Lightning Struck!! Now I need a new TV!!

[John Corn]

Your opinions and sugestions will be appreciated, here goes.
My house was struck by lightning, now I need to pick up a TV for the family fairly quick, I had 4 TV's and I'm down to 1-19"now and it's not working right. :(

I'm considering an HDTV widescreen from 50 to 60 inch and I honestly don't know what to look for or what models I should try to buy. The Mitsubishi's, Hitachi's and Sony's seem to be popular.

When I was at CC, I asked to look at the picture broadcast from cable and it was terrible, all grainy looking, hazy and blurry looking. Does it take professional calibration to make these big screens look decent?

What make and models would you recommend?

TIA

[american_2000]

I have a Mits 65". LOVE IT! I have a Directv system hooked up to it through the RCA component jacks. It looks awesome! It should not take any professional calibration. You just need a good digital source, which that is what big screens are manufactured for. Hitachi and Sony would be my next choice so you are on the right track. Hope this helps! Never been struck by lightning but not wishing for it either!

Happy shopping!

Mike D.

[xxxx]

Hitachi's are the best RPTV

If you have budget restraints - checkout the Samsungs - they are good value if setup correctly

For HD info checkout www.hometheaterspot.com

[ibglowin]

Originally posted by american_2000
I have a Directv system hooked up to it through the RCA component jacks. It looks awesome!
Mike D.

I have (2) Rear projection /LCD TV's One 60" Sony and one 40" Panasonic. They both have absolutely amazing pictures. Very slim design, no burnin, no convergence like regular RPTV's. Also light weight. Light source comes from a high power bulb that can be replaced by the user. These aren't cheap sets by any means but with the big box boys offering 2 year no interest deals, they were hard to pass up. Alos look at sets with DLP technology, not many on the market but more and more are starting to show up and prices are starting to drop as well on them. I would stay away from the regular RPTV's. Old technology for the most part (that's why they are so cheap). They are huge, and bulky as well.

And don't expect to have an "awesome" picture with DirecTV or any other SD quality source. It will look better than regular cable for sure , but it won't be anywhere even close to DVD quality. If you want the picture you see in the showrooms, prepare to spend another $600 on an HD set top box. Only then will you be able to sit back and look at a truely awesome picture.

[John Corn]

I honestly don't have alot of time to shop nor research the family wants a TV NOW. :)............I hate buying a TV this way

[angiodan]

John, I have a 47" Samsung RPTV and have been very happy with it for the price I payed. My brother also has Samsung's new DLP set, and he is thrilled with his.

As ibglowin mentioned, SD programming is a crap shoot on a HD set. These tv's are made to show off a great signal. Some sets do a better job than others upconverting the SD signal. Whatever you decide, be sure that the set has DVI input at a minimum, and both DVI and 1394 for best future proofing from whatever copy protection crapola Hollywood is trying to throw at us.

Good Luck!

[Frapp]

IMHO and after about seven months of investigating them, I decided that Toshiba HDTV,s are the best and with the current year models at closeout pricing ( new models are due out this summer ), you could get a very nice price for one.

At one point Mits and Toshiba HDTV,s were the best selling two HDTV brands around and that is very interesting considering the fact that at Tweeters stores for instance, the showroom would be full of Mits, but you would have to search for a Toshiba. This is due to the fact that the Mits company would pay for more floor space than Toshiba was willing to :shrug:

Lastly, I`m sure many here will agree with, whatever TV you buy, purchase it locally, DO NOT order it from any of these popular mail order companies since even the so called reputable ones will not take a return should you have problems :rolleyes:

I have read several posts on other forums and newsgroups about customers purchasing from some of the popular warehouses on the west coast for example. If they receive a DOA TV or one that has problems even in the first few weeks, they are "SOL" and it can takes literally months for them to have a working set again :shrug:

Obviously, one has to ask themselves, why would I purchase a product, not to mention a very expensive one, from a place that will not allow me to return it if it is faulty .... or just plain will not even turn on :confused:

[Nick]

Check out the Panasonic 53" (PAN PT53WX42), or the 47" (PAN PT47WX42).

http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/hires/pan/PC.PAN.PT53WX42.CN.BSF.JPG

ISF calibrationist Gregg Loewen says "catagorically" speaking the Panny sets are "terrible" out of the box (but) look outstanding once set up correctly." The 53" model is my choice and is currently being offered under $1600 at most retailers, including Circuit City.

Panny 53" (http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&oid=56405&catoid=-8041&department=Televisions&category=Projection+TVs+40+inches+and+up)


*****************
Gregg Loewen
Gloewen@starband.net
www.lionav.com

[Chris Blount]

John,

I agree with Frapp. The Toshiba's work well. I've seen some 57" 16X9 Toshiba HDTV's at Best Buy for $1900.

Two thing though and no matter which one you buy: Be sure to buy a 16X9 screen NOT a 4X3. Second, buy the extended service plan.

Having the TV professionally calibrated is a good idea but not really necessary. A good setup DVD will do the trick. Only purists with lots of disposable income have their HDTV's calibrated.

So, IMHO, figure out how much you want to spend, look at Toshiba, Mitsubishi or Sony, and look for the best price at a few local stores. And as Frapp said, do not buy it over the internet.

[Unthinkable]

I'd recommend Toshiba and Hitachi from first hand experience.

[RAD]

I've had a few different Mits and like them all. I currently have a 57" 16:9 (55857) and like it. Any HDTV ready set will usually show NTSC/SD programming worst then a straight SD set. Also, the stores tend to have the sets contrast/brightness cranked all the way up which makes it worst if you're looking at a RPTV.

I'd also suggest that you make sure the set has more then one set of component inputs for 1080i, mine has only one and I wish it had more.

[PSB]

John, I would be interested to know if all your blown TV,s were hooked up to surge protectors or not? I was wondering if they ARE worth investing in? And would it make a differance?

[John Corn]

Pete, Not everything was hooked to surge protection.
My main TV (36"Wega) was, along with the 721 and stereo equipment, but it was right next to the chimney where the lightning struck. I have 2 more 19", one I think made it and one didn't, I also have a 13" that wasn't hooked to surge protection that is fried to.

[John Corn]

Boy, what a tough call on all these HD Monitors.
Sony, Samsung, Hitachi,Toshiba, Mits, Panny's all look good!!

I'm honestly not sure why, but for some reason this HD Monitor kept catching my eye.

Hitachi 51" Digital 16:9 HDTV Monitor/Projection Television (http://www.hitachi.com/tv/browse/projection/16-9digital/51swx20b.shtml)

I'm still not sure if I want a 51" or 58"?

[Mark Lamutt]

John, whatever you do, don't buy a Sony at the moment. Most of the current production models from the last half of last year through this year develop a problem that required CRT replacement after about 3 months of use. I love my Sony, but I got it before the current problems came up.

I agree - everything that I've read indicates that the Hitachi models are the best ones this year, followed by Mitsubishi.

[Chris Blount]

Originally posted by John Corn
I'm honestly not sure why, but for some reason this HD Monitor kept catching my eye.

Hitachi 51" Digital 16:9 HDTV Monitor/Projection Television (http://www.hitachi.com/tv/browse/projection/16-9digital/51swx20b.shtml)

I'm still not sure if I want a 51" or 58"?

Not bad. I would say go for the 58". It even has a DVI input which is a good thing. When you get the monitor, I would suggest immediately turning off the Scan Velocity Modulation. It introduces unwanted artifacts into the picture.

[John Corn]

Honestly this buying experience hasn't been fun at all, I enjoy the shopping, doing research, reading reviews, right now the family wants a TV.
Tomorow I will go to CC and buy the Hitachi, still not sure if I'm with 51" or 57" and Sony surround sound.
Sony DVD, Audio/Video (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=NI0j0RRUA7sj_CqSzJ4p2ltEE4dp5Ty9RT0=?Cat alogCategoryID=MzEKC0%2eNDokAAAD1dUT2AjA7&Dept=hav&TemplateName=item%2fsy_item_c&ProductID=lacKC0%2eNEA0AAAD1toz2AjA9&ContentItemPage=)
Hitachi (http://www.hitachi.com/tv/browse/projection/16-9digital/51swx20b.shtml)
I also have order a 721 from Dish Depot.
Something keeps telling me to get the 57".......:D

[STXJim]

All I have to say;
If you have enough room for the TV...
And you have enough distance between the TV and your sweet spot......
Get the largest screen that your budget allows!:)
You will not regret it.

[John Corn]

I bought this one. It's being delivered Thursday. :)

57" Digital 16:9 HDTV Monitor/Projection Television (http://www.hitachi.com/tv/browse/projection/16-9digital/57swx20b.shtml)

[pez2002]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by John Corn
[B]I bought this one. It's being delivered Thursday. :)

So How is It ?????

[John Corn]

Just got it yesterday, well it looks pretty good out of the box! I had a Sony 36' Wega so I have to get used to the grainy, blurry kinda look you get with an RPT.

One thing I've noticed it displays reds sometimes very bright.

[IndyMichael]

I've been thinking about upgrading to a 16:9 big screen, but wondering with probably 80+% of what we watch being the regular 4:3, is it worth it now? Also, I assume when you watch regular tv, you'd have the black bars on the sides, would that damage the screen since it would remain black most of the time? I think if we did get one, we'd cancel all the pay channels, so we could rent/buy only widescreen movies.

[RAD]

Originally posted by IndyMichael
I've been thinking about upgrading to a 16:9 big screen, but wondering with probably 80+% of what we watch being the regular 4:3, is it worth it now? Also, I assume when you watch regular tv, you'd have the black bars on the sides, would that damage the screen since it would remain black most of the time? I think if we did get one, we'd cancel all the pay channels, so we could rent/buy only widescreen movies.

I've had a 16:9 for 27 months now and love it. Most of the time I have the Dish 6K set to 'stretch' mode for native 4:3, you get used to it after a while. Since you didn't say what you watch please remember that if you get a HDTV STB there's a lot of network primetime programming that's in 16:9 on CBS, ABC and NBC, even Fox does some 16:9 but at 480p only.

[Petemc11]

John,here's a link for tweeks of your new set.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=300466

[John Corn]

John,here's a link for tweeks of your new set.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=300466

Thanks Pete!! :)

[mtjt3]

Just got it yesterday, well it looks pretty good out of the box! I had a Sony 36' Wega so I have to get used to the grainy, blurry kinda look you get with an RPT.

One thing I've noticed it displays reds sometimes very bright.


New HDTV RPTV set should NOT look "grainy, or blurry" go pick up Digital Video Essentials.... It should help your picture tremendously......

I have a 48'' Mits I love it!!

[music_beans]

Your opinions and sugestions will be appreciated, here goes.
My house was struck by lightning, now I need to pick up a TV for the family fairly quick, I had 4 TV's and I'm down to 1-19"now and it's not working right. :(


TIA

For the 19" tv, I suggest a Sony, RCA, or a generic Walmart brand! (Sansui 19" work very well.)

Let me guess the other 3 tvs are fried.

[Nick]

I may have said this before, I don't remember.

After a little tweaking using the Video Essentials DVD, the PQ on my 53" Panny RPTV (PT-53WX42) is abso-toot-ly AMAZING! I go around grinning all the time. Friends come over and they won't leave! I don't know if I will be able to stand it when I finally HD, but I'm more than willing to take the chance. :grin:

Nature shows such as those on the NG channel already look like they are hi-def. WoW! The colors are incredible.

"Wide-screen TV with a PVR: TV the way God meant it to be." :D