Buying HDTV tomorrow. Want some opinions :)

Sam334

Golden Member
Nov 20, 2004
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The TV: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-mHLw2zxOEAy/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=158KV27HS4

I've been researching this tv for about a week now and haven't really read anything negative about it. Any of you happen to own this and can provide some info? I'm going to buy it from Circuit City for $712 and plan to look at it there tomorrow. Having a few concerns though. As for it being 3:4, I actually prefer that (I seem to be a minority in regards to that).

What will normal non-hd channels look like since there are lots more of those than HD channels(I have Time Warner). Crutchfield says the tv has "Digital Reality Creation (upconverts non-HD signals to 960i or 480p)." Now, would it be better to have a tv that upconverts to 1080i or will that look worse than upconversion to 960i since base quality is all the tv has to work with?

Lastly, what do you think about the price? The cheapest I found it for was $560 from some obscure online vendor (and they want $130 for shipping), so it's almost the same as getting it at a chain retail store. The $70 3-year warrant is a must for a purchase like this, correct?

Any input is greatly appreciated,

Stephen

*edit - Tv armoire thing will fit the Wega with about 3 inches to spare on the left and right sides. tv must also be under 24" high, so that limits me going to 32".

edit2* - Now that I've reconsidered the whole 4:3 situation, I'm leaning toward the Samsung 30"
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/120...ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

$899 sale

*edit3 - Between that Samsung and this Sony: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-30-...sm/oid/93014/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do


***edit again: Went to Circuit City this morning and compared the two 30" widescreens. WIth SDTV, the Samsung blew the Sony away, imo. However, they couldn't show me the HD in the Samsung because they didn't have a feed hooked up to it! The guy said he could show me another brand tv and it looks the same. :-/ He couldn't tell me anything about the upconversion and recommended the Samsung somply "because it's better." If I'm spending $1000 on a tv, I want some goddamn competent people informing me about the product. *sigh* I will, however, be getting that Samsung. Need to find another place that will match the $899 CC price.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
I didnt think the WEGAs were HD. my father is planning on buying one next month.

think he wants to get a 36inch though. wich is fine he is giving me his old 36inch tube tv heh
 

Sam334

Golden Member
Nov 20, 2004
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Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.
 

amol

Lifer
Jul 8, 2001
11,680
3
81
Originally posted by: Sam334
Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.

That's what I thought, until I got an HD tuner

HD deserves to be full screen ... especially since more and more programs are being broadcast like that.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: Sam334
Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.

You don't have to letterbox it, you'll have numerous stretch/zoom options.

If you're buying a TV to watch regular TV with go buy a $300 27" set.

If you want an HD set & intend to make use of HD sources get a widescreen.

Trust those of us who actually own & use HD.

Viper GTS
 

elmer92413

Senior member
Oct 23, 2004
659
0
0
Originally posted by: Sam334
Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.

Yeah but pretty soon alot of your regular tv will be 16:9...!!!
It would be worth it in the long run...
 

cliftonite

Diamond Member
Jul 15, 2001
6,900
63
91
save your money, spend a little more and get one of the 30 to 32 inch lcds in the 700 to 1k range
 
Mar 19, 2003
18,289
2
71
Originally posted by: Amol
Originally posted by: Sam334
Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.

That's what I thought, until I got an HD tuner

HD deserves to be full screen ... especially since more and more programs are being broadcast like that.

I agree 100% (and Amol bought an HDTV tuner at my suggestion ;))
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
17,515
0
0
Originally posted by: Sam334
Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.

Yes, but "regular TV" is going to be widescreen soon enough. Many (most?) HDTV programs are widescreen. In a few years, EVERYTHING you watch on a 4:3 TV is going to be letterboxed, and you probably don't want that.

I just got a new HDTV a few weeks ago, and I was faced with the same problem. I ended up going with a 30" WEGA widescreen (it doesn't have an HDTV tuner in it, but that wasn't a big issue for me since I'm getting HDTV through cable) because I figure I'll have it for a while, and widescreen is the future.
 

Qwest

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
3,169
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i bought the 30" Sony xs955. Sony tubes are great...they make dvds and regular tv look pretty good. HD looks amazing as promised.
 

amol

Lifer
Jul 8, 2001
11,680
3
81
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Originally posted by: Amol
Originally posted by: Sam334
Originally posted by: Amol
4:3 != HD

I don't care what you say ...

I knew this was coming :)

I just prefer it. I'd rather watch movies in letterbox than regular tv in letterbox.

That's what I thought, until I got an HD tuner

HD deserves to be full screen ... especially since more and more programs are being broadcast like that.

I agree 100% (and Amol bought an HDTV tuner at my suggestion ;))

Looking back, I could never imagine why I'd get an HDTV Wonder over the MDP-130! :)
 

frankgomez75

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2004
2,215
1
81
Many shows are now being broadcasted in WS like American Idol, CSI, PBSHD, etc...
Besides like Viper GTS, you can always use the stretch options for shows that are not WS or use the 4:3 option with the bars on the side. Options are good!
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,128
781
126
Originally posted by: MagicConch
If you like 4:3 it looks like a good TV to me, but I think Crutchfield is too expensive.

He said he was buying it from Circuit City
 

Sam334

Golden Member
Nov 20, 2004
1,150
0
0
Originally posted by: MagicConch
If you like 4:3 it looks like a good TV to me, but I think Crutchfield is too expensive.

I would get it from Circuit City for $712.