Best HDTV

[iBiS]

what is the best hdtv out?

[barbinmike]

Very good question, should generate allot of talk, but we will see, would love to know what people think....Kinda shopping for one too..
Have a great week!!! :p

[AUMMitsu]

I looked around a lot before deciding to get a Mitsubishi and in my opinion i think the Mitsubishi Diamond series is the best out there.

[dwainr]

i'm going to have to go with the pioneer elite. i have a pro610 which i have had isf calibrated. i don't think you can get any better. i've had it about 1 year. i know someone that picked up a mitsubishi diamond. it was ok but took a lot of tweaking to get close to the pioneer picture.

[PHONEMAN]

it seems everyone is pretty much satified with there tv what ever the brand and unless you do service work and can see many different types of sets and what they can do when totally adjusted its a hard question, mine a 42h81 toshiba and like everone its great for the money, when shopping around appox 3 months , saw alot of sets, seem like most were not even close to being adjusted correctly., did like the mit diamond series but just a little to much money for me, tho very nice picture, sony people like sony tosh people like tosh ect,ect read.read.read spend spend spend you will like whatever you get

[ZeroDegreeK]

Even though I have a Mitsubishi Diamond and I love the set, I would probably have to give the nod to the Pioneer Elite also. But only because they handle 4:3 material better. Otherwise, I feel the picture quality is just as good.

[AUMMitsu]

I would probably have to give the nod to the Pioneer Elite also. But only because they handle 4:3 material better.

How so?

[ZeroDegreeK]

The Elite has a reputation for having the best internal line doubler among all HDTVs, additionally, the stretch mode for the Elite is better than the Mits IMHO. The distortion on the sides is not as noticeable.

Having said that, I think the Mitsubishi Diamond coupled with an IScan, or CrystalImage scaler would surpass the Elite. They would cost the same too. So if you are going to spend the money for the Elite, you might be better served going with the Mits and the CI.

But put one set next to the other, no scaler, Elite.

[kevinw]

Depends on price..There is not a real difference in the entry level HD sets. Everyone has an opinion and they all prefer the TV they bought. I receomend Widescreen in either Toshiba or Sony for those looking under 2,500. Pioneer or Mitsubishi if your gonna spend major dollars 4k plus... I do not agree with those that say get a 4:3 Hd capable TV.

[sierraoaks]

I looked at several HDTV's and have recently purchased a Pioneer Elite 720. Out of the box no issues. NTSC TV is almost as good a DVD using s-video. HD is beyond great, especially watching Direct TV HDNET ch 199. The Olympics are just amazing in HD.

[sieve11]

If you happen to live alone and have a recliner set up directly in front of your rear projection set, you should enjoy a great HD viewing experience.

However, if you want a couple people to watch the thing with you, don't be surprised if they're not as impressed as you think they should be.

I hate to bash my RP brethren because we are all one in the HD crusade. But, I just don't get their love of RP television. IMO, they are made for one-person viewing (or 2, if you don't mind having someone sit on your lap).

If you are truly seeking the "best" HD set, you should at least check out the available direct view sets first. Then, you can decide how much light you are willing to give up.

BTW, all of this is moot if you are considering DLP or plasma (at prices I'll never be able to afford until I get that one lottery ticket I've been looking for).

[kevinw]

You are looking at the wrong tv My Toshiba is fine from at 45 degrees as well as dead on. I agree if you need to look up or down on it it doea dim but at eye level I do not loose the luminesance. (probally could use a spell checker here:D) I can have 8 people around my living room and all have a great view...Olympic party.Superbowl Party...With out RP or FP you just do not get that HMT experience :)

[ibm135]

Look at the systems with Texas Instruments Digital Light Processors (DLP). I have the Panasonic PT-52DL10 with the Panasonic TU-HDS20 DirecTV/HDTV receiver and its phenominal.

Other manufacturers that have a few models with DLP besides Panasonic are Hitachi, Mitsubishi, and soon to be Samsung.

[jscalisi]

I have the Toshiba 42H81. It has a veiwing angle of 160 degrees. If you stand up it gets a bit darker but when sitting it looks great from many angles.

[zarlor]

I don't agree that a decent modern RPTV only allows viewing directly from the front. My Zenith IQB64W10W provides, I was pleasently surprised to find, an excellent picture even up to 60 degrees off-center. More than enough for every seat in my living room. It is true that some RPTV sets have poorer screens that limit that angle, but it is also possible to buy a different screen to provide all the angled viewing you'd like.

Also I wouldn't reccomend a DirectView set for HD, simply because of the size. Instead, especially if angled seating is extremely importing, I would reccomend a Front Projection TV. Current technologies in FPTV units and screens mean that a more varied lighting envornment can be used that was previously the case only a few years ago. However it is still reccomended that the lighting me fairly controllable for a FPTV moreso than for an RPTV or DirectView set.

I also found that when talking about HDTV part of the problems I had previously considered about RPTVs was that they always seems so dim, which also contributed to the difficulty of angled viewing. But I was finally able to attribute that problem to the simple fact that there were only 480 (less actually) lines being projected onto the screen. With 1080 lines the picture is so much clearer and brighter that the usual advantages of a DirectView set no longer seemed to apply when I purchased my set. I found I could have the great picture of a DirectView and still have a fairly decent viewing angle in the larger sized RPTVs. For me it was definitely more than worth it!

[Wooger]

Hey Sieve: I have a Sony and before I bought it I checked it from as many angles as possible. Strangely, from either side, it holds up REALLY well, BUT... from above (or below) you lose significant picture. Hmmm. Luckily, it stand about 5+ feet tall and getting above or below it requires a bit of unnatural contorting (and some equipment maybe... like a chair or ladder). But overall, no loss of picture from roughly +/- 30º from center. FYI.

[sieve11]

Agreed that some RP sets look better than others at wider angles. But, ours was going into the family room, where we often want to watch from the floor. i couldn't find ANY rear projection sets that showed much, if anything, from BELOW the optimum viewing angle. So, the decision was made to go direct view.

We were given the opportunity at work to buy RCA HD sets at some really great prices because we are a Thomson customer. We bought the 38310 for $2200 and considered the 61310 RP because it was available for $2789.

With HD material, and viewing directly in front of it, the set looked terrific. And, the 61 inches was very impressive. But, the family voted, and they voted NO. Plus, it isn't one of the best RP, it has a lot of light falloff in the corners, even with HD.

The 38310 has been at great purchase for us, and the whole family has come to appreciate HD. Now, if Mits ever offers up their new REAR DLP, which is only 10" deep, I'll reconsider my stance on rear projection. Of course, I'd have to sell my house to buy the thing, but boy, does it look great.

[D|S-Blunt]

Sony's KD-34XBR2 (http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?s=&threadid=703) has a great picture and over 50 features, im very pleased with it... :cool:

[armor10]

My Hitachi Is the Brightest rps I've ever seen! Sometimes to Bright. When I got it home I had to turn it down. But I get a great picture from almost 90 degress. and with 6 lenses per gun and guns 30 percent larger than every one else. Hitachi is my choice for the perfect rps out there. Oh ya, The prices are Great a lot better than Mitch diamond set's with hitachi part's in them!

[kevinw]

Wow this ancient thread sure came back to life.

The best TV is the one you can afford and the one you like best. All tv's have plusses or minuses. Some have Ghosting-Toshiba. Some have Red Push(Mitsubishi) and some green(Panasonic). They all come from the factory Very Bright. That is what is known as torchmode in the Forums. That is why we get a copy of Avia and adjust them.

[newtohdtv]

For those who aren't aware, Samsung is vry close to releasing these sets so my opinion is if you haven't bought yet you may want to wait to take a look before you buy a similarly priced RPTV or direct view because this is simply a better all digital technology. I have the 43 inch model ordered and should get it as soon as 3rd week in July.

http://www.dvdinsider.com/news/view.asp?ID=3883

n2hdtv

[Ratman]

I hope this helps with your decision...

[kevinw]

You would think that the original poster has probally bought a TV since it was posted in Feb.

"My TV is the best because I own it and I am really, really smart...":D :p

[Ratman]

Originally posted by kevinw
"My TV is the best because I own it and I am really, really smart...":D :p

Exactly! Can I use your quote for all future "What's the best..." questions? Tee-hee

[D|S-Blunt]

Screw dude who asked what tv was best, I just wanted to plug my tv, hehehe :p