HDTV...getting the ball rolling
#1
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
HDTV...getting the ball rolling
I may still be a few months off from buying an HDTV set, but I'm looking for opinions on HDTVs from Sony, Toshiba, Pioneer and any other HDTVs you can think of. This would be the final piece in my home theater puzzle. I currently have a 32" Sony Trinitron TV from many years ago.
I would preferrably like a 50"+ screen. I am looking for multiple S-Video/Composite inputs. I am not looking for a plasma TV, just want a good 16:9 TV. Price range: $2k-$5k. This is just research for now, but will help point me toward HDTVs to look for and decide on myself. Thanks much.
I would preferrably like a 50"+ screen. I am looking for multiple S-Video/Composite inputs. I am not looking for a plasma TV, just want a good 16:9 TV. Price range: $2k-$5k. This is just research for now, but will help point me toward HDTVs to look for and decide on myself. Thanks much.
#2
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For a budget of up to 5K you can get a pretty damn nice HDTV. I have a Mitsubishi 55" and it's great. Excellent picture and great features and I paid right around 3K for it.
Also if you are going with an HDTV you will want a good progressive scan DVD player as well.
Also if you are going with an HDTV you will want a good progressive scan DVD player as well.
#4
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 2,644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Mitsubishi sets are very nice. Audio King (in the Twin Cities) is a good place to check them out. I also like the Toshiba sets. The Sony sets are decent, but they seem overpriced to me.
For $5k you could easily afford a nice 65" model. Save a few hundred dollars to get your set ISF calibrated after it has been broken in.
For $5k you could easily afford a nice 65" model. Save a few hundred dollars to get your set ISF calibrated after it has been broken in.
#5
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
Originally posted by palebluedot
For a budget of up to 5K you can get a pretty damn nice HDTV. I have a Mitsubishi 55" and it's great. Excellent picture and great features and I paid right around 3K for it.
Also if you are going with an HDTV you will want a good progressive scan DVD player as well.
For a budget of up to 5K you can get a pretty damn nice HDTV. I have a Mitsubishi 55" and it's great. Excellent picture and great features and I paid right around 3K for it.
Also if you are going with an HDTV you will want a good progressive scan DVD player as well.
#6
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
Originally posted by skar
The Mitsubishi sets are very nice. Audio King (in the Twin Cities) is a good place to check them out. I also like the Toshiba sets. The Sony sets are decent, but they seem overpriced to me.
For $5k you could easily afford a nice 65" model. Save a few hundred dollars to get your set ISF calibrated after it has been broken in.
The Mitsubishi sets are very nice. Audio King (in the Twin Cities) is a good place to check them out. I also like the Toshiba sets. The Sony sets are decent, but they seem overpriced to me.
For $5k you could easily afford a nice 65" model. Save a few hundred dollars to get your set ISF calibrated after it has been broken in.
What kind of specs do these systems have in relation to S-Video inputs and Composite inputs? Any other info is greatly appreciated.
#7
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by AgtFox
Yeah, I'll be going to Audio King more than likely when the funds are there. Should my wife get a good job (she graduates next week), the $2k-$5k should be no problem. I plan on having it ISF calibrated as well. I'm just looking for opinions on HDTVs. I like Sony a lot and I realize they are usually overpriced.
What kind of specs do these systems have in relation to S-Video inputs and Composite inputs? Any other info is greatly appreciated.
Yeah, I'll be going to Audio King more than likely when the funds are there. Should my wife get a good job (she graduates next week), the $2k-$5k should be no problem. I plan on having it ISF calibrated as well. I'm just looking for opinions on HDTVs. I like Sony a lot and I realize they are usually overpriced.
What kind of specs do these systems have in relation to S-Video inputs and Composite inputs? Any other info is greatly appreciated.
2 Component(HDTV) inputs
3 A/V inputs(Audio, Composite Video and S-Video)
2 RF inputs
1 Front panel A/V input
#8
Administrator
It really depends on what you are going to watch. The Mits are nice screens for DVD only. It's generally acknowledged their line-doubler is not very good so you need a progressive source.
If you want the best in broadcast TV as well, the Pioneer Elites are probably the best. I have one and it is extremely impressive with the best built-in line-doubler around. It's hard to tell much of a difference between progressive and non-progressive input and they have the most flexible types and amounts of types of inputs around.
2 component, 1 VGA (not just 640x480, but like a computer monitor), 3 S-Video, 3 composite, 2 cable inputs on back (plus a RF BNC for who knows what), 1 S-Video/composite on front. They're shared, but there's four total switchable inputs plus the TV tuner ones.
If you want the best in broadcast TV as well, the Pioneer Elites are probably the best. I have one and it is extremely impressive with the best built-in line-doubler around. It's hard to tell much of a difference between progressive and non-progressive input and they have the most flexible types and amounts of types of inputs around.
2 component, 1 VGA (not just 640x480, but like a computer monitor), 3 S-Video, 3 composite, 2 cable inputs on back (plus a RF BNC for who knows what), 1 S-Video/composite on front. They're shared, but there's four total switchable inputs plus the TV tuner ones.
#9
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
I have been impressed by what I've seen of the Pioneer Elites, that's kind of why I put them in bold. May I ask how much you got yours for and how long ago you got it?
#10
Administrator
I got the 510HD in August of last year for $4700 delivered. Bought it over the internet from an authorized dealer (very important as it has a 2 year warranty). I used a credit card that tacked an extra year on for free.
The 520's are out now and I hear the 510's are much less expensive than what I paid if you can find one. But then the 520 has a lower list than the 510 did too.
The 520 is supposed to have a better line-doubler but I've been reading about some problems with it. It also doesn't lock into full with a progressive input as was always the complaint about the 510. That doesn't bother me because I only go progressive with my home theater computer and I can vary the aspect ratio any way I want.
The 520's are out now and I hear the 510's are much less expensive than what I paid if you can find one. But then the 520 has a lower list than the 510 did too.
The 520 is supposed to have a better line-doubler but I've been reading about some problems with it. It also doesn't lock into full with a progressive input as was always the complaint about the 510. That doesn't bother me because I only go progressive with my home theater computer and I can vary the aspect ratio any way I want.
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: 3rd Planet from the Sun
Posts: 3,701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by palebluedot
I have a Mitsubishi 55" and it's great. Excellent picture and great features and I paid right around 3K for it.
I have a Mitsubishi 55" and it's great. Excellent picture and great features and I paid right around 3K for it.