Don Lindich: VHS will work with new TV

Q Can we view VHS tapes on flat-screen TVs? We are getting mixed signals from salespeople. Some say plasma sets will distort the picture less than LCD, but when asked if there is a way to adjust the picture to correct it, they don't have an answer. We have hundreds of tapes, which are too expensive to copy to DVDs.

TOM ISENBURG, LIVERMORE, CALIF.

A Besides the expense, converting VHS tapes to DVD will not make them look better. I recommend you just use your tapes with your VCR.

The tapes and VCR will work fine with any TV you buy. Just connect the RCA composite video (yellow) and corresponding audio cables (red and white for a stereo VCR, white for a mono VCR) to your new TV and play. You can also use the coaxial cable.

You were not specific about the kind of distortion you expect. One possibility is the difference in resolution between VHS tapes and HDTVs, which leads to a soft-looking picture. VHS tapes max out at 240 interlaced lines of resolution, or 240i. Flatscreen plasma and LCD TVs are either 720 or 1,080 progressive lines, or 720p and 1,080p. This mismatch leads to a soft, sometimes grainy picture. There isn't much you can do about the softness, but you can still sit back and enjoy your old tapes.

The other distortion possibility is the stretching from watching a 4:3 standard format VHS tape on a 16:9 widescreen HDTV. You can correct the distortion by going into the TV's menus and changing the aspect ratio to 4:3.

Finding Blu-ray picks Q In a recent column on Blu-ray players, you suggested that value-conscious buyers get an Insignia, Sylvania or Magnavox player with a 1.1 profile. They sell for about $169. Where can I find these machines?

AL MULLER, BUFFALO, MINN.

A The Insignia NS-BRDVD, Magnavox NB500MG9 and Sylvania NB501SL9 Blu-ray players are identical and have proven to be outstanding.

Best Buy's $169 Insignia NS-BRDVD (not the new NS-2BRDVD model) seems to be discontinued and is getting hard to find. I prefer it over the others because it has a full one-year parts and labor warranty. The Magnavox and Sylvania players are one year parts, 90 days labor. If you haunt a few Best Buy stores, I imagine you will come across an NS-BRDVD somewhere. If you do, snap it up.

The Magnavox is available at Sam's Club and Wal-Mart. You can buy an extended warranty cheaply and match or exceed the Insignia's warranty. The Sylvania is sold at Sears. Both are available online at Amazon.com. Prices are usually around $200 or less, and well worth it.

Submit questions and read past columns at www.soundadviceblog.com.