Got me a little Hot deal at Sears yesterday

[Amused]

Originally posted by: memo

Originally posted by: Amused
Try this guy:

http://66.201.107.3/

His name is Gregg Loewen and he's one of the best. He came out to do my sets in the middle of no-where IL. He sets up trips to entire regions 4 times a year or so.

It looks like he'll be in TX in Nov of this year. Just in time to do your set after the break-in period.

Give him a try.

I wouldn't call Champaign IL middle of nowhere at least not in the fall and spring.

Yeah, but college students aren't known for having multi-thousand dollar TV sets and paying hundreds to have them calibrated... so for all intents and purposes, it IS in the middle of nowhere in this case.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Pretty sweet. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that non-lcd or non-plasma large screen tvs are garbage, so I won't be buying one until prices come down a lot or I come into some more cash.

That is just simply NOT true. Neither Plasmas nor LCDs can reproduce blacks as well as a CRT based RPTV. LCDs being the worst. DLPs come close, but still can't get that "blacker than black" that a properly calibrated CRT based set can do. Also, Plasmas have a BAD burn in problem, MUCH worse than CRT based sets.

CRT based RPTVs are the price/performance leader. DLPs are the performance leader. However, I still favor CRT based RP and FP TVs for theater type environments simply because no other technology can do blacks so well in a darkened room.

Their quality is good, but functionally I've yet to see a rear-projection that is even worth bothering to turn on if you're anything but in front of it or barely off center. even the pretty high end ones don't have much of a viewing angle from the side. Considering that few people have access to a long room designated to home theater, and that most people have to organize couches and other chairs around a screen - frequently well off center - you end up barely seeing what's on. I was at a friend's house on Saturday and frankly I couldn't even congratulate him on his new big screen tv because out of the 6 sitting positions that could be used to view it only ONE actually allowed you to see it at full brightness without that awful dimming effect! Now his tv was fairly low end ($1500 Hitachi 56"), but really it was more hassel than anything else.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Amused
Try this guy:

http://66.201.107.3/

His name is Gregg Loewen and he's one of the best. He came out to do my sets in the middle of no-where IL. He sets up trips to entire regions 4 times a year or so.

It looks like he'll be in TX in Nov of this year. Just in time to do your set after the break-in period.

Give him a try.

Thanks. Coincidently, I just ran across a forum where he posts and he stated he will be in Houston around November. I bookmarked the page and will be emailing him soon.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: skace
How heavy? Hows the base? Got a quick estimation for how high it sits off the floor with the tv stand?

Not quite sure about the weight. I expect it is in the 1-200 pound range. It is only 16.5" deep. The stand is about 18-24" in height.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Welcome to the LCD RPTV club!

The Hitachi is a sweet set BTW.

Now if you haven't done it already, become a member of AVS forum.

I am, though I go to HomeTheaterSpot more often.

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Pretty sweet. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that non-lcd or non-plasma large screen tvs are garbage, so I won't be buying one until prices come down a lot or I come into some more cash.

That is just simply NOT true. Neither Plasmas nor LCDs can reproduce blacks as well as a CRT based RPTV. LCDs being the worst. DLPs come close, but still can't get that "blacker than black" that a properly calibrated CRT based set can do. Also, Plasmas have a BAD burn in problem, MUCH worse than CRT based sets.

CRT based RPTVs are the price/performance leader. DLPs are the performance leader. However, I still favor CRT based RP and FP TVs for theater type environments simply because no other technology can do blacks so well in a darkened room.

Their quality is good, but functionally I've yet to see a rear-projection that is even worth bothering to turn on if you're anything but in front of it or barely off center. even the pretty high end ones don't have much of a viewing angle from the side. Considering that few people have access to a long room designated to home theater, and that most people have to organize couches and other chairs around a screen - frequently well off center - you end up barely seeing what's on. I was at a friend's house on Saturday and frankly I couldn't even congratulate him on his new big screen tv because out of the 6 sitting positions that could be used to view it only ONE actually allowed you to see it at full brightness without that awful dimming effect! Now his tv was fairly low end ($1500 Hitachi 56"), but really it was more hassel than anything else.

While looking for a new tv this is exactly what I came upon after looking at what felt like hundreds of displays. I have never seen a RPTV that looks anything close to a plasma or direct view CRT in quality or viewing angle.
After buying a plasma display I can say that the "BAD burn in problem" is not at all an issue on newer sets. My display is on 10+ hours a day and I have yet to see even a hint of image retention let alone any burn in.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Crucial

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Pretty sweet. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that non-lcd or non-plasma large screen tvs are garbage, so I won't be buying one until prices come down a lot or I come into some more cash.

That is just simply NOT true. Neither Plasmas nor LCDs can reproduce blacks as well as a CRT based RPTV. LCDs being the worst. DLPs come close, but still can't get that "blacker than black" that a properly calibrated CRT based set can do. Also, Plasmas have a BAD burn in problem, MUCH worse than CRT based sets.

CRT based RPTVs are the price/performance leader. DLPs are the performance leader. However, I still favor CRT based RP and FP TVs for theater type environments simply because no other technology can do blacks so well in a darkened room.

Their quality is good, but functionally I've yet to see a rear-projection that is even worth bothering to turn on if you're anything but in front of it or barely off center. even the pretty high end ones don't have much of a viewing angle from the side. Considering that few people have access to a long room designated to home theater, and that most people have to organize couches and other chairs around a screen - frequently well off center - you end up barely seeing what's on. I was at a friend's house on Saturday and frankly I couldn't even congratulate him on his new big screen tv because out of the 6 sitting positions that could be used to view it only ONE actually allowed you to see it at full brightness without that awful dimming effect! Now his tv was fairly low end ($1500 Hitachi 56"), but really it was more hassel than anything else.

While looking for a new tv this is exactly what I came upon after looking at what felt like hundreds of displays. I have never seen a RPTV that looks anything close to a plasma or direct view CRT in quality or viewing angle.
After buying a plasma display I can say that the "BAD burn in problem" is not at all an issue on newer sets. My display is on 10+ hours a day and I have yet to see even a hint of image retention let alone any burn in.

I can't remember the numbers, but if I recall correctly - and I often don't- LCDs are good for something like 75,000 hours and a plasma for a mere 25,000, whereas a RPTV is good for much longer than either. 25k doesn't sound like long, but say you have the tv on for 10 hours/day (which is highly unusual I think!), well that's still 7 years. An LCD on the other hand would be good for two decades.

Bang for buck an RPTV is great, if your room can properly handle it.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Pretty sweet. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that non-lcd or non-plasma large screen tvs are garbage, so I won't be buying one until prices come down a lot or I come into some more cash.

That is just simply NOT true. Neither Plasmas nor LCDs can reproduce blacks as well as a CRT based RPTV. LCDs being the worst. DLPs come close, but still can't get that "blacker than black" that a properly calibrated CRT based set can do. Also, Plasmas have a BAD burn in problem, MUCH worse than CRT based sets.

CRT based RPTVs are the price/performance leader. DLPs are the performance leader. However, I still favor CRT based RP and FP TVs for theater type environments simply because no other technology can do blacks so well in a darkened room.

Their quality is good, but functionally I've yet to see a rear-projection that is even worth bothering to turn on if you're anything but in front of it or barely off center. even the pretty high end ones don't have much of a viewing angle from the side. Considering that few people have access to a long room designated to home theater, and that most people have to organize couches and other chairs around a screen - frequently well off center - you end up barely seeing what's on. I was at a friend's house on Saturday and frankly I couldn't even congratulate him on his new big screen tv because out of the 6 sitting positions that could be used to view it only ONE actually allowed you to see it at full brightness without that awful dimming effect! Now his tv was fairly low end ($1500 Hitachi 56"), but really it was more hassel than anything else.

My older Sonys were like that. My newer Hitachi SWX20Bs are MUCH better, and the side to side viewing angles are quite wide.

Though, they still have a problem with vertical viewing angles. But then, I do not watch TV standing up in front of it, or lying on the floor directly in front of it... so that doesn't matter.

This is now problem with lower end CRT based RPTVs using cheaper guns, and not so much a problem with higher end units. Also, DLP RPTVs have an even wider viewing angle.

BTW, you do know that CPA's set is an LCD based RPTV, right?

 

[Crucial]

I can't remember the numbers, but if I recall correctly - and I often don't- LCDs are good for something like 75,000 hours and a plasma for a mere 25,000, whereas a RPTV is good for much longer than either. 25k doesn't sound like long, but say you have the tv on for 10 hours/day (which is highly unusual I think!), well that's still 7 years. An LCD on the other hand would be good for two decades.

Bang for buck an RPTV is great, if your room can properly handle it.

From everything I've read the Panasonic display I own is rated at 60,000 hours till half brightness.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Pretty sweet. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that non-lcd or non-plasma large screen tvs are garbage, so I won't be buying one until prices come down a lot or I come into some more cash.

That is just simply NOT true. Neither Plasmas nor LCDs can reproduce blacks as well as a CRT based RPTV. LCDs being the worst. DLPs come close, but still can't get that "blacker than black" that a properly calibrated CRT based set can do. Also, Plasmas have a BAD burn in problem, MUCH worse than CRT based sets.

CRT based RPTVs are the price/performance leader. DLPs are the performance leader. However, I still favor CRT based RP and FP TVs for theater type environments simply because no other technology can do blacks so well in a darkened room.

Their quality is good, but functionally I've yet to see a rear-projection that is even worth bothering to turn on if you're anything but in front of it or barely off center. even the pretty high end ones don't have much of a viewing angle from the side. Considering that few people have access to a long room designated to home theater, and that most people have to organize couches and other chairs around a screen - frequently well off center - you end up barely seeing what's on. I was at a friend's house on Saturday and frankly I couldn't even congratulate him on his new big screen tv because out of the 6 sitting positions that could be used to view it only ONE actually allowed you to see it at full brightness without that awful dimming effect! Now his tv was fairly low end ($1500 Hitachi 56"), but really it was more hassel than anything else.

My older Sonys were like that. My newer Hitachi SWX20Bs are MUCH better, and the side to side viewing angles are quite wide.

Though, they still have a problem with vertical viewing angles. But then, I do not watch TV standing up in front of it, or lying on the floor directly in front of it... so that doesn't matter.

This is now problem with lower end CRT based RPTVs using cheaper guns, and not so much a problem with higher end units. Also, DLP RPTVs have an even wider viewing angle.

BTW, you do know that CPA's set is an LCD based RPTV, right?

Correct. And I checked the side veiwing angles, and from my prospective it did not have any of the dimming effect that Skoorb mentioned. We'll see, though, once I get it home.

Also, found a calibrator in the Houston area. going to see about getting them to come over and calibrate both of my sets.

 

[MaxDepth]

Not a hot deal.
You forgot the $30 off of a $250 purchase coupon.

 

[vshah]

nice work...enjoy the set

 

[RichieZ]

RP DLP > RP LCD

proud owner of Samsung HLP5063W

got it locally for the same price as teh AVS group price

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Not a hot deal.
You forgot the $30 off of a $250 purchase coupon.

aarrrrrgghhhhhhh.........

 

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Not a hot deal.
You forgot the $30 off of a $250 purchase coupon.

aarrrrrgghhhhhhh.........

I was looking into the 32" TV they had on sale this weekend and would have paid around $220 for it (using that coupon and the 10% off Sears card). I wimped out because the screen wasn't flat and the coupon doesn't expire until the end of this year.

 

[welst10]

I just got a Toshiba 51H84 CRT RPTV. 22.5" deep and 169 lbs. Not too bad for a CRT RPTV. Paid 1298 plus tax and delivery. It looks great. Although I'm still in the process of tweaking it.

BTw, how bad a problem is "burn-in" when I watch DVD movies. I still get black bars and I am worried that'll cause problems.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Amused
Try this guy:

http://66.201.107.3/

His name is Gregg Loewen and he's one of the best. He came out to do my sets in the middle of no-where IL. He sets up trips to entire regions 4 times a year or so.

It looks like he'll be in TX in Nov of this year. Just in time to do your set after the break-in period.

Give him a try.

Thanks. Coincidently, I just ran across a forum where he posts and he stated he will be in Houston around November. I bookmarked the page and will be emailing him soon.

That's correct. Greg is also an administrator at the Home Theater Forum Web site. CPA, did you have a chance to compare the Hitachi to the 3rd generation Samsung DLPs that have arrived at Circuit City? Right now, the 46" "RLN" model is under $2,900 -- and looks "oh so sweet". I saw the Hitachi next to the Samsung and the Hitachi had a much more limited viewing angle than the Samsung. I won't comment regarding the picture quality between the two because there could have been an adjustment issue with the Hitachi. I guess I was just surprised at the limited viewing angle.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: skace
How heavy? Hows the base? Got a quick estimation for how high it sits off the floor with the tv stand?

The weight for the average LCD/DLP, DLP or Plasma set is in the 80 - 100 Lb. range.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: welst10
I just got a Toshiba 51H84 CRT RPTV. 22.5" deep and 169 lbs. Not too bad for a CRT RPTV. Paid 1298 plus tax and delivery. It looks great. Although I'm still in the process of tweaking it.

BTw, how bad a problem is "burn-in" when I watch DVD movies. I still get black bars and I am worried that'll cause problems.

Burn in in virtually a non-issue IF you keep the white level ("contrast" or "picture") turned down where it should be. In most TVs, this is somewhere around the 30-40% range.

The bummer is that even if you get a calibration DVD, you wont be able to tell just how low you should set the contrast/picture adjustment.

I kept mine at 40% until I had it ISF calibrated. The tech put a sensor on the screen and found that 30 was the right setting for the white level to be at the reference level for theaters on my Hitachis. Of course, 30 is too low for daytime viewing, so I set it higher during the day.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Amused
Try this guy:

http://66.201.107.3/

His name is Gregg Loewen and he's one of the best. He came out to do my sets in the middle of no-where IL. He sets up trips to entire regions 4 times a year or so.

It looks like he'll be in TX in Nov of this year. Just in time to do your set after the break-in period.

Give him a try.

Thanks. Coincidently, I just ran across a forum where he posts and he stated he will be in Houston around November. I bookmarked the page and will be emailing him soon.

That's correct. Greg is also an administrator at the Home Theater Forum Web site. CPA, did you have a chance to compare the Hitachi to the 3rd generation Samsung DLPs that have arrived at Circuit City? Right now, the 46" "RLN" model is under $2,900 -- and looks "oh so sweet". I saw the Hitachi next to the Samsung and the Hitachi had a much more limited viewing angle than the Samsung. I won't comment regarding the picture quality between the two because there could have been an adjustment issue with the Hitachi. I guess I was just surprised at the limited viewing angle.

No, I didn't. And veiwing angle won't be too much of a concern because this TV will be in a room approximately 15 x 15 ft. Viewing is done from the front and not from the sides. I plan on getting some theatre seating in the near future. Right now I just have sectional up there.

 

[brigden]

I was looking at that exact TV in Sears yesterday while shopping for a new bed. I wasn't impressed with the image quality at all.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: brigden
I was looking at that exact TV in Sears yesterday while shopping for a new bed. I wasn't impressed with the image quality at all.

Then I wonder if they did any calibration on it. When I saw it, it was outstanding.

Oh, and interestingly enough, I also bought a new mattress yesterday.

 

[whoiswes]

<threadjack>

i know i could go over to AVS or one of the other biggies, but i figure you guys can help me quick.

give me a pro/con of running a projector setup (~$1000 for a midlevel model, infocus X1 or similar) versus $2500 for this set? $1500 buys some pretty decent speakers...

i ask only because you are already doing the pro cons on CRT vs LCD vs plasma...

TIA

</threadjack>

 

[skace]

I'm trying to figure out which TV to buy to replace a 25" Sony VVega. I mostly play consoles on it!

I am looking at these LCD VS CRT rear projection tvs and here is my concern. I'd rather have an 80-100lb tv instead of a 300lb tv. Are the LCDs really worse in detail or what?

Also, should I go Hitachi or Sony?

 

[Cable God]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: RossMAN


Do you have cable or satellite?

Directv - the only way to go.

Nah, Voom is the only way to go :beer:

Edit, $39 a month for the regular basic service (no hbo, etc) and $79/mo for the complete package with all movie channels (when I signed up and no install fee). You also get LOCAL channels in HD over the air too. I've had it about 2 weeks and it blows DTV out of the water (which I've had for the past 5 years and just ditched). This is running to my HD plasma by the way. Channel Lineup