YA(HDTV)T

[jme5343]

I've been using a 26" RCA model TV that I bought from Wal-Mart 9 years ago. It was also the display model, so it's had a good life. It still works, but some colors are starting to bleed. I also can't read a lot of the lettering when playing xbox 360


Anywho, I stumbled on a 51" Hitachi for cheap, shipped to my house with a 1 year warranty. No tax, no shipping. It's got no HDMI, but I don't have anything with HDMI out at this time anyway. Here are some specs:

51" 16:9 HDTV Monitor with 1 Year Factory Warranty

(The warranty card is included with the unit.)

Picture

* 1080i HDTV Format CRT Display
* DVI-HDTV Digital Video Input
* High-Brightness 4-Element Lens System
* High-Brightness CRTs
* High-Contrast 0.52mm Fine-Pitch Screen
* Anti-Reflective High-Contrast Shield
* First-Surface Mirror
* Magic Focus Auto Digital Convergence
* 117-Point Convergence Fine Tuning
* VirtualHD Video Processor
o 1080i/540p User-Selectable Display Format
o 3:2 Film Correction
o 26-Point Motion Adaptive Video Processing
* Six Aspect Modes Plus HD Zoom
* 1080i/720p/540p/480p/480i Input Processing
* HD Digital Window Split Screen
* Adjustable Edge Enhancement (SVM)
* Three Color Temperature Settings
* Adjustable Black Level Expansion
* Digital 4MB 3D Y/C Comb Filter
* 1280 Horizontal TV Lines of Resolution

Sound

* MTS Stereo/SAP with dbx
* SRS' Surround Sound
* BBE Sound Enhancement
* 24-Watt Speaker System


Convenience

* Four Picture Mode Memory
* Glow Key Preprogrammed Remote Control
* Front Panel Menu Controls
* Dual 181-Channel NTSC Tuners
* Three Language On-Screen Display
* Parental Locks
* Closed Caption Decoder

Inputs/Outputs

* Antenna Inputs: 2
* A/V Inputs (Rear/Front): 3/1
* S-Video Inputs (Rear/Front): 2/1
* Wideband Component Video Inputs: 2
* DVI-HDTV Input: 1
* A/V Output: 1
* Variable Audio Output: 1

Accessories

* Owners Guide
* Remote Control

Specifications

* Color: Black/Silver
* Dimensions (H x W x D, in.) 50 1/8 x 48 3/4 x 25 1/16
* Weight (lbs.) 238
* Energy Star Compliant: Yes

Warranty

1 Year Parts and Labor Warranty -- In-Home Service

It's a rear projection, I know. Doesn't bother me. I also looked at some DLP and LCD TV's, but in the long run, I still have to by a stand or a new entertainment center for those. It's just as cheap for me to go RPTV. It's also cheaper as far as screen size / cost.

I will get DishTV, and use that as my tuner. I have an upconverting DVD player, and I have a 360.

The big question is this, it says "* VirtualHD Video Processor - 1080i/540p User-Selectable Display Format"

But later it also says "* 1080i/720p/540p/480p/480i Input Processing"

Will I be able to play my 360 games on the 720 setting? Does it convert up to 1080 i, or down to 540p??

Thanks!! Any other thought are also welcome.

 

[EightySix Four]

You will most likely have to play at 1080i. 720p will be upconverted by the onboard vid processor, and usually for consoles this doesn't work for some reason.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

CRT RPTVs like this can be made to look great, but they pretty much require professional calibration on a regular basis, not to mention their gargantuan size and weight. Given the huge price drops on DLP sets over the last year I wouldn't buy this thing. I don't find your logic regarding not needing a stand persuasive, given that you can get a perfectly nice stand for little money.

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: DonVito
CRT RPTVs like this can be made to look great, but they pretty much require professional calibration on a regular basis, not to mention their gargantuan size and weight. Given the huge price drops on DLP sets over the last year I wouldn't buy this thing. I don't find your logic regarding not needing a stand persuasive, given that you can get a perfectly nice stand for little money.

I wasn't aware that they still need professional calibration. That's not going to happen around here, as I'm in rural nowhere. If such is the case, then I guess I'll just rule them out altogether.

I'll keep looking, but all the stands I've seen are upwards of a couple hundred dollars. That makes a TV purchase immediately jump from $750 to near $1000.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: jmebonner

I wasn't aware that they still need professional calibration. That's not going to happen around here, as I'm in rural nowhere. If such is the case, then I guess I'll just rule them out altogether.

I'll keep looking, but all the stands I've seen are upwards of a couple hundred dollars. That makes a TV purchase immediately jump from $750 to near $1000.

I ended up buying a nice, furniture-quality stand for my RPTV, on the theory I will probably always have a big TV, and so the expenditure is worthwhile. That being said, digital RPTVs are very lightweight, and so you can use something like a cheap coffee table from Ikea or Target. Actually Target and World Market-Cost Plus are now selling some inexpensive, high-quality solid wood furniture from Southeast Asia, and you could probably get a pretty nice stand for not a lot of money at one of those places.

 

[Aikouka]

I'd go with some of the advice from others in here and go with a DLP. It will cost you a little bit more, but the quality is better overall. When I was looking for a higher quality TV, I took a look at the rear projection TVs like that and well... they're cheap, but you really get what you pay for . They're old, don't support all of the HD resolutions (which with some consoles, can be a pain). Although, the XBOX 360 does have a hardware scaler and it would scale from 720 to 1080 for you.

Just use something that will hold the TV in the meantime. The advantage of DLP is that they are VERY LIGHT. My 46" DLP weighs about 40lb, which is lighter than my smaller and older CRT TV! So you can put off buying the stand for now (save up a little extra money and buy one later).

Also, the reason you cannot read XBOX 360 text well is because the picture gets scaled down from 720p HDTV to 480i SDTV, which squishes the text and makes it harder to read.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Anywho, I stumbled on a 51" Hitachi for cheap, shipped to my house with a 1 year warranty. No tax, no shipping.

How much is "cheap"?

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Anywho, I stumbled on a 51" Hitachi for cheap, shipped to my house with a 1 year warranty. No tax, no shipping.

How much is "cheap"?

$694 to the door...

 

[richardycc]

is it white glove delievery or curbside? you can get a tv like that for around $800 from your local store delievered to the room you want.

 

[jme5343]

It's not white glove. Nope, I can't get it that cheap, I'm in absolute nowhere. Circuit City, Best Buy, Sears, no one will deliver to my house. That's why the deal was sweet for me. I am aware that Sears has a Hitachi 51F510 for $799, but I still have to pay tax and go pick it up. Regardless, I'm taking the advice of others and waiting for a DLP drop or an LCD to catch my eye.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Regardless, I'm taking the advice of others and waiting for a DLP drop or an LCD to catch my eye.

Agreed :thumbsup: