TV Guys I need help!

[THOR]

I am posting this here because I figure more of you TV fellas will se it rather than posting it in the HT section.

I am going to be buying a new big screen HDTV monitor very soon, I was wondering if you could be of some help in helping me make a decision.

Now due to my area I am limited to most likely buying from either Best Buy or Circuit City. Also My spending limit is $2000 I would like to spend less though if I can $1500 or so would be perfect. I also only am interested in in a 16:9 movie theater shaped screen. Now I will post links to some of the ones I have been looking at and mebbe you guys can tell me what you think. I really don't understand any of the specs or nothing. I do know that by going and looking at them that I do not like the TV's where I can see lines in the picture. I also know that being rear projection TV's and by looking at them there is a "sweet spot" to sit and watch and that when you move out of it the picture degrades. I would like one that has as big of a "sweet spot" as possible.

The contenders:
http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100679&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11169448&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100119&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100120&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11085863&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11123514&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11181049&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11124614&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470

And at Ciruit City
http://www.circuitcity.com/frame1.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1867405320.1047159139@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccdkadchkdgmdilcfngcfkmdffhdffk.0&upper=head.jsp&lower=frame2.jsp&department=TV+Video+and+Camcorders&category=Projection+TVs&right=productsearch.jsp&left=leftchildcat.jsp

Models

GE 40" D40GW10

RCA 52" D52W20

RCA 40" D40W135D

HITACHI 43" 43FWX20B

HITACHI 51" 51UWX20B

Any and all help and advice would be greatly appreciated since this is a big investment for me and I want to make a good choice.

I will say I was very impressed with the http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100119&m=1&cat=24&scat=1470 I saw it at Circuit City and I don't know if it was just at the right height or set up perfect but the picture looked better and sharper and brighter and clearer than all the other TV's there.

[grumpy]

Ewwww

Thor"s gonna be a TV geek ! :eek: :p: :D

[geespot]

Thor-

Does Best Buy carry Mitsubishi? If so, look into them. Mitsu guarantees their TVs will be capable with whatever HD hook-up standard is in place. I don't know if this is true with the lower-end models.

If not, make sure any of the TVs a combo of DVI, RGB, Firewire, VGA, S-Video, and Componnet hook-ups. The more the better off you will be.

g

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11169444&m=1&cat=24&scat=25

[dgwojo]

Thor,
For laughs I'd check Sam's Club, the extended warranties are cheap there!! I hate buying warranties but you know how unreliable new technology can be!! :)

[Kamakiri]

In my honest opinion, (flame suit on), HDTV stinks. Here's why.....

Note: this does not apply if you watch nothing but DVDs...

When you go into a TV shop that carries HDTV, they show the absolutely astounding clarity that the TV CAN achieve if fed with a flawless HD signal. As you know, most TV is not in High Definition at this point, and the majority of TV that you will watch appears as blocky and distorted as an Atari 2600. My in-laws have it, and after the $3500 they spent, I'm just thankful that the bug never bit me.

Until 2006 when all TV will have to be broadcast in High Definition, don't waste your money.

And Thor, just as Best Buy isn't a place where you'd buy a sound system, don't think that TV is any different, quality wise. I know somebody that went through hell buying a widescreen, Circuit City had to deliver 6 screwed up Hitachis before they got one that worked right (which they never did get), and the customer service wasn't all that great either. They ended up getting a refund and buying one from a local video store, and haven't looked back.

[THOR]

We have no local video store only big box chains :(

I am not gonna have an HDTV reciever or nothing I think actually only 2 stations in my area broadcast in it but I want one that can do it in the future and they basically call all big screens "Rear projection HDTV monitors" or some such I just want one in the 16:9 ratio not the 4:3.

Any other help or suggestions?

[Eric H]

I was just at Best Buy a couple hours ago buying some DVDs. I wandered over and checked out the 16:9 Plasma Screens.

They had a Sony ($6000, sorry Thor:( ) that had an absolutely stunning picture, until the action got too fast, then you could see some annoying pixilation, the Pioneer was doing the same thing so maybe it was just the source material, still I think I could deal with a little pixilation for a picture like that.

I can't imagine using a $6000 TV to watch anything but DVD's, what a waste it would be to watch American Idol or Married By America on a set like that, idiots in High Definition :D

[drh4683]

Since it was brought up, in 2006 the fcc is to have all tv broadcasting digital. Will analog tv still be in full effect, or does the fcc want to eliminate it all together? It would seem impractical if the fcc terminated analog as there are millions of tvs out there and there still are quite a few of us watching catv!

[rcaman]

hdtvs are great on a hdtv signal or dvd. BUT the picture quality on a cable system is not that great. my 6 year old rca big screen with 900 lines resolution has a sharper picture on cable. how bad are you really wanting one. steve

[THOR]

Bad. But like I said all 16:9 aspect ration rear projection TV's are called "HDTV monitors" you can't really get the HDTV picture until you add the HDTV reciever box or whatever it is.

[ProAc_Fan]

Thor my only advice is to avoid RCA like the plague. Any other well known namebrand, Hitachi, Pioneer, Toshiba, Mitsu, etc.. would be a much wiser choice. RCA's have a very bad reputation when it comes to their TV's. We have 50" Toshiba's at work and they are abused daily without any problems whatsoever.

Mike

[Rob]

Thor,

I'd resist spending the big coin just now for HDTV too. This is a technology still finding its feet. The cost of receivers and monitors will only come down.

From a technical perspective, those little CRT's get clobbered very hard in video projectors and the HDTV sets are even harder on them. I'm saying 'get an extended warranty' when you finally buy one.

As for brand, I would also not buy a new RCA from what I have heard about thewir reliability problems. I agree with ProAC that Toshibas are good. I bought a 4x3, 61" Toshiba 2 years ago, model 61A60, and it has been fabulous. Because of the cost to hire 2 gorillas with a truck just to move such a beast to a service center should a problem arise I chose to pay the extra $350.00 at time of purchase and get a 6 year extended all coverage warranty. Believe me, that would be gobbled up the first time I need a serviceman at my door. I bought from FutureShop which I understand is the Canadian outlet owned by Best Buy USA.

You were gonna send me your email address when you got it working so I could send you info on the wall screen type big boardroom front projectors. Now that I know what you want a projector for is to watch normal TV, I would not recommend one of these IMO. A RPTV console is much better suited to that.

FYI I have included a screen shot from DVD movie off my Toshiba RPTV. The vertical blue line is a fault in my digital camera, not in the TV picture. I have left the file size large as I thought it helpful as the point of showing this picture is to demonstrate fine resolution. Look at the little white man symbol in the crosswalk lights at the left for example, the lettering on the no parking sign. The far off fire hydrants, etc. This is NOT HDTV folks! Just a good 4x3 projector. Thor, I'm sure you'd like this. I use it for everyday TV. You should be able to find one of these for $2K US.

Rob

[THOR]

I was thinking of doing a movie room downstairs with a projector but I think my eyes were too big for wallet ;)

Rob that is nice picture but I want a 16:9 movie screen type TV.

What I am gonna do is go and sit and watch the TV's for awhile in the stores (again)and see which ones have a picture I like and take notes, then I will post the finalists and their specs and prices and you can all tell me what you think. I will definetely get the extended warranty no matter what ;)

I can tell you that this one really stood out when I looked at it, I thought the picture better than others that were 2 and 3 times as much.

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11100119&m=1&cat=24&scat=25

[Rob]

Thor,

No doubt about it, that set you linked looks pretty nice. If you are willing to spend that much coin, a significantly serious investment IMO, you are wise to do a lot of homework first.

Keep us posted.

Rob

[kc8adu]

avoid the ge/rca like the plague.
they keep me busy.
the last really good rca was the ctc 169.

[rcaman]

if that panasoinc hdtv had a good picture it will be the first i have ever seen. they come in here for service all the time. lousy picture.
btw their crt,s do not last, a couple years then downhill all the way from there. i do not know of anyone who likes to service them. i would rather take a beating than to service one. also you cannot service the main board pip or audio/video on their hdtv. it is a replacement only. can you imagine the cost of these boards
. steve:puke:

[rcaman]

i finally got my media room finished today. hooked up the rca scenium 61" hdtv to cable and was totally blown away by the picture quality on standard cable. i had been sitting about 5 feet from it. now about 18 feet. going to order a dish hdtv as soon as the model with the hard drive becomes avalible. i also have a sony projection set 2 years old i thought it had great color but the 61" blows it away. thor you need to spring for the new widescreen..... steve:D

[dgwojo]

Thor,
Drop me a PM if you want a 10% off coupon for this week-end only at Bestbuy. :)

[THOR]

Damm to late I already bought the HDTV, not from BB tho, but I would love the coupon to buy my DVD and some cabling!

[dgwojo]

Thor,
Send me a PM with an e-mail address to forward it to, Dave.

From the coupon; To pass this offer on to your friends, just hit forward.

[dgwojo]

Hmm, I found a link to that 10% off coupon, caution, it wants to print when launched;
http://postfuture.com/H/BestBuy/AdHoc/200303/10Off/coupon_web.html?E=200;;6844833&R=T1_Url3&A=1006