Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Which TV to look for?

First of all, thanks to all who chimed in for my quest to pick the right Axiom speakers for my room. I'm still unsure of what I'm going to do, but will be deciding in the next few weeks.

Now, I also have to find a big screen TV but am on a budget and have no clue what to look for. I wasn't sure where to ask, and you guys seemed so darn nice, that I figured I could ask here.

I don't need the latest technology, best features, etc, but would like to take adavantage of my prog scan DVD (Panasonic) and also have Bell ExpressVu (not digital). I have been looking at used TVs, but there isn't much out there (in my area anyways).

I am a little leary of Plasma and it was suggested that I wait for LCDs that will be coming out soon. I figured if I can get a cheaper big screen that I can live with for a few years, everyone would be happy. I don't want to spend more than Cdn$3,000, which means approx. US$2,250. Cheaper would be great! It doesn't have to be that big. I don't mind 43", but would entertain anything bigger.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Rocky

As usual, I must suggest that you consider a front projector as well. The only requirement is the ambient light control. But we immensely enjoy our 120" screen in a room with lots of big, untreated windows (of course, only after dark).

Thanks Sushi,

That is in the plans, but a few years away. First, I have to finish the new house and move in.... in about 4 weeks, then set up the HT in the great room, and eventually move it in the basement where I will have a projector.

Thanks,
R

Rocky,

The best bargains in an HDTV set in terms of picture quality and cheap price still come from a "mature" technology--good, ol' CRT rear-projection.

The best looking and least expensive sets are the 43 or 46-inch sets from Hitachi, Sony, and Panasonic (the latter is a 47-inch, I believe). I've also seen a couple of RCA CRT rear-pro sets that looked remarkably good. CRT projection tubes last an average of 7 years, and deliver better blacks than most other technologies. You have to periodically adjust convergence, but most of these sets have some kind of automatic convergence setup. Other worthwhile technologies are much more expensive (DLP) and/or disappointing in one respect or another (LCD) or still need a few more years to mature.

Regards,

Thank you very much for your advice guys. I think I have decided on a 51" and narrowed it down to 2 models. I found them both at Future Shop for Cdn$2,699. They are:

Sony KP51WS510
Hitachi 51F500

Any opinions? Since we will also be watching non digital sources, including some older VHS tapes for the kids, I want to make sure the conversion from analog signal will be adequate.

TIA,
Rocky

I'm extremely happy with the 60" HD RPTV that I bought for $1599 at Costco. I must be an idiot because I can't remember the brand name. It's now $1499. The silver cabinet is ugly, the speaker grill cloth doesn't match the black of my M60s, and the speakers on the TV suck, but the picture is awesome. Sports, particularly auto racing, is phenomenal.

Just out of curiousity, which racing series do you watch? I only read about races in Road & Track, but I tend to be most interested in F1 (OK, OK, because it's the only one Ferrari races in regularly...). Is it at all interesting to watch?

rocky,my hitachi tv is about 8 or so years old and i love it,i havent had any problems with it ,the picture is still great with dvds.hitachi also has a "magic focus"feature that automaticly sets the convergance(spell check)easy to use,great picture,i have no problem recommending hitachi....good luck.....ron

When it comes to auto racing F1 is the king. Nascar makes me sick. A bunch of old duffers plowing around in circles. Cart and IRL just don't do it for me anymore. In my opinion the beauty of the int'l road courses, the cutting edge technology and the razor edge driving in F1 cannot be beat. American racing also features too many full course yellows - ruins the race for everyone but the advertisers and networks.
AMA Superbike, World Superbike and the World GP motorcycle racing I also love to watch. For pure racing motorcycles on road courses is awesome. Personally I think the level of skill there surpasses that required in any realm of auto racing.
You?

F1 is my favourite but I tend to enjoy any kind of racing.

That includes NASCAR on the superspeedways and road courses, CART, IRL, WRC and even 12 year old kids racing go-karts in the rain in England, if the competion is close it's interesting.

You are right about motorcycle racing, poetry in motion and for the insane there's always the Isle of Man TT.

My only experience has been driving a 1969 Z28 Camaro years ago in NHRA Super Stock and a '66 Nova in stock. Still a lot of fun and much better than just watching from the sidelines.

Well, lacking in SpeedVision, just about all I can watch is Nascar. Which I don't. I tried; it just wasn't interesting. So I just read about the races months after they happen...

Buy me a DVD-recorder home theater component for Christmas and I'll Tivo-to-DVD all the F1 races for ya.

Yeah. Right.

It's definitely expensive to go racing; you should feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to do so. I suppose my resentment towards Nascar stems from their sudden domination of the SpeedChannel. Used to be all kinds of great racing on there - now it's either Nascar, Nascar support races, guys talking about Nascar, or Nascar Classics. Speed said they wouldn't become the "Nascar Channel", but they did.

HEY! WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON???? This was My thread, helping ME find a TV and you guys somehow turned it into a car racing thread!!!

Just kidding. I didn't mind one bit! This is just an update to let you know that after reading just about everything I could find on the Sony and Hitachi TVs (and a few others), I decided to go with the Sony 51". It was on sale at Future Shop, and since I needed to buy 3 digital cameras (Canon A70) and Sandisk, and a DVD player for my mom, I managed to get a pretty good deal! The TV will be delivered on moving day.... Nov. 28th... and I can't wait.

I have been building, with the help of friends and family, this dreamhome of mine since June 7th. Every weekend and many weeknights. I have been avoiding LOTR because I wanted to be able to enjoy it on my new HT in my new house. I will order the M60 tomorrow and probably the QS8 too. Then the countdown begins..... 22 days....

Thanks for all your help folks. You guys are the best!

Rocky

It's amazing how in order to spend less money, you have to spend more.

I think you made a good choice with that Sony TV =) they are very nice sets.

Just wait until the night of the 28th and you will be so very happy, LOTR is amazing on a big TV with nice loud sound to go with it.

LOTR is one of my constant play discs, I will come home and startup up LOTR. In the theatrical release (non-extended) chapter 4 is Bilbo's party with a couple of fireworks that make good use of the surrounds. Of these fireworks I like the blue arrows that fall to the ground then skim the ground away from the party in a star burst pattern. Chapter 30 is awesome for sound, great sound field, bone jarring LFE, and some very good spatial sound movements in the surrounds. Chapter 30 is the Balrog in the Mines or Moria. I have the extended edition as well but I am not sure which chapters they are on that set. I watch the theatrical for skipping around to my favorite sound sequences and the extended as a whole movie. Due to this movie having alot of dark visuals it is always best to watch it with the lights out and after dark.

Congrats again I am sure you will be very happy with your new setup. Oh and the LOTR disc I have is region 1, I am not sure if the other regions are the same or not.

Henry

p.s. I have a mits WS-65611 but I spent $3800 USD, several friends have Sony's and love them and I have always thought they are good sets.

I've got an older 51 inch 4:3 Sony HD ready and it's a great set.

It'll last me for a couple more years til I go front projection because damnit, sushi convinced me And given that good front projectors are rapidly dropping in price. I've considered picking up an Infocus X1 from dell for under $800 just for the hell of it.

Frank

Frank