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Sony Wega HDTV Monitor

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spoma:

First and foremost, you want an HDTV set. A regular TV, can only display 480i (640x480 interlaced), while an HDTV set can display 480p (640x480 progressive) and 1080i (1920x1080 interlaced). Now, here is what that means. As i said, a regular TV displays 480 horizontal lines. But because a regular TV can only display an interlaced signal, it will only display half of those 480 lines every 1/60th of a second. So at 1/60th of a second it will display line 1, 3, 5, etc, at 2/60th it will display 2, 4, 6, on 3/60th 1, 3 and 5 once again and so on. Now, if you have an HD set, you can use higher resolutions. For DVDs, you will get 480p, meaning that all 480 lines will be displayed every 1/60th of a second, and for HD satellite/cable, you will get 1080i. Now, the important thing to remember is that HD satellite/cable support is very limited at this time. You will get 5 or 6 channels at most. However, as early as next year, the number of HD channels should be a 3-digit number. And a few years down the road, HD will become standart for ALL cable/satellite broadcasts, and you will no longer be able to watch TV with a regular set. So by all means pay extra and get an HDTV. If you want to see the difference between 480i, 480p and 1080i, go down to your local home theater store and tell them to demonstrate on a 36" XBR WEGA. Tell them to play a DVD in 480i, then 480p and then ask them to put on an HD channel on satellite. Your jaw will drop, HD looks stunning.

Second, you also want to get yourself a 16:9 native set. All DVD movies nowdays are 16:9, and if you have a regular 4:3 set, you will get black bars on top and bottom of your screen. On the other hand, you will get gray bars on left and right of the screen while watching 4:3 cable/satellite with a 16:9 set. So it's up to you. What's more important to you: movies or cable? If movies, get a 16:9 set, if cable, get a 4:3.

Finally, if you want both HD and 16:9, it will be tricky getting them both on a tube TV. They do excist. Well, actually, the only one i can think of is this one.
 
Panasonic, JVC, Toshiba and Sony all make tube 16x9 HDTVs. I own a Toshiba 40H80 40" projection widescreen. It's a beautiful TV with a great picture. I watch cable, DVDs and HDTV with it and i'm very pleased. I went through 3 sets before I settled on this one. One Mitsubishi 65" HDTV, one 55" Mitsubishi HDTV and a 32" Samsung HDTV (4x3). The Toshiba looks better with regular cable and doesn't have that horrible "red push" that the Mitsubishis have. I'm sure it does though but not as noticeable.
 


<< spoma, WEGA isn't 16:9 either in case you haven't noticed. If you want native 16:9, you will not find it on a tube set. >>



Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba (and I'm sure a few other companies) make 16x9 HDTV CRTs. They're 34inch if I remember correctly.

And the stuff doesn't "break real easy", and the warranty is at least 90 days. (mine is 2 years, but I think that's only in Canada) Wega's are definitely not overpriced compared to similar products from Panasonic, Toshiba, and JVC for regular flatscreen TVs, but I do agree their HDTVs are. Also, I have a 27inch TV and I have no problem at all watching 2.35:1 aspect ratio movies, so seriously get your eyes checked if you have to sit right in front of a 40inch TV to see something. 😉 The V-compression mode in the Wegas compresses all the tube's resolution lines to a 16x9 area, so you get a much better image when playing back 16x9 material.


Since you're looking for an HDTV, I also think you should get a 16x9 TV. If you want to go for a tube TV, the Toshiba 34HF81 is very nice, and much cheaper than the Sony. Personally, I wouldn't get anything that's not 100% flat, no matter how good it is. If you want bigger, you'll have to look at RPTVs. Like d1abolic said, Toshiba and Mitsubishi are good brands for the price, and I'd add Hitachi. You can get the 43inch Hitachi 43UWX10B for a little more than the Toshiba I mentioned above...
 
Sugadaddy
Thanks for all the info. I looked at that Toshiba and it is gorgeous but it seems to be a little out of my price range. I was looking at spending somewhere between $1500-$2000. That toshiba retails for $3000. I understand the difference between the 16:9 and the 4:3 as far as one has bars with dvd and one has bars with television but other than the bars does one display satellite television better than the other or does this have no beering on the picture quality.
 
What do you think of 36HF71? Best buy says this is 16:9 but I believe it is 16:9 compression. It looks like a great television right at the top of my price range.
 
from a totally non-HT guy:

I thought the toshiba looks TONS better than the Wega quality wise. Every store i go to, the toshiba has the clearer, crisper screen.
 
I just was on a site called broadwaycomputer.com and they have some great prices. does anyone know anything about them. i saw the 36hf71 for 1649.85 + 202.32 shipping and the 34HF81 for 1979.85 + 159.80 for shipping or the KV32XBR450 for 1599.85 + 201.95 shipping. How do these prices look and which would you go with? Is this a reliable dealer???
 
Just to pipe in with my $0.02, I've got this baby, and I think it's the most incredible tv I've ever seen short of a true HDTV. Pricey at about $2000-2200, but who cares?

-j
 
I found it is the KV36HS20. When I originally started this thread I was going to get the KV32HS20 but now i am having second thoughts. I can not decide whether to go with the sony or not. I am glad to hear that you really like it. I think it has come down to either the KV 36HS20 or the 34HF81 Toshiba.
 


<< Sugadaddy
Thanks for all the info. I looked at that Toshiba and it is gorgeous but it seems to be a little out of my price range. I was looking at spending somewhere between $1500-$2000. That toshiba retails for $3000. I understand the difference between the 16:9 and the 4:3 as far as one has bars with dvd and one has bars with television but other than the bars does one display satellite television better than the other or does this have no beering on the picture quality. >>




The Toshiba 34HF81 can easily be had under 2000$. (It costs less than that at Future Shop in Canada, which is our equivalent of Best Buy...)


I'd definitely get it over a 4x3 set, even if it has 16x9 enhanced mode. HDTV broadcast will be 16x9, so buying a 4x3 HDTV set is useless IMO. Also, even if it's only 34inch compared to 36inch for the 4x3 TV, widescreen material will appear much bigger than on a 36inch.
 
I have limited it down to two choices. One of which is the toshiba 34HF81 and it is 16:9 and the other is Sony KV36HS20 which is 4:3 with 16:9 compression. Both receive excellent reviews everywhere I look. The Toshiba is a little more costly but I am trying to convince myself that it is worth while. I have found the Toshiba at 1979.85 + 159.85 at broadwaycomputer.com. I am a little weary about ordering something of this magnitude online. Any suggestions on where to get one of these in the Massachusetts area for a good price.
 
Not completely off-topic, but does anyone know if/when Sony is coming out with the KW-34HD2 that they showed at CES?
 
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