SONY is gold in the entire TV category, except Plasma, since they no longer make them.

 

Maybe 10 years ago, but not now. The days when I would buy a Sony product just because it was Sony are long gone. Now they also have the Qualia brand, which is like the Lexus division of Sony - I haven't heard anything much about the products yet, but they are expensive.

Here's just one article about Sony...

http://www.brandchannel.com/features....asp?pr_id=231

 

(Former TV salesman)

 

That article, while good, has nothing to do with TV's. SONY fumbled in the MP3 category. There is no doubt about that. Apple and their iPods own that category. However in the TV category, SONY is still at the top of its game.

I guess I'm a SONY whore.

 

The biggest thing with sony is well, They don't really make alot of there products like they used to. They buy alot from other companies and put them in there TV. I mean they are not buying shitty products but the way they are put together. Its not usually the Tube that will go out, Its the IF sensor or some connection that will break. Biggest downside about sony is .... They are just to damn expensive. They are good TVs just a problem that they run a couple hundred more than other brands which are just as good/if not better. Oh ye and sony audio on the base level is crap, the good stuff doesn't start till u can put out 2000+.

 

I have a 57" Sony CRT and I love it.

If I had ALL the money I wanted I would get a 50+" DLP. But the CRT, if configured right, really looks awesome.

just to add my 2 cents to the hundreds of dollars already tossed in.

 

if you read reviews of tube HDTVs, sony is still king for the most part.

my 32" sony HDTV has hundreds of options in the service menu and I've got my set calibrated on color temperature and each color is reference perfect. The process took me a long time, though.

BTW, I don't think sony makes lcd panels. they sell them, but I think they buy from other companies. Samsung does make and sell LCDs though, and they are the best IMO.

 

LCD's do not burn-in, Plasma, maybe, but rarely.

Westinghouse makes a highly-rated 37" LCD that has a native resolution of 1920x1080, HDTV at 1080p. Amazing resolution if you are planning on hooking up a PC/Media Center. The set does not come with an internal tuner, however, so satellite or cable is a must plus an off-air antenna. But the price is hard to beat at around $2,000.

 

How is the Panasonic PT-56DLX75? It's a DLP and a friend told me I should check it out.

 

JVC make good CRT HDTV's, priced below Sony but every bit as good. I'd stay far, far away from brands like Samsung and Sanyo, as they focus on price over anything else. They might make products that look good the day you get it home, but after five years or so, you're going to want to chuck your thousand dollar TV out the window. Not so with Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Pioneer, etc.

To repeat what has been said before, go CRT with the money you plan on spending - you'll get far more for your money. CRT is still superior to all others in picture quality, cost, etc.