You don't know what your missing, try a 10ft wide screen.

Yes.

I've been looking at the same thing in the 50" model. Other potential negatives I have come across.

1. no 3:2 reverse pulldown. From what I understand having this improves DVD performance and eliminates artifacts/jaggies.

2. Fear of green blob. It's hard to sort through all the static in the avs forum about this TV to really tell if this is resolved from the previous model.

I looked at the Samsung as well, and it had too much noise for me. I'm sure that can be fixed with calibration, but I don't want to spend another 400 or so on that.

I'm also considering the new Mits line. Checked out the 52631 last night, and would like to see the 57732 as well, it depends on how long it takes before that one shows up in stores though.

Zarak, I saw you mention the Samsung "noise" in the other thread. I have the HL-S5687W, haven't had it calibrated (yet), and I have no "noise" whatsoever. It makes me wonder if the "noise" you experienced wasn't source related rather than a characteristic of the TV.

I Double-Dog-Dare you to buy it.

It'll make you and Roger happy, right?

I saw the noise on two different occasions. A friend has the TV and I noticed it while watching a movie at his house. Then I noticed again at Tweeter when doing a side by side comparison with the A2000. Both getting the same feed showing the same thing, but the noise was more noticable on the Samsung. It wasn't awful or constant, but it was enough to bother me. It may be something easily fixed by doing some tweaking. I don't know what tweaks my friend has done, and the ones at the store were probably default config (although I did make sure vivid was turned off).

Interesting. It could, indeed, be that because of my settings, I see no noise. That's all that matters to me. Any HDTV, not properly configured, can be problematic.

I'm not having any trouble with my samsung either. I don't have OCD tho...

I stopped into Ken Crane's at lunch today to look at the Sony and wouldn't you know, they had it in the front of the store facing a wall of picture windows. You couldn't see a dang thing. For a high-end television store you'd think they'd have the good sense to at least have light blocking shades in the windows. Ugg. What a waste of time that was. I need to find a place that's displaying it properly!

>>> I need to find a place that's displaying it properly!

Your house!

Ajax,

Thanks for the corrected link. I'm quite sure I tested that sucker after it was posted! Oh well!

Anyway, I like my Sony SXRD even with the ears now!

Craig,

I have been tracking this thing (along with the 58" Panny plasma and the new Pio 60" plasma) on AVS since it became available in the last few weeks. Once you cut throught the normal crap over there, the thing is getting exceelent reviews.

The green blob issue Zarak mentioned is on last year's model and so far has not manifested itself on this year's screen. The SXRD is getting a disproportionate share of the market since it's introduction.

As Jack points out, the current technologies each have their plusses & minuses. I have been to look at the 60" in several places (and have gotten the remote to do some tweaking). The picture it produces is stunning. Know that the Standard definition stuff you get (non-HD) will not look as impressive as DVDs and HD.

Might be worthtwhile for you to check out some of the A2000 threads in the Rear Projection forum at AVS. There are several and the "Official Owner's" thread is brutally long (start at the back & work forward).

One of the perls I pulled out of the thread may not matter to you, but here goes. The numbers might not be totally correct, the relationship is what I am trying to illustrate. Last year's XBR1 version used the 2.0 DRC (video engine technology). This year's A2000 uses DRC 1.0. This year's "to be introduced shortly" XBR2 uses DRC 2.5. Some of the AVS'rs seem to think the XBR 1 pic is a tad better then the A2000 and expect the XBR2 to be noticeably different (and therefore, more expensive).

The A2000 is the entry level and the XBR is the high end/ The main diffs are the DRC thing and the XBR having more stuff to play with (PIP, etc.) AND the dumbo ears. The A2000 is a great value for the money and the diff in PQ (I've seen the A2000 and XBR1 side by side)is questionable - one of those "the dog may notice" things. For the price and the enjoyment I must quote a gentleman whose opinion I highly respect:

BUY IT!!!!!!!

I'm still leaning towards the A2000. I have another week or so to research. Since I want the 50" not too many B&M stores have it yet. I prefer a local store then online for this just in case I do run into issues. I read the entire AVS thread on this TV up until about a week ago, then I just couldn't take it anymore. Information overload. I've thought about the 55" as well, but don't know if it is worth the extra $, especially when the 50" will fit better height wise (the steps are behind it with a wall that slants down like a railing would).

Anyone on here have the A2000 yet?

Holy crap, Ray. That's just geektacular. How do you manage to consume all that content AND play golf?!?!

Your putting sucks lately, doesn't it?

Any word if the new XBR will also have the dumbo ears?

Craig, I just tried to respond to your PM, but your saved PMs (both sent and received) exceed the new 300 limit. You'll have to clean out your box before I can respond. Unfortunately, when I refreshed the form, I lost the PM. Even though there is no way you could've known about the new limit, I may have to kill you ) If you're in a hurry for the info, PM me your email address, and I'll fire it off to you that way. MY PMs don't exceed the limit!!!!!!!

Fixed. Sorry about that!

No Problem. PM on the way.

Craig,

The 60" XBR2 WILL have the dumbo ears. The 70" will NOT have them. Hmmmm - 70 inches may not have been on your radar screen. A wall of TV might be something to consider! As with auido, one cannot have too much TV!

So, you're saying size matters?

To a point. If it doens't fit in the ... room ... then what good is it to anyone?

60 inches with dumbo ears won't fit.

I'm really surprised the XBRs will have the "dumbo ears." I thought, with all the complaints about them, and with the 2000 series not having them, Sony had learned it's lesson. Puzzling.

The 70" XBR actually does also have the dumbo ears, however, they are detachable. From what I've heard, the XBR kept the ears because that line is supposed to represent the best in video AND audio, so they need to bigger speakers. Honestly though, are there really that many people spending that much on a TV that don't have a separate speaker system anyway?

Well I finally got to see the Sony A2000, while there I also was able to look at the 56" Samsung HL-S5688. Both were very good looking. Both were being fed via HD-DVD through a switcher and finally component into the sets. It was a close call, but I may have to give the nod to the Samsung. At least with that particular setup. The sony tended to "smear" color a bit. Particularly warm skin tones. Both sets looked quite good in the blacks. Neither looked particularly milky. There was also a scene of lots of snow covered mountains. It was a good test of full white levels, and again both handled those bright whites very, very well. Nothing looked too hot.

I'll be going back again and they said they could hook the HD-DVD player up directly to the sets so I could see them both being fed a 1080p signal directly via HDMI. I also want to see how they both handle a standard 480p DVD, as that's what I'll be most concerned with for awhile to come.

Lastly...what's the word on this? If the HL-S5688 looks as good as it did, I'd really like to see one of these.

I saw the LED version of the Sammy. I prefer the DLP. I didn't think the picture was as good, it lists at $4000, and it is new technology for TV's, so I'd tend to stay away for a year because of that anyway.

Has anyone had any experience with dbuys.com, ibuydigital.com, or butterflyphoto.com? Or is it worth paying the extra $350 or so and going with someone better known like onecall.com? (This is all assuming I can't grab a deal through a friend)

I've already purchased the component video cable from Blue Jeans...I've got to get the TV now! LOL! (yeah...I know, HDMI is the best connection, but for now my Denon 2900 will have to do.)

Assuming our new HD cable box has HDMI, I'll order another cable then.

If you want to go online to order, I've heard good things about tape works texas.

No experience with any of them, Spiff, but based on what I remember I've heard about Butterfly around the forums ("stay away from vendors from Brooklyn, NY with 'photo' in their name"), and based on what Reseller Ratings has to say about them, I'd avoid them.

Dbuys and IbuyDigital are the same company, in Edison, NJ. From what I find, I might consider going through them, but I'd have to do a LOT more research before I did. Good hunting.

Knowing where you are, may I suggest stopping in at the TVAuthority store in Santa Monica and seeing what kind of deal they could give you. The web page says "Showroom Hours: By Appointment Only" so you might give them a call to set something up. I bought my Samsung from them, and had a basically good experience. Others have had complaints that centered primarily around how long they had to wait for their TVs (it was an AVS powerbuy), and problems with the shipping companies (inaccurate tracking info). If you bought from them, you'd have to pay California state tax, but you'd sure save a lot on shipping.

Here's the TVAuthority internet store web site. I took advantage of their "9 months no interest, no payments (until May 2007)" offer and am paying my set off as I go. I had saved enough to bring the payments down to a manageable level. So far, so good.

I did stop in and visit TVAuthority. They don't really have much of a showroom. Rather disappointing. Basically you can see what's available online, and then stop in the store in person to order if you prefer. They said that would put you at the top of the list as far as wait time, as they said they'd give a local walk-in customer first priority over someone they don't know in Ohio. (Sorry all you folks in Ohio! LOL!) The main focus of their walk-in store is to promote their custom home theatre building business. I think they're only "kinda-sorta" affiliated with TVAuthority.com

Besides that...they don't carry Sony products, and being a California company I'd have to pay the 8.25% tax. On three grand, that's an extra $250! Bleck.

Surprising! Judging by the info on the TVAuthority.com web site, you'd think they had heck of a showroom.

Also surprising is that they don't carry Sony. Did they offer an explanation as to why they don't? Have you decided that the Sony is the one you want?

Perfectly understand giving priority to a local buyer. You've taken the time and made the effort to visit in person. That deserves consideration.

Sorry I wasn't more help.

Looking again in more detail at the ratings at bizrate.com it seems that onecall.com is the safest online seller with a really good feedback rating.

Forget I even mentioned those other companies...wow. They all have horrible reviews.

I've been pretty happy with OneCall. Got my receiver and my macro lens there. Pretty fast shipping, good prices, yadda yadda. Never had to deal with their customer support or anything though.

Yeah Craig, OneCall would probably be the safest bet, although some of the indications about this outfit don't look too bad.

Incidentally, in looking up a CD I ran across this merciless "news release" by David Hurwitz concerning one of our favorite classical compositions as affected by the Pluto de-planetizing, which I thought you might enjoy.