Toad

I wish I knew more about all this stuff, but it just goes in one ear, and flies straight out the other two...

If I buy an HDTV-ready TV, is it a widescreen set (and thus a 16x9 set) that anamorphic DVDs can take advantage of?

If I buy a Sony VVega, and use the 16x9 mode, does this take advantage of the anamorphic DVD?

Lastly, would anyone recommend buying a VVega over a lower-end HDTV set?

Are there TVs out there that can completely omit the black bars on WS discs? If so, what kind of prices do these sets have?

skar

Often, but not always. Lots of HDTV-ready TV's are 16x9 and lots are 4x3.
Yes you get to use the full resolution of the anamorphic DVD, but you still have a letterboxed picture.
I personally would prefer a Toshiba 50H81 or something similiar. Larger picture and 16x9 makes a big difference.
The problem is that movies are filmed in different aspect ratios. Many are 1.85:1 and 2.35:1. Some are 1.66:1 and 2.66:1. So no one screen can fit all movies without distortion. Part of reason front projection systems are becoming more popular.

matchpenalty

skar, they now have a VVega (I believe) direct view widescreen HDTV. Of course they wanted way too much.. I went with the TAU (Panny.)

http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer...s/kw34hd1.html

skar

I forgot about that TV. I saw it at a local store. At that price, plasma is the way to go. His question was about the 16x9 mode, so I assumed a 4:3 TV.

nekobus

Yes, for that much money, one could get a 42" Pannie plasma AND a nice high-end progressive player. It would save the old back too.