Looking for TV suggestions

[Kyle]

Hey-
Basically I know absolutly nothing about TV's/DVD/inputs, so when I searched the forums/reviews I just got confused =)
My budget is probably about $2000-2500 and I was just looking for suggestions of models.
I'm not sure if I want a 16x9 widescreen or not. How does normal cable look on a widescreen TV? Is it distorted, or are there black lines on the side? Also, are there any HDTV sets around this price that are 40"+?
I am thinking probably projection, unless there is a big difference between projection and a normal tube. I was thinking maybe a Wega, but 36" might be a bit small, not sure.
And one last thing...If a TV is "HDTV Ready", what is needed to get HDTV? Will DVD's play like HDTV or am I really off here
I do plan to watch tons of DVD's, and it would be nice not to have to watch them in a letterbox.
Thanks, and let me know if I left any thing out
-Kyle

 

[Kyle]

up for the night

 

[darth maul]

Go to www.digitaltheater.com and ask in their forums.

 

[Kyle]

K, I'll try that...thanks for the link

 

[Tsaico]

My dad just bought a toshiba 40H80, which is the 40-Inch TheaterWide HD Projection Television. Pretty nice picture. The standard shows look like regular television, as the sides are just left black to keep the square shape. at http://www.electrified.com/ it runs for under 2000 i think. The biggest difference between the two is that the projectiosn tend to be lighter and have a shorter depth. THe otherquestions, I am not sure....

 

[Postit]

You could also try Home Theater Forum or AVS Forum for some more brain matter burning information.

-Post it

 

[Phil21]

Sony XBR Wega HDTV. Perfectly flat screen, looks awesome. Get a progressive-scan output DVD player, and use component video outs. It will be about the best picture you'll be able to get, short of going to a plasma screen or something. Either that, or the panasonic PURE flat TV is pretty sweet as well, not sure on exactl model numbers there.

Prices will be within your pricerange, for the 36" model.

-Phil

 

[Kyle]

I think I may get the 36" wega, but I was hoping for like 50" HDTV, but I doubt I could afford one that size.
Thanks for the suggestions, now I need to find a progressive scan DVD...
I ahve read those are nice, but what is the difference between a progressive scan and a normal?
And one last question, is the wega 16X9 ratio?
Thanks for the answers guys.

 

[Sugadaddy]

The Wega is 4x3, but I think there's one coming out that'll be 16x9. If I were you, I'd go for a RPTV like the Toshiba 40H80. (it's widescreen HDTV) You can still watch 4x3 TV with black bars on the edges, or there are a couple of settings that stretch the image on the whole screen.

 

[Kyle]

Hmm, so with the 36" Wega the widescreen movies will be letterboxed like on a normal TV? Considering I will be watching a ton of DVD's, that may not be too great. I'll check out the Toshiba too.