Choices
 

Now that the door to video heaven is opening, I'm faced with some wonderfully difficult choices. Anybody have any feedback on these???
1--HD1 vs. HD10U--ok, I guess this one's a no-brainer. Onto the next one...
2--VD400 US DVHS vs. DH30000 DVHS rec/player. I don't have a clue which is better or offers more features...
3--JVC's 42" P420 UG plasma vs. its 50" 501PZU plasma. Does 8" really make a difference over its greater price?
4--JVC's proprietary editing software vs. Womble, Vegas or FCP w/ Mullen's fix. Some people haven't had a problem with the LE. Womble only costs $120. I'm not familiar with FCP but it sure sounds anything but simple with the new fix. I do mostly documentaries so I don't need titles that jiggle. Consensus yet?

Isn't it great that its 2003 and we're presented with these choices? I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime and I just turned 50. Been in the video business since 1979 with the old RCA TK-47s.

The JVC JVC HM-DH40000U is a a good choice if you are building a Home Theater. It also has a better image.

im now using videolan to convert to valid files and then tmpeg to create huffyuv avis, its 2 steps and then you can edit with anything that supports the resolution you output (im using premiere).

Now that's interesting.....Cruthfield sells the DH30000 for $599 and you're saying the 40000 (the next generation?) gives a better image than the VD400US which you can buy for $1049. The HD story keeps getting better and better! Maybe we really are in HD heaven!

<<<-- Originally posted by Lynne Whelden : Now that's interesting.....Cruthfield sells the DH30000 for $599 and you're saying the 40000 (the next generation?) gives a better image than the VD400US which you can buy for $1049. The HD story keeps getting better and better! Maybe we really are in HD heaven! -->>>

Gives a better image than the 30000. The 400 and 40000 are identical.

Seems like the 30000 and 40000 are pretty close in picture quality from everything i've read about them. I have a 30k but I have not seen the 40K. OneCall was selling the 30k for a little over $400. I don't know if they are still available there.

<<<-- Originally posted by Randall Morton : Seems like the 30000 and 40000 are pretty close in picture quality from everything i've read about them. I have a 30k but I have not seen the 40K. OneCall was selling the 30k for a little over $400. I don't know if they are still available there. -->>>

The analog electronics (in and out) are completely new in the 400/40000. Better S/N and greater frequency response.

Of course, if you are using only i.LINK in and out -- there is no difference.

Plus 40/40000 output all audio via optical port.

But here a question for you:

When you record DV25 via i.LINK can you record at HS -- or only at STD?

I realized the sound is now digital. Wasn't it originally going to be DTS enabled? This wasn't that big of a deal for me.

I haven't seen the 40K but I can't tell much difference in the picture when going straight to my Dwin from the HD10 component output and the recording made on the 30K of the same. Both look very good to me.

I have only recorded in the HS mode which is what the manual tells you to use for HD.

Interesting discussion--and I don't want to side-track it--but I have a question on the 400 deck. If I want to use that to make analog VHS-type dubs from HD programs I've edited, how do I convert the optical audio output to analog? I'm not familiar with such an output.

Steve--you made a comment somewhere that good plasmas can't be found for less than $6000 or even $10,000. Does that mean that the 50" JVC plasma at $7000 is a good choice compared to the other JVC $2700 42" monitor? Or is the technology the same in both (meaning so-so) and you're basically paying more for the larger screen space?

So far the only plasmas I've seen that looked good were Panasonics. But, I've not seriously looked because they are all too small to give a real HD viewing experience.

When they are $2000 for 66" -- I'll look.

Stereo audio is available as usual.