Help me pic a Sony TV
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From: easton
Do really need an LCD? For motion nothing beats a plasma (not to mention black and better resolution for inputs which are not native 1080p) for sports and motion. Panasonic and Pioneer make great plasma units that are now reasonably priced. Look on B&H and check out the PRO Panasonic plasma monitors, no tuner or speakers but great buys. Every now and then they (Panasonic) have runa special 5 year extended warranty for free. Always remember that the only way to see a real difference between 720p and 1080p is with a HD or Blueray input. Although, I have to admit the Sony SXRD sets are pretty incredible if you have a big enough room to house them at a PROPER viewing distance. Good luck! Hiro
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canton, MA
Originally Posted by S2Kay82,Sep 5 2007, 08:05 PM
I have a 42" Rear Proj. 3LCD and love it....had it for two yrs
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From: Groton, Connecticut
Sony makes a decent tv - i used to sell them. Granted there are are others out there that are better, depending on the type of display you're looking for. Sony's lcd pj's are the better in that market. DLP sets are also very nice and similar to lcd - samsung or mitsubishi are the names there. sony's XBR line is their top line of tvs and definately better than their others.
of your choices. - id recommend the LCD projection - best bang for the buck. the off axis view has gotten much better now with the improved frenel (sp?) lenses.
of your choices. - id recommend the LCD projection - best bang for the buck. the off axis view has gotten much better now with the improved frenel (sp?) lenses.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Connecticut
fresnel.
I'm not a fan of LCD projectors. LCoS (SXRD) and DLP are better IMO, although I haven't really looked at the new sony E3000 series sets. That being said, 3LCD sets are entry level, and priced as such. In the past they were plagued by poor contrast (as all LCDs are), and the screen door effect.
Plasma will give you the best piecture. The best colors, the darkest blacks, the best motion, and typically the best video processing. The Pioneer sets I mentioned before are king of the hill, but retail prices reflect this. Top tier LCDs are not cheap either though.
If you must choose a sony for movies and sports, I would go with an SXRD KDS-50A3000 or KDS-55A3000. I would not go with an LCD because of the motion issue (annoying in sports), and the contrast issue (watch dark movie scenes in a dark room on an LCD.. not so pretty). The ONLY time I would choose an LCD for my main tv would be if the set would be positioned in direct sun light, or an extremely bright room. Plasmas and projection sets do not fair well in these conditions.
My local best buy has a brand new Pioneer 5010FD plasma right next to a brand new 46" Sony XBR4 LCD, and I can assure you, no one will ever buy that sony while they are sitting next to each other.
I think you should give us some more information. Your price ceiling? Your viewing distance? Your sources (any bluray or HD-DVD)? Your lighting conditions?
I'm not a fan of LCD projectors. LCoS (SXRD) and DLP are better IMO, although I haven't really looked at the new sony E3000 series sets. That being said, 3LCD sets are entry level, and priced as such. In the past they were plagued by poor contrast (as all LCDs are), and the screen door effect.
Plasma will give you the best piecture. The best colors, the darkest blacks, the best motion, and typically the best video processing. The Pioneer sets I mentioned before are king of the hill, but retail prices reflect this. Top tier LCDs are not cheap either though.
If you must choose a sony for movies and sports, I would go with an SXRD KDS-50A3000 or KDS-55A3000. I would not go with an LCD because of the motion issue (annoying in sports), and the contrast issue (watch dark movie scenes in a dark room on an LCD.. not so pretty). The ONLY time I would choose an LCD for my main tv would be if the set would be positioned in direct sun light, or an extremely bright room. Plasmas and projection sets do not fair well in these conditions.
My local best buy has a brand new Pioneer 5010FD plasma right next to a brand new 46" Sony XBR4 LCD, and I can assure you, no one will ever buy that sony while they are sitting next to each other.
I think you should give us some more information. Your price ceiling? Your viewing distance? Your sources (any bluray or HD-DVD)? Your lighting conditions?
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From: Melrose, MA
the SXRD has the best picture of the bunch if you can do a rear projector. If you don't want to wall mount it, why bother with an LCD? If you go LCD, get the XBR.
Be careful what you see in stores are they will typically not be calibrated and often they will "calibrate" to push you to buy the sets they want to sell you.
In the end, don't worry about what people tell you is best, buy what you like when you see it. You are the ultimate critic in the end.
I have an older Sony 3 LCD rear projector and I love it.
Be careful what you see in stores are they will typically not be calibrated and often they will "calibrate" to push you to buy the sets they want to sell you.
In the end, don't worry about what people tell you is best, buy what you like when you see it. You are the ultimate critic in the end.
I have an older Sony 3 LCD rear projector and I love it.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canton, MA
Background:
I can get all of the above sets with nothing more than my Marriot rewards points. the above items are bing offered at a 10% discount as compared to the usual point price. Although this may sound like a "free" TV, keep in mind the points are like money and I could use thme for things like a new lap top, camera, or Garmin Nuvi 680 so I don't want to just use all my points on the most expensive TV if it isn't a good value compared to the others. For example, the 52' Sony Bravia XBR LCD flat panel is 783,000 points while the 50' Bravia 3LCD Rear Projection is 358,000 points. With the 400,000 points I could also get a Sony Vaio Pentium desktop with the widescreen panel and the computer built right into it. I'll go back to the first entry and typed in model numbers if that helps.
The room is pretty bright. It has a bay window with blinds and a sky-light with a blind. During the day you cannot darken the room and the bay window will reflect in the picture even with the blind closed. That said, most viewing (90%) is done at night when the room can be darkened easily. I will be seated about 10 to 12 feet from the set. It does not need to be wall mounted. If it was, it would be another two or three feet away.
The odd thing here is that everyone has strong yet different opinions. Can people also comment on reliability, service and longevity? Two years ago folks told me the Plasmas had a comparatively limited life so I am not looking at them. Is this still true?
I can get all of the above sets with nothing more than my Marriot rewards points. the above items are bing offered at a 10% discount as compared to the usual point price. Although this may sound like a "free" TV, keep in mind the points are like money and I could use thme for things like a new lap top, camera, or Garmin Nuvi 680 so I don't want to just use all my points on the most expensive TV if it isn't a good value compared to the others. For example, the 52' Sony Bravia XBR LCD flat panel is 783,000 points while the 50' Bravia 3LCD Rear Projection is 358,000 points. With the 400,000 points I could also get a Sony Vaio Pentium desktop with the widescreen panel and the computer built right into it. I'll go back to the first entry and typed in model numbers if that helps.
The room is pretty bright. It has a bay window with blinds and a sky-light with a blind. During the day you cannot darken the room and the bay window will reflect in the picture even with the blind closed. That said, most viewing (90%) is done at night when the room can be darkened easily. I will be seated about 10 to 12 feet from the set. It does not need to be wall mounted. If it was, it would be another two or three feet away.
The odd thing here is that everyone has strong yet different opinions. Can people also comment on reliability, service and longevity? Two years ago folks told me the Plasmas had a comparatively limited life so I am not looking at them. Is this still true?