Well, considering I've had the TV for four years, and they're allowing me to trade it for a new TV using the money I paid for mine in the first place...yeah, I'm pretty sure they won't just give me my money back.

Ok...here's a new update, and might just be what I'm looking for.

On the back of the sports page of USA Today...today...Wal-Mart has an ad for this set. They have it advertised on sale for $1486. I called BB and, if I understood him correctly, he said they have this set, for about $1600. Why it's not listed on BB's site, I don't know. So, if I go to BB tomorrow and they have this, and it looks good, this might be my new TV.

I don't know much about DLP. Is it good?

That's pretty thin. I think mine comes out about 22 inches. When you live in an apt, every inch counts.

Well, my current set comes out about 29" from the wall, so I guess thinner would be better.

Not sure about that RCA, I wanted to look at the specs, but the link on that page prompts for a login. Stupid jerks.

AFAIK, DLP is the next best thing to CRT in terms of black-level and overall picture clarity without the risk of burn in and no screen door effect. There are pros and cons of all the new technologies, and I've been researching for a while, and have decided myself on a DLP. I don't even care about space issues, so if they made a 60" CRT, I'd probably be all over it. AFAIK, they don't so I have decided on DLP.

Someone please correct me about any false info I've given, I'm no expert, but I try to do my homework.

Infidel, sounds like you're getting closer to a decision. Very interested in hearing what you get. BTW, what is your player?

Denon DVD2900

Here's the specs on that RCA from Wal-Mart's site:

Digital Light Processing Technology with no burn-in worries.
Digital cable ready with integrated high definition tuner.
HD connectivity with HDMI.
Composite, component, and S-video inputs.
Thin and lightweight design - weighing less than 90 pounds and measures 16" deep.
16:9 display.
4-device universal remote control.
Parental control, clock, sleep timer, alarm, and equalizer.

Screen Size: 50"
Screen Type: 16:9
Tuner: NTSC/ATSC/QAM
Digital Cable Ready: Yes
Comb Filter: 3D Y/C Dig Frame
Input Signal Compatibility: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
Adaptive Video Noise Reduction: Yes
Adjustable Color Warmth: Yes
Adjustable Picture Control: Yes
Format Control: Yes
Auto Color Control: Yes
DLP Technology: HD5
DarkChip Technology: Yes
SmoothPicture: Yes
Horizontal Viewing Angle (Degrees): >80
Vertical Viewing Angle (Degrees): >30
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Edge Replacement: Yes
Reverse 3:2 Pull Down: Yes
Picture Presets: 4+ personal
Audio Power (Watts): Front L/R Speakers 10 W/CH
Graphic Equalizer: 7 Band
Sound Presets: 4+ personal
Front Speakers: 2- Full-range
Sound Type: Broadcast Stereo w/ dbx Noise Reduction
Second Audio Program (SAP): Yes
Sound Logic Audio Leveler: Yes
Sound Expansion: SRS FOCUS
Auto Channel Search: Yes
Multilingual On-Screen-Display: English, Spanish, French
Auto On + Auto Channel + Auto Volume: Yes
Channel Lock: Yes
Auto Tune (One-Button Launch): Yes
Closed Caption Capability: Yes
Front Panel Lock: Yes
Maximum volume limiter: Yes
Channel Labeling: Auto
Commercial Skip: Yes
Parental control (V-Chip): USA & Canada
Picture Reset: Yes
Picture Freeze: Yes
Picture Memory Presets for Video Inputs: Yes
Clock, Sleep and Alarm Timers: Yes
Audio L/R Inputs: 3
Composite Video Inputs: 3
S-Video with Auto-Detect vs. Composite 2x
YPrPb with Auto-Detect vs. Composite 2x, SYNCROSCAN PLUS *
HDMI: 1
RF Input: 2
L/R Variable/Fixed Outputs: 1
Optical Audio Output (SP-DIF): Yes
Front/Side Audio/Video: 1
Front/Side Headphone Jack: Yes
Type Universal 4-Device Remote Control
Stand Included
Power cord NEMA 5-15p (US) included
Finish: Black/Silver Diamond
Power Supply: (Voltage / Frequency) 90-130V / 60Hz

Here's an answer someone gave on Yahoo Answers to someone who specifically asked about this model of RCA set. She ended up talking about DLP and RP in general, but I thought I'd get an opinion here on if she knows what she's talking about. I copied and pasted, so if there's any spelling or grammatical errors, they're hers:

She certainly makes it sound like DLP is the way to go, but just not an RCA. Hmmm.

Just got back from BB. They didn't have the model from the Wal-Mart ad, but that didn't matter too much anyway, since on BB's "no lemon" exchange policy the TV's are just traded out...no remaining credit to apply to anything else. Even swap.

So, here's what I decided on. Unlike the other model mentioned previously, the spec sheet on this one will come up without logging in. I think I'm getting a pretty decent set out of the deal. Plus I have 30 days to buy a new service plan (my service plan on the set I'm turning in expires today).

I was really hoping to get it today, but they won't be able to come out to swap them until Tuesday. DAMMIT! Oh well. I'll still be able to enjoy my old set for a couple more days, for old time's sake.

Before going with DLP it would be best to take a look at one in action. In the past, some people have been bothered by a "rainbow effect" due to the color wheel.

Higher end setups can get around this by using separate chips/wheels or, I believe, higher speeds for the color wheel.

Perhaps this problem has been solved in current models, but in case it hasn't, you ought to be aware of it.

Edit: Made this post too late. Since you have already made your choice I hope that it works out well for you!

I think Best Buy will pricematch, so I'd look online for a cheaper price and print it out to show them.

check tvauthority.com or visualapex.com both of which have really low prices and may have your model

The one on display in the store seemed to look just fine.

Well, again, pricematching didn't matter in this situation. If they would have allowed what I paid for my set to be used as store credit, then I would have pursued that. But, on their "no lemon" exchange policy, the sets are swapped out even, regardless of how much lower in price the one I'm getting is.

BB actually had the one I'm getting on sale for about $1600, so they adjusted it up to make the swap even in their system.

I guess, in the end, all that matters is that you like the PQ of the set. Personally, my next TV is most likely going to be on the 2007 Mitsubishi 1080p DLP sets, unless I'm seeing RBE.

That's good. I just wanted to make sure that you had seen it in operation. Most people aren't sensitive to the DLP "Rainbow Effect".

So, when do you get the TV home? Let us know how it looks after you've played around with it for a bit.

They deliver it and take the old one away on Tuesday. It's too bad, because the old one still provides a really nice picture. It'll be a shame to see it go...especially if I end up not liking the new one. (think positive, think positive)

Surely Best Buy has a 30-day exchange policy, no?

I'm sure they do. I'd like to think they would exchange for another one if I plug the new one in and it doesn't work for some reason.

Well, if you liked what you saw of the feed in the store, then just spend some time doing a little calibration on the set when you get it home, and I'm sure it will look even better.

Well, the new set is here. Here's my old set (space already made to the sides in anticipation of delivery of the new set). Sorry about the blurry pic. I didn't realize I had the camera setting on close-up until they already took the old set away:



And here's the new set:



I've already found several pros and cons, the biggest of which are bigger picture (pro), but not as sharp of a picture (con). PLUS, I'm now experiencing RBE first-hand. I don't know why I didn't notice it in the store, unless I just wasn't looking for it, but I see it now. It's a little distracting, but I guess I'll have to live with it.

I'm still messing with settings and calibration, so we'll see how it goes.

I finally got to see one of the Sony SXRD's in action today. What's the first thing I see? A massive green blob across the top right portion of the screen. Needless to say, those TVs are off my list of potential purchases.

Sweet looking ride! Calibrating it should take care of any picture issues you have, but it can be an arduous process.

Tell me about it. I called off sick from work yesterday so I could mess with it, and stayed up until 4 AM playing different DVD's that I've always used as examples of quality pictures with a variety of colors, the TV signal of different stations, and even the DVE disc a couple times. "Arduous" is an understatement!

RBE is strongest in high contrast scenes--Black and white movies etc and with low ambient lighting in the room.