APEX HDTV - $1199 shipped at Amazon

[kadeeu]

There are not many reviews out there at this point on this set, but it has most of the features of all the other lower end HDTV sets but for hundreds less. The free shipping may be today only.

Features:

GB43HD09
43" Screen
1080i / 720p / 480p Progressive Scan
2:3 Pulldown Correction
3D Y/C combo Filter
Digital Convergence One Touch
Picture - In - Picture Features:
- Dual Tuner PIP
- PIP Swap
- 9 Box PIP
- 3 PIP size: 1/4, 1/9, or 1/16 screen
Velocity Scan Modulation
BBE Sound
Component Video Inputs - YPbPr (2)
S-Video Inputs (3)
Rear AV Inputs (2)
Front AV Input (1)
4 Picture Modes
Dual Antenna Jack
Protective Shield
Variable Audio Output
1st Surface Mirror
Closed Caption Display
V-Chip


Amazon link

Apex homepage

 

[DUKAT1]

From the manual:

"* This projection TV is not capable of display a native 720p format signal.
When a 720p format signal is received, it make down-conversion."

As an owner of a set with native 1080i display, I can tell you there are definitely times I wish my TV could also do native 720p without conversion. This could be very important to all those considering the purchase of an hdtv.


Other than that, the set seems pretty nice.

 

[SG1]

Would you mind giving us a list of HDTV that can do native 720P if you already have it. Anyone? I'm assuming this is for DVD players. I'm in the market for an HDTV in the near future and would like to know which one is good/decent to get. Don't want any regret afterward =) Thanks.

 

[m0ssie]

I thought DVD players are 480 lines, not 720 lines.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: DUKAT1
From the manual:

"* This projection TV is not capable of display a native 720p format signal.
When a 720p format signal is received, it make down-conversion."

As an owner of a set with native 1080i display, I can tell you there are definitely times I wish my TV could also do native 720p without conversion. This could be very important to all those considering the purchase of an hdtv.


Other than that, the set seems pretty nice.

Do DVD's look bad on it?

 

[JoeCraw]

DVD players ARE 480. The better DVD players are 480p, most are 480i. This TV would show the full potential of a DVD.

720p is high definition. Most TVs today DO NOT display 720p native, BUT they usually up-convert it (or laterally convert it) to 1080i. Digital ABC and, I think, digital NBC, broadcast in 720p.

The biggest drawback to this TV is that it is not 16:9. Amazon says it is, but the Apex site doesn't and it doesn't look 16:9. It is not that good of a price for a 4:3 set.

Joe

 

[Staples]

I belong to a shopping club and I can get this TV for $1180 plus a $200MIR which brings it down to $980 + no tax and free shipping. It is on the front page of the catalog I got in the mail yesterday. Seems like a pretty good deal although I never like projection TVs. All Apex TVs are really cheap if you hadn't noticed.

 

[jmg888]

ABC is the only network that broadcasts in 720p and almost all HDTV's have to convert it to 1080i since they can't display 720p native.

 

[SpotDancer]

Originally posted by: Staples
I belong to a shopping club and I can get this TV for $1180 plus a $200MIR which brings it down to $980 + no tax and free shipping. It is on the front page of the catalog I got in the mail yesterday. Seems like a pretty good deal although I never like projection TVs. All Apex TVs are really cheap if you hadn't noticed.

What's the name of the shopping club, and how does one join?

 

[Staples]

What's the name of the shopping club, and how does one join?

ShoppersAdvantage They were $60/year last time I caught the bill. You can buy stuff there even if you are not a member but the prices you see are not member prices.

Edit: It says its $70/year now. Used to be $50 when I joined 7+ years ago.

 

[NewSc2]

Originally posted by: JoeCraw
DVD players ARE 480. The better DVD players are 480p, most are 480i. This TV would show the full potential of a DVD.

720p is high definition. Most TVs today DO NOT display 720p native, BUT they usually up-convert it (or laterally convert it) to 1080i. Digital ABC and, I think, digital NBC, broadcast in 720p.

The biggest drawback to this TV is that it is not 16:9. Amazon says it is, but the Apex site doesn't and it doesn't look 16:9. It is not that good of a price for a 4:3 set.

Joe

yeah, most non-16:9 screens go for about this price

 

[Jugernot]

Originally posted by: Staples

What's the name of the shopping club, and how does one join?

ShoppersAdvantage They were $60/year last time I caught the bill. You can buy stuff there even if you are not a member but the prices you see are not member prices.

Edit: It says its $70/year now. Used to be $50 when I joined 7+ years ago.

Sounds a little like Damark...

 

[stovetop]

Very few Rear-Projection HDTV's can display 720p natively, good ones will upconvert to 1080i, not as good ones downconvert to 540p (Half of 1080) or 480p, and older models don't display it at all. Almost all HD Plasma sets display 720p natively and downconvert to 1080i.

ABC and ESPN's (Owned by ABC, ESPN was just annouced, it is not yet available) channels do 720p.
NBC, CBS, PBS, WB, HD-NET, HBO, SHO, and Discovery do 1080i

FOX does 480p

XBox currently has 3 games that support 720p (Tony Hawk 4, NBA2k3, and Street Hoops)
Dragon's Lair will be the first Xbox game to support 1080i.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: JoeCraw


The biggest drawback to this TV is that it is not 16:9. Amazon says it is, but the Apex site doesn't and it doesn't look 16:9. It is not that good of a price for a 4:3 set.

Joe

Agreed. 4:3 "HD" is outrageous.

 

[HarryK]

Originally posted by: Staples
I belong to a shopping club and I can get this TV for $1180 plus a $200MIR

Is the $200 Mail in rebate from the shopping club or from Apex?

 

[TekDemon]

Originally posted by: Staples
I belong to a shopping club and I can get this TV for $1180 plus a $200MIR which brings it down to $980 + no tax and free shipping. It is on the front page of the catalog I got in the mail yesterday. Seems like a pretty good deal although I never like projection TVs. All Apex TVs are really cheap if you hadn't noticed.

I believe the TV that you are talking about is the older GB4308 and NOT the HDTV supporting GB4309...

The picture on the Amazon.com website shows the older GB4308 but you should get the GB4309 if you order.

 

[dafog]

Nevermind.

 

[kadeeu]

I would like to try to clear some things up:

This is the GB-43HD09 model which is an HDTV supporting 1080i/720p(not natively)/480p.
It IS a 4:3 aspect ratio model according to APEX's website and the picture at Amazon appears to be correct except for the speaker covers which are lighter at the APEX site. The 16:9 description appears to be wrong at Amazon. I know this will turn alot of people off the deal, but if you are going to do alot of regular TV viewing on this TV then 4:3 still has a lot of advantages.

The model GB-4308 is a DTV which will play a 480p signal and this is the one being offered at shoppersadvantage.com with the $200 shoppersadvantage.com only rebate. Amazon also sells this model for $999.

Hope this clears things up a little.

 

[Staples]

I believe the TV that you are talking about is the older GB4308 and NOT the HDTV supporting GB4309...

I'll be damned, you are right. Its said progressive scan so that equated to me at HD ready. I guess not. I have never seen a TV like this which was able to do progressive but wan't a HD before.