Is now a good time to buy a new TV? (need 36" CRT recommendations)

[MichaelD]

I've been wanting a flat-screen CRT with component-ins for quite sometime. I watch a lot of DVDs and the S-Video in on my 32" Sony Trinitron isn't cutting it anymore. I have the Avia Home Theater setup DVD, which I use to ensure that everythings' calibrated as it should be; I'm getting the best out of it that I can. It kills me to see the picture on some $400 TVs that have component-ins...sharper than mine and I paid $1K for my TV about 6 years ago.

About 6 months ago, I remember reading that the standards for HDTV...all that i1080 stuff...wasn't ironed-out yet and that it wasn't a good time to buy a TV. That it would be better to wait. Is now a good time?

I'd like a Sony, but I'm not hell-bent on it. I saw a 36" Samsung that looked damn good. I don't know what tube it uses though. AFAIK, only Sony and Mitsubishi make flat tubes.

Advice please?

ps
Of course I'd love a plasma flat screen. However there's that pesky little "Eight Thousand Dollar" pricetag thing.

 

[arod]

Whatever you do make sure you find one with DVI inputs. If the new copy protection schemes go info effect your gonna need that.

 

[MichaelD]

DVI? Digital Video Inputs? Like a Digital In/Out on a AV receiver?

 

[RossMAN]

Your local CostCo B&M should have some great deals. I've seen Panasonic Tau's and Toshiba TV's for $200-$300 less than retail.

 

[arod]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
DVI? Digital Video Inputs? Like a Digital In/Out on a AV receiver?

Yeah the same, not sure if any TV's have this yet, I know Home Theater Projectors do though. Basically if Hollywood wins everybody is going to have to start using a separate box to get HDTV (thinking the future here) and this new box will use the DVI port. Not to mention DVI will have the best PQ possible.

 

[MichaelD]

TTT

 

[Mill]

I have a 32inch Sony Wega. It is a great TV and I got it at a crazy price as an open box deal from Best Buy.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Another option is to find a model that Sears carries, find your best price on the net & go for a pricematch. Sears has a list of accepted vendors on the net that they'll pricematch, but YMMV if you catch a salesperson that's not too anal (when I got my PM @ Sears, they called me 2 days later & tried to get more $, I reminded them that we already had a contract...)


I really wouldn't get too carried away with HDTV for a year or 2, find a picture you like & buy it. It seems as though they're still working on a modular system similar to PC's for the IO ports...

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I've been wanting a flat-screen CRT with component-ins for quite sometime. I watch a lot of DVDs and the S-Video in on my 32" Sony Trinitron isn't cutting it anymore. I have the Avia Home Theater setup DVD, which I use to ensure that everythings' calibrated as it should be; I'm getting the best out of it that I can. It kills me to see the picture on some $400 TVs that have component-ins...sharper than mine and I paid $1K for my TV about 6 years ago.

About 6 months ago, I remember reading that the standards for HDTV...all that i1080 stuff...wasn't ironed-out yet and that it wasn't a good time to buy a TV. That it would be better to wait. Is now a good time?

I'd like a Sony, but I'm not hell-bent on it. I saw a 36" Samsung that looked damn good. I don't know what tube it uses though. AFAIK, only Sony and Mitsubishi make flat tubes.

Advice please?

ps
Of course I'd love a plasma flat screen. However there's that pesky little "Eight Thousand Dollar" pricetag thing.

I think the standards you refer to is the fact that the receiver specs arn't ironed out yet. The 1080i 480p, etc is all set, I thought. Worse case scenerio is that one day, you won't be able to use the tuner on your new HDTV and you'll need another componenet which hooks up to your HDTV compatable TV. Kinda like a cable box type unit.

With no budget, the Sony 36" XBR is by far, the best! I have the 32" XBR, but no HDTV DVDs are still incredible on an HDTV, especially the sony!

You might want to consider a 16x9 tube, but they are more expensive from what I've seen. If you want the normal 4:3 tube, definitely get the sony XBR 36"

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks much guys. Bumping my way to a brighter (TV Picture) tomorrow.

 

[MrBond]

Basically if Hollywood wins everybody is going to have to start using a separate box to get HDTV (thinking the future here) and this new box will use the DVI port

From what I read, hollywood doesn't want ANY external boxes that the signal can be pulled from before it hits the TV, to prevent digital copies being distributed in pure form. Or have they changed their minds again

 

[arod]

Originally posted by: MrBond

Basically if Hollywood wins everybody is going to have to start using a separate box to get HDTV (thinking the future here) and this new box will use the DVI port

From what I read, hollywood doesn't want ANY external boxes that the signal can be pulled from before it hits the TV, to prevent digital copies being distributed in pure form. Or have they changed their minds again

Hell if I knowI just heard somewhere that DVI was supposed to be used if devices ever came out. Personally I dont think they can win but well see. But Micheal buy at least a HDTV-ready TV. You will regret it if you dont. I have 10 HDTV (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX (if you want to call that HDTV), PBS, UPN, WB, HBO, HDnet) channels and HDTV is 1000 times better than analog TV. Not to mention ESPN is going HD early next year.

 

[Doggiedog]

Best TV I've seen bar none (LCDs, plasmas, projection, etc.) was the Sony 34XBR2.

Its a true HDTV with built in tuner. Runs about $2500.

Check it out.

 

[MichaelD]

Excellent advice. I was planning on getting a HDTV-ready TV...future-proofing and all that...

I am considering both the 16.9 and the regular 4.3 TVs; 16.9 rules for movies, but when watching regular TV, I'd be stuck with viewing it in a tiny box in the middle of the screen. That "stretch" thing that 16.9 TVs do to stretch a 4.3 pic to 16.9 looks worse than crap.

I'm 90% sure I'll be getting a 4.3.

 

[Doggiedog]

I've got a Sony 36XBR400. It's ok but that 34XBR2 is 10x better than mine.

 

[Michael]

I recently bought a 50" RPTV (Toshiba 50H82). It is widescreen/HDTV. The Toshiba strech modes are quite good and I wouldn't spend money on a new TV that didn't have HDTV and which wasn't widescreen (HDTV natural size). The Toshiba strech modes look pretty good.

The main problem with larger HDTV's is that they really show how poor your source signal is. I have regular cable and some channels look very poor. DirecTV/Dish Network has the problem of over compression and when you blow the picture up on a bigger screen, the MPEG artifacts really show up.

Michael

 

[MichaelD]

HDTV's native res is 16.9? I didn't know that!!! Apparently, I have a lot of reading up to do before purchasing.

*EDIT*
What are some good sites to go read up on HDTV/TV reviews?

 

[Michael]

One source

Another source

Michael

 

[Raincity]

If your going with a 4.3 CRT then the current Sony Wega XBR or HS line unless your have the bones to pony up for a Loewe Anaconda. The Wegas have the best 16.9 squeeze reraster of all the current crop of sets. DVI is a must now. There is no standard yet for studio copy protection but its looking like it will be DVI will be the champ over Firewire. The down sides of big flat screen CRT. Poor geometry due to size of screen and yoke correction and not ample power supply. They all have this problem. They are also too freaking heavy to move. If your looking for reviews Sound and Vision Online is not too bad but video displays are very subjective in opinion. If your looking for opinions from hardcore Home Theater folks then it does not get any better than AVS and HTF

Rain

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

If I was going to get a TV today, I would probably get this 30" 16X9 Samsung.. I couldn't bring myself to spend more than a grand on a TV.

 

[Yossarian]

Now is definitely a good time to get a tv, as compared to one month from now. The west coast dockworkers strike is going to cause big problems and big price increases on heavy consumer electronics items that are ocean shipped.

 

[MichaelD]

Great stuff. Thanks for the review links, Michael and Raincity. Gonad, that TV is really nice; I saw it at the local BestBuy...no digital-in compatibility, though.

*sigh* My Sony Trinitron was so nice six years ago......

 

[Michael]

MichaelD,

The Samsung in the link is an HDTV. I think it is a little small to be a "main" TV, but it is HDTV. You need to buy a box to feed it the signal, but that's the same for almost all HDTV's out there. RCA has a 38" direct view TV with a DirecTV and HDTV tuner built in, but it isn't a flat screen. The RCA actually looks pretty good and can be found for about $1400 - $1600.

A HDTV receiver will run $400+

Michael

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Great stuff. Thanks for the review links, Michael and Raincity. Gonad, that TV is really nice; I saw it at the local BestBuy...no digital-in compatibility, though.

*sigh* My Sony Trinitron was so nice six years ago......

LOL, my Sony XBR used to be the shiznit 2 years ago...

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Michael
MichaelD,

The Samsung in the link is an HDTV. I think it is a little small to be a "main" TV, but it is HDTV. You need to buy a box to feed it the signal, but that's the same for almost all HDTV's out there. RCA has a 38" direct view TV with a DirecTV and HDTV tuner built in, but it isn't a flat screen. The RCA actually looks pretty good and can be found for about $1400 - $1600.

A HDTV receiver will run $400+

Michael

*looks at specs again* Ah, so it is. I stand corrected. My bad. I've been really busy today...tired. Plus, I've been looking at spec-sheets whenever I get a free moment...my head hurts. Thanks for the help.