I've got the room and I have the funds.

I was at CC today and they had the TV I've had my heart set on - The Sony KDS-60XBR2 at an Open Box deal for 2549.00. I could get it online shipped for a bit cheaper, but with all the nightmare stories I have read about shipments and problems with returns etc... then this seems to be the best option.

I am hoping I will be able to haggle for a lower price or 10% off or something like that especially if I get a service plan.

I am now getting the "am I making the right choice" syndrome.

Some of the things I am thinking about are my viewing distance which is around 9ft as I know there will be quality issues sitting that close (Not really with the HD stuff but more with the SD Content). I know that right now the new lineups are starting to hit the market though Sony isn't offering anything exciting for a while (I'm not a Sony fanboy, but the XBR2's seem to be a hot topic at AVS and save for a more expensive plasma seem to be the best choice). Plus I don't want to get caught in the trap of waiting for the next hot thing.

Any owners out there with words of advice?

At this price am I making the best purchase for my money?

Has anyone bought their TV from CC, had success haggling, or horror stories...?

Thanks

There will ALWAYS be something better on the horizon. I jumped on the A2 when it was $450, and that was only 9 months ago, now it's half the price with twice the free movies. Am I kicking myself? A little, but that's how technology works.

You are asking yourself the wrong question. The question isn't will you regret your purchase because it will be cheaper in six months or there will be something better, the question is will you enjoy it for a substantial period of time? If that's yes, and the price is reasonable, then go for it.

As for negotiation, go straight to the store manager and ask for an open box discount. Then add an additional 5% and say you'll take it from the store then and there. If you get installation and a service plan, I'd ask for 25% off.

Josh,

Thanks for the advise on the negotiation.

As far as the decision goes, my wavering only goes to making the best choice at this price right now with any of the options available currently... I would never buy anything if I waited for the right product...

I know there's some stuff on, and always dvds, but if I were somebody looking for a new tv I'd probably wait until August/September timeframe when shows are starting to come back on. You may find something new for the same price that you like more, or you find a better deal on the same set. If you can afford to to wait a while longer it can't hurt.

Personally like Superman07 says i would wait closer to the 07-08 PTTV season because you might find something you love even more & hell maybe it will even be at a cheaper price then the TV you currently want.
Of course I'm probally the wrong person to ask because I'm happy with my 27' RCA CRT TV, Sony 1-disc HTS DVD player & Sanyo DVD/VCR recorder in the main room. I perfer to just have lower end equitment and have more money to spend on DVD's.
Either way whatever the choice you make you should by a warrenty for the TV because if something goes wrong with it and you can't get it fixed for a decent price you will be kicking yourself.

Well after I was able to get over the rush of seeing the TV and reading the posts I have decided to wait. I was aware of the new TV Season coming out. I also read at AVS that the new Samsung Lineup is hitting the market right now and they appear to be at around the same price as this unit would be. I'd have to wait for the reviews to start showing in the forums.

Even so, if I still decide that in 2 months I still want the XBR2, there is a good chance it will be even lower and since I don't need it just this moment the wait won't hurt.

However, I refuse to get caught in the waiting until the next good thing comes cycle and will probably post very soon what I am looking at doing for my HTS to keep myself on track.

Yeah, you can't wait forever, because there will always be something better or cheaper coming along. For what it's worth, the XBR2 is a great set, and that's a great price (excellent bang for your buck, IMO). The XBR3s will be coming out later in the year, but who knows how much of a better price you could get an XBR2 for at that point? I bought a different Sony LCoS set, the 60A2000 back in January. I see that same set in stores now for quite a bit less than what I paid. Does it bother me, yeah a little bit, but that's how things go with consumer electronics, especially large TVs. I don't regret the decision because I've enjoyed the set very much for the past 5 months.

$2500 is a lot of money, but if it's "THE" TV you've been after, then go for it. And don't look at television prices online ever again.

Cultshock:

Unless I am not reading your post properly...it is the XBR4 that is set to be released later this Fall. The XBR3, which I own, introduces a delicate polished frame a.k.a piano frame (I specifically paid over 500$ for it, in black, to match my interior).

Pro-B

I would much rather have a 65 inch DLP, even though you have to replace the bulb every couple of years. People end up regretting not getting the largest screen they can afford and that will fit into their viewing room.

All the Best

Well I have been working with and talking to the Electronics manager (store manager never seems to be available) and am playing the waiting game a bit. If it doesn't sell within two weeks, he said it will drop again.

He also showed me that he has the Mitsubishi WD-65831 for 1999.00 and that is another model I have had my eye on. The only problem I have with it is the viewing angle vs the XBR2 and that it does not accept 1080p over 1 of the HDMIs or VGA.

If I don't end up with either of these two then the only other TV I am currently looking at will be the HLT5689S. I know it is a 56 inch, but the smaller size is still in my price pocket and I am still nervous about the viewing distance for the larger TVs (7-8ft).

My decision now is that no matter what it will be one of these TVs.

I'm currently in a similiar situation. I currently have a 55" Mitsubishi TV (5 years old...Rear Projection). I'm looking to upgrade to a slimer DLP or LCoS or something else that is affordable. Pretty much DLP or LCoS since LCD or Plasma is out of my price range.

I love my current Mits, so I've been looking at those...although, I didn't realize you get 1080p from only ONE source. That is how the current RPTV, one HD source through component, the rest are just 480p.

Sony seems nice, but is almost $500+ more than the Mits. I was looking at JVC also....although, this was all discussed in the 1080p TV thread

I'm not sure I follow what you are saying, but they do make component switchers. Monoprice has some cheap ones.

I use my receiver as my switch.

I was just curious about the 1 1080p input on the 65" Mits he said. It must be an older model though, because I was just reading the manual for the 57731 and it has TWO 1080p HDMI inputs. And that TV is under $1500 at Best Buy currently...which is really tempting. I wish I had a 12% off coupon today...

*EDIT*
I also read the manual for the 65831 and it APPEARS to have two 1080p inputs....so, not sure what the ONE comment was about.

The 65731 is $1900 at Best Buy also.

If you read the Owners post in the AVS forums, then the owners of that specific model have stated that one of the HDMI ports and the VGA do not accept a 1080p Signal. Since I have not been able to test this out myself on my own unit then I cannot verify 100% that it is true.

It is true. I had a 62628 (a year removed, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed), and the HDMI2 port is what they designate as a "PC Port." It only goes accepts up to a 1080i source.

Let me warn anyone who watches anamorphic widescreen with these Mitsubishi TVs. You will not get perfect geometry on it, and it will round the corners greatly.

I have tested it on last year's and this year's model, as I was going to just switch my defective Mitsubishi out.

I made a post about it at AVS months ago.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=795245

The pictures really don't do the problem justice. It nearly became unwatchable for me. I also had 3 different authorized repair technicians come take a look at it. This is an acceptable manufacturers defect according to Mitsubishi.

Get the XBR2. I have the 70" XBR2 in my den and abolutely love the thing. In fact I'm buying the 60" XBR2 for my bedroom because I love the 70 so much and I'm certainly no fan of Sony.

Oops, I think some of the confusion may be between Sony's LCD and LCoS RP tvs, which both seem to use "XBR" in their model numbers. You have a Sony LCD flat panel correct? (I think I read that somewhere ). Last year, Sony's higher end LCoS RP sets were XBR2s, so I wrongly assumed that this years versions would be XBR3s (I wasn't aware of that term already being used for models like your set). From what I'm reading, this year's LCoS sets will actually be XBR5s (along with the less pricy A3000).

That would be correct...the flat panel XBR3 is the one I own. The rest...no prob. I figured it was a wording issue



Ciao,
Pro-B

Do you know if the NEWER models still have this issue? My older Mits RPTV has been great.

Very visible in 2007 models. The 2003 model (monster) that I had did not have this problem. The 2005 models do not have the problem either. The problem started, (at least as much research as I was able to do before I said screw it) in 2005 and before, Mitsubishi uses two mirrors to project the image. Now they are only using one. Having only one mirror is what is causing the issue.

I had that TV as a loaner while I was trying to figure out the Mitsu problem I had. It was great. (eventhough that one had a burn in problem out of the box)

I've read and heard from video calibrators that they have seen some slight burn-in with LCOS models, isn't that kind of a weird malady for such a technology?

Well, I don't know if this was exactly burn in. When the screen's background was black, I could see a green retangular image at the bottom left hand corner that sort of looked like this, (use your imagination)

edit...