@matthew

Yeah tried switching audio formats. I'll borrow a HDMI cable in the next couple of days because my only hdmi cable is already connected. I hope its just the cable.

About 10 minutes ago sound output over HDMI between my sony STB and my tv stopped working suddenly, while the video wasn't affected. It seems odd that this didn't happen at startup. Anyway sound still works perfectly out over optical. Has anyone experienced this before? Regards, Matthew

Nothing in particular. Just being sick and tired of a 51cm 4:3 CRT tv. Watching movies on that was agony, on a 2.33:1 transfer the image would be 9cm high! Now a HT has re-sparked movie watching and my DVD collection should be double by the end of X-mas day.

But if you can use the HDMI out of the Pana S97 because it natively upscales over HDMI to a HDCP compliant monitor. You should see a difference then.

I think true 1080p would be lost on 42". But I suppose that it all depends on how close you are to the screen. But the benefit of the Panasonic full HD is that you can get one now. Though you'd be better served waiting for the 1080p content.

I had one of those Y cables which I got free from JB when I got my Jensen 5.1 system (yeah I know it was real big of them). Is it better to have a 1-1 cable?

I should have gotten one of these when I got my HT a few weeks ago. I hadn't heard of this Panasonic model. Instead I got the EH-50. I suppose the only benefit of the EH-50 is the HDD?

I like my Sony STB, which has HDMI. Its got brilliant PQ. But some people have had problems, especially with the heat. Though it hasn't effected me. And I've only got about 3cm of ventilation for it.

7 once showed the senator in 24 (season 4) alive in "next weeks episode" when the cliffhanger was whether the seantor lived or died.

I use the LOTR EE: The Return of the King disc two for both audio and video. The arrow shows of the 5.1 really well. The arrival of the Oliphants really shows off the subwoofer. The fight scenes are amazing to watch. But I suppose there isn't too much vibrant color.

The TH-42PV500A has an analogue tuner. And you can definately tell the difference between analogue and digital on a plasma. So get at least a good SD STB.

I have the Sony DST HD500 STB hooked up to my Pana 42" HD plasma via HDMI and audio through a Pana SA-XR55 over coax and I've had only a small firmware problem with it. The DST HD500 sometimes gets the next program and the current program mixed up. PQ and SQ has been amazing and I've had no real issue with the amount of heat it generates (as some others have stated on the forum). I've had my system and the Sony DST HD500 STB for right on a week now, so it seems I've gotten lucky and aam in the clear.

Why are all the full bit rate releases in the other countries? Surely the only differences between Australia and say US would be that Australia runs PAL (which is merely video) and we're on a different region, which surely isn't too hard to change. So why can't we get the full bit rate?

No. You may be able to get a component to HDMI (or to DVI) converter though. So SCART to Component cable through converter box to HDMI (or DVI, where you'd need a HDMI-DVI cable).

I just got my Snazio 1300 off HyperReality. But the picture seems to have faint scan lines when connected to my Pana 42" HD plasma. I've connected the Snazio to my TV over composite and component. And the scan lines are still there. I've changed the output video type from PAL to NTSC, no change. Over component the resolution can be changed, but even with different resolutions the scan lines are still there. How do I fix this?

I've had the Sony for a few days now. Image quality (over HDMI to a Pana 42" HD plasma) is suberb. While I haven't got much to compare to (this is my first venture to digital) I couldn't fault it. Heat has not been an issue. Its not freezing cold, but merely warm. And I haven't even given it the recommended air space. (about 5cm of ventilation to each side. My biggest issue with it is the that programming it isn't so easy. You set the favourite lists but then using the program up/down buttons goes changes the stations accourding to the main list. Setup was a breeze (besides assigning stations to a favourite menu) with stations being picked up perfectly after selecting state (in my case Victoria.) I didn't get channel 31, which may or may not be because of the STB.

I saw the Hitachi 8800 side by side with the Pana 42PV500 with a DVD source (Finding Nemo) at JB in Dandy and the Pana was a lot clearer. Everything was so much more defined.

276 Springvale Road, Springvale, Melb. They don't look like much from the outside. But on the inside.... all the top watches pens ect. At the back they have a big Sony section (with tvs, laptops, recorders), and a digital camera/video camer/music player section of various brands. But I think they only do Panasonic and Sony tvs.

Got the TH-42PV500A for $3650 and the SA-XR55 (merely ordered it: they don't have it in stock or anything, so unfortunately I'm buy the amp blind) for $630. From CPK Springvale Duty Free, in Springvale, Melbourne. Though I paid GST, since I'm not going overseas. Though I'm getting some more panasonic products too. So its a part of a package deal. As long as Panasnic have stock I *should* (figers crossed...) get the the stuff later this week.

I need a power board for my HT gear (which is all arriving hopefully Friday night). I've seen the PureAV boards, and they look like a good board. However I was wondering if they are really worth the >$200 (no, I'm not going to buy off eBay). Is it really necessary? If not, what else would do the job? BTW I have done a search. None of it seemed to answer my questions.

I'm getting mine around Friday if all goes well, I'll post my thoughts then. Hope mine's not a dud though....

I'm in a similar position. I was thinking of geting the pana 80gb HDD/DVD recorder but now I'm not so sure. The worst part about the Pana is that it merely has an analogue tuner. So will only record the analogue signal. PVR's record typically from the SD digital source. Check out the following section of this forum for more on PVR's: http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showforum=8

The Sony one is $500 to $600.

I didn't say that. I said I don't need one with a HD tuner. I also don't need a Toppy (because I will have another STB so won't need the dual-tuner). Thanks, I'll have a look into that option.

First of all I have done a search. Most of the threads were looking at the Toppy's price. And I'm not looking at a Toppy since I'll have a HD STB. What I want however is a SD PVR 120gb (of course larger would be nice) for around the $500 mark. It should have good PQ and be able to time shift. So what are my options?