My very humble AV system...

[Celt]

2004 JVC 27" stereo TV with S-Video and component inputs.
2004 Pioneer DVD-V5000 DVD player and home-built horn-loaded speakers with
Fostex Sigma drivers being driven direct from the JVC's speaker outputs.
All of my friends have gone to large flat-screens and Dolby surround, but the way I look at it, if it ain't broke, why replace it?

[Eric H]

Those speakers are beautiful, did you build them?

[Jeffhs]

My own video system is a lot like Radiotvnut's system. You may have seen a picture of mine already, as I attached one to a post I sent to VK member Brandon (lnx64) a couple months ago, but if not, here it is again:

19" Insignia flat screen HDTV

Panasonic PV-4022 VHS VCR

LG BP-220 Blu-ray player

Aiwa CX-NA888 bookshelf stereo system (not shown)

Controlled (all but the stereo system) by a GE 4-function (TV/VCR/DVD/aux) remote

It's nothing fancy, but it works well for me. Since my apartment is so small, I went with a 19" flat screen rather than a big 55-inch or larger one (LCD with LED backlight, not plasma -- I've heard and read that plasma HDTVs run hot and are prone to image burn-in). I could have used something like a Logitech "Harmony" series remote to control the whole system, but the price was far too steep. I don't have the TV hooked up to the stereo, because if I did that I'd lose the TV's mute function. Further, my stereo system is capable of surround sound, but it is so old now (13 years) I'm not sure I could even get the matching rear speakers for it anymore. My VHS and DVD collection is in a rack in my bedroom, as there is no room for it near the TV.

Note: My Blu-ray player is in the picture (it's on the lowest shelf of the TV stand), but it's difficult to see, especially on a flat-screen monitor, unless the brightness and contrast are increased somewhat above normal. Serves me right for taking the picture in daylight without the overhead light on in the apartment; that and it was a very bright, sunny day when that picture was taken. To make matters worse (!), the flash on my little Radio Shack "Flatfoto" digital camera isn't that bright in the first place, so it doesn't throw nearly as much light as is needed for good daytime photos -- and I cannot turn it off manually, although it is supposed to have an automatic control that senses whether or not there is enough (or not enough) light in a room to warrant the use of the flash.

[Celt]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Those speakers are beautiful, did you build them?

Yup. They were made from Buschorn plans about thirteen years ago. I've modified them a few times.
They can play quite loud just with the TV's small amp as handle large amps with aplomb. Response is a respectable 50 to 18,000 Hz.

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by Celt

Yup. They were made from Buschorn plans about thirteen years ago. I've modified them a few times.
They can play quite loud just with the TV's small amp as handle large amps with aplomb. Response is a respectable 50 to 18,000 Hz.

I like tall skinny speakers, I'm using a pair of Advent Heritage thrift store specials, I didn't build them of course but I did re-foam them!

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Celt

Yup. They were made from Buschorn plans about thirteen years ago. I've modified them a few times.
They can play quite loud just with the TV's small amp as handle large amps with aplomb. Response is a respectable 50 to 18,000 Hz.

So this is a folded horn design?... Is the exit of the horn in the rear? However they are configured, they are very nice looking!

jr

[Celt]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

So this is a folded horn design?... Is the exit of the horn in the rear? However they are configured, they are very nice looking!

jr

Yes, an exponential horn (about 6 feet) that exits the rear.

[jbattles]

This is a 27" toshiba set that is like new it plays like new. i have it hooked to a ibm p4 that i bought for 5 bucks i have the computer connected to my home network where i whatch my movies and tv shows off the net. i have a dtv box i picked up at a junk store for 20.00 and 10.00 for a remote. i am very happy with it i have a nice system 35.00, plus i have a dvd recorder and a vcr hooked to it.

I had had couple of flat screens to me they do not play as good as the crt sets. new tech is fine but i think i will stick with old school tech. i have a rca 55" dlp and i find my self whatching the the smaller toshiba more.

[holmesuser01]

Nice. You are not alone with old CRT systems. I just recently moved up to a 32" set for the first time ever!

[lnx64]

I can't get a pic right now, but my AV setup is different. I have the speakers behind me (as it's under my computer desk), and it's connected to a Pioneer AV receiver that's actually pretty high end and new. TV is the Samsung in my sig, lol

I'm watching an old HBO recorded VHS tape though right now, I'll stick with TV sound.

[radiotvnut]

Nice! Mine is almost as humble as it gets. A 20" 2002 Sony Wega, a late '90's Sharp VCR, a 5-6 year old Sony DVD player, and the Comcast DTA box that they forced everyone to use once they dropped analog cable.

[Celt]

BTW, our cable company did not drop analog cable and according to them, have no intention of doing so.
Digital is there for the folks who want more channels and pay big bucks. Not me.

[Jeffhs]

Time Warner Cable is all-digital these days, but the lowest tier of service above bare-bones basic (broadcast channels only), referred to by TW as expanded basic or, as I call it, x-basic, providing about 70 channels, is still available without a cable box. However, some formerly analog channels such as ShopNBC, Travel Channel, National Geographic Channel, et al. have been moved to one of the digital tiers and are no longer available on x-basic cable.

It's all about the money -- TW is interested in that high rental fee for cable boxes (and, I swear, it is going higher every time I turn around). This fee is now, IIRC, $10 a month over and above the cable bill itself, and that's for just one box on one TV.

If you have more than one set, each requiring a box, the fees can add up in a hurry. Don't get me started on cable fees if you have digital cable, the required box, and one or more movie channels. In this case, I think it would be cheaper to drop those high-priced movie channels and get a subscription to Netflix or some other DVD rental service (Blockbuster, Redbox, et al), or even drop the cable altogether and get a streaming video box. Of course, even without the movie channels, digital cable is still very expensive; I canceled my service and went back to x-basic when Time Warner's digital cable rates reached $55 a month. I never looked back.

[Sandy G]

Yep. My dad & sister just got a big new flatscreen thingy...It didn't even impress me enuff to ask the size or remember who made it....INCREDIBLY bright picture-Almost incendiary- but the LCD-or WHATEVER it is-"Artifacts" just look weird & unnatural to me.

[jbattles]

i know people look cartoonish, those sets just dont play like a tv should and the lcds are look blurry and bright. i know what you mean