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Arcam DV79 and Samsung DLP - your thoughts please

Hi - Am looking to upgrade my very trusty and still quite beautiful Mitsubishi 35" CRT and Cal Audio 2500 DVD player. Goal is of course HD playback from satellite and an improved DVD experience.

For the TV I am looking hard at the Samsung HL-R46, a DLP device which because of its trim bezel will fit into the existing space (40 1/2" wide). I know the blacks aren't quite there compared to a CRT so I would like to hear from anyboy who has made this type of change... BTW The other choice is one of the Sony CRTs.

While the primary signal source will be the Direct TV satellite and a off air antenna, I would like to upgrade the Cal and move to HDMI. The reviews of the Arcam DV79 are pretty close to spectacular - given that the Samsung does some signal processing, should I care that the Arcam does not output 1080i? What else should I be considering in the under $2K range?

BTW I will run HDMI to the display and an Toslink to my B&K. After this is in I may consider changing out the B&K for the Arcam 300 - anyone done that? Have seen a few posts suggesting that the B&K remains the better unit but nobody ever talks about how good a B&K sounds... Besides the satellite and the DVD, I also use a SB2 (Squeezebox 2) to play my digital audio library

Thanks in advance for all your help

best,
ck
ckorody

Showing 3 responses by ckorody

ckorody OP
643 posts
 
Thanks guys - appreciate your help
ckorody OP
643 posts
 
By the by, it appears that the 42" and the 46" - the ones I am considering - will remain 720p - while the 50" and up units get the 1080i upgrade. From the readings Avguygeorge pointed me at, the benefits of the 1080 rate become increasingly apparent as screen size increases...

Anyone have an opinion - question being will I hate 46" at 720p?
ckorody OP
643 posts
 
Thanks guys - as usual bigger is better - BUT as I noted in the post, we have an existing wall unit that was made for a 35" Mitsubishi CRT - the 42 and the 46 seem like they will just barely squeak in. Since the wall unit is staying I have one of three choices - stay with the Mits which is still great, just not HD, get a Sony 34 or 36 HD CRT which basically looks as good as the Mits, or go for a somewhat bigger picture with the Samsung 42 or 46.

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