I need some opinions

[HDTVblues]

I recently returned my ADVENT 30" for a full refund due to geometry problems.

I took some time to read through the forums here and narrowed my interests to a TOSHIBA 30hs85 and SONY kv30hs420.

TOSHIBA 30HF85 : Good quality. Great price

BEST BUY $ 799.99 + tax
PC RICHARD $ 749.97 + tax
OPTIMUM cable / CRUTCHFIELD alliance $ 719.99
AMAZON.com $ 617.49

SONY KV30HS420 : Great quality Great Price

BEST BUY $ 899.99 + tax(for this price I can grab the XS955 (?) )
PC RICHARD $ 799.99 + tax
OPTIMUM cable / CRUTCHFIELD $ 809.00
AMAZON.com $ 712.47

I am concerned about online ordering, and getting a bad TV again. But I'm really concerned about the price as well.

What do you guys / gals out here think?

[SCriss]

When I saw your two choices, I was going to chime in with, "well you can get the xs955 for the same price as the 420 right now," but I then I saw that you already discovered that.

I just got the 30xs955 and I love it. The major difference between that and the 420, I think, is the built-in DCR HD tuner in the 955. If you want to pick up OTA HD, you'll need that of course, unless you have a stand-alone tuner or sat cable that has a antenna input.

I can't comment on Toshiba, never owned one, but you can't go wrong with Sony.

[Matt27]

Don't forget the super fine pitch tube also in the sony 30xs955;)

I beleive that's a big factor in it's own.

But yeah get a sony, the Toshiba is'nt made by Toshiba only Orion co.,so your not getting a toshiba if you buy it but mearly an Orion tv with the Toshiba name slapped on.

[HDTVblues]

Thanks for the responses.

I thought hard about this. I like all 3 of the options I was considering. Loved the DC on the 955. Also, the optical out. But ultimately went with price again (that's how I found the Advent :mecry: ).

Got the 420, and I f'ing love it already.

Sharper picture. Brighter picture. The little speakers even sound good (but I got a receiver waiting). I'm dying now to get my DVD, and Xbox / PS2 / GameCube hooked up. I might even try Socom 3.

HD / Digital cable will still hafta come via STB. But it's cool. I'm not pissed over not havin an HDTV anymore - and in the future - it's gonna be a Sony first.

... but maybe not a PS3 ...

Almost forgot. The screen geometry looks just right.

[puck71]

I have the 30hs420 too, and have been really happy with it. The only regret I have with it really is that I didn't get a set with a built-in HD tuner. At the time I didn't think it was that important, since I figured I'd get all the HD I needed through cable or satellite. However, the first major network local station started broadcasting HD recently, and it has not been picked up by the cable company (and there's no sign that it will be anytime soon), which apparently is becoming more and more common around the country.

So there I am, having an HDTV and wanting to get all the HD content I could. I had to start looking around for an HD Receiver to receive OTA signals. New high-quality HD receivers are a couple hundred bucks...which obviously makes up the cost difference between the two TVs. I went on eBay and managed to scrape everything together for about $50, but it was definitely a pain and I'd rather have had a built-in tuner...but other than that I've loved the TV!!