Okay, let me explain my situation. My roomate has a 61" Sony and is moving out soon. Did some TV shopping today to see what was avaliable and what I can afford. I'm a year removed from college so expenses are short, but my birthday is coming up and my generous parents are willing to split the cost 50/50 on the TV.
So I went to a few places in the area to see what was avaliable. I went to Best Buy, Tweeter, and a local Big Screen Store. Basically saw a lot of options, but my biggest options are a 55" Mitsubishi or a smaller HDTV. First off, I was looking to see if anyone had any opinions on these kinds of TVs. Second I was lookg for any sites that rate TVS pretty well. and third I ws looking for any other possible TV suggestions. I don't have a definite budget, but we're probably talking about 2000 dollars max.
To HDTV or not HDTV? That's my biggest question
Movie_Man
09-21-01, 06:20 PM
I haven't shopped lately (bought mine a year ago), but I still don't think the 55" screens are under $2000 yet. I absolutely love my Mitsubishi, but I've never heard anybody complain about any particular brand, so get one and enjoy! Don't forget the progressive scan DVD player to go with it!
Jericho
09-21-01, 06:55 PM
Originally posted by Movie_Man
I haven't shopped lately (bought mine a year ago), but I still don't think the 55" screens are under $2000 yet. I absolutely love my Mitsubishi, but I've never heard anybody complain about any particular brand, so get one and enjoy! Don't forget the progressive scan DVD player to go with it!
The quote I got today was $1899 for the 55" Mitsubishi Gold TV. The salesman was telling me how great Mitsubishi TVs are, how they use glass mirrors, etc.. Sounded great, but of course any salesman will tell you that. Ironically, they only carry Mitsubishi TVs in that store.
The bonus of the 55" screen is that it fills the space pretty well. The 61" was obviously bigger, but getting a smaller HDTV would look very small in the space even if I move the furntiure around
skar
09-21-01, 07:37 PM
What model number on the Mits gold? And are you looking at Widescreen or 4:3 or either one?
Jericho
09-21-01, 07:38 PM
Originally posted by skar
What model number on the Mits gold? And are you looking at Widescreen or 4:3 or either one?
It's a 4:3, I think the model is VS-55707
skar
09-21-01, 07:42 PM
Originally posted by Jericho
It's a 4:3, I think the model is VS-55707
1 minute for a reply. Wow that's fast, especially for the Home Theater Hardware. My question was more like are you only considering 4:3's or would you consider a Widescreen HDTV-ready TV?
skar
09-21-01, 07:53 PM
The VS-55707 isn't in my 2002 Mits Catalog so it must be last year's model. It is not a HDTV-ready set, right? I strongly urge you to consider a HDTV-ready set.
Jericho
09-21-01, 07:53 PM
Originally posted by skar
1 minute for a reply. Wow that's fast, especially for the Home Theater Hardware. My question was more like are you only considering 4:3's or would you consider a Widescreen HDTV-ready TV?
You're pretty quick to reply yourself :)
Actually you just caught me at the right time. I'm considering everything really. But cost wise, if I went for a widescreen HDTV, I'm assuming I'd have to go smaller. With Mitsubishis I guess I'm looking more into the 4:3 due to price. but I'm open to most anything
Jericho
09-21-01, 08:02 PM
Originally posted by skar
The VS-55707 isn't in my 2002 Mits Catalog so it must be last year's model. It is not a HDTV-ready set, right? I strongly urge you to consider a HDTV-ready set.
You're right it's not HDTV ready. But how much more expensive is an HDTV Mitsubishi?
skar
09-21-01, 10:13 PM
To give you better advice I need to know more about your viewing habits.
I assume that you watch DVD's. What percentage of the time? Is your TV cable, digital cable, DSS, or OTA? What percentage of the time do you watch TV? Do you play video games? What system and what percentage of the time? Any complains about your roommate's 61" that you want improved for your own TV?
Sorry about all the questions, but otherwise it is hard to give good advice.
Jericho
09-22-01, 12:09 AM
Originally posted by skar
To give you better advice I need to know more about your viewing habits.
I assume that you watch DVD's. What percentage of the time? Is your TV cable, digital cable, DSS, or OTA? What percentage of the time do you watch TV? Do you play video games? What system and what percentage of the time? Any complains about your roommate's 61" that you want improved for your own TV?
Sorry about all the questions, but otherwise it is hard to give good advice.
No problem. I do watch plenty of DVDs, many movies a week in fact, thoug it can vary from week to week. I have digital cable and I'd say I watch TV a fair amount of time, usually sports. Video game wise, I do play a little. My roommate has a dreamcast.
As for my roommates TV. It is a 61" Sony. I know it's the low end of Sony projections, nothing fancy, but I do enjoy it. I figure a non HDTV is great, and HDTV one is even better. But I have grown accustomed to a larger TV for my movies, so that factors in.
duckdogger
09-24-01, 12:06 PM
I am a big Mitsu fan and have been for about 10 years. I would nod to the higher quality versus a larger size. I saw a 47", 16:9, HD in Sunday's paper from Best Buy for $2000. Don't recall if it was a Toshiba or Panasonic. Mistsu will be more but what the heck, you don't buy one of these things every month.
Just make sure you have the features such as component video in, and at least a Toslink out. My friend has a Hitachi 65", 16:9, HD, with integrated Direct Tv AND HD decoder. Very large price but no component in for the DVD. Also, no output period to allow recording off the satelite.
Movie_Man
09-25-01, 10:59 AM
It would almost be silly today to buy a non-HD big screen. If you're going to buy a big screen, do it right!
Even for watching standard-definition television, the image is so much better. I find watching a traditional TV distracting now, since the scan lines are so apparent after being used to the line doubler in a digital TV.
Kakkarat
09-25-01, 11:20 AM
I got a Mitsubishi widescreen 65908 (Diamond line) a few weeks ago. It is absolutely STUNNING!!!!
If you're interested in Mits, check out www.hometheaterspot.com - they have a Mits forum there that is really active and very helpful.
Jericho
09-25-01, 12:22 PM
Originally posted by Kakkarat
I got a Mitsubishi widescreen 65908 (Diamond line) a few weeks ago. It is absolutely STUNNING!!!!
If you're interested in Mits, check out www.hometheaterspot.com - they have a Mits forum there that is really active and very helpful.
Thanks for all the input. I guess the biggest problem about Mitsubishi Widescreen TVs is the price, although the 65" Platinum series is just $2999 (2001 model). I may go for a different brand like Toshiba which seems to be well received
Kakkarat
09-25-01, 04:35 PM
If I remember right, that's a pretty good price for a 2001 65". I got this year's model for an ok deal, but it was much more than $3000.
I didn't do much research on the Toshiba's, but I believe that they are also generally recommended. Again, check out the Home Theater Spot, they also have a Toshiba forum.
Cornfed
10-21-02, 02:36 PM
Just thought I'd revive an old thread rather than start a new one.
I'm very close to buying a Mitsubishi 55411. It looked great in the store and I've read lots of good things. I've also come across several tweaks for the set on hometheaterspot.com. A lot of the tweaks look like things I wouldn't want to try myself on my TV. My question is, would this TV still run great for a good duration if I didn't perform any of the tweaks that require me to open up the television set?
X
10-21-02, 03:00 PM
Originally posted by Cornfed
My question is, would this TV still run great for a good duration if I didn't perform any of the tweaks that require me to open up the television set? From what I understand about Mitsubishi and how they can be greatly improved by having a good calibration, I think you should strongly consider budgeting in the approximately $500 for an ISF calibration.
joshd2012
10-21-02, 03:05 PM
I love the 55" WS Mitsubishi my dad. Has had it for 3 years, and no complaints. I would recommend Mitsubishi to anyone.
On a side note, we purchased it at the Big Screen Store. Good people. Their installers aren't too good (I had to go back and change the wiring to optimize the setup) but they were straight forward with me and have no complaints about the service I received.
Cornfed
10-21-02, 03:16 PM
Originally posted by X
From what I understand about Mitsubishi and how they can be greatly improved by having a good calibration, I think you should strongly consider budgeting in the approximately $500 for an ISF calibration.
Would I need to have this calibration performed on this set multiple times throughout my ownership? And how do I go about finding an ISF?
X
10-21-02, 03:32 PM
Originally posted by Cornfed
Would I need to have this calibration performed on this set multiple times throughout my ownership? And how do I go about finding an ISF? I think once you break in your set, maybe a couple hundred hours, you'd be ready for it. And it should last a very long time if your set isn't having some other major problem.
Try here for a start to finding someone. You might want to make sure they know your particular set very well and check some of their references.
http://www.imagingscience.com/
bigE
10-21-02, 06:09 PM
Originally posted by X
From what I understand about Mitsubishi and how they can be greatly improved by having a good calibration, I think you should strongly consider budgeting in the approximately $500 for an ISF calibration.
:thumbsup: Right on <b>X</b>. Mits are notorious for their red push out of the box. Out of the factory reds are REAL hot, with contrast & brightness levels peaked (to dazzle consumers, I guess). Great way to burn a screen if you ask me. Initially color & brightness should be about 5 or 6 clicks below center, contrast & sharpness lowered to about 30-35%, & color temp set to LOW. Calibrate after the first 100 hours, color, contrast & convergence set, you should be golden (or platinum, or diamond!).
JimRochester
10-21-02, 07:33 PM
55" Diamond Series owner here. You can check out the pics in my sig for my setup. Very happy with the TV and haven't had any issues. Had it about 2 years now.
Cheddarmuff
10-21-02, 10:37 PM
Anybody have any comments on thier 50" plasma TV (16:9)?? Looking into making a big purchase.. :D :D
I saw their 73" 16:9 at The Great Indoors last week...all I can say is WOW!! I was in a trance..
drmoze
10-23-02, 02:42 PM
The Mitsu prices here are too high. We picked up the WS65819 65" HD-ready (Platinum Plus series) a few months back for $2700. More recently I've seen them for $2500. Shop around. And IMO Mitsu makes the best rp tv's in terms of quality and longevity. (My 1991 50" model still looks beautiful, and it's been used a *lot*!)
As for plasmas, I'd hold off. They are in the "getting better and cheaper" stage still. The lower-priced ones still don't have very black blacks, nor steady uniform color saturation.
Darthkim
10-24-02, 02:28 AM
I've seen the plasma and when it has a 1080i feed, it is gorgeous. One cannot help but stare. just need to wait a few years....lol
If anyone lives in southern california, they have it displayed in their lobby. You should go have a look =). I hear the rest of the dealers should get them soon (when i visited good guys, thats what they told me).
Kman1011
10-24-02, 11:50 AM
Cheddar muff, Where are you located, Co area? If you are let me know and I can help you?
Kevin
Cheddarmuff
10-24-02, 09:41 PM
Originally posted by Kman1011
Cheddar muff, Where are you located, Co area? If you are let me know and I can help you?
Kevin
I am actually in Michigan...
drmoze I agree with your comments...the prices are droping fast and the quality definately seems to be improving.
I don't know if I can wait forever to pick up a nice plasma TV...It will last for several years and I can always sell it to recover some of the cost..
Buy: