Samsung 507W vs. Sony KF 50-XBR800

[markw]

I am undecided about going with the Samsung 507W or the Sony KF50-XBR800. Both seem to DLP and very similar features. Does anyone know of any big differences that would put one above the other plus I'm interested in picture quality opinions (standard tv, HDTV, as well as DVD). I am likely going to go with DLP and these are the two I'm mostly looking at. I believe Hitachi makes one but I haven't looked at them much.
My only concern is the black levels and especially rainbow effect but I plan to watch them as much as possible in the stores to see if I have problems with them and if so how much it bothers me. Has anyone found it to be that much of a problem that you can't stand watching them?

Also, Does Sony make any DLP's? I know a couple disadvantages of the DLP's are the rainbow effect and the black levels. Is that something thats' not a issue with the sony tv I mentioned? As well, does it have the advantage of the DLP such as working well with standard tv (one of the main reasons I'm looking at a DLP)

[markw]

I want to add also that I've heard burn-in is a problem on these unlike DLP's but is not at all as bad as other TV's. Is that true?
Also, do most people get extended warranties when buying a TV like this?

[Stick]

Mark,

I am also torn between the two. I like the Samsung because from what I have seen at Circuit City and a local retailer that have them both side by side.

The DLP seems to be brighter and have deeper blacks compared to the Sony.

I have not seen DVD i or p on them yet.

The Samsung seems to be more digitized, and I know there is terminology for that. I will be watching from 9-10 ft and the samsung still has a few artifacts. or seems digitized.

I think both are great and I am ready to buy . I just need a set that will work in the dark because my wife likes to watch movies with the lights dim or off.

[markw]

I'll post with the decision I make. I started researching a month ago. For the longest time I wanted a large screen TV but had expected to wait a few years for HDTV but the bug hit me recently. It's odd because just a week later DirectTV (which is what I have) announced a HDTV package and now the local cable company does the same.
Anyway, I am big on internet research and for the longest time was undecided on which screen type to go with and was big on RPTV. For a couple years I will be heavy into standard TV and most people were telling me to stay away from the CRT based TV's and go with DLP for that. I finally did decide on these two models a couple days ago.
Now that I have done my research on what type of TV's I want I'm planning to go in this afternoon to look at both as well as others and look at picture quality. I may end up buying one today or may find I want something totally different.
The couch is 10 ft. away from the wall so I'm looking at a distance of 8 feet for watching it so that was one concern. As well, a smaller TV (depth wise) buys me a little room and like you I'll be watching it in a dark room.

[markw]

I forgot to add this but withever TV I get I'll likely buy a stand. I want something that fits the TV well so I'll buy the one they offer with the TV. For the Samsung it's around $299 or so and around $500 or so for the Sony. I'm not sure why but I want a good TV so will choose the TV and if it's the Sony with the more expensive stand I'll go with that. Then again when I see it I may find I don't need a stand but I think I'll want one.
As well, I have done searches on here for both TV's and I see a ton of posts on the Sony and almost all good. Yet for the Samsung I see few. I know the HLN is new but even with the HLM it's few. Yet I did see almost all posts as well are positive so I won't take the lack of posts to mean anything bad.
I am concerned about artifacts which you mentioned but no tv is perfect so I have to weigh pros and cons. I know a lot about DLP and was weighing that vs. CRT RPTV's so know little about the technology of the Sony but it seems to be in teh same league as DLP, slight differences but similar pros and cons and I believe the Sony is supposed to be good with viewing standard tv.

[markw]

I wanted to add one other thing. I read about some DLP's taking awhile to turn on. I don't know how long this may be, 5 seconds, a minute, who knows. Of course in a store few are likely to notice it since most sets are on. Well I was reading a review of the Sony and someone posted that's the difference. He owned both the Sony and Samsung and liked the Sony picture but most of all the Sony turned on fast and the Samsung took so long. This may not be a big deal to you but wanted to mention it.

[57U]

FYI, I usually turn on my CRT-based RPTV about 1/2 hour before I want to watch anything. This allows the set to warm up and for the convergence to be correct.

This is not necessary on fixed pixel units like DLP, LCD since they don't need convergence.

[Wooger]

What's with all these Samsung vs Sony threads? Does everybody that is intrigued by Samsung also get their trigger tripped by Sony? And vice-versa?

Weird.

[57U]

I think it's just that if you have the money to spend on a DLP or LCD based RPTV, it's inevitable that you end up comparing these two since they are the "sales leaders" in each field.

The prices have come down a lot on these sets recently. A year ago you had to pay twice what you did for a CRT-based RPTV. Now the incremental cost is a lot less.

Also, some of the "issues" with the first generation sets have been resolved or reduced with the second and soon to come third generation sets (Black Level, rainbow, etc)

[Stick]

57U

You had posted in other Sony threads that you friend has a Grand Wega.

How does the set perform in the Dark????

Home Theater Magazine did a review on the Grand Wega and said it was great for viewing in bright rooms but said nothing about viewing in dark situations.

[57U]

Any TV that peforms well under bright light conditions will also perform well in the dark. The other way around is not as easy. I viewed my friend's set in the dark and it was very nice.

The Sony will allow you to store different settings in each of its modes (Pro, vivid, etc) (as will some other TVs) . You could have one setup for daytime with lots of brightness and one setting for darker conditions with less brightness. I'd be tempted to tune it with AVIA once in the daylight and once in the dark. I would use the "pro" setting for nightime viewing since it's the one with the least SVM and use the next setting for Daytime. I wouldn't even look at the "Vivid" setting, which I would call "Torch Mode".