What would *you* buy?

Sir_winealot · 08-01-2006, 05:23 PM

I had a lightening strike recently which, among several other things, has fried my old Pioneer Elite RP big screen TV. I've reported the loss and filed a claim with my insurance company, and plan on replacing the set with a 60 inch+ HD model hooked up with a recently purchased (the $19.95 deal) HR10-250.

I currently own a 42 inch Sony RP LCD A10 HDTV ...love the set...and have considered the 60 inch model, but since insurance will be helping with the new set I'm thinking of going for something in a flat panel.

Any recommendations for something this size ...I'll take a look over at AVS, but I'm unfamiliar with this 'size' category and was curious as to what folks here considered top-0-the-line?

Thanks.

Andrew_S · 08-01-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir_whinealot

IAny recommendations for something this size ...I'll take a look over at AVS, but I'm unfamiliar with this 'size' category and was curious as to what folks here considered top-0-the-line?

Top of the line would probably be one of the new 1080p Pioneer plasmas, but I have a feeling that the insurance company is not going to replace your tv with a $12K model. The Sony SXRD's are nice as is the similar tech from JVC. Those aren't flatscreens, but table top projections. The new Samsung DLP's powered by LCD bulbs eliminate many of the problems of DLP sets. Westinghouse has a few of inexpensive LCD flat panels that have received positive reviews. You're right that you should check out AVS. Just be prepared to spend a week reading and getting your bearings.

Cody21 · 08-01-2006, 06:30 PM

If you shop around, you should be able to get the Pioneer PDP-504CMX 50-Inch HD Plasma Display for under $4,000 .... I am a bit biased since that's the Plasma I bought 4 years ago (at $7,000!!) .... It's a great HD Plasma ... But of course, the LCD/DLP/Plasma discussion is more and more a personal choice. I just like the angle views of the Plasma screens compared to the others. Your mileage may vary ... :-)

Runch Machine · 08-01-2006, 08:40 PM

Sound and Vision magazine rated the Sony SXRD as the best RPTV so far. I recommend you consider it. It is 1080p capable and has a great picture. I am not aware of any flat panel TVs that can do 1080i or 1080p.

BigBearf · 08-01-2006, 08:51 PM

I am waiting for the upcoming 70" Sony KDS-R70XBR2 which is about to be released. I think that it will be the high end standard for the next 2-3 years.

Check it out at http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...SKU=KDSR70XBR2

I think it will be worth the wait.
BigBearf

Runch Machine · 08-01-2006, 09:08 PM

Wow, that Sony looks great. I could use a little lightning at my house.

Cruzan · 08-02-2006, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cody21

If you shop around, you should be able to get the Pioneer PDP-504CMX 50-Inch HD Plasma Display for under $4,000 .... I am a bit biased since that's the Plasma I bought 4 years ago (at $7,000!!) .... It's a great HD Plasma ... But of course, the LCD/DLP/Plasma discussion is more and more a personal choice. I just like the angle views of the Plasma screens compared to the others. Your mileage may vary ... :-)

I agree completely - I have the same TV and I love it. My wife and I comparison-shopped against every TV in the range and we consistently preferred the Pioneer picture. It rocks. We paid $5k one year ago...

alv · 08-02-2006, 04:54 AM

My success and that of my friends is to call your local ISF calibrator and ask him which set he can make look best. With the amount of money you are taking about, a calibration should be in your budget and will make a large difference in the quality of the picture.

AbMagFab · 08-02-2006, 08:27 AM

The Sony SXRD's are the best HDTV's out right now, with the D-ILA from JVC a close second. If you want the best HD Picture, this is what you want.

ravonaf · 08-02-2006, 11:36 AM

If you want to go budget I just bought a Vizio 50 inch plasma at costco for $1900. For the price it can't be beat. And with costco if you don't like it just take it back, no questions asked. I researched it first and most buyers love it. It doesn't have an internal tuner but I was hooking up a HR10-250 with it anyways so I didn't care much. I think the picture is fantasistic, but It's my first HD set so what do I know.

stiffi · 08-02-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravonaf

If you want to go budget I just bought a Vizio 50 inch plasma at costco for $1900. For the price it can't be beat. And with costco if you don't like it just take it back, no questions asked. I researched it first and most buyers love it. It doesn't have an internal tuner but I was hooking up a HR10-250 with it anyways so I didn't care much. I think the picture is fantasistic, but It's my first HD set so what do I know.

I would look at NEC displays. I have a 42 inch plasma that I absolutely love. It was very affordable too. You won't find them at retail, but if you can find a distributor, it's worth it. I got mine from a presentation systems dealer.

Gweeto · 08-02-2006, 01:37 PM

I have a 60in Sony and LOVE IT.

rifleman69 · 08-02-2006, 02:22 PM

I've got the 50A10 from 2005 and love it...but if I was buying today, I'd get the 50SXRD instead. The 2005 SXRD had the dumbo ears as speakers which made it much wider than 50 inches...and looked like crap IMO.

Good thing they eliminated those dumbo ears in 2006!

Sir_winealot · 08-03-2006, 09:01 AM

Well, I'll find out what kind of 'allowance' I'll get from the insurance company today...I've no experience with this, but knowing insurance companies I'm guessing it will be a $maller number than needed to purchase something top-o-the-line, but contingent on the amount it *will* help to offset the total.

This will be for a pretty good size room, so I'm going to go for a 60 or 70 inch set.

Talman · 08-03-2006, 11:16 AM

Don't forget to figure in some kind of heavy duty surge protection/UPS system or lightning ground system to go with your new equipment.

pdawg17 · 08-03-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravonaf

If you want to go budget I just bought a Vizio 50 inch plasma at costco for $1900. For the price it can't be beat. And with costco if you don't like it just take it back, no questions asked. I researched it first and most buyers love it. It doesn't have an internal tuner but I was hooking up a HR10-250 with it anyways so I didn't care much. I think the picture is fantasistic, but It's my first HD set so what do I know.

I second the Viz if you want to save money...the Pannys/Pios of course are going to be slightly better PQ-wise but not by much...also, once you get it home you won't have a Panny/Pio next to it to compare to

...

jfh3 · 08-03-2006, 09:37 PM

Another vote for the Sony SXRD (60")

Bodie · 08-04-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runch Machine

Sound and Vision magazine rated the Sony SXRD as the best RPTV so far. I recommend you consider it. It is 1080p capable and has a great picture. I am not aware of any flat panel TVs that can do 1080i or 1080p.

Another vote. I got one at the end of January (had surgery so was laid up for 2 weeks, the wife said, we should get that before you go under otherwise you won't be able to move it for months) and am continually impressed with it.

Sir_winealot · 08-04-2006, 04:09 PM

Looking at the Sony SXRD...I've noticed two 60" models and was curious if anyone knew the difference.

One is the:
Sony 60" SXRD™ LCoS Projection HDTV KDS-60A2000

...and the other is the:
Sony - Grand WEGA 60" Widescreen SXRD Projection HDTV - KDSR60XBR1

Runch Machine · 08-04-2006, 05:42 PM

The KDS-60A2000 is an LCD rear projection TV. It will not give quite as good a picture as the SXRD set. LCD doesn't have as good a black level.

The set everyone is raving about is the SXRD.

Sir_winealot · 08-04-2006, 06:18 PM

Gotcha...thanks RM.

So is this the one?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1122655672986

HomieG · 08-04-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir_whinealot

Gotcha...thanks RM.

So is this the one?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1122655672986

That's the one! BestBuy did have them on sale at one point for $2,899, no joke. I paid a lot more for mine than that. It's viewing nirvana for sure.

BigBearf · 08-04-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Gotcha...thanks RM.

So is this the one?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...d=1122655672986

If you need to buy this now go to shopsunshine.com. I have bought 3 HD TVs from them. There service and delivery are great and they have this TV and it stand for about $3K for both.
You could easily save $1K

Here is the link
http://www.shopsunshine.com/item.php?item_id=4893
I hope this helps
BigBearf

Dssturbo1 · 08-04-2006, 08:18 PM

panasonic has a new 58" plasma out the 58PX60U or 600Uand you can find it just under $5K shipped and Pioneer has a new 60" plamsa coming out the 6070 should be close to that same $5k range, might see it in BB soon it would be the 6071 model there.

The Panasonic 65" 1080P plasma is coming soon too, if were lucky it could street around $7-8K.

Pioneer has their new 1080P FHD1 out now, retail is $10K. Couple reports say it looks really nice (oh yeah it should..) but when you see it beside the larger 58" Panasonic the PQ is not as outstanding as the 8" larger difference in screen size. And of course your needs are for the larger 60"+ size anyway.

When you check into the SXRD make sure it is the new 2006 models Sony should have out now.

rifleman69 · 08-04-2006, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir_whinealot

Looking at the Sony SXRD...I've noticed two 60" models and was curious if anyone knew the difference.

One is the:
Sony 60" SXRD™ LCoS Projection HDTV KDS-60A2000

...and the other is the:
Sony - Grand WEGA 60" Widescreen SXRD Projection HDTV - KDSR60XBR1

The new XBR isn't out yet for 2006, the KDS-60A2000 is a lot closer to the XBR than last year's model, which along with the 55 inch was a very bad HDTV.

Sir_winealot · 08-09-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runch Machine

The KDS-60A2000 is an LCD rear projection TV. It will not give quite as good a picture as the SXRD set. LCD doesn't have as good a black level.

The set everyone is raving about is the SXRD.

Okay, I'm confused. On the Sony website, it's showing the KDS-60A200 as "offering similar features" to the Sony XBR which is currently unavailable. Aren't they both LCD rear projection sets?

Is the KDS the newer version of the XBR?

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...s&Dept=tvvideo