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General discussion

New Sony LCoS TV's!

Aug 15, 2005 12:58AM PDT

Just thought I would let those of you who are looking for a new high end tv within the next few months that you may want to hold out for the new Sony LCoS (SXRD) tv's. Last year they only offered it in a 70" model but in late Sept- early Oct they will have both 50 and 60" models avail. I don't have all the specs yet but I do know they a will be 1080P (1920 X 1080) with ATSC tuner, cable card, etc...

The prices I have seen so far are 3999 for the 50" and 4999 for the 60" Though that could change and possible drop by the time they hit the market.

I will keep you updated as I get more info

Discussion is locked

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Re. SXRD?
Oct 1, 2005 10:39AM PDT

It seems that you know your TV technologies, so perhaps you can help me. I've tried to decide what to buy for several months now - LCD rear projection, DLP? Wherever I go, they tell me a different story. However, there seemed to be a similar thinking regarding the intended use of my future TV - i.e. if I will use it mostly for regular cable programs, movies, and sports, then the DLP is superior as it has a faster refresh rate. So, I decided on a 60" DLP. Now, one problem remained; Samsung, Panasonic, or Toshiba? But, today they confused me even more. I've been told that a higher resolution DLP is coming out (1080P), which most likely will have even better picture quality, and that Sony came out with a new technology (SXRD) that is even better than the DLP - in all aspects, except the price. So, here I am again - just as confused now as I was several months ago whwn I started this process. Please help - which has a superior picture (all aspects - color, brightness, refresh rate, contrast, etc.) - 60" Samsung (1080P), 60" Toshiba (1080P), or the 60" Sony SXRD? Thanks for your help.

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Sony vs. samsung vs Toshiba
Oct 1, 2005 3:58PM PDT

Since your TV will be used mostly for watching basic cable, the source images will be 4:3. I highly recommend comparing the stretch modes of your prospective TV purchases. My personal experience is that Toshiba has great stretch modes to get 4:3 to fit 16:9 without too much weird squishing or stretching. My sister-in-law has a Sony and it does a poor job (to my eyes) of expanding 4:3 to 16:9, unless Sony does something different in their new sets. But, even if you decide on a Sony, I think any set that displays 1980X1080 will look tons better than the TVs today, which mostly display something like 1024X768.

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re
Oct 4, 2005 5:51AM PDT

the toshiba 1080p is no doubt a great tv. We got our display a couple of weeks ago and it def stands out. I have seen the sammy's and they look pretty good as well.

I will have the sony on display within the next 2 weeks and it should be an outstanding tv. The price is higher but its based off the LCoS technology. The pixels are incredibly close together (should leave a smooth picture with high detail) and it has an awesome response time as well to react and have a smooth clear picture. If the have the money I would say go with the sony. If not the Toshiba is still a great tv that is hard to beat.

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New Sony LCoS TV's!
Oct 4, 2005 6:32AM PDT

It would be interesting to see this side by side with the new JVC HD-ILA sets!!! John

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SAME BOAT
Oct 4, 2005 9:34AM PDT

I have been researching all of the technologies available for some time now and thought I had it narrowed down to the Samsung 1080p or the Mits 1080p. Problem is, Im at the point where I need to make up my mind and buy in the next two weeks or so(new house). I haven't seen the new Sony personnally but have talked to people who have and they were impressed. My first concern is buying a TV with brand new technology(for Sony) that hasn't been around for people to form an opinion. An example would be the recent Mitsubushi LCD/RP. Do you know the hours of viewing before bulb replacement(same as LCD/RP or different)?, also does burn-in occur with this technology?. Will the LCoS gradually loose its brightness with time, similar to the Plasma?.

Good luck in your decision and be sure to keep us posted.

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Will the LCoS gradually loose its brightness with time,
Oct 5, 2005 2:40AM PDT

No,, But you will have to replace the lamp from time-to-time. This is one thing that LCD/DLP/LCoS projectors all share. There are different estiments for lamp life from 2000 to 6000 hours.
DLPs also have spining color wheel that may go bad also.
My wife wanted to go shopping after dinner last night so I used this as an excuse to back to Costco and look at the JVC LCoS 3 chip rear projector.
Costco had moved it to a different location, it was now in a long row 7 rear projection TVs. All the big names were there, except for the Sony(which was in another location). I was able compare them from about 25' away as well as close up. At 25' away I could easly compare 3 or 4 sets just by moving my eyes back and forth and still be on axis. Well the JVC had the best picture!!!!
To bad the Sony wasn't in this group.
The only "new" technology that has been around long enough to establish a track record is LCD and it is very good one.
The new plasmas are said to have a longer life 60,000 hours, but this is still unproven. John

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Comparing TVs at Costco
Oct 5, 2005 3:14AM PDT

I also like to browse the sets at my local Costco, but I wouldn't come to any finall conclusions of picture quality based on what you see on the Costco floor. Properly setting up any large-screen TV takes some time and it requires a a good "Set-up" DVD to get the proper brightness, gray scale, darks, etc. all tweaked properly. Many large-screen TVs come out of the box with the brightness set at 100, which will look much better than a TV with a brightness set at 50. It's not necessarily the best setting, but when one strolls past the row-o-TVs at Costco, the bright set will look best. Same goes for contrast. And, how many fingers have pushed, pulled, tweaked and mis-adjusted all the buttons on these sets? I have never seen the remotes to any of the Costco sets available, so how does one compare some of the more important functions of the set without access to the remote? I love how the remote on the Toshiba sets function, and from personal experience, I hate the Mits and Sony remotes. How does the remote function to change the stretch modes or input modes? I personally hate the remotes that make you physically scan from one screen mode or input to the next. Also, one definitely needs to compare how the set handles the various stretch modes, especially when displaying standard cable signals.

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Comparing TVs at Costco
Oct 5, 2005 4:23AM PDT

I assume that they are all on the factory settings. I don't expect Costco to know how to set one up. But then most stores don't know how to. Now when I get close to the point of buying one I will ask for the remote.
With many sets the controls are only on the remotes. This is good and bad. Yes some remotes suck.
The down side of any store is how they get the signal and what signal.
A couple of years ago when HD monitors first came out they only had standard signals and DVDs to demo with.
Now most places have Dish or Driect TV HD signal and No standard signal. Guess you could ask them to hookup a S-video cable from a DVD player. Which is why I will most likely but from a local store so I can take it back it I don't like it. John

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COSTCO
Oct 5, 2005 5:20PM PDT

I have been doing quite a bit of research regarding COSTCO and the TV's they sell, so I hope you don't mind if I ramble a bit.


Due to the employees lack of knowledge(most) about the TV's at COSTCO, I have been going to other Electronic stores to get the information I'm looking for(i.e. TWEETER). I have found that each COSTCO has a different line of TV's which makes it difficult. Because of their good prices, they are a little behind the power curve when it comes to getting the new models. Another thing I found out is most the TV's you see on thier website are only availble on line which sucks. I have also come across some strange model numbers while looking at thier TV's. I was told by Sony's customer care that some of COSTCO TV's have different features than the sets you would find in the big electronic stores and therefor have different model numbers. I only came across this once and it was a Sony that normally had a ATSC tuner where COSTCO's did not. Beware and do some research before you commit. All and all you can't beat the COSTCO customer satisfaction guarantee. They state you can basically return the TV at any time for any reason. A warranty like that is hard to beat. My biggest problem right now is deciding whether or not to spend the extra money for the 1080p. Id'e hate to buy a 720p and have it outdated before I even take it out of the box. Is it worth it? Open to suggestions.
Again, good luck in your decision and keep us posted.

TV's I'm contemplating:(if your interested)
Sony KDS-R60XBR1
Samsung HL-R6178W
Misubishi WD-62628

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COSTCO
Oct 6, 2005 6:38AM PDT

I think that this was talked about a few weeks ago, but your are corect. Actualy MANY large reatailers have "special" models made for them, even if it is only a slightly different model #.
Also keep in mind product production cycles. So lets say that Sony has a lot of last years sets that don't have the ATSC tuners in them,, Costco will buy them a special price, Sony will give them a special model#.
Sears has done this for YEARS!!!! They do this so it makes it hard for YOU to price shop.
Yes Costco's return policy is great.
Well I have an ATI HD Wonder in my PC, a 19" CRT monitor at max resoultion.
It is very easy to see the difference between 480p and 720p, but much harder to tell the difference between 720p and 1080i. But so far only ABC and FOX are 720p.
I like to go online get the info then go look the TVs,
this I don'y have deal with sales people (no offence to the Sears Tv Guy), I find it make shopping much more enjoyable. John

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On display now
Oct 7, 2005 7:21AM PDT

we just put ours out on display a few hours ago and it looks great. Its def got the best picture in the store. The next closest thing is the Toshiba 1080P DLP.

check em out for yourself they look great.

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is it worth the $ differance
Oct 7, 2005 10:39AM PDT

You say that it has the best picture in the store. However, it also costs much more than the Toshiba 1080P. Do you think that the $ differance is worth it? Other than the picture, what else does the Sony have that the Toshiba does not? Again, thank you all for your help.

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SEARS GUY
Oct 7, 2005 11:17AM PDT

Your Sears must be ahead of the game cause I just called mine and they said they don't know when they are getting one on display. Hows the strech modes? I know Sony has had some trouble in the past and wondering if they fixed the problem? Also have they changed the remote at all?

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re
Oct 10, 2005 8:55AM PDT

strecth modes seem to be the same, which mean they are not the greatest, but I really like the new remote. Its heavy and everything seems to be in a good place.

In answer to the display every area gets the stuff at different rates. We weren't expecting to get ours until the end of this week. Try by fri and see if they have it.

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New Sony LCoS TV's!
Oct 10, 2005 12:05PM PDT

Some of the specs of the SXRD is that it is a 3LCD tv with a MUCH higher resolution, each mirror panel (total of 3) project 2 million pixels... just a lil information in case you guys were wondering.

the prices are pretty muched fixed at that 3999 and 4999 as they are already on pre-order at this time.

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incorrect
Oct 11, 2005 4:57AM PDT

the sxrd is not a 3 lcd. All of the original grand wegas and current models are 3 lcd. The SXRD is sony's variation of Liquid crystal on silicon hence the SXRD or Silicon crystal reflective display. LCoS is a reflective technology where as LCD is a passive technology for light. Just wanted to clear up that misconception. But you are right there are 3 SXRD chips each with 2,073,600 pixels on each.

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Yes 3 chip refelective!!!
Oct 11, 2005 6:20AM PDT

This is also true for the new JVC LCoS sets.
Because they are 3 chip sets there is NO color wheel!!!
So they will not have the rainbow effect the some DLPs have. This is BIG plus. John