JVC AV48WP30 vs. others

[marylandmann]

I recently bought this unit at Best Buy. It incorporates DVI/HDCP and that's the good news. I cannot say, however, that it's the best picture I have seen (although it is very good). Additional models are now coming in hot and heavy, and the department manager suggests that I might wish to switch to a different unit during the return period that expires 9/8/2002.

He strongly suggests one of the new Mitsubishis. Indications are that they will ship without DVI/HDCP. But this manager, who has been kewl in every respect, tells me that Mits recently committed that their sets "...will never become obsolete." Although they won't be in the stores until 9/6 or so, I am hearing rumors that they will have some sort of upgradeable module and software.

Like many others in these fora, I do not buy TVs often. I thought I had made a good decision but perhaps I should reconsider while I can do so for the cost of shipping.

Thoughts?

[billw]

I am going to leave this question for others on the board but i will say that the JVC may not be as nice as a Pioneer Elite or a Mitsu Diamond series.

ALthough I do have the JVC as well. I bought the 56" from Circuit City. JVC tells me they are the same TV operationally.

I am going to buy one of these calibration DVD's over the weekend and see what it does.

I use good cable and I am happy. Of course I dont have a big money set sitting next to it to compare it.

In additon it seems that the new satellite receiver from JVC will have DVI - digital to digital connection. I am waiting on this as well.

I see you are in the Balitmore area. I am in the same area as well.
I will keep you posted on the calibration project.

[kevinw]

Since no Digital Visual Interface standard has been declared the "ONE" ..MIts is using somthing called HAVI while the other manufactures are using DVI..

[billw]

Is this a standard for code and/or the phyiscal connection. I checked al link and there seems to be a standard DVI connection. (phyiscal connector).Actually there are 2 - one adds the pins for an analog signal.

I am by all means ignorant to this - so if someone would like to prove me wrong please fire away.

Bill

[IOStinks]

I would hold on to the JVC. For that price range you are not going to find a better Tv. It took me 2 months off searching and viewing and for the money I had to work with, the JVC was it. I am loving it. To be honest, in the 10 to 12 stores I saw it in, both me and my wife thought it had one of the nicest pictures out of the lot.

[57U]

Originally posted by IOStinks
To be honest, in the 10 to 12 stores I saw it, (both my wife and I) thought it had one of the nicest pictures out of the lot. IO, sorry to burst your bubble, but unless you went into 10 stores, calibrated every TV and then compared, you made your decision incorrectly.

All HDTVs need to be properly set up and calibrated in your home. The picture you see in 99% of stores is "torch mode" and is totally incorrect for watching at home, therefore bears no resemblence to what you will see in your home.

When I get some time, I'll pull together some good ideas for the FAQ forum on how to shop for an HDTV (slightly different from what I have there already, but perhaps I just need to expand on "which HDTV to buy" and how).

Most of it includes visiting sites like this, reading as many magazines and reviews as you can and considering the ergonomics, aesthetics, reliability, stetch modes, type of TV (direct RPTV, etc) and cost of the TV. Picture quality in stores, should not even enter into the equation, sorry.

[IOStinks]

and I'm sorry to burst your bubble but the stores I shopped at were all high end audio stores. I am not talking about stores like Best Buy or Circuit City. I purchased my Tv at one of the Best Audio/Video Stores in New York. I have been a customer of Audio Den for years, they have never steered me wrong. They have techs on staff (real techs), and their TV's, I assure you are all set up correctly. When the Tv was delivered they sent a tech that day to assure the TV was properly set up. My buddy just spent 2600 on a Mits, and it may due to poor set-up on his part but my JVC has a much better picture then his. I have a few friends that have Hdtv's and are amazed at the pix quality. Now, before you start saying anything, I assure you I spent months of research before purchasing this TV on the internet, magazines, as well as other sources, put that all together with the DVI input as well as the silver cabinet, which I love, as well as the solid speaker grills as opposed to the ugly cloth ones that look cheap I am extremely happy with my decision. Put that all togther with my Marantz A/V receiver, Pioneer Elite Dvd, and my Infinity Prelude's, I couldn't be happy. I know people bust on JVC because they haven't been in the bigscreen market all that long and don't have a cool catch phrase like "The Big Screen Company" but I have to say for the price I payed and for the size I wanted, this was the TV for me.

[57U]

You are indeed lucky to have that many stores in your area with properly set up HDTVs

I was not slagging JVC, I was indicating that it's rare that you could find 10-12 stores having properly set up HDTVs to compare.

Thank you for the clarification, and note that I did have "the disclaimer" in my first line, so we both have our "bubbles" intact. :)

PS, I just got back from an excellent service experience with JVC. They fixed my S-VHS VCR in 3 days - wow. (How? - preapproved a "maximum" repair amount, and they had parts in stock) Repair cost $80 on a $400 original cost VCR)

[IOStinks]

There were alot of stores that had the JVC but not alot that had them set up correctly. Only 2 to be exact that I would trust. But, you are so right......in your set-up explanation. When I first saw that TV I saw it at Audio Den and was really happy with the pix. Then I was kind of just doing research going to different stores and scoping it out. I went to PC Richards and they had the JVC and it looked horrible. I mean really horrible....then Best Buy, where if you can beleive it also looked good, except for the fact that they had it 10 ft up in the air. Which as we all know is the best place to view a TV. The fact is that I think until you get it into your house it is really difficult to tell what it will look like. Same with any piece of Audio/Video equipment. I went through 8 sets of speakers before I found a set I liked.

My bubble is intact and everything is good.......Now if only the new HD Receivers would come out....I have to get rid of this Digital Cable....

[Flyingsquid]

I have had the JVC for a month now & am extremely pleased.I also spent a LOT of time fiddling with HDTV's in low-end & high-end shops alike.Sure...I could notice subtle differences in sets costing nearly twice as much,but pound for pound the JVC is a winner.My buddy picked up a Mits for $1500 more than I spent for the JVC and I've got him kicking himself after looking at mine.If you have silly $$ to spend,absolutely go with the Pioneer Elite or Mits.If not,the JVC is a way better choice than a lot of the other comparably priced options.One man's opinion,of course....

[garygrun]

I Have the JVC IArt ProAV-36P902 with DVI input. Up to now I was led to believe that no computer video card would connect directly to this set. Latelt I read that ATI 8500 and up have models that give DVI out with dongle adapters for component video. Does this mean that a direct connection can be made?

[billw]

I have the 56" TV........Has anyone used the AVIA DVD with this TV?

I am curios what your settings were when you were done calibrating.....