New TV Thoughts.

[robmob]

I am getting ready to pull the trigger and get a new TV.

The one I am thinking on getting is a Sony XS 55" Grand Wega. Stock number KDF-55XS955

Anybody have one or is familar with one? If so, please let me know how you like it. Pros and Cons. Any problems with it?

Looks great and sounds excellent in the stores, but it's like test driving a car.

 

[Rolex]

I have the 27" Sony Wega. $800, but worth every penny. Flawless.

 

[FastEddy]

Sony make a great set.
If you havent owned a wide screen in the past take a serious look at the size V the distance you will be sitting from it. If you are putting it in a smaller room its easy to over do it. Its like trying to watch a tennis match from the front row. You will get fateged easily. This also goes for the kids if they like to sit on the floor close to the TV watching cartoons and eating Captain Crunch.

If the room will work for the size you wont be disappointed. Be ware that you will soon be subscribing to Satellite for the good HD channels. Let me know when you do, I have some discount cards you can use.

 

[robmob]

I would say I will be sitting about 14 feet from the set. Right not we have a 32 inch regular TV and it is too small so I think the big screen will be fine.

 

[spyhunter48]

we have a 60 big sceen tv made by mitsubishi and 2 19 tvs curtis

 

[vbgagnon]

I'd have to agree with Eddy, sony makes a great tv. I have a 40" XBR hidef and I love it. The dish network boys should be here this afternoon to install the new dish. I've got hi def comming along with a dvr. The funny thing is I'm paying the same price for the same channels, but now I have hidef and a dvr. I can't wait!!!

 

[Plaidfish]

all my home theater electronics are sony....best bang for the buck IMO......every time I try something different I get screwed in Quality......I want a new widescreen HDTV now.....I had to get a Zenith 36" last time cause I just needed something quick and my wall unit only holds 36 regular screen....but hopefully I'll have a new place to put a Sony soon.....I still have the 27" vega, and like rolex said it rocks......

 

[FastEddy]

15 feet should be fine.
2 good links

http://www.technofile.com/articles/viewing_distance.html
http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html#anchor_13194

 

[SaVaGeR21]

we got a sony 64" widescreen. looks great but its too big for us in a kinda small room.

 

[ImBroken]

I will highly recommend the Samsung HL-P5085W 50" Widescreen HD-Ready DLP Television with PC Input. I got mine about 2 months ago, & this picture is absolutely incredible.. It has great reviews & write ups... My 2 cents...

 

[FastEddy]

Make sure you look at the quality of Cable TV (Non HD) as well as DVDs and HD.
I love my Pioneer 42 inch Plasma but the Non HD isnt up to par in my book. If I didnt get such a great deal on the unit I would be upset.

 

[Rolex]

About a year ago I got a 32" JVC as my primary TV. A day later I put the Sony back, and the JVC went to second place. There's nothing like the Wega.

 

[robmob]

I am off to Best Buy this weekend to make my final decision and drool over it again. This time I will bring a bib so my shirt doesn't get wet. The picture is outstanding and the sound with it's 5 speakers is outstanding as well. I am pretty much sold on it, but I need to check into picture quality without the HD signal as Ed suggested.

Link to the features of the TV.

 

[ImBroken]

The one thing I was overlooking when shopping for a TV, was height.. A good friend pointed out the fact that the DLP & LCD TV's that were on display, were on platforms "off the floor". Most of the TV stands are pretty low, making the TV just about 22-24" off the floor. When standing next to it, it just seemed too low for me.. Just something to keep in mind..

 

[sweetdiesel]

all my home theater electronics are sony....best bang for the buck IMO

I agree Sony makes some of the nicest TV sets, (I have a 51" Sony RPHD monitor) but that's about as far as my love for Sony goes. I have too many bad experiences with their receivers, DVD players, cameras, and PDAs to make any kind of buying preferences for the sake of the Sony name. Right now rear projection HD is one of the best bang for the buck in HD sets, though the one you are thinking of buying is one of the more expensive models. Here is a thread on the 55XS955 on a forum I used to frequent often when I was in the HT game.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=507602&highlight=KDF55XS955

And you must be kidding if you think the speakers in any TV set sound good, do yourself a favor and budget some money for dedicated audio. You will be amazed at how crappy TV speakers sound compared to a decent set of bookshelves and a nice clean amp.

Here is my budget home theater

Sony 51" RPHD monitor
HK AVR7200
Phillips Universal Player
Phase Tech V-12s
Phase Tech V-6 center
NXT flatpanel surrounds (high WAF factor)
Dayton 10" powered sub

I almost pulled the trigger on a new SVS sub when the RC bug hit and gobbled up all my new HT money, though my front towers do pretty well on their own.

 

[FastEddy]

Bring a DVD that you are familiar with. This way you will have a baseline.
If your going to a Best Buy, go to Fairfield rather then SR. SR doesn't get any TV signal to look at the non digital quality, I believe that Fairfield does. For the price of the unit, make them hook up a set of rabbit ears if they try to tell you that they dont have standard cable or an antenna. Standard satalite should work as well. Just make sure you tune into a network, not just HBO.

 

[sweetdiesel]

I think the biggest problem with trying out a TV in a BM store such as best buy is that the sets are all set incorrectly. Even if you bring a DVD that you are familiar with, unless they have the same player as you with the same connections you really don't know how it will look until you get it home and calibrate it to your equipment.

 

[robmob]

Bring a DVD that you are familiar with. This way you will have a baseline.
If your going to a Best Buy, go to Fairfield rather then SR. SR doesn't get any TV signal to look at the non digital quality, I believe that Fairfield does. For the price of the unit, make them hook up a set of rabbit ears if they try to tell you that they dont have standard cable or an antenna. Standard satalite should work as well. Just make sure you tune into a network, not just HBO.

OK, I hope they don't mind me bringing Barely Legal 12.