Using Modern Television Sets with older Equipment

283 Views 5 Replies 2 Participants Last post by ExDilbert, 4 d ago

17671

Discussion Starter · 5 d ago

Almost all the TV sets I see being sold now a days have HDMI ports exclusively. There is no more Component nor Composite inputs. I also bet the Coax port is ATSC only too. Yes, I can see the advantage this has. The manufacturers can remove the older circuitry and components that are used to receive analog signals, they can make the TVs much more thinner and compact and more sleek looking, but you now will not be able to hook up older video equipment to your TV, well you can but it will involve third party devices now.

A lot of people will be in favour of this, telling everyone to get with the times, stop using older technology, however some people still use older technologies, and there exists tons of content and media on older formats that you can not find on todays modern digital and streaming technologies. Plus not everyone uses their TV with the most recent modern streaming technologies, some people watch dvds, vhs, or do presentations or even play retro video games.

I have decided to keep my older working flat screen TVs and hang on to them as long as I can. I keep them in my basement and have them hooked up to a VCR, DVD player, and even a Retro video game console.

Anyways what I am trying to say is some people buy a new TV because theirs broke and need to replace it, but a lot of people may encounter challenges when connecting older equipment they now have to buy those analog to digital converters, plus the mid range TVs only come with 2 hdmi ports, if u want one with up to 4 ports you have to buy the higher end models.

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ExDilbert

· #2 · 4 d ago

17671 said:
...you now will not be able to hook up older video equipment to your TV, well you can but it will involve third party devices now.

Some new TVs still have composite video inputs if that is all that is required. Component to HDMI adapters are available for as little as $25.

17671 said:
some people watch dvds, vhs, or do presentations or even play retro video games.

DVDs can be played on most Blu-ray players and PCs with optical drives. VHS and other legacy media can be converted to digital format using a PC or a service and put on DVD, streamed or watched directly. I don't know why anyone would want to watch poor quality VHS titles unless the content is unavailable elsewhere. In any event, I would convert unreplaceable content to digital before the tape self destructs or the VHS player fails. Newer platforms and emulators are available for some retro games.

17671 said:
mid range TVs only come with 2 hdmi ports

Lower end TVs often have only two HDMI ports. Mid-range TVs are more likely to have 3 or 4. HDMI switches to provide more inputs are available for under $20.

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17671

Discussion Starter · #3 · 4 d ago

You have all valid points, but I just want to mention a lot of the time growing up, we had many family functions, and went to many events, a lot of these were filmed on VHS Cassette tape. You can not find this content online or on steaming sites or on dvd or elsewhere. Some people just want to watch it a few times, maybe they are not interested in converting it or archiving it for long term arhcival. its entirely possible for someone to want to watch an old vhs tape of a hockey game and not want to convert it even if the tape is near end of life.

Converters are available yes we know, but they also reduce the simplicity and add a complex layer of installation to the tv. some people just want a tv to plug something in and go. yes tvs can be found with composite inputs, but if you go to the big box stores, or electronic stores, you wont find those TVs, everyone wants to sell you the TVs that only have hdmi inputs, and besides, if someone does have it, good luck trying to see it in person, it will most likely be a special order or internet order and you wont be able to see the device in person.

Not everyone wants ot play emulators, We found a classic video game console at my parents house and it works, we also are happy our tv set has composite inputs.

yes we also know blue ray players play dvds, but if you have a dvd player are you really going to go out and buy a blue ray player? sometimes people only think of logical answers and does not think about the financial aspect too. lets face it, if u want to use older devices with newer tvs be prepared to spend $$$ on converters and adaptors and new blue ray players, because a lot of people will just say "buy this or that" to solve the problem, maybe because they do not know what it is like to be in someone elses shoes

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ExDilbert

· #4 · 4 d ago

17671 said:
...yes tvs can be found with composite inputs, but if you go to the big box stores, or electronic stores, you wont find those TVs, everyone wants to sell you the TVs that only have hdmi inputs, and besides, if someone does have it, good luck trying to see it in person, it will most likely be a special order or internet order and you wont be able to see the device in person.

So you are telling me that Sony TVs cannot be found in big box stores and they don't want to sell them.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs-android-/kd-43x85k/specifications

17671 said:
...if u want to use older devices with newer tvs be prepared to spend $$$ on converters and adaptors and new blue ray players,...

Exactly. Converters and adapters are relatively cheap and readily available and the top rated Blu-ray player we have only cost $99, retail price. The much more expensive DVD player quit working 15 years ago. A VHS player quit working after only 5 years and I sold it's replacement for $50 about 15 years ago. I've seen more recent and more expensive gear become obsolete and unusable with no way to add adapters or converters. Sometimes it's best to replace obsolete equipment and find a way to archive unreplaceable content on newer media, before it's too late, and move on. VHS players are not made anymore, for a good reason.

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17671

Discussion Starter · #5 · 4 d ago

Im telling you to physically go into a store and LQQK at the TVs on the display shelf. These are the TVs people are buying. Also yes they probably have TVs with more than just hdmi inputs, but guess what? they are probably not on display, or they probably do not go on sale or cost more. Not everyone is made out of money. If I really want I can buy a top of the line tv with all the inputs but im not made out of money nor is the rest of the general public, they buy what is affordable, just because my tv broke does not mean I should replace it with something that has less features than the one I had because the industry is heading that way. I have also heard that sometimes these composite to hdmi converters do not work at all with devices that output 240p.

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ExDilbert

· #6 · 4 d ago

I just picked three major brand name budget 43" TVs (under $300) at random. Two of the three had composite video inputs and had more than 2 HDMI ports. The move to HDMI is being driven by the entertainment industry due to their requirements for encryption on HD material. That will likely become more universal on all entertainment equipment. If you want to watch 20th century video with 20th century technology, go ahead. I always hated tapes, especially VHS cassettes with their murky video and audio, so I don't miss them at all. A lot of the content is available on free, ad supported (FAST) channels using a cheap smart TV or on DVDs. I occasionally watch DVDs but that's as far back as it goes.

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