YAHDT (yeah, don't you just want to shoot yourself?)

[scootermaster]

So, I am (like most people) in the market for my first HD TV. Keep in mind, I don't own another TV, so I can afford to splurge a little bit (I'd like to stay around $3000...less is always better). The living room isn't that huge, so size isn't the biggest issue here. I would like to hook up a computer to it, so 1080p IS an issue (yes yes, no content available, but like I said, I'm gonna have an HTPC).

So I'm thinking of either the Sammy 1080p DLPs (maybe wait for LED technology?), the Westinghouse 47" LCD (whenever it gets released) or ???

Again, my biggest concerns are:
1. Picture quality
2. 1080p
3. Size, price, etc.

I.E. I'll settle for 42" versus 60" if the 42" has much better picture quality. So, yeah, I pretty much need a 1080p plasma, but those are likely going to be out of my price range, right?

Anyway, just curious as to what y'alls experiences were.

 

[SALvation]

I am in the same boat and plan on the new SXRD from Sony being released 7/18. They have a 50", 55", and 60" coming out with the 60" running around 4g.

 

[scootermaster]

What's flavor is the Sony? LCD? Plasma? DLP? I don't know much about Sony, other than not liking their stereo components much (TVs are another thing entirely).

What's so good about this new model, if you don't mind me asking....

 

[SALvation]

Easiest thing to do is link to the 79 page thread on AVSForum about it.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=664214

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: scootermaster
What's flavor is the Sony? LCD? Plasma? DLP? I don't know much about Sony, other than not liking their stereo components much (TVs are another thing entirely).

What's so good about this new model, if you don't mind me asking....

SXRD is Sony's version of liquid crystal over silicon. It has, IMO, clearly the best image quality of any existing technology, with the possible exception of direct-view CRT (which limits you to a huge, heavy 34" set). There are tons of reviews out there of the Sony SXRD sets - they really are remarkable. The only caveat with SXRD IMO has been that the first generation of SXRD sets were produced in a bulky, ugly case. The new ones will be in a much handsomer, more compact set. Given your budget, I think SXRD is almost certainly the best choice (and I say that as the happy owner of a Samsung DLP set).

 

[franksta]

I bought a Toshiba 56MX195 DLP in November that has been incredible. I just recently bought an antenna to receive OTA HDTV. I wanted DLP so I wouldn't have to worry about burn-in, since I play a lot of XBOX and keep my MythTV menus up a lot. I narrowed down my choices to the Samsung HL-R5668W and the Toshiba. I read that a lot of people were having synchronization problems with the Samsung (audio not matching video).

 

[QED]

I have a plasma myself... but given your criteria I would definately recommend the Sony SXRDs.

Their image quality is amazing... almost no SDE (screen-door effect), vibrant colors, decent black levels, good scaler, and it offers true 1080p input and display.

 

[scootermaster]

Thanks for all the info. I'll check them out. I've read some at the AVS forums, and hopefully the case/form factor isn't as bad as they say.

Also, it doesn't seem like they're sold on the inputs doing true 1080p, but that might just be because I haven't read far enough.

Any other thoughts?