I want an HDTV, probably rear projection. Help!

[angminas]

Ok, I'm going to keep this as simple as possible.

I want an HDTV. I want as big a screen as I can afford, but I much more want it to look very nice. I want a ridiculously good bargain, or I'll just save my money. I've never had an HDTV, and I haven't spent any significant time watching them, so I don't have the experience / ability to properly differentiate one from another. All I can do right now is compare them to my nice but old 25" Zenith CRT from 1999. (Right now you're hearing a Prince song in your head. You're welcome.)

I've considered large CRTs and cheap LCDs, but it looks like my best option is finding a rear projection HDTV in good condition on Craigslist. For reference, I've seen a 60" Hitachi with new lamp and speakers for $200. I think that's the kind of deal I'd like to pull the trigger on. I realize I need the model number of a set in order to properly review it. I've watched older non-HDTV projection sets, and I was not impressed with either the quality or the viewing angle. Did that improve in the later models? Come to think of it, the last rear projection TV I watched any significant amount was from the late '90s.

I do have a Blu-Ray player and a 5.1 setup (Jamo S 406 HCS 5.0, Denon AVR-590, TSC 100-110 sub). I watch all kinds of movies, sports, etc. I could drop a grand on a set, but I don't really want to when I could probably get 90% of the experience for 20% of the price. My current TV is on a big stand anyway, so I wouldn't be giving up a lot of floor space to a rear projection set.

I'm open to any and all constructive advice. What have your experiences been with the various resolutions? Especially 720p or 1080i versus 1080p...obviously, I'd like to have 1080p, but that may not be reasonable on my budget. I've only owned CRT...how reliable are the various kinds of TVs? My current TV stand says it holds up to 32" sets...do you think I could put a 36" CRT on it, or would that probably be too heavy? It's not clear if it's a size or weight thing, and I don't want to find out the hard way. What other important issues will I not have thought of?

Trolls, stay out, or I will report you. Don't even start.

To everyone else- thanks for reading, and thanks for helping.

Edit: I just noticed this is post number 1234. Right now you're hearing a Feist song in your head. You're welcome.

 

[sdifox]

what is your budget? what kind of room is it going in in terms of light source (windows), size and orientation?

 

[angminas]

Well, you could say my budget is up to $1,000, but I'm much more likely to spend much less. I'd need a super good reason to spend anywhere near that much...I'd really like to spend $200-$300 on something used in good condition, but I'm considering all possibilities.

The room is about 16 x 16, and it will be sitting along the middle of one of the walls. There are windows on either side, but I keep them pretty well covered, so they shouldn't be much of a problem.

I don't want to get a flat panel just to get a flat panel...I'm more interested in picture quality. With my current TV, it can be hard to see some details in widescreen mode.

 

[smitbret]

Ok, I'm going to keep this as simple as possible.

I want an HDTV. I want as big a screen as I can afford, but I much more want it to look very nice. I want a ridiculously good bargain, or I'll just save my money. I've never had an HDTV, and I haven't spent any significant time watching them, so I don't have the experience / ability to properly differentiate one from another. All I can do right now is compare them to my nice but old 25" Zenith CRT from 1999. (Right now you're hearing a Prince song in your head. You're welcome.)

I've considered large CRTs and cheap LCDs, but it looks like my best option is finding a rear projection HDTV in good condition on Craigslist. For reference, I've seen a 60" Hitachi with new lamp and speakers for $200. I think that's the kind of deal I'd like to pull the trigger on. I realize I need the model number of a set in order to properly review it. I've watched older non-HDTV projection sets, and I was not impressed with either the quality or the viewing angle. Did that improve in the later models? Come to think of it, the last rear projection TV I watched any significant amount was from the late '90s.

I do have a Blu-Ray player and a 5.1 setup (Jamo S 406 HCS 5.0, Denon AVR-590, TSC 100-110 sub). I watch all kinds of movies, sports, etc. I could drop a grand on a set, but I don't really want to when I could probably get 90% of the experience for 20% of the price. My current TV is on a big stand anyway, so I wouldn't be giving up a lot of floor space to a rear projection set.

I'm open to any and all constructive advice. What have your experiences been with the various resolutions? Especially 720p or 1080i versus 1080p...obviously, I'd like to have 1080p, but that may not be reasonable on my budget. I've only owned CRT...how reliable are the various kinds of TVs? My current TV stand says it holds up to 32" sets...do you think I could put a 36" CRT on it, or would that probably be too heavy? It's not clear if it's a size or weight thing, and I don't want to find out the hard way. What other important issues will I not have thought of?
Trolls, stay out, or I will report you. Don't even start.

To everyone else- thanks for reading, and thanks for helping.

Edit: I just noticed this is post number 1234. Right now you're hearing a Feist song in your head. You're welcome.

Treads...... very..... lightly........ Thought I had an idea of what you were asking, then I read the bold part and now I'm not sure if you want a huge DLP or a 36" HD CRT. Are you just looking for general guidance or for someone to just say "get the Hitachi for $200"?

Who the hell is "Feist"?

 

[sdifox]

2-300 to 1000 is a big range... how far do you sit from the tv?

 

[angminas]

Treads...... very..... lightly........ Thought I had an idea of what you were asking, then I read the bold part and now I'm not sure if you want a huge DLP or a 36" HD CRT. Are you just looking for general guidance or for someone to just say "get the Hitachi for $200"?

Who the hell is "Feist"?

I don't particularly want either. I know there are things I won't think of, ideas I won't have. I know there are drawbacks and advantages to various kinds of TVs which aren't easily apparent. I don't even know the right questions to ask. I'm looking to learn from people who've already been there. I'm prepared to take my time to get exactly what I want, once I find out what that is.

As for Feist, you've probably seen the iPod ad. Here's the full version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABYnqp-bxvg

I currently sit about six feet from my TV, but I can change that to about nine feet. Ironically, my nice new sound system has created a disconnect with the comparatively old, small, blurry picture. I actually get into movies less now, because I'm distracted by the contrast. I'm hoping a bigger, better picture will fix that, because I really love getting into a good movie. I'm even skipping some of my favorite movies for the moment because I don't want to ruin them.

 

[jtvang125]

If you're going for used and rear projection then I suggest looking for the old Sony SXRD models. There's the original XBR1, A2 and A3 series that uses their SXRD technology. Probably has the best PQ among the older rear projection sets. However their is a flaw with these sets and that is some are affected by the green blog effect. It where parts of the screen has a greenish tint to it. Not all sets are affected so if you can find one that is still good they still offer an amazing PQ.

If you're willing to go up to $1000, I recommend a plasma.

 

[Mloot]

OP, I was in the same boat about a year ago. I was looking to get my first HDTV, and my old set was standard 32" tube tv. I am one who has a hard time with the idea of spending more than a couple hundred $ on a television. I ended up getting a 46" Hitachi crt projection set on CL for $175. While it does not have as good a picture as a new plasma, it was such a nice upgrade from my old tube set that I am very happy with it. It came from a smoker's house, so the first thing I did when I got it home was to open it up and do a thorough cleaning of the lenses and mirror. It noticeably brightened up the picture.

 

[smitbret]

If you're going for used and rear projection then I suggest looking for the old Sony SXRD models. There's the original XBR1, A2 and A3 series that uses their SXRD technology. Probably has the best PQ among the older rear projection sets. However their is a flaw with these sets and that is some are affected by the green blog effect. It where parts of the screen has a greenish tint to it. Not all sets are affected so if you can find one that is still good they still offer an amazing PQ.

If you're willing to go up to $1000, I recommend a plasma.

This is almost exactly what I was thinking. You can get a really good brand new 50" plasma that will do 1080p for $800-$900. I have a buddy that has a 63" DLP that we try watching from about six feet and it is almost uncomfortable. Not only that, but the off-angle viewing especialy on an older, used projection tv will probably be awful. From that distance, you don't have to be off-center very far for the picture to start looking really bad. If you can push your viewing back nine feet, then something like that could probably be justified. Go into a Best Buy or something, pace off six feet and try watching a 63"+ screen and see how comfortable you are with it.

 

[sdifox]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc..._-89253209-L0A

 

[BurnItDwn]

I am a fan of rear projection sets here. I prefer my old 480i 4:3 61inch Toshiba for watching movies over my friends 1080P LCDs and Plasma's.

Upsides:
Rear projection CRT will give you the best black levels and contrast.
Rear projection CRTs tend to be reliable, though over time, they do fade.

Downsides:
They are the least bright except for sometimes front projection.
They need to be calibrated from time to time, especially the "three gun" models.
They can take up a lot of space. (my TV is about 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and nearly 3 feet deep and weighs over 300 pounds)
They don't work good unless you are directly in front of the set, if you are as much as 15-20% off center, it won't look right.
Some new LCDs and Plasma's seem to better represent colors, but it's not that significant IMO.
And, since they are older technology, they don't often have the most up to date inputs. Meaning you may have trouble finding one with HDMI inputs.