Video Asylum

• Re: rear projection telelvision - LarryI 05:13:25 09/23/02 (0)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  What size/price/aspect ratio, etc? There is much to choose from. Hard to generalize about particular brands. Pioneer, particularly the Elite line, have good pictures but are a bit pricey. Also, Pioneer and Mitsubishi tend to overemphasize red (red push). The Pioneer Elites are very sharp, but the picture seems a bit hard. I like some of the Sony sets with their DRC deinterlacer. The Sony deinterlacer leaves less noise in solid areas and less obvious breaks in hard diagonal lines that most of the other brands. The picture does not appear to be as sharp as comparably priced Mitsubishi sets and its color is tilted a bit toward green.

  The sleeper line to me is the higher-priced models by Hitachi. You hardly find anyone talking up the Hitachi sets, but when they are properly adjusted to tone down the very hot and saturated colors of its default settings, their sets are very good. They are also much cheaper than the premium models of other lines.

  At this point in time, I would avoid the LCD (e.g., Sony Grand Wega) and DLP (e.g., Samsung) sets. Black level and shaddow detail is not yet up to snuff. I know, because I have a Mitsubishi DLP RPTV. On the other hand, these sets have inredibly good detail and no problems with burn-in.
  
  

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• Re: rear projection telelvision - njjohn 06:13:26 09/22/02 (0)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  i recently got a rear projection set, a sharp, and i'm happy, happy, happy. i have the home theater sound and i needed to upgrade the visual from an older 36 inch mitsubishi tv, and i'm very glad i did. (i understand that this sharp is really a pioneer elite tv.)

  i love movies and it's been great.

  i would also recommend getting a set of component video cables for around 50 bucks. i bought mine at radio shack. it goes from the dvd player to the tv. it improves video quality greatly (at least 20%).

  
  
  

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• Been there... - Harmonia 11:40:03 09/21/02 (0)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  Ask yourself some questions: What do I mostly watch? DVDs? SD? HD? Tapes? What are your video sources? How large is my room and how far away can/do I sit? Will people be watching off axis? How bright is my viewing room and can I control ambient light to some extent?Will I be using outboard sound system?

  RPs are some of the best bang for buck as far as screen size for dollar goes. However, like all current displays, they have their compromises and drawbacks as well as their virtues. They do take up a lot of real estate. But one good thing about them is that they are easily tweakable and benefit greatly from a pro calibration - even a user calibration using AVIA or Video Essentials DVDs. I'd get a progressive DVD player if I didn't alreasy have one.

  I would want the same features I'd be looking for on any good quality display: 16:9 widescreen, ED/HD capable (480p & 1080i); a decent internal line doubler/scaler; 3:2 pulldown; non-glare screen, if possible; ability to turn off scan volecity modulation; a set that does not automatically lock on full when fed a non-anamorphic or 4:3 DVD from progressive output. You may care about things like PIP etc. - I don't.

  I've been looking at TVs for over a year. All RPs are not created equal, especially when it comes to screens, CRTs, power supplies, ease og convergence etc. Beware of blooming, red push, geometry and convergence issues. Keep in mind that RPs look best in a darkened room, and that most sets on display at dealers are not properly set up, are fed crappy signals look terrible.

  The best RPs IMO were the Pioneers (especially the Elite models, the Mitsubishis and the smaller Panasonics. Sony would also be in the running.

  The Perfect Vision and Stereophile Guide to Home Theater all have buying guides in recent issues. The best sources for info I've found are avsforum.com, hometheaterforum.com, hometheaterspot.com and hometheaterhifi.com. I'd start at the avsforum RP section.

  Happy hunting.
  
  

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• Why? - EdM 10:36:58 09/21/02 (0)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  Move three feet off center and the picture goes away.
  CRTs are far superior but if you insist on over 36" go for a projector.
  
  

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• you need better questions - late 01:55:13 09/21/02 (1)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  Hi,
  try this....http://www.hdtv.net/RP4800.htm....Now, since you will decide that is too expensive, you need to ask what will be best in my room, to my taste, within my budget. For that we would need more info.
  However, to a degree, it's ya get what ya pay for. I like the Pioneer Elite, and the Sony XBR2, but I haven't seen either ISF calibrated, and that's important. Personally, I am wondering what DLP will look like.
  
  

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  • I'm finding out about DLP today... - Harmonia 11:17:39 09/21/02 (0)
    In Reply to: you need better questions posted by late on September 21, 2002 at 01:55:13:

    The SAmsung sets arrived at BB yesterday...I think.

    There is a ton of info on the RP DLPs at avsforum.com

    The comments suggest that not all the bugs are worked out yet, especially on standard defivition. HD and DVD can look very good, Some sets had some problems with areas in deep shadow (Surprise.)

    Optima is coming out with DLP rear projection sets also 4th quarter.

    Conensus is that the Sony Grand Wega is grossly overpriced for performance.
    
    

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• Here's a good place to start... - Joe Murphy Jr 19:48:42 09/20/02 (3)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  .
  

  • http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=63

  
  

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  • a new set should be ISF calibrated, which those guys seemed unaware of..nt.. - late 01:48:23 09/21/02 (2)
    In Reply to: Here's a good place to start... posted by Joe Murphy Jr on September 20, 2002 at 19:48:42:

    .
    
    

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    • Your moniker says it all. - Joe Murphy Jr 17:25:29 09/21/02 (0)
      In Reply to: a new set should be ISF calibrated, which those guys seemed unaware of..nt.. posted by late on September 21, 2002 at 01:48:23:

      As Tom says below, ISF calibration, as well as Video Essentials and Avia, are all discussed at the AVS forum. Great party, sorry you were... um, late.
      
      

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    • ISF is discussed often at AVS forums. - Tom §. 17:13:33 09/21/02 (0)
      In Reply to: a new set should be ISF calibrated, which those guys seemed unaware of..nt.. posted by late on September 21, 2002 at 01:48:23:

      Keep following the boards there and even do a search on ISF.

      Tom §.

      
      

      • ISF search on AVS RPTV board

      
      

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• A vote for Panasonic - Dalancroft 14:21:44 09/20/02 (0)
  In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

  -what features do i look for?

  Umm, a nice picture? Seriously, it's nice to have at least two sets of component inputs, especially if you're running DVD and digital cable; autoconvergence would be nice (mine is manual); manually controllable Scan Velocity Modulation (SVM) toggle (adds noise, ghosting, ringing when "on"; PIP or split screen if you enjoy that sort of thing; 3:2 pulldown; and widescreen (16 x 9 aspect ratio rather than the standard 4 x 3).

  I bought a Panasonic 47WX49 earlier this year (47" widescreen), had it ISF calibrated, and have been very happy with it. Beautiful, bold, crisp, lifelike colors and an excellent, film-like picture via progressive scan DVD. I think the new model is 47WX52 with the ability to disable SVM and more points of convergence, but don't quote me. I saw an ad for $1699 @ Best Buy and unless you need a bigger screen, you won't do better for the $$$.

  The larger Toshibas are reputed to be quite good as well.

  Happy hunting.
  
  
  

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