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Hi everyone, I am planning a purchase of a new 42-50" projection TV. I am a seasoned audio nut, but know squat about video. Here in Canada, Sony are introducing a new LCD projection TV in either 42 or 50" next month, that looks intersting.Any suggestions, comments or recommendations?
Chas.
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I'm in Canada too, and am TV shopping (in fact today already). Be wary. Now it's true CRT displays look the best, but are not very practical (or exist) if you want LARGE screen. The advice about the TV looking much bigger in the room is very true. I have a 51" now, medium size, and it dominates the room, impossible to ignore I mean. You should choose the TV size and technology partly based on how far away you want to sit from it, unless you want to rearrange your room and seating. (Ask if you want more info, people rarely talk about this, a practical and WAF issue.)The observable problem with LCD displays is when there is fast motion. I haven't seen an LCD display yet that doesn't show this, though they're getting better. People unfamiliar with large TVs often don't notice until it's pointed out, and then it can become very annoying (just like an audio flaw). Watch for it, the little "blurring" or "tails" on fast movement...no, it's not on the disc or feed, it's the display itself, the CRT display (including RPTV which use CRTs) won't show it. More noticeable the larger the display...
Anyway, my main caveat: make sure any TV you choose has at least one HDMI/HDCP input, HDMI or DVI is not good enough. That is, if you expect to watch any of the new hi-def DVD formats in hi-def. MOST of the TVs currently available do not meet this requirement. Make sure that new Sony does (I *love* Sony displays, but that's all). For instance, I saw a 60" LCD Sony being blown out today, Future Shop or Best Buy, I forget, same thing. Though it's reasonably priced for the size, it does not meet this requirement; it will not be able to display any hi-def DVD format in full hi-def as it will not meet the copy protection standards the content providers demand. It is unlikely the salesperson will have a clue about this, and don't be fooled by "HD-ready". Make sure: if it doesn't say HDCP, it won't do it. You may not have thought about it, but the two varieties (as it now stands) of hi-def DVD will both be out in much less than a year (one in a few months), and you probably *will* want to watch it on your brand new fancy "investment".
FWIW, there are some inexpensive Toshibas (e.g.) that will do it, but I'd hold out for the Sony, I'm sure the new model will be HDMI/HDCP (since Sony is a massive content provider as well as HW manufacturer), you can likely check online.
The newest Sony projection LCD sets are basically the same as the Grand Wega HDTV we just bought with cosmetic changes. The new models have no memory stick port to view pictures, and a few other things my set has. Now is the best time to look for bargains on the current models. I paid $2,327 on 7/7/05 from Electronics Expo for my brand new Sony 60" KDF-60WF655. We got one of the last ones at that price. Shipping was $150 and it arrived in five days. The same set sells now for $3,699 around me at CC, BB, and Sears. The price mark-up on these sets must be 40 to 50%. You can go to streetprices.com and bottomdollar.com and other search engines for pricing for specific models. We used the money we saved to buy two 30" HDTV ready flat screen CRT sets for out bedrooms at only $497 each. I agree with Estes about a good in-home ISF caliration. These sets come VERY bright, and with what is called a Red Push. This is so people go "oooh and ahhh" at the sets in show room floors on display. A ISF calibration will also add years to the life of the set I have read. We will have that done in a few months. I bought the Avia, and DVE DVD's to make some basic adjustments for now at least. I called AmEx CC customer service. By using Amex you double the 1 year factory warranty to 2 years. I am buying a RepairTech 5 year in-home warranty for around 350. This warranty does not kick in until my factory warranty is over. So I will be protected for at least the next 6 years with free replacement if my Sony set dies. Sony suggest a minimum viewing distance of 7 feet for a 60" set. We have ten or eleven feet distance. Go for the largest set that you can get in your room. The price difference between the 50" and the 60" is really not that much. I was going to drive to Brooklyn, NY to bring a new 60" Sony, or the new 61" Panasonic model home. But I stumbled onto the E. Expo sale with low shipping costs and that saved me a 400 miles of driving. Good luck, these Sony sets have an amazing image. John C.
Here is a link to that bottomdollar site with the 60" sony set that I bought loaded.
http://www1.bottomdollar.com/search_attrib.php?page_id=137&form_keyword=kdf60wf655&rd=1
Here in the Great White North (or if you are in the West...Great WET North ;-)), our choice of TVs is somewhat different than in the US, but generally close. Some questions, do you watch a lot of regular TV?
Do you watch mostly movies?How much space do you have for a big TV, remember they LOOK smaller in the store...anything of that size will dominate a room. The best picture quality is still CRT based technology, although the others are catching up fast. Still it will take a few years to match the quality of a CRT. I would suggest getting an ISF certified tech to set the TV much after you have used it for a month. Big improvement in picture quality.
If you have more questions, feel free to email me.
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