I Want The Best HDTV Brand-What Would That Be?

[rickbb]

I read that an HDTV Zenith model was number one in consumers Magazine with a 36 inch screen for $2000- Is zenith really that good a brand for a High Definition Tv set?

Originally I considered buying a SONY...but when I read some of these posts Sony was'nt even mentioned. Most of you seem to like Mitsubishi alot.

I want a good HDTV tube tv..not a projection tv.Unless you can tell me of a crystal clear picture of a great Projection tv to buy. Preferably I want an HD Tube Tv.

I just got a satelite dish system a month ago for the first time-I LOVE IT.. from Dish Tv Network.I have two satelite dishes and 4 tv sets..one tv is HD with Echo stars 6000 receiver..I get the following stations on HDTV-CBSHD,HDOHD,And ShowtimeHD..for an added yearly fee I can get Discovery Channel in HD-$59 a year...but I feel thats a rip off and should be included in my free HDTV package since there are only 4 stations available in HDTV to me.
Also since I have such a great signal with my dish satelite system..I have the option to subscribe to Chineses Tv all the way from China or Israeli tv directly from Israel or even Tv from Iran..among other countries.
A Dish tv Network customer service Tech person told me I can't subscribe to their CBS HD EasT channel-the customer service person said I could'nt because the signal was too far away.But I mentioned to her...what gets me upset is..and what I mentioned to the customer service person was..IF I can get all those foreign country channels on my system...why can't i get the east coast CBSHD channel? Her answer to me was..."that just can't be done.. that signal only goes to the edge of the rockies and she just kept double talking me.
Anyway..I just went on and on here.... Please let me know the best HDTV brand to buy and the best HDTV model-whether it be Tube tv or projection. Let me know Please.
Rick

[57U]

Welcome to the forum. A few things.

1. RPTVs are every bit as "sharp/clear" as an identically sized Direct View (Tube) TV. The only size that is the same is 40". So if you are interested in a large size, get an RPTV, just remember that the only reason you think it's not as sharp is because it's larger. If the image is the same size (when viewed from an appropriate distance) the image will be of similar quality.

2. Check out our FAQ section - 2 pages: See the posts:

"Which HDTV to buy" (page 2 of the FAQs).
"How Big an HDTV to buy"
"If only I'd have known", and
"What you need to do to your new HDTV" (this will explain why the RPTVs look the way they do in stores).

The recommendations and research in the above posts will allow you to "narrow down" the field a bit. Once you've got it down to a narrow selection, post again and we can help.

PS. The best brand is the one that suits your needs for the price you want to pay.

[woodman]

Rick:
Unfortunately (or fortunately - depending on how you choose to look at it), there simply is no such thing as the "best brand" of television to buy. You can have a good, bad, or anything in between experience with any model of any brand.

Having said that, I'll give you some brands that I would consider buying myself (having had more than 50 years of experience working on them) and some brands that I would avoid.

Consider:
Toshiba
Mitsubishi
Hitachi
Pioneer
Panasonic
Sharp

Avoid:
RCA
Zenith
Philips (Magnavox)
Sony

Listen to what 57U told you ... he's right on the button with his comments regarding an RPTV vs. a direct-view set. The latter is a risky thing to buy IMO, because of the prohibitive cost of the tube involved. Although CRT failures are rare, they can and do happen. If one should happen to you after the mfg. warranty has expired, you'll make a "stinky" in your pants, when you discover that replacing the tube is NOT an option (it would cost as much as replacing the entire set!).

Regarding Dish Network and what their CSR told you ... that is absolutely correct - you cannot receive CBS-HD east for several reasons. Where signals originate is not part of the equation ... the satellite that is re-transmitting the signal is the critical factor. You can receive programming from China, Israel, Russia, Japan, etc. because they're being "carried" on the 148 degree W. bird of the Dish Network fleet of satellites. The CBS-HD East feed is on a sat that's located at 61.5 degrees, which for most of us on the west coast, is almost below the horizon! Clear?

Hope this helps you

[rickbb]

Thankyou for your excellent response to my posting.I Like those brands you suggested I consider.
As for the bad brands...I'm just learning that Sony is not that good a brand.
Which projection brand has the highest lines of resolution..with the sharpest picture and best sound?

[57U]

Sound is usually not an issue with HDTVs as many people hook up surround systems - A/V Receivers, etc. That's half of the home theater experience for many people. Some invest more in their sound systems than they do in their HDTV. DVDs and digital TV with DD5.1 sound just sound pitiful on a TV.

The RPTVs with the "largest number of lines of resolution" are the LCD and DLP based RPTVs. They can display 720P x 1280 lines (DLP) and 768P x 1365 (LCD). CRT-based RPTVs display 1080i x roughly 1000-1100 horizontal lines. (most people consider 720P to be superior to 1080i, hence the higher cost for TVs that can display 720P) As a rule of thumb, the more you pay for your RPTV, the better it's going to be - pretty simple, huh?

Some people, however, prefer the picture quality of a CRT-based RPTV over the others mentioned above due to a better "black level", but they may also have $ in the backs of their minds since CRT-based TVs are also less expensive.

See my recent FAQ on other differences between the technologies and also read the FAQs I mentioned in my earlier post.

--> Comparison of Display Types (http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4775)

If you want the best picture, buy an LCoS RPTV - Only $9k for 1080P.

[tim gockel]

I love my Sony KV34XBR800,awesome picture and sound.

[park]

Can someone tell me why Sony appears to be on a black, or at least a grey, list?

[57U]

Sony Direct Views are fine, it's the RPTVs that had a flickering problem a little while ago, so people are a little "gunshy" (pun intended).

Their RPTVs also tend to be a little more expensive and why pay more if you don't get anything more? Lots of people like, and are comfortable with, the Sony brand - nothing wrong with that, and the flicker issue seems to be past.

[OmegaMan]

I would also add that Sony reliability is definitely questionable.

[57U]

Here are the Consumers Reports reliability numbers for RPTVs

Consumers Reports, March 2003, Reliability Numbers – indicating % of sets with significant problems or repairs required – lower numbers are better.

Hitachi - 6%
Mits - 7%
Sony - 8%
Toshiba - 10%.

[Vial24]

Also have a Sony (KP-51WS500) RPTV. This T.V rocks it has one of the clearest picures ive ever seen on a Big Screen. HDTV program looks incredible and also do games on Xbox (looks like your looking through a clear glass). Ive read alot about Sony's and as of right now i read a few articles mentioning that Sony and Toshibas have the clearest pictures out right now in the market. And sense my sony doesnt have the flicker problem it just makes it even a nicer model to own.

[kevinw]

For under 2k they are all basically the same. Everyone thinks the best TV is the one they own. If you are willing to spend more cash then I recomend Pioneer Elite-others won't but this is my opinion- It comes with a 2 year warranty.
Toshiba if in the 2k range. Why? Because I have one. If I recomended something else, that would make me not so smart for buying something I did not recomend. :D

[Wooger]

Yeah, I bought Sony originally because of my work in the TV realm and figured, heck, if it is good enough for TV stations (as a reference monitor) it is good enough for me. However, I never thought that RPTV vs Tube would make a difference. I guess it might. Nonetheless I am STILL loving my Sony, and mostly for the features (one touch gun alignment, does all HD formats, etc.)

...and yes... I still argue for the 4:3 aspect! Don;t ask... it won;t be pretty...

[paulmb1]

lotta good tvs out there. i previously owned a 35-inch direct view analog mitsubishi. great picture, at least with small-dish satellite or good digital cable system. still going strong after almost 11 years. i gave i to my mother last year after i bought a mitsubishi 55-inch WS HDTV. analog OTA from local tv stations so-so at best. SD digital from dish network (or directv for that matter) ranges from fair to very good depending on the source material. but it's best watched in "narrow" (4:3) format because that's what most of these channels show. an exception is turner classic movies, which shows in WS those movies filmed in WS. now, for true HDTV: it's fantastic. thus far, our CBS and NBC affiliates are broadcasing their HD lineups and the picture is stunning (better than a lot of the multiplex movie houses). ABC affiliate will be launching its hi-def in coupla months. as for other HD tv sets, i looked at a lot closely off and on for a year. hitachi ran mits a very close second. had it supported a firewire connection (i bought a mits HD VCR, too), i just might have gotten the hitachi.