Syntax showing new Olevia LCDs at CES

Syntax-Brillian is giving CES some LCD TV love with their Olevia and Olevia Signature lines that range from 20 to 47-inchers. They all seem to be rather well equipped, especially the 1080p 42 and 47-inch "Signature" models, what with their two ATSC/NTSC tuners, two HDMI and three component ins, two S-Video, two composite, and one VGA input. It's a full-on connectivity party there, though DVI would be nice.

[Kevin @ Dec 29th 2005 5:57AM]

Isn't HDMI backwards compatible with DVI?

[Jeff @ Dec 29th 2005 7:16AM]

"Isn't HDMI backwards compatible with DVI?"



HDMI *is* DVI. It's just DVI with the audio connectors integrated, and the plug is physically different. But all you need is a plug with DVI on one end and HDMI on the other if you want to connect a PC to an HDMI monitor.



Some people (like me) do like real DVI better because it's a more robust connector that doesn't fall out so easily. It screws in like a proper PC connector. I guess this was not considered "user-friendly" enough for most people, because the consumer electronics-oriented HDMI connector has no screws.

[ishtar @ Dec 29th 2005 9:02AM]

Will the 1080p sets accept 1080p inputs? And does anyone know what they will cost?

[tgrove @ Dec 29th 2005 9:13AM]

there also a "control" channel on the hdmi cables in addition to the a/v

[Cem @ Dec 29th 2005 10:46AM]

Nice specs and design, but I'm still waiting for those awesome SED TV's. Hurry up Toshiba!

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Dec 29th 2005 3:13PM]

Just two HDMI? That's not very future-proof. What about my DVR, PS3, Blu-Ray player, and some other crap.

[1techvision @ Dec 29th 2005 4:15PM]

2 HDMI is workable. Most of your devices should be plugged into your HDMI switching enabled 7.1 receiver.

[HD @ Dec 29th 2005 4:34PM]

Exactly #7 ... if you care for HDMI you have to have a receiver in order to take full advantage of what HDMI is all about. So, for all I care, one HDMI input is good enough.

[Stanley G. King @ Dec 29th 2005 6:57PM]

Question, not totally relevant, but somewhat I think in regard to HDMI switching and receivers or any equipment that offers such capability. Some prior equipment that rushed to market touting HDMI switching was not able to pass the audio portion of the HDMI signal thus rendering you to use a separate cable for the audio signal. However, new equipment avaiable now can because they support the 1.1 format for sound that is being used, but is there a 1.2 format that is about to become the standard for HDMI, hence purchasing something now that supports 1.1 will be obsolete, behind the times in terms of the sound/signal switching capabilities in 6 months or so? I seem to have read a blip or short article somewhere about 1.2, but can't no longer find it.................Stanley

[donna folle @ Dec 29th 2005 9:49PM]

What's up with Syntax? I've been looking at their 32-37" LCD models and they have awesome specs for the price but the reviews are either really good or really bad. For example, some people say great price, great tv, no problem. Then some people will say that their TV was DOA, or a whole feature didn't work or something else major and Syntax support was either nonexistant or extremely slow and unhelpful. Can anyone shed some light on this?