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General discussion

Entering the HDTV Market: HELP!!!!

Sep 8, 2005 5:28AM PDT

I am currently in the market for a new television. Currently, I own a 27? Sony Wega Trinitron & I am looking to upgrade to a HDTV. I really don?t want to spend over $2,000 & the cheaper the better. Right now I am leaning towards the NEW Sony 42" Grand WEGA? 3LCD Rear Projection HDTVKDF-E42A10 or a 42? EDTV. Most of my time in front of the tube is spent watching sports (especially the NFL) & DVD movies. I don?t plan on mounting my TV on the wall, so regardless of if I go plasma the TV will be on a stand.



What are your thoughts?

Should I go EDTV or LCD Projection or DLP Projection?

What TV sets are recommended in each category?

What will give me the best value?

Is the 42? Sony Lcd set that I mentioned above rated towards the top of its class?



Your input would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Discussion is locked

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Entering the HDTV Market: HELP!!!!
Sep 8, 2005 5:33AM PDT
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YOUR SONY T.V. IS ONLY PART OF THE PICTURE
Sep 8, 2005 8:27AM PDT

You will need a good hi-def satellite or cable system for hi-def I recomend the DISH NETWORK 811 system get the basic+ hidef + VOOM package $45.00 per month then throw up an outside antenna so you can pick up all your local digital hi-def channels then finish up with a 5.1 amp and speakers also a subwoffer THEN WHEN YOU SEE N.A.S.C.A.R. RACING you can blow away the neighbors I own the SONY KP-WV600 65" 3 tube rear project t.v. and now Iam thinking of an upgrade to a SONY 96" front projection set up good luck stewart norrie

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DISH yes, 811.... no
Sep 8, 2005 11:30PM PDT

HD forums are filled with descriptive stories about problems with the 811. Granted, it works for some people, but the potential headaches involved were enough to keep me away from it. I got the 942 (has an OTA, NTSC, and ATSC tuners, plus DVR). IMHO, it's a much more stable and flexible product.

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Entering the HDTV Market: HELP!!!!
Sep 9, 2005 3:23AM PDT

What I have recently found out is that that backlight on LCDTVs is about 4000 hours, not user replacable so far.

DLP and LCD projectors have lamp last 4000 or so AND IS USER replacable.

Don't bother with a EDTV get a HDTV.

Plasmas life is 60,000 for the newer ones. john

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Entering HDTV Market
Sep 9, 2005 7:23AM PDT

tmcorr,

The one issue that is rarely discussed about TVs, but to me is very important, is the "stretch modes". In other words, how does the TV handle "stretching" a normal broadcast 4X3 image to fill the 16X9 (unless of course you want to watch the 4X3 image with blank space on the left and right sides). Back when I was in the market (2 years), Toshiba had one of the better uses of stretch modes. My father-in-law owns a Mits while my sister-in-law owns a Sony and they both ask why my TV looks so good when we watch regular cable channels. The newer models may have changed, but this may be something worth looking at. Better now rather than after you get it home.

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Strech modes
Sep 9, 2005 7:36AM PDT

Interesting point! Two 2 years ago when I looked at HD monitors they were using DVDs as the source, and since DVDs are 3x4 format it was easy to see how diferent monitors "strech mode" worked.
Today every place that I have looked they are using a HD satallite as the source so it is 16x9 and 720p or 1080i.
So to see the "strech mode" may not be easy. John

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"Stretch Mode"
Sep 9, 2005 7:41AM PDT

Its's funny that you mentioned "stretch modes" because I have recently been looking at the Toshiba rear projection DLP's & really like what I've seen. Tim

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Great Post...Strech Mode Woes
Sep 9, 2005 10:39AM PDT

As long as there is SD 4:3 broadcasting, this is a very important issue. I have a Sony 42" plasma (KDE-42XS955) and while it is simply a superb set, for SD programming in 4:3, either of the stretch modes ("strech" or "zoom" are unwatchable and I watch any such programs with the bars on either side. I'm not sure there really is any acceptable (to me at least) way to do any streching. If there is, I haven't seen it at least.

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EDTV or LCD Projection or DLP Projection?
Oct 10, 2005 11:49AM PDT

I work at Circuit City as a product specialist in the Entertainment Department, from what u are asking i don't think ED TV's should be in the mix unless u are possibly lookin for inexpensive panel TV's (LCD/Plasma). From your options The sony 3LCD technology is one of the better ones, but they are about to release an even better version of that technology but it does double your price, their SXRD 3LCD tv's are going to be outstanding from what i am hearing, and the current 3LCD vs the DLP is a tough decision. The Samsung i believe has one of the better DLP TV's and usually both the 42 in both brands are about the same price i have seen them for 16-1900$. From those two i would say base it on cosmetics because both display a very vivid picture, and the quality difference would not be very noticable. The DLP colors might last longer over time but by the time that would even benefit you, newer more efficient technology would probably be available.

But again this is my personal opinion take what u will from it.

Matt