have an optical sound output, but my Yamaha Receiver (which I bought in 1977, and which is still magnificent), has no optical input, same not even having been dreamed of in 1977, I am sure. Is there such a thing as a converter to convert optical input to analog? Or am I a hopeless dweeb for asking such a question? -----Original Message----- From: nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Osthus Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 4:48 PM To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [nikonf4] Re: It's starting.... For the audio you should not be going through the TV anyway. That is an absolutely unnecessary step that gains you nothing. The only complication is how you have your room wired and what equipment you have or are willing to buy. If you do not have optical sound these days you are missing out. If you can tell me what your gear is I can help you figure out the best path. There are several factors to consider and also some benefits from a new TV that most consumers are not aware of because the cable TV/satellite people don't want you to know. Best, John -----Original Message----- From: nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jay Paxton Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 11:26 AM To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [nikonf4] Re: It's starting.... Thanks. I am still looking. Looked at the Panasonic G series 50" at Best Buy this weekend. It is a magnificent image, and is almost 50% less in price that the high end LED-LCD sets. But I am reading from some sources that the plasma will fade (and the rich blacks that are so attractive in the plasma) will 'gray up' in time.... then other sources say these newer ones are better about that. But who knows? Also, this set does not have an analog audio output (many of them don't these days). So how will I connect it to my existing stereo system to get better than the tinny sound that all flat panel TVs emit? It's a shame someone at Panasonic didn't think of that. -----Original Message----- From: nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 11:10 AM To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [nikonf4] Re: It's starting.... Set it up Friday... going from CRT I'm still getting used to it. Image is nice, though it's obvious that newer shows look better than older shows. Watched the Eagles game on it Sun... The loss was just as ugly as it would have been on the CRT (and no motion/refresh rate problems). Overall, for what I paid I'm happy with it. > Mark- > > So how is the plasma? Are you happy with it? > > I am still looking. > > -JP > > -----Original Message----- > From: nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:nikonf4-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Mark Stein > Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 7:08 PM > To: nikonf4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [nikonf4] Re: It's starting.... > > A couple of things... > > First... Price. I set a price threshold that it had to be less than > $400 > for a 37-42 inch tv. This was the lowest price set I've seen, and it > also > has 2 year interest free financing... (less than $20 a month). > > Also, unless you pay for the higher refresh rates, plasma is better for > motion than LCD. > > I'm setting it up tomorrow... I'll let you know how it is. > > > > At 07:02 PM 11/24/2010 -0600, you wrote: >>Mark- >> >>I am looking for a big screen TV as well. >> >>Why did you choose plasma over LED/LCD? >> >>LCDs look brighter and richer color in the store.... but maybe not when >>you get home. >> >>What made up your mind? >> >>Thanks, >>Jay >> >>Lookout... black friday specials are starting. And me being a > patriotic >> >>american, I'm stimulating the economy. >> >>Bought the 42 inch plasma on Mon. night. Now, I just bought a wacom >>bamboo >>tablet (their cheapest one) for $49 at newegg (with free shipping). I >>also >>bought a bluetooth head set for $.99 after rebate. >> >>Think I'm buying a miter saw on friday (Sears and Lowes has them for >>$100 >>with stand). And a couple of gifts for people too. >> >>-MS > > > > >