RPTV comparisons

[Tomtrekkie]

Are there sites where different manufacturers and RPTVs are compared? I'm waffling between Hitachi, Toshiba, and Sony 51 inch (or close) models. I am interested in the real impact of Sony's Uniform Brightness Screen technology, but no stores seem to carry the "kp-57WV700" models that have this feature (north of Chicago). I'd like to know if Sony is migrating this tech to smaller screens. I have had a mits 35 inch direct view for many years, and it seems about time to go HD. I've visited Circuit City several times, each time looking for more details after reading a bunch of the posts here. Someday soon I want to make a choice, but....

[57U]

Tom, welcome to the forum.

1. Check out the FAQ section, 7th one down on the home page, especially the post "if only I'd have known". This may help you narrow down your choices a bit.

2. Although Sony make excellent direct view (Tube) TVs they have not excelled at RPTVs. There are a fair number of problems and I hear they're also difficult to service.

3. The "similar model" Hitachis are going to be a bit more expensive than "similar model" Toshibas, but they are going to have some more features as indicated in point 1.

Once you've digested this, you may wish to read some of the other posts in the FAQ section like "what you need to do to your new HDTV", "how large a TV to buy", etc.

Happy Hunting

[BadCamper]

I used to reccomend CNET (http://www.cnet.com/) though they've fallen REALLY behind, it seems, in the electronic review categories.

I have many times e-mailed the editors asking them if they had any plans to revise/restore their reviews of electronic gadgets...as they will list products that are a couple (sometimes several) years old along side brand new products without telling the viewers how recent the models are. Shoot, I even offered to submit my own reviews on products that I've used/owned for free, and they never responded. It never really bothered me until other users started e-mailng me asking ME for advice because I had more to offer in my comments on the reviews rather than the review-writer him/herself!

Anyhow, I apologize for not offering a good reccomendation for a comparison website...though I cast my vote against CNET!

[kook]

Consumer Reports just did a small article on HDTV and rated a small group of RPTV's. They really liked the 51UWX20B Hitachi, one of the Sony's, and I believe a Toshiba.

Not sure where they get their data, but showed Toshiba reliability worse than Hitachi and Sony.

[kevinw]

I haven't read this years Consumer Reports but last years rated Tvs based upon its ablity to display analog progrmming not DVD's or HD..IMO not the best way to judge Try www.epinions.com

[57U]

Most of the people who use this forum are probably more technically oriented and performance oriented than the "average" buyer. Consumers reports usually aims for the "masses". The reliability data may be useful though...

[BadCamper]

That and they factor in "Cost" (usually being the MSRP) and "Ease of Use" into a 5 point scale of rating...and I disagree that 40% of the reason why I buy a TV is because of those two factors.

[kook]

Originally posted by kevinw
I haven't read this years Consumer Reports but last years rated Tvs based upon its ablity to display analog progrmming not DVD's or HD..IMO not the best way to judge Try www.epinions.com

Actually the article was quite good. Good overview of HDTV. They eval'd performance based on both conventions signals (since many people still watch "regular" TV) and with HD signals. Wish they had tested more units, but still a decent write by them.

[Tomtrekkie]

Thanks for the leads. I went to the CR (Consumer Reports) site and looked up HDTV and RPTV.
The 03/02 CR article has a lot of basic info and considerations for selection. They rate Pioneer SD-533HD5, Sony Hi-Scan Series KP-53HS20, KP-53HS30 , Toshiba TheaterWide HD 50H81, HD 50HX81, 50H71, Hitachi UltraVision Digital 53UWX10B, Sony Hi-Scan Series KP-57HW40, Samsung PCL5415R, Philips Core Series HD Ready 55PP9401, Panasonic PT-47WX51, PT-47WX49, RCA Scenium HD65W20, Mitsubishi Platinum Series WS-55809, Samsung PCL545R, Panasonic PT-51HX41, Panasonic PT-56WX51, Sharp 55R-WP4H, 55R-WP5H. Many are marked discontinued.

The 12/02 CR article has some text and is all 32 & 36inch hdtv's. They rate Toshiba 34HD82,Panasonic CT-34WX52, RCA 34W135D, RCA D34W20, Sony KV-36HS500, Sony KV-36XBR800, Toshiba 36HF72, Zenith C36V23, Panasonic CT-36HL42, Panasonic CT-36HX42.

I'll study your FAQ section.

Make it so.

[Tomtrekkie]

Just a follow up.: Last weekend Circuit City delivered my NEW Hitachi 51SWX20B. I bought the 4 yr warranty, since they guarantee "good performance" in addition to the "if it breaks we'll fix it". They also have a "lemon" clause: 3 repairs & they replace it (something like that). The deal was only $100 off their normal price, but pursuing siome of the claims about CC selling this for $2200 or so neveer appeared anywhere between Dec and March.

I also selected a Denon 1600 DVD Player to feed my new toy. I'm running the component out from the denon direct to the TV input#1. Everything else goes to s-video input #3 thru my A/V receiver. My roof antennas go to the normal antenna input. That is the only thing I use the Hitachi sound system for, so far.

The first day or 2 it seemed gigantic, but after a week it seems just big (and good!). And there are so many new remote buttons to learn between the 2 units... :-)

Color, brightness, contrast, sharpness were all too high when delivered. I have yet to run the Sound and vision calib DVD on it. I think it is pretty close, though. I'm running color at 20% right now and it seems about right. Contrast and brightness are at 46%. Sharpness about the same (I can't decide on that). We keep lights down in our viewing room. We have a pole lamp set behind the TV. Aspect ratio setting are interesting, and I like how it stores the video settings separately for each of the inputs.

THE RPTV limited viewing angle takes a little getting used to, since my 35 inch Mits direct view was not limited in this way.

For what it is worth, I also have a Yamaha RX-V995 receiver, Mitsubishi & JVC S-VHS VCRS, & Dish PV508 receiver. (& an Sony SVHS Beta deck from 1984...I had hi-fi stereo videos 2 year before VHS. Of course my audio system was modest, but I still liked the background low-end ship noise on the Enterprise. Renting Beta tapes became a problem late in the 1980's.)

It will be a while before I pop for an HD Broadcast receiver. I've always had big antennas pointing at Chicago and milwaukee with a Radio Shack RF amp inline, so that is not an issue ( I never bought cable).

I read and shopped from mid December until 2 weeks ago. THANKS for being probably my main source of info.

Make it so!
Tom(Trekkie)