Just curious if anyone wants to share their recommendable HD shows w/great picture/sound? I gotta give props to Lost and Madmen, my two favorite shows on TV that look and sound spectacular. Oh, and The Tudors and No Reservations ain't no slouches either. So, what other good shows have top notch HD quality?

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Oliver Amnuayphol
Home Theater/Audio Guru
Aperion Audio

I live in Scottsdale, AZ and have HD cable from Cox. I've found that the major networks (NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox) have the best video during prime time and the live morning shows. That also holds true for most live events like golf, etc. Unfortunately, the video is always much better than the audio. I don't get a lot of content in anything other than stereo and sometimes it sounds better on the corresponding SD channel than HD.

The "cable channels" (TNT, Discover, Lifetime, etc.) that are also on HD seem to just be the SD with the picture stretched and re-broadcast. Again, the audio isn't terrific.

I used to think that my receiver was causing the audio problems but sometimes a TV program sounds great while others sound terrible and DVDs always sound good so it's the source (Cox). I've been tempted to switch to DirecTV but they want a 2 year commitment which seems like a long time if it doesn't solve the audio problem.

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Joe
If you can't have fun doing it, it's probably not worth doing.

I agree with the broadcast assessment completely. Some Comcast HD channels over here in the Portland area are hit and miss, but there are some standouts; usually original programming on AMC like Madmen really get the star treatment when it comes to quality. Breaking Bad looks great too. And as a cycling fan I gotta say the Tour this year in HD on Versus looks stunning--especially when they do the picturesque scenic shots of France. Absolutely breathtaking.

I've been thinking about some sort of dish service for quite a while, but I just can't get over the contract thing either; at least with cable, I know if I get absolutely bunk service I can leave whenever I want without a $$ penalty which is why I've stuck with Comcast for so long. But good lord the stock DVR is dreadful--hardly any storage capacity for HD.

Oh--and I caught an epi of True Blood on HBO last night, doesn't look half bad IMHO.

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Oliver Amnuayphol
Home Theater/Audio Guru
Aperion Audio

DiricTV Food Network has some good "Bass" going on.  Kind of funny for a cooking show.

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24 hours in a day ... 24 beers in a case ... coincidence?

I agree w/ Browning about the bass... many of the shows on that network seem to have a tremendous amount of constant bass going on.  Spike TV has very good picture quality for new UFC stuff, as well as The Deadliest Warrior show, but Dolby Digital is few and far between on that network so its not all perfect.  I would say go ahead and avoid anything on TNT and TBS... they have a habit of stretching SD programming and calling it HD... for that matter, Cartoon Network HD is guilty, as well...

So true about the bass on the Food Network, thought it was odd.

Obviously all the programming on HDTV is great, enjoy their Festivals of the World and have also been watching the Isle of Man TT on there.  Also Showtime shows like Dexter, Tudors and Weeds is good as well.  For that matter I find almost all the premium channels have great HD offering.

 VS is also good for sports, enjoy watching hockey on there, and for those of us in the NYC area, the YES network is good for Yankees games.

Anyone follow Formula 1, or other auto racing? The Speed Channel recently started broadcasting in HD in my area, and holy cripes, everything looks so reach out and touch real. I mean the cars were lustworthy before, but now, seeing every little detail, with the beautiful scenic backdrops--absolutely breathtaking.

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Oliver Amnuayphol
Home Theater/Audio Guru
Aperion Audio

While I don't follow it I know of some of the major players in F1, and love watching almost any racing on in HD with the volume high.

Know what you mean about the backdrops, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed watching the Isle of Man.  They would have these great panning shots with the motorcycles speeding across these two lane country roads.

I heard that Discovery HD will be broadcasting the World Rally Championship in HD.  That should be awesome in HD.

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Mark
Aperion Audio Guru

Gonna be on the lookout for that for sure!

+1, that Isle of Man was awesome. And also salivating for the Rally!

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Oliver Amnuayphol
Home Theater/Audio Guru
Aperion Audio

Oliver Amnuayphol:

+1, that Isle of Man was awesome. And also salivating for the Rally!

Did you see the sidecar races?  That was awesome, never seen anything like it.

Anyone on here have the channel Palladium with their cable provider?

That is great channel for some HD music and concerts.  DVR'ed a performance by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss performing their album Raising Sands on there and it sounded amazing.

 

 

Sidecars rule I've never hear of Palladium; I wonder if I have it? I did see the Plant/Krauss thing on a cable channel here, I wonder if that was the one?

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Oliver Amnuayphol
Home Theater/Audio Guru
Aperion Audio

Oliver Amnuayphol:

Sidecars rule I've never hear of Palladium; I wonder if I have it? I did see the Plant/Krauss thing on a cable channel here, I wonder if that was the one?

Most likely the same one, took place on a small little stage.  T Bone Burnett also joined them on a couple of the songs since he produced the album.