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This is somewhat long, so please bear with me.Moved to new house. Had Pioneer Elite 50" RPTV. Had to give it up because of space issues. Need something that I can keep components under (rules most RPTVs).
My problem is that I watch mostly Direct TV/TIVO (non-HDTV programming). I usually watch 4:3 format (CNN, CNBC, etc.). I only occasionally watch DVDs.
I auditioned 50" Samsung DLP and hated picture on satellite. Nice picture on HDTV, but not on Direct TV/TIVO.
I don't want to spend the Plasma price and am afraid of screen burn because I will most likely watch CNN on 4:3 and am not fond of stretch modes.
I didn't like Sony Grand WEGA LCD 50" (black level is weak).
Now I am down to the Sony XBR 40" behemoth and the Loewe Aconda 38" 16:9.
The Sony is 4:3 and is good for the short term, but when everything goes HDTV (?2006), I will have to letterbox and loose the 40" to a smaller size.
Now I am down to the Loewe Aconda 38" 16:9, which should be somewhat ?future-proof (if there is such a thing). But, if I watch 4:3 CNN on Loewe CRT, am I risking screen burn over the next several years, until HDTV is the standard?
Please help. I tried to show you my inexperienced (and probably faulty) reasoning. I really want a beautiful RPTV/CRT type image.
Am I making the correct choice in going for the Loewe 38" 16:9 (approx. $4,400 at local dealer)? I can't go any smaller for the size of the room, in fact, 50" size would be the ideal.
Is screen burn going to be an issue on this Loewe CRT if I watch 4:3 on this 16:9?
Please help. I have nowhere else to turn, but your advice. Salesmen are not as knowledgeable as I would like them to be.
Thanks
Follow Ups:
After checking out various flat panels and rear projection sets, I've been looking at front projectors instead. They've been getting a lot better and have much higher resolution than they use to. This will give you more flexibility in terms of changing later, especially if you move. They're also a hell of a lot cheaper than plasma and flat panels. You'll have to spend some money on a screen or build your own (a wall won't give a great picture), so don't forget to include that in the price comparison.A site I've checked out is www.projectorcentral.com . I'd suggest checking out the Infocus X1 and the Sanyo PLV-Z1 as possible contenders... they're both 16x9 projectors, but also have flexibility in how to handle a 4x3 signal. They're each about $1500 or less, with some places selling the Sanyo (or the Boxlight Matinee 1HD, same thing with a different name) for $1400 with a second lamp and a ceiling mount.
For mostly 4:3 I would buy a relatively inexpensive 36" TV and just wait it out. I went a bit beyond that and bought a $2.2K Sony 34" wide screen (KV-34XBR800) so I can enjoy my DVD's and a couple HDTV stations if I buy a tuner. This will be my last CRT TV and by the time HDTV really gets off the ground (in my area), the price of those nice huge plasma screens (or LCD's or other technology) should be more reasonable.I wouldn't try to buy anything "future proof" at this time. It's a losing battle.
I wouldn't spend over 1k on a 4:3 set. But then, I probably watch a lot more DVDs than you do.The Loewe is a great TV. (I never considered it because I had no local dealers and wan't going to spend that much for a direct view.) The 38" Loewe would be my choice of the two you've listed, although I have a friend with viewing habits like yours and his family love their 40" Sony. It's an excellent display. But it's very, very large and heavy. I just can't see spending those kinda bucks on a sqaure TV.
Burn in will probably not be an issue with the Loewe set. I have a widescreen direct view, and I watch regular TV zoomed to 14:9. (This is NOT stretched, and it only crops a little from top and bottom.) This is only a problem with ticckertapes across the bottom, so when watching CNN I switch to 4:3. But that's the ONLY time.
I would never go back to 4:3 now. I love my widescreen set. But I'm sitting farily close to my Philips, only about 8 or 9 feet. If you have a big room, even the 38" Loewe isn't going to have the impact your 50"RP Elite did. BTW, the other reason I went with the Philips was because it was better on SD (Pixel Plus) than the comparable WS XBR Sony, which was not good with cable or sat.
There is a lot of technology coming down the pike in the next couple years, fixed pixel displays that will be thin and light like the Sammy DLPs. The prices on the latest LCoS sets from TOshiba, for example, are bound to eventually fall. I agree with you on the LCD Grand Wegas, BTW, the blacks are not that great, and the shadow detail is barely OK. But they're much better than the LCD Panasonics.
I almost bought a Panny or Pioneer plasma, since I rarely watch in 4:3. But I decided to tread water for a bit loner and purchased my direct view Philips to play "wait and see: how fast the various technologies will improve SD and drop in price.
There isn't really any way to totally futureproof yourself. I suggest you head over to avsforum.com.
There is no such thing as "future-proof". But first some questions:
1) How far are you away from the TV?
2) How big a TV can you fit in the room?
3) Do you want a direct view or rear projection?
4) How much space do you need under the TV?Basically it sounds like 90% of your viewing in non-hdtv and 4:3 ratio. Given that HDTV is moving more slowly than predicted, is it worth getting a 16x9 TV for a few movies? Toshiba makes a 36 inch TV that was review in the Perfect Vision that upsamples all singles and was around the $2000 range. I would be tempted to buy that and wait to see what happens with HDTV, unless you are lucky to be in an area with HDTV stations and the ability to put up an antenna.
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