I'm the guy who always hooks up the stereo wrong. I just won a Sony 42" GW HDTV in a sales contest. Comcast is coming out Friday to switch my box to HD.
i have a couple quick questions: Do i really need a $140 surge protector like the ones they sell at best buy and Circuit city?
Do i really need the monster cables to hook up my dvd to get the best picture?
Any other simple tips i should know to get the best out of this tv?
You don't necessarily need monster cables but for the best analog picture quality, COMPONENT cables are the best. From worst to best in terms of picture quality:
Composite -typical rca plugs: Red & White for audio and yellow for video. (Like what you get with a VCR.)
S-Video would be a step up from that then COMPONENT Cables...this provides better quality (red, green, blue cables)
You can find non-monster component cables and not have to pay the premium price just because of the Monster brand. They do just as well and have extra cash for a dvd or something. It's your wallet and although many insist on monster cables. It's really a personal preference.
As for the surge protector, that's again another personal call.
I suggest going to avsforum.com. It's similar to this site but there is much more traffic.