 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
Took the wife to circuit city last night to view HDTVs. I went intent on the RCA38" 16:9 with the built in OTA tuner at $2200, but after an hour of fiddling with the controls, I could not get it to look as good as a Zenith 32" 4:3 (non-progressive, no tuner) that was selling for $1400. (RCA was not as sharp, poor blacks, dim whites, weak saturation)Next we compared the Phillips 16:9 at $3200. Nice but that price opened up the Sony 40XBR2 at $3500 which blew away everything in the store.
I was able to stand halfway between a Sony 36XBR750 and the 40XBR2 to compare the two. I *think* the 40 was a touch better than the 36, but both sets were so good, and so much better than anything else in the store. The Sony 36 was priced at $2500 (but no OTA tuner).
Next we compared a Panasonic 36XT41 that was sitting right next to the Sony 36. The Panasonic was good, (really good compared to the RCA38), but not as bright, and just a touch softer focus than the Sony. This set was priced at $1999 and is really nice for the price.
The salesman claimed that the Sony 36" was "too sharp" to watch standard video/cable signals - that they were getting that set back from people that did not have satellite. Interesting, but who knows if it isn't just the price point, rather than that set doing worse with cable video than other HDTV sets.
I went in wanting a 16:9 with built in tuner, and came away thinking that 4:3 progressive with no tuner was probably my price point and probably the Panasonic, since HDTV is nice but if I buy a $2000 set, I'll probably be ready to move that to the bedroom in two years and buy a new one for the family room. If I put out the $3500 for the 40", I don't see it going into the bedroom - and since I would have the phenominal Sony picture to compare to everyday, I couldn't buy anything less for the bedroom - that means a lot more money now and in the future. It just hurts to admit I am not willing to pay for the better picture.
Decisions, decisions!
Follow Ups:
I have the 36" Sony and I love it. No projection TV I have seen is in it's class. I bought it a month before the 40" Sony came out.The salesman is an idiot. Regular TV is excellent. I have digital cable and the picture is very close to DVD. I sold my High Def projection TV because I didn't like watching football on it. It was good for movies but sports were not clear enough for me.
The 36" is very heavy. The 40" is like a tank.
Bottom line. The Sony is not for everyone, but if you think you'll like it, you'll probably love it after owning it a few months.
Hi Carl-I have the non-HDCD Sony 36" (FV26) which i bought at Costco for $1399, and the picture is superlative. i've given it rabbit ear feeds, and now Dish Network.
If you are near Costco (and a member or know one), they are now selling the 36XBR450 for $1999 (as opposed to 2299 everywhere else) which is a great deal for a HDTV ready set.
-Derek
Too sharp???? Weird. Perhaps the salesman could learn to use the frickin controls to turn down the "sharpness" if Sony has that. Detail can always be smoothed out. Never mind that guy, if you post here, search the archives: there's probably someone else who bought it and got it to work great!Bh
the interest in direct view at high prices. You can get a fantastic 65" rear projector for $3500 that makes a 40" direct view look like a bedroom set.
First, my viewing distance is 9 feet,
second, the directview seem sharper and brighter
rearrange my room to get a picture 3 times as large.
I'd like to see the best CRT vs RP televisions. The CRT will always rule. If all you want is a larger image, than kudos for the RP.... but for quality of picture the CRT rules.
is CRT.
"Cathode-Ray Tube" or "Direct View"....
only "direct view" is technically correct because virtually all rear projectors utilize 3 separate CRTs for red, green, and blue.
The set defaults to a soft focus so you have to go into the picture menu and boost it up.Also it's a 4:3 set for watching 90% of what's on tv now and does an amazing 16:9 letterbox or stretched when playing HDTV or DVD.
Then there is the progressive scan and component inputs and the picture is absolutely stunning.
I actually think the color on the Panasonic beats the Sony by far when properly adjusted.
I agree with post saying Panasonic image is actually better than the Sony.I bought the Panasonic CT-34WX50 34" widescreen because the image is so good on cable, DVD, and HDTV. The Sony still showed pixels, very sharp, but I could not make the pixels fade away like the Panasonic can. Even cable source is so smooth on the Panasonic.
Love the set. Only disappointments: no XDS info display, and closed captioning on/off (without muting) is nestled deep on the menus - no one button solution like the Sony "Display" button.
Now if I could just get over my conflicted feelings when I watch the "Just" mode.
Alan
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
