TV talk - Reliable TV - Tube, LCD, plasma...

I appreciate the replies, they are not what I expected but I like what is said. If I keep my TV in its current position, I have no problem with the size of a tube TV.

With all the buzz on new TV technologies I was expecting to be told that they were the way to go. As stated above, tube TV prices are better, at least it appears that way to me.

Warren, you snuck your post in as I was posting mine. Why do you say the picture is to small on CRT's? Is there something to look for?

Well I am back from town and basically have 3 TV's that have my interest, they are:

Sony KD-34XBR960 (tube) 34" - I can get it for $1979
Mitsubishi WD-52525 (DLP) 52" - Demo that I can get for $3200
Samsung HL-P4663W (DLP) 46" - I can get it for $3000

As you can see I blew by my budget on two of the TV's. The Samsung was at Best Buy and the other two were at the Stereo/Video store.

Let me add that I don't know much about TV's, in fact I just learned today that normal viewing is 4:3 ratio. All my viewing will be via DishNetwork, so these greater aspect ratios will get very little use by me, at least at this point; obviously if Dish starts putting out these signals I will be able to take advantage.

Between the big TV's, the Mitsu, which seemed very nice to me, seems to be the better buy, with my limited knowledge, over the Samsung as they are very close in price.

In talking with my salesman at the stereo shop, he says that with my Dish I will receive the best picture with the Sony (tube), I admit I can get caught up in the wow factor of looking at a bigger picture.

I am really torn between going with the (much lower priced) Sony vs. a bigger (sleeker) TV.

Warren, I concede that the 34" of the XBR is the only thing holding me back from ending this short search; I am not saying I wouldn't enjoy it, but I had always planned on going at least slightly bigger than 34" when I made my next purchase. C/Net has a very favorable review of this TV.

I do not have a DVD player in the living room, my wife has one in the basement for workout videos. We do not rent movies so DVD playback is not a priority to me.

I doubt I will be able to tolerate stretched pictures, so I suspect whatever TV I purchase will be run in a mode that does not do this.

Hi Tvad,

No doubt my local stereo shop is higher than what I could find pricing for on the 'net. I did watch both their HDTV signals and regulaer sat. feed, though their sat. feed is terrible becuase they can only get one feed and it is split many times sent to many TV.

Your tip on watching in 4:3 is a good one and one that I did but wish I spent more time doing so.

Gee Warren, a big TV is only good for DVD? Why wouldn't one want a big picture no matter what the source? (I did not say I am purchasing the Sony, reread.)

Well I didn't seem to waste to much time researching, like I usually do; I purchased the 52" Mitsu, but the 52725 instead of the 52525 listed above. Time will tell how much I like using such a TV, I brought it home today and hooked it up, the DishNetwork channels can leave a bit to be desired sometimes, which will spawn a new thread by me, about the DishNetwork HD receiver.

I am a little upset with myself for not staying at least near our budget. A 52" TV is huge in our room, I may of been just as happy or happier with a 44"; Circuit City had a 44" LG that looked really nice for $2685. Anyway, the next few days will tell me more.

Wh, you are on the right track and I highly recommend doing exactly what you suggest for several reasons. Like you, I didn't know diddly about video, I am getting a crash course; it would of been nice to have had someone here to do setup, give me a run through on how to use things, the best way to wire things and suggestions on any other things that may make it perform best.

I have learned from reading on the 'net that manufactuturers will make default settings based on making their TV's look best on the show room floors, which are expected to be brightly lit rooms, so these settings may not be optimal for home; so again, having that dealer there to help dial things in would be nice.