A Sports Fan's Dilemma. What would you do ?

[rana_kirti]

Hi friends,

i'm a sports and movie fan. I do my movie watching on the projector setup in the living room. For sports i use my 32" Samsung Lcd in the bedroom. I'm quite excited with the arrival of ESPN HD and this is making me want to go for a bigger TV in my bedroom, probably a 50" Plasma.

Thing is that i just don't watch general TV much. I only watch sports and that too only F1, Tennis Grand Slams and very little Football.

So actual TV usage is

F1 : 21 races x 2 hrs = 42hrs
Tennis Grandslam : 4 x Quater + 2 x Semi + 1 Final = 4+2+1 = 6 x 4 hrs = 24 hrs
General TV : 1 hr per day = 365 hrs
Football : Rarely hrs.

Total TV hours in a year = 450 hrs

So i switch on the TV for exactly about 450 hrs for the whole of the year which is about 1 hr daily. That's pretty much it.

But the start of ESPN HD is making me want replace the 32" LCD with a 50" Plasma just for sports.

I have 2 options.

1. Get a HD setop box connection for the living room and watch these sports on the projector setup. Gonna cost me Rs 2500 to get a HD Box.

2. Buy a 50" plasma for the bedroom and watch the sports there. Gonna cost me Rs 70000 to buy a new 50" Plasma. But is it going to be a justifiable expense ?

I've thought about this for a few days and still confused & can't make up my mind. Hence i'm looking for suggestion from fellow members.

What should i do guys ?

Regards,

Rana

 

[Bluu]

If you get an HD box and use your projector setup, will you be able to watch all the TV you want uninterrupted? Will wife, children, parents etc want to watch other stuff when the race is on? If no, just get the HD box and enjoy your projector. If yes, get a separate TV and watch your favorite stuff in peace!

 

[manoj.p]

start with option 1. Not much expense to begin with. Can be changed later to TV if you feel so. Just to watch 450 hrs a day, I would rather spend only on the set top box.

 

[dillihifi]

Well rana you are anyhow going to buy the HD settop box. Next is using the projector to watch tennis and formula 1. Well there are 4 grand slams so you calculations will start going up a bit 4qtr +2sf+1f = 7 matches x 4 grand slams = 28 matches x 2.5 (avg match time) = 70 hrs. This will go up further if you watch womens / doubles also.

In case you watch cricket/badminton the usage will go up further. Try it out with the projector but I feel that you will enjoy plasma with the HD box in the bedroom. Get a 3D plasma as sports may be telecast in 3D by the end of next year.

 

[rana_kirti]

guys i appreciate your feedback on this. as i thought on this there are a few more thoughts which went through my mind...

one for sure i definitely calculate the hours for the grand slams wrong I also feel that switching on the projector and making the living hall dark for every event could eventually become bothersome and be a tedious aspect of this adventure.

Also if i get a Plasma then i can can essentially expand the amount of viewing i can do to other sports or other HD channels etc.

It also seems to me that switching on the plasma in the bedroom and any moment will be simply more convenient.

Now regarding dillihifi's comment on 3D sports becoming available by end of year has got me thinking. If this comes to fruition then it'll be a must to consider the future requirements and invest in a 3D Plasma.

I was very keenly looking at the Panasonic 50V20D and 50U30D but now i'll also have to consider the Samsung 51D550. Very confusing.

 

[dillihifi]

I said around the end of next year. Do not invest too much money the TVs will become obsolete in around 3-4 years down the line. If you looking at a 3D Plasma then I will suggest that you go for either the Samsung 51d550 or the LG pz550 which are vfm.

This year Wimbeldon final was telecast in 3D and I read somewhere that the Singapore F1 will be telecast in 3D too.