Feed: Cheap Projector - AggScore: 23.1

2-Port Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) Switch with Built-In Audio/USB Cabling Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I use this between my iMac and a Linux desktop. At random times, it just stops working with my iMac and the leds start blinking. Then I have to unplug the cables to get it to work again.
Apparently, they didn't do any testing on it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 2-Port Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) Switch with Built-In Audio/USB Cabling

Two-Port KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) Switch with Built-In Audio and USB Cables. Save workspace while controlling two computers from a single console. Draws power from keyboard, eliminating need for a power supply.Save workspace while controlling two computers from a single console. Draws power from keyboard, eliminating need for a power supply. VGA coaxial cabling supplied. Hot key function lets you switch ports easily through simple keyboard commands. Supports video resolution up to 2048 x 1536.

Get 47% OFF

Buy cheap 2-Port Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) Switch with Built-In Audio/USB Cabling now.

UNV65125 - Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The film is an older style, but it works. It prints very clearly and was a good deal for the price. It has a lot of static, though, and the top has to be cut off because it's adhesively sealed along the top strip. It's designed to peel off but doesn't without leaving a paper residue or sticky line or a combination of the two.
I'll use these, but I won't buy them again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: UNV65125 -

Item #: UNV65125. Laser Printer Transparency Film Create quality overhead transparencies using your laser printer. For Black and White Laser Printers 8-1/2 x 11 50 Sheets per Box Customers also search for: 8-1/2 x 11;Audio Visual;Copier Paper;Copier Transparencies;Copy Paper;Laser;Laser Printer;Laser Printer Supplies;Overhead Projector;Overhead Projector Supplies;Overhead Projectors & Supplies;Overhead Transparency Film;Presentation Supplies;Transparency;Transparency Film;UNIVERSAL

Get 25% OFF

Buy cheap UNV65125 - now.

Sony Grand WEGA KDS-60A2000 60-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)...you have to calibrate the display (as you should with ANY television), and because of the incredible detail possible with a 1080p picture, the "garbage in, garbage out" tenet of picture quality really holds here.
I can't stress those two points enough. If you cannot afford a full calibration by an ISF technician, you should at least purchase Digital Video Essentials or Avia Guide to Home Theater (both available at Amazon) and calibrate the brightness, contrast, color, and grayscale tracking of the display. It is not fair to gauge the picture quality of the display when using factory settings, which are set to "torch" mode (super-bright, super-contrast) to attract ignorant buyers at Best Circuit Buy City. You MUST calibrate the TV for your viewing environment. Note that the A2000 remembers calibration settings PER INPUT and PER RESOLUTION. That means if you have an HD cable box that is in "pass-through" mode - meaning it might send 480i, 720p, or 1080i, depending on the source - for best results you will want to calibrate using the same input as the cable box, and at all resolutions. If you can't do that, you should at least calibrate at one of the resolutions, then copy the settings to other resolutions and tweak for best picture.
After doing a basic calibration, evaluate picture quality using high-quality sources (OTA high-definition, progressive-scan DVD, HTPC, etc.) and the best connection you can (HDMI or component). Most standard definition cable content is crap, and blowing crap up to 60" and (comparitively) ultra-high-resolution will result in big, high-resolution crap. In my opinion, after proper calibration and judicious use of the noise-reducing/picture-enhancing features of the A2000, standard-definition content looks pretty good. It'll never look as good as your old 27" CRT, due mostly to being blown up to 4x the size. Compared to other 60"-class HDTVs, the SD quality is excellent. Check your cable signal strength, and compare several SD channels - some have better overall picture than others.
OK, rant over. Here are my thoughts on high and low points:
High Points
- Amazing HD picture quality
- Good SD picture quality, keeping in mind GIGO
- Quite bright enough to be usable in a well-lit room
- Accepts 1080p natively (hello HD-DVD)
- Low-reflectivity screen
- Blacks are very deep
- Plenty of inputs
- Plenty of calibration/configuration options (even without going into the service menu)
- Immune to "rainbow effect" of DLP sets
- Immune to burn-in (CRT, plasma)
- Good viewing angles
- User-replaceable bulb
Low Points
- No picture-in-picture or picture-and-picture (has "freeze" feature, which seems of dubious usefulness)
- Silver bezel (this is strictly a matter of opinion; I prefer an all-matte-black bezel)
- No bulb timer (to gauge lifespan of bulb)
To add some context to my opinions: I watch 60% SD content and 40% HD content, plus Xbox 360 gaming and the occasional DVD. I am not a 'videophile', but I do have enough skill to calibrate the display including service-menu adjustments. My viewing environment has a WNW-facing window shaded by trees. During the afternoon/early evening, the room is pretty well lit, but without direct sunlight hitting the TV. At night, I watch TV with some lights on in the room. The A2000 is more than bright enough for all viewing conditions I encounter, and has very low reflectivity (the old Tosh was like a mirror when dark). If you have a light-controlled home theater and bias lighting, I expect you will have even better results than I.
For more information on the A2000 (buyers' experiences, calibration, tweaks, etc.) see these AVS Forum threads:
[...]

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Grand WEGA KDS-60A2000 60-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV

SXRD technology is the latest display technology developed by the legendary television engineers at Sony to meet and exceed the demands of a High Definition image at its full 1080 line resolution. Digitally transmitted High Definition signals can contain over 2 million individual detail points that need to be displayed accurately and rapidly. SXRD displays those 2 million detail points per SXRD panel accurately since the 3 SXRD chips actually contain enough pixels to fully display a 1080 line picture without interlacing it. SXRD has the speed to create a smooth, film like image. The SXRD chips have a blistering 2.5ms response time (total rise and fall time), which exceeds the demands of even the most rapidly moving High Definition images. And SXRD creates highly accurate, natural colors because the 3-chip design displays all the colors, all the time.

Buy cheap Sony Grand WEGA KDS-60A2000 60-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV now.

Samsung HLT6187SAX 61-Inch Slim LED Engine 1080p DLP HDTV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I highly recommend the HLTXX87 series for the following reasons:
1) LED engine eliminates the need for the 'lamp' bulb which you will find in other DLP, LCDs, SXRD/LCoS, etc projection TVs. Those with lamps will need to be replaced about every other year and cost about $300. And no 'spinning color wheel' which you can hear in some units.
2) LED engine are rated to last some twenty years...which is a lifetime...lowering total ownership cost and avoiding the difficulty of waiting for a service technician to replace a bulb days later...and left stranded without a TV.
3) Samsung LED HLT sets take only about 4 seconds for an image to appear when turned on. Others can take over 30 seconds...an eternity.
4) Deeper blacks. More vibrant colors compared to other projection TVs.
5) The cabinet style is more eternal and sleek with the small surrounding frame (less than one inch border). Style remains the same from product to product...so when Samsung releases the next generation of TVs...yours won't look dated.
6) The audio/sound isn't the greatest...however surely a home theatre system will be hooked up for a fine experience.
7) Samsung is smart in how they placed their connections (including 3 hdmi ports). Others will place them dead center in the back...which does not allow for easy access to the plugs during installation and later modifications. Samsung places it on the right side of the rear...which can be accessed easily yet are totally concealed from viewing. Even the power cord is to the back-right (and removable) so that when installing the larger tv in a cabinet...it is actually easier to place into the cabinet unit.
8) When changing/flipping channels on some TVs....it may take a few seconds before the next channel comes up. With the Samsung...right on demand.
9) No 'screen door effect' and/or 'image trailer blurs' of a LCD. No burn-ins and high use of electricity of a Plasma. No slow start-up times of a LCoS system. And the screen isn't glossy to where you can see reflections from windows and he surrounding environment. Wide viewing angle.
10) LED set has contrast ratio of 10,000 to 1. Very bright picture which you can customize to your particular tastes.
I really have enjoyed my HLT6187. Not only for the amazing picture image, but for the concept that LED is the way of the future. Just think of car tail lights and other lighting applications...LEDs is the evolutionary step forward.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HLT6187SAX 61-Inch Slim LED Engine 1080p DLP HDTV

Enjoy better pictures with the Samsung's HL-T6187 DLP HDTV. The piano black bezel is just 0.6-inch wide so the slim depth lets it fit where others won't. The energy-efficient 61-inch screen features a powerful, long-lasting LED light engine that turns on almost instantly. Full HD 1080p resolution and Samsung Cinema Smooth technology deliver a wide range of brilliant colors, with bright images and crisp definition. The blackest blacks, brightest whites and nuanced tones are yours with a 10000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio. Hidden speakers deliver clear, robust SRS TruSurround XT sound. The 120Hz switching speed and Game Mode keep gamers marveling at the lifelike action. A wide range of audio, video and HDMI inputs allow digital connectivity to Cable/Satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, AV receivers and more. Please note:Samsung recently changed the suffix on this TV from HLT-6187X-XAA to HLT-6187SAX.The change was not technical in nature and there is no difference other than the suffix in the model number.

Buy cheap Samsung HLT6187SAX 61-Inch Slim LED Engine 1080p DLP HDTV now.

Sony Grand WEGA KDF-55E2000 55-Inch 3LCD Rear Projection Television Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Yes, if you are in the store comparing them side by side, the newest 1080p units for $800.00 plus or more do look a little better, but not that much. Got it home plugged it in, let it search for channels, in Dallas area we have a dozen or more, it found them all and they all come in perfect. Plugged in my sat rec, dvd player, great picture!! It is really a bargain too, I found it at my local Fry's for $1299.00. If you have to have the latest spend more. If you want a good all round TV this will do the trick!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Grand WEGA KDF-55E2000 55-Inch 3LCD Rear Projection Television

3LCD Chips --- The 3LCD technology at the heart of Sony's Grand WEGA televisions provide a bright picture, with high detail and natural color. These three key benefits are immediately apparent when viewing a Grand WEGA TV. You can expect to see an incredibly detailed picture with eye-popping colors. Sony uses three tiny LCD chips (0.73) with a combined resolution of over 2.76 million pixels. The light from a high output UHP lamp shines into a filtering system that splits the beam into red, green, and blue light streams. Each color goes through its own LCD chip, which passes or blocks the light. The three beams are then instantaneously recombined and sent to the projection lens. WEGA Engine System --- The WEGA Engine¿ system is the core video processing system that was designed based on Sony's expertise and long heritage in bringing cutting-edge picture quality to TVs for consumers. Its fully digital signal-processing path includes video processing functions that have been designed and optimized using Sony's video experience to improve overall picture quality.

Buy cheap Sony Grand WEGA KDF-55E2000 55-Inch 3LCD Rear Projection Television now.

Sony Grand WEGA KDF-42WE655 42-Inch LCD Projection Television with Integrated HDTV Tuner Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After completing a basement renovation, we were ready for a big screen to watch New Years and January football games. The shopping and selectio process for this was long and hard, and the high end of our budget range certainly included some plasmas and flat panel LCDs near (but mostly above) the price of this TV.
If you are a technology consumer, you know the deal: early adopters of LCD and plasmas are going to take a beating as prices for these fall. These technologies are not yet mature, and there are lingering issues, such as burn-in with plasma, and the sheer expense of LCDs. This set offers an excellent value for the size while the super thin formats settle in the marketplace.
The picture is astonishing, and even more if you are lucky enough to live in an area served by HDTV. Even though not a true flat panel, it is only 15 inches deep and weighs less than 60 pounds. Getting it where you want to sit will probably take two people, but once there, it can be moved for cabling access easily by one person.It has more input options than most of us could ever affort to populate.
Its user guide is complete and clearly written. I give only a B+ to some of the on-screen menu options; not all of them are immediately intutitive. This is a minor complaint for a TV that delivers every bit of the picture quality that the Sony enjoys a reputation for (going back to the days of "a Sony of my owny..."
Terrifc TV, Makes me never want to leave home:-)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Grand WEGA KDF-42WE655 42-Inch LCD Projection Television with Integrated HDTV Tuner

From its integrated NTSC and ATSC (HDTV) tuners to Sony's WEGA Engine system and the HDMI digital-video interface, the 42-inch KDF-42WE655 LCD projection television is loaded with features to make your eyes pop. The 64-pound LCD projection television is also easy to position, and its relatively modest chassis--standing just 15 inches deep--won't push you out of your house.The set's liquid-crystal display frees you from having to make convergence adjustments or having to worry about image burn-in. Instead you get incredible detail (more than 3 million pixels), high contrast, and corner-to-corner brightness from the set's user-replaceable 100-watt UHP (ultra high pressure) lamp.The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio to match the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and the KDF-42WE655 offers compatibility with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i signals. Sony's Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital Circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source.Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.The set's WEGA Engine system maximizes picture performance from any video source by minimizing the number of digital-to-analog conversion processes. This full digital processing engine includes Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver), which maintains the integrity of a converted signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process; and a proprietary optical engine, which employs a trio of Sony's wide-XGA, high-resolution LCD panels, 1 for each of the RGB signals (resulting in a total of 3.28 million dots of resolution).The optical engine also features a special 11-element lens system responsible for the lightweight, ultra-slim cabinet. The lens system bends the light path, creating an ultra-short focal point while maintaining high brightness. This proprietary system delivers vivid images from the center of the screen all the way to the edges.The set includes numerous other features:
TwinView PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously, even at different image resolutions, while the built-in Memory Stick media slot offers ready display of both JPEG images and MPEG-1 video.
A Memory Stick media slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Duo media) grants convenient viewing of JPEG and MPEG-1 files. It can also display customized slide shows using MP3 files for background music.
Channel Fix lets you select a specific TV channel (3, for example) for cable box reception. Then you can control a compatible cable box via the TV remote without inadvertently changing the TV from Channel 3.
Authorized CableCARD ability means the set will receive digital cable television systems services directly from the cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.
Sony's exclusive S-Master 1-bit digital amplifier produces 15 watts per channel (x 2), ensuring high power for superb, clear dialog.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link the set with any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver). HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.What's in the Box TV, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information.

Buy cheap Sony Grand WEGA KDF-42WE655 42-Inch LCD Projection Television with Integrated HDTV Tuner now.

Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2000 50-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My TV history: I've owned a Sony KF42WE610 set, which is an LCD Rear Proj. TV. I have helped purchase (and tweak) a Samsung HLP4663W DLP set for my parents, which replaced an older Mitsubishi CRT RPTV. I also own a 26" Syntax LT26HVE flat-panel LCD which I use as my PC monitor. I think it's fair to say I've seen my share of HDTVs.
Well, my parents bought me this set as a graduation gift, to replace my Sony LCD set which was lost in a housefire. And boy, am I ever pleased with it. Sony's SXRD (their proprietary version of LCOS, or Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology is easily superior to all of the above-mentioned techs (including Plasma, which I have not owned, but have viewed relatively extensively). It is offered at a "Sony mark-up" but not a tremendous one in terms of other 1080p-capable sets.
What really blows away competing technologies in the current marketplace is the black level. Sony's SXRD has, for the first time, equaled the deep, inky, rich blacks of a very good CRT or plasma set - and married it to the brightness of microdisplay technology, at a much more affordable price than flat-panel LCD or plasma sets.
The blacks are truly stunning. STUNNING. On my 2003-model Sony LCD RPTV, black was a very dark gray. On my parents' 2005-model Samsung DLP, blacks are better still, but you can still see a bit of light shining through. The blacks on Sony's SXRD sets are so dark, they are only barely discernable from a completely turned-off set. If you're new to microdisplay tvs, you may not be impressed. But when you've followed their evolution for 5 years like I have, it is just astounding the progress that has been made. These blacks are as good as the best plasma sets, WAY better than the best current LCD flat-panels, and finally as good as a very good consumer-grade CRT direct-view or projection set. The level of black may seem unimportant to a newbie, but it is possibly the most important quality of a convincing picture - a high black level leads to a flat, washed out picture. The ability to render deep shades of black without losing detail in shadows makes for a realistic, convincing cinematic experience.
The resolution is, of course, terrific. It is impossible to see individual pixels at further than a foot from the screen (I have 20/20 vision). 1080i HD signals show an obvious (though slight) boost in detail over 720p display devices. SXRD tvs, like all "microdisplay" sets (LCD, DLP and LCOS), offer a tremendously bright and "punchy" picture, as opposed to what you may be familiar with, the older, much dimmer CRT projection sets. This is due to its UHP (ultra high pressure) lamp light source, which is a bright, white light, unlike the three multicolored CRT "guns." It never requires convergence, and there is no danger whatsoever of "burn-in" or image retention. Better still, when the lamp begins to dim or fail after about 8,000 hours of use, it can be replaced by the user, effectively giving you a brand-new picture. This DIY feature is much appreciated by someone who wants to avoid annoying (and costly?) service visits. I have seen some negative reaction to user-replaceable lamps. People say: If you have to buy $200 to $300 lamps periodically, won't that add up to a huge expenditure? Well, first of all, we're talking about 8,000 hours of use, according to Sony's specs on this set's lamp. That equals out to various numbers of years depending on your viewing habits. Let's say you watch 5-6 hours a day - working out to about 4 years. To me, $250 every 4 years is not a big deal, especially when you get a "like new" picture each time you replace. Other techs like Plasma have what they call "Mean Time to Half Brightness," usually around 20,000 hours. So that's around 10 years until you likely would just be better off replacing the plasma set. Even given future price erosion, we're talking about likely a $1500-$2000 purchase to replace. Weigh 2 or 3 lamps in 10 years($500-$750) against a new $2000 set after 10 years, and the expenditure doesn't seem so bad.
DLP is almost on the same par in terms of picture quality, but for me (and *maybe* 5-10% of the rest of the population), my ability to see rainbow trails on high-contrast scenes takes it out of contention. Until manufacturers put out 3-chip DLP sets (1 chip per primary color, with no rainbow-inducing color wheel to separate the white light from one chip into the 3 primary colors), I can't live with a DLP set as my daily option. ((update: LED-based DLP sets apparently have a much-diminished rainbow effect, since the LED source lamps flash quickly between red, green and blue, much faster than any color wheel separating white light. This new tech deserves to be watched carefully - reviews indicate that the picture quality is not yet quite up to snuff)) Keep in mind, this is not to dissuade anyone from getting a DLP set - they look great, and if you don't see rainbows, they come in 1080p flavors for a great price. The best test to see if you are sensitive to rainbows is the THX optimizer menu available on many DVDs. Look at the circle test pattern, and move your eyes around the circle. If you see rainbows, this is the easiest test for them. If you don't you're golden. That said, color wheels are getting faster, so perhaps this issue will diminish with each new generation of DLP sets.
LCD projection sets (like my previous set), though they have three chips (and thus no rainbows), have a lower level of "pixel fill," (the portion of the screen filled by the pixels of the image, as opposed to the spaces between pixels) meaning you can more easily discern the spaces between pixels, creating what some call a "screen door effect." Figures I've read put the pixel fill of LCD RPTV's at 50%, DLP sets at 90%, and SXRD sets at 92% (I have not seen a published figure on plasmas, but to my eyes they look to have a lower pixel fill - I have always found it quite easy to see plasma pixels). I can say from having owned these sets and compared them side by side that it does make a big difference. Pixels which are 'invisible' a foot away from the screen lend themselves to an incredibly creamy, smooth picture which doesn't look "digital." LCD offers a great no-rainbow budget option, but currently is not available in 1080p resolution, has a higher black level by the nature of its pass-through technology, and has more easily discerned pixels.
Where Sony's SXRD models unexpectedly shine are in their feature sets and customizability. You can name each input and channel. There are so many tweaking options available in the regular user menu that you may never even find them all. The funny thing is , most of them are unnecessary. I calibrated the set with the Digital Video Essentials home theater disc, and the set required *no* changes to color settings and only the barest minimum change to brightness levels. Both SD and HD signals look great, and the integrated Over-the-Air tuner does a great job of pulling free broadcast HD signals. This is a set that you can plug in and not change one setting and get a truly great picture - all the knowledgeable tweaking in the world (I consider myself knowledgeable, having made service menu adjustments based on much research on my old Sony) will only improve things nominally - which was kind of a disappointment - since I so enjoyed tweaking the Sony LCD and Sammy DLP sets, each requiring far more in the way of adjustment.
I use the Oppo 971H "upscaling" player for my DVD source, the PS3 for my Blu-Ray source, and the Terk HDTV-S indoor/outdoor antenna to pull in my OTA HD broadcasts. I highly recommend all of these pieces of equipment (Oppo has a new model out, which can be purchased on Amazon.) As many have said - you MUST feed your set the best material to really enjoy it. DVDs through HDMI look very good (the TV does just as good a job as the Oppo scaling them up to 1920x1080), and native 1080p Blu-Ray discs such as "Planet Earth" can't be beat. Pairing a set like this with an HD disc player (whatever your pleasure, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray) is highly recommended.
As far as standard definition goes, "garbage in, garbage out" is the applicable phrase - but to be fair, this Sony does a fine job of smoothing out analog cable signals to make them watchable. I consider myself a pretty discerning viewer, and frankly I just don't understand some of the criticism out there with regard to this set's SD performance. Folks, if you feed a high-performance set like this a blurry, noisy signal through coaxial cable, you're going to see each blur and shake in glorious, 50" high-resolution detail. It's the nature of the beast. Play with the "DRC Palette" to find a setting which smooths it out to your liking.
Just an aside - as with most microdisplays, this set has a screen with a matte finish - not the glassy reflective screens typical of Plasma or CRT sets. Thank goodness. I don't know why anyone ever thought putting a 50-inch mirror in your living room and then trying to get a good tv picture from it was a good idea. Now if they can just stop using these shiny screens on laptops... Another note on the screen - like all microdisplays, this set's screen is "high gain," meaning it is engineered with a lenticular finish on the interior to amp up the brightness levels and create a wider viewing angle. While this is mostly a good thing (especially in a bright room), some people feel it creates a "silk screen effect," in which you can see the "sparkling" of the screen material on a very bright field in the image, such as a white screen, or clouds. Subjectively, it doesn't bother me at all. But it is a difference to note between these types of sets and a front projector, LCD, or plasma.
The one and only drawback for me is the lack of picture-in-picture - I would have used it a lot for gaming while having the TV on as well. It...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2000 50-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV

SXRD technology is the latest display technology developed by the legendary television engineers at Sony to meet and exceed the demands of a High Definition image at its full 1080 line resolution. Digitally transmitted High Definition signals can contain over 2 million individual detail points that need to be displayed accurately and rapidly. SXRD displays those 2 million detail points per SXRD panel accurately since the 3 SXRD chips actually contain enough pixels to fully display a 1080 line picture without interlacing it. SXRD has the speed to create a smooth, film like image. The SXRD chips have a blistering 2.5ms response time (total rise and fall time), which exceeds the demands of even the most rapidly moving High Definition images. And SXRD creates highly accurate, natural colors because the 3-chip design displays all the colors, all the time.

Buy cheap Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2000 50-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV now.

Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2020 50-Inch 1080p Rear Projection HDTV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ordered this TV from Amazon and received it about a week and a half later. The local delivery company gave me a call and we scheduled a convenient time for the delivery. I took a half day from work as the window was 1-5pm on a Friday. The TV arrived without incident and I helped the delivery guy into the house with the box. He helped me unbox it and set it up on my stand. It is rear projection, but the case overall is less deep than my old 27" HD CRT by about six inches and though bulkier the 50" weighs less than that old TV (HD CRTs are pretty heavy).
The TV itself has 9 different inputs including two HDMI inputs that support 1080p resolution. There are three component inputs, two on the back and one on the front that support resolutions up to 1080i.
Currently I have my XBOX 360 attached to one of the component inputs running at 1080i and it looks absolutely terrific overall. HD material looks great on this TV, no doubt about it.
After hooking up my Dish Network DVR to the TV I noticed it wasn't looking all that great so I did some digging for settings that could improve things. I found a good article on CNET reviewing the Sony-KDS-60A2020 model which is basically the same TV just larger and the CNET guys had some good suggestions for improving overall quality both in SD and HD resolutions. There were also some other forums I perused as well.
The key problem is that when the TV arrives the standard picture setting is what videophiles refer to as "Torch Mode." Basically this setting is designed to make the TV look good in a store under a load of fluorescent lighting, but for normal viewing it makes content overly bright and especially on SD content can overemphasize flaws in the picture.
Because it can be a bit difficult for people to find I'll post some of the settings I ended up using below that I found buried in a CNET review.
Picture menu:
Mode: Custom
Advanced iris: Min
Picture: 84
Brightness: 56
Color: 41
Hue: 0
Color temp: Warm2
Sharpness: 50
Noise reduction: Off
--Advanced Settings--
Black corrector: Off
Gamma: Off
Clear white: Off
Live color: Off
White balance: (see below)
Detail enhancer: Off
Edge enhancer: Off
--White balance--
R-gain: -2
G-gain: -1
B-gain: 0
R-bias: -3
G-bias: -2
B-bias: -1
Setup menu:
Color matrix: Standard
Power saving: On
The above settings are used for viewing the TV in a very dark room. Since I don't generally watch content in a completely dark room I made some minor adjustments to add a bit more brightness. Basically changing the Advanced Iris setting to Auto(2) rather than turning it off was enough to brighten the content up a bit. For someone who really wants the best picture you would want to buy into a calibration DVD of some sort like Digital Video Essentials HD (HD DVD + DVD Combo Disc), but I'm afraid I'm just not that dedicated or picky.
Overall my wife and I are happy with the TV for viewing all content. She preferred the SXRD over the DLP because of the increased viewing angle of SXRD. Because of price drops this became a much more affordable TV and I was even able to get a refund from Amazon when the priced dropped again a few weeks after I bought my set.
Sony warranties the TV for one year parts and labor included with in home service. They warranty the projection optical block for two years. (Note: this is for in-home use, for commercial use the warranty is only for 90 days) Based on this I decided to go without the 3rd party warranties offered by Amazon as most of these sorts of warranties involve contracting out to a 3rd party for any repairs and overall I just don't feel like I want to deal with that or that it is really worth it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2020 50-Inch 1080p Rear Projection HDTV

SXRD¿ Chips --- SXRD technology is the latest display technology developed by the legendary television engineers at Sony to meet and exceed the demands of a High Definition image at its full 1080 line resolution. Digitally transmitted High Definition signals can contain over 2 million individual detail points that need to be displayed accurately and rapidly. SXRD displays those 2 million detail points per SXRD panel accurately since the 3 SXRD chips actually contain enough pixels to fully display a 1080 line picture without interlacing it. SXRD has the speed to create a smooth, film like image. The SXRD chips have a blistering response time (less than 5ms total rise and fall time), which exceeds the demands of even the most rapidly moving High Definition images. And SXRD creates highly accurate, natural colors because the 3-chip design displays all the colors, all the time.

Buy cheap Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2020 50-Inch 1080p Rear Projection HDTV now.

Toshiba 61H70 61-Inch HDTV-Ready Projection TV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)And I don't even have cable! It's like having a very large tube tv. You can see the facial details on news anchors that usually end up over looked for the lack of detail. The blacks are bulletproof, deep, and unfogged. Watching a DVD on this is second only to the local cineplex.
I was thinking of getting a wide screen (16:9) projection tv, but, since HD will not be universal until 2005, I prefer to see a full screen image since I watch more normal television (network or cable) than dvds.
Note, if you buy a wide screen projection tv (16:9), the television broadcasts have to be stretched or letterboxed. If you watch them letterboxed, the black bars might burn themselves on the screen if you watch normal television more than 15% of the time. Or you can watch normal television (network or cable) with a distorted stretched image.
I picked the 4:3 and I love it!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba 61H70 61-Inch HDTV-Ready Projection TV

The Toshiba 61H70 is a 61-inch projection television that comes with all the trimmings. A picture tube--or cathode ray tube (CRT)--has an electron gun that presents an image by sending the electron beam to the tube's faceplate. The Toshiba 61H70 has three such tubes, in red, green, and blue. They use fine phosphor for high resolution, brightness, and color purity.
For fine tuning, use the remote control to adjust nine points on the screen. The result is very good focus and superior picture quality.
With A/V outputs you can send the audio/video signal to a VCR for recording. The fixed audio outputs can also be sent to an A/V receiver, and provide a cleaner signal than variable audio outputs. An extra set of front A/V inputs allows you to connect a camcorder or other portable device.
The Toshiba 61H70 has ColorStream HD component video inputs, the best inputs to use for today's high-resolution digital sources, such as a DVD player or an HDTV set-top box.
The universal remote has been programmed to operate the TV, most VCRs, and cable boxes. Many of the keys are illuminated for easy access when watching TV in a dark room. The remote accesses all TV functions with an icon-based on-screen display. This full-featured system can be operated in English, French, or Spanish. In addition, the remote learns the codes of other remotes.
You can input your 12 favorite channels and easily scan through only those stations. Pressing the return button sends you to the last channel you were viewing. This allows you to easily switch back and forth between two channels. You can label your channels by putting the call letters (e.g. ABC, HBO) on the screen along with the station numbers.
At the touch of a button, a sleep timer allows you to fall asleep and program the TV to turn off in 15-minute intervals for up to three hours.
Any time you press the mute button, closed captioning automatically engages. So, if one viewer needs to answer the telephone, another can still read along.
Now you can watch two channels at once, or find out what's on all your favorite channels. Two built-in tuners allow picture-in-picture without the use of a VCR. In single box mode, you can change the size of the sub-picture, move it to different locations on the screen, or freeze it. Six- and nine-box modes allow continuous channel previewing in multiple sub-pictures along the bottom of the screen. You can also use picture-outside-picture, whereby half the screen is used for the main image, while the other half is used for nine sub-pictures.
The new V-chip lets parents decide which show ratings are appropriate for their children. The TV will block out the audio and video of any program with an inappropriate rating. Parents use a code to override the system.

Buy cheap Toshiba 61H70 61-Inch HDTV-Ready Projection TV now.

Samsung HL-S5687W 56-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did pretty extensive legwork selecting a television. It was the first widescreen TV I've bought and was going into a new home, so I wanted it to be right. My experience was that I first had to narrow down which technology I wanted to buy. I found that rear projection TVs such as DLP or the Sony variation SXRD looked best to me -- Plasma and LCD were too "pixel"-y for me, and I appreciated rear projection's more film like look. You need to look for yourself at the local video store -- this part of the quest is a question of taste.
The short review of the television is that I found the high end Sony TVs to be best in class, and, after an hour or more of watching them side by side in several environments, could not discern any quality difference with the Samsung. I preferred the Samsung's styling, user control, remote design, and price. My online research indicates that the Samsung is highly configurable to industry standards by a qualified "tweaker". I have also read good things about Samsung's customer service and appreciated that there were no specific issues raised by online enthusiasts, in contrast to several issues such as a green blob discussed repeatedly in regard to the Sony SXRDs. I have had no issue at all with mine.
I'm very satisfied with the television and highly satisfied with Amazon's price, delivery and price drop policy.
The TV is very responsive to quality input -- standard def is OK, but the better the signal, the happier you'll be. I'm looking at DishNetwork satellite, upscaled DVD, and Hires DivX. These 1080i sources are great, and the TV is still limited by signal -- I've seen Bluray demo material on this unit and its yet another step up.
I found sports and high action scenes to look very good -- no rainbows that I can see. I felt that the image was sharper and color range better than other manufacturers' units, except for Sony's XBR series. The Sony I found to be identical in quality, with color and saturation differences that were subject to change based on settings and pretty subjective as to "best".
I feel like I got a bargain compared to the Sony XBR, without having to give up anything. This unit lacks cablecard slots and PIP capability, but my satellite service makes both of these a non-issue. They are available in another unit from Samsung which has identical picture quality. The Amazon price was quite a bit less than any other seller I could find.
Totally positive experience so far -- I've had the unit for about six weeks as of this writing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HL-S5687W 56-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV

Get the sharpest and clearest images possible from HD and standard TV with with the 56-inch Samsung HL-S5687W DLP television, which features a full progressive HD 1920 x 1080-pixel reslution digital format converter for all inputs (and true 1920 x 1080p picture from via HDMI). A contrast ratio of up to 10000:1 captures blacker blacks, crisper whites and images that burst into life. And the high-speed of the DLP chip, with millions of tiny mirrors that switch on and off over 15,000 times per second, delivers a precise, razor-sharp picture. It has a built-in analog/digital (NTSC/ATSC) tuner, offers both HDMI and component video connections, . It also features a smaller footpring than other high-definition TVs (with a "hidden speaker" thin bezel), fitting where many other large-screen HDTVs won't.
DLP (which stands for Digital Light Processing) uses an optical semiconductor to recreate source material with a fidelity analog systems can't match. While other technologies lose a certain amount of light in transit, the microscopic mirrors in a DLP projection system bring more light from lamp to screen. It also features better color uniformity over time--no burn-in, screen aging or color-shifting possible. It's the leading display technology for products like small portable conference room projectors and professional venue entertainment systems.

This Samsung DLP television employs a Texas Instruments DLP chip that is comprised of millions of microscopic mirrors. The DLP chip is faster than any HDTV technology, with the mirrors switching on and off 15,000 times a second to deliver a razor-sharp picture for fast moving images. It also offers Samsung's Cinema Smooth Gen 7 1080p Light Engine, which creates a picture with no visible pixel structure for a captivating, theater-quality experience. You'll get up to a 10000:1 contrast ratio with outstanding colors and deep black levels.

The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe) Video Enhancer refines all analog NTSC and wideband video inputs for an overall improvement in picture quality. DNIe improves contrast, white level, picture detail and incorporates digital noise reduction to improve lower quality video inputs. The 3-line digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time to dramatically reduce edge image artifacts while improving transition detail. Samsung's Cinema Smooth 3:2 pull-down film mode corrects for the artificial frames created when films are converted to DVDs. The result is a clearer image without the subtle motion artifacts caused by 24-to-30 frames per second video conversion.

Samsung's 2.6-inch color wheel spins at 14,400 rpm for smooth, fast motion video, and has five color segments for more accurate colors. It achieves film-like transitions without pixel breakup found in slower color wheel designs and slower switching LCD microdisplays. Air Bearing technology also makes it whisper quiet.

Samsung also worked closely with Microsoft to create a special Game Mode that optimizes image quality, sound and response time for more realistic video game play--with just a single touch of a button. The Game Mode enhances dark areas, sharpens the picture, speeds up the image processing response and enhances the sounds of your games.

Other features include:

Picture format adjustment: Enjoy all your 4:3 aspect-ratio programming in smooth, wide-screen without black bars. Four pre-set aspect ratio modes--Normal, Wide, Zoom 1 and Zoom 2--stretch your image to fill the screen naturally.
Color temperature adjustment: Selectable between Cool1, Cool2, Normal Warm1, and Warm2 with on-screen display.
Auto volume leveler: Keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing to minimize static sound bursts.
Discrete IR codes: This set is equipped with discrete IR codes for use with a macro/programmable remote.
Closed caption: Displays dialog that can be read along with encoded broadcast TV programs and pre-recorded videos.
V-Chip: Enables parental control for channel and program blocking of TV programs that incorporate the rating code signal.

High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the speakers built into the TV. SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass. It produces 10 watts of power per channel (for 20 watts total). This set utilizes Samsung's Dual Acoustic Chamber System technology, which isolates each woofer and tweeter in its own chamber. DACS is a revolutionary, computer-simulated technology that enhances lowrange sound performance, sharpens mid-to-high-range sound quality, and improves overall sound clarity. It offers the following connection options:

Component (Y/Pb/Pr): 2 inputs
HDMI: 2 inputs
Composite (RCA audio/video): 3 inputs (1 on the front)
S-Video: 2 inputs
PC: 1 D-Sub-15 input
PC audio: 1 input
RF: 1 input
Sound monitor output: 1
USB: 1

Tech Talk HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV--all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats--standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).

SRS TruSurround XT audio adds three new audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.

Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.
What's in the Box DLP TV, remote control (with batteries), power cord, printed operating instructions.
Warranty It's backed by a 1-year warrant on parts (including lamp) and labor, with in-home service backed by Samsung toll-free support.

Buy cheap Samsung HL-S5687W 56-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV now.

Sony KDF-E50A10 50-Inch LCD Rear Projection Television Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first bigscreen, and first hdtv. Previous set was a 36" Toshiba CRT.
I've been sitting on the sideline for 3 or 4 years waiting for prices to drop, and the technology to stabilize. I was sold on dlp, but the color wheel reliability and rainbow problems finally pushed me toward lcd (50" hd plasma was out of my price range). So, I anxiously awaited the arrival of these Sony sets at the brick and mortar stores. These are the first Sony sets I would consider, since they finally decided not to waste the width of the tv on speakers. The hidden speaker design on these sets is brilliant! Neither the height or the width of this set is very impacted by the speakers, which makes this set WAY more comapct than most sets out there.
So, what's the picture quality? Well, after seeing a couple of these sets in person, I was initially very dissappointed. Bad screen door (black lines between pixels) and a very underwhelming picutre. Then, I finally came across one that had a high quality HD feed, and was blown away. Very sharp and colorful (though with red push). So I pulled the trigger and brought it home that day.
When I got it unpacked and set up I did a channel scan and immediately was blown away by the picture quality of 1080i HD on TNT. I watched "Fellowship of the Ring" that night with my jaw on the floor. I am officially addicted to HD! Standard definition is more than acceptable though, and dvd's look great even being upconverted from 480i over component cables. I did not find any stuck pixels or other defects, though I did see one floor model with a block of 3-5 pixels that were stuck. It was not noticeable past 6-8 feet though.
My viewing area has some seating on the sides, with the worst being around 45 degrees off center. The viewing angle on this set is excellent, and the brightness even that far off center is practically the same as straight on.
The highly anticipated feature on this set is the Automatic Iris control which throttles back the light depending on the overall brightness of the scene being displayed. In theory, this allows the tv to produce deeper blacks on dark scenes. Personally I don't think it does a whole lot to automatically improve the PQ, but I like the adjustability that it provides from the menu. I crank the iris open during day viewing, since I have a lot of windows in my room. At night I cut it back to minimum and the black levels are much improved.
HITS
- Great Picture!
- Compact dimensions, and light weight
- Great upconversion of 480i dvd and standard def tv.
MISSES
- Sony deleted their excellent Twinveiw PIP for these models
- Only one HDMI input
- Does not convert all audio to the optical digital output
like the Mitsubishi LCD RPTVs do.
I will not be using this set for gaming, so I can't comment on that aspect.
Why 4 stars? I think it was very cheesy of Sony to delete PIP on a $2k+ tv!
Update:
Sports broadcast in 720p are absolutely amazing on this set. I got pulled into watching a Nascar race just because the picture was so incredible.
12/7/05 Update: I continue to be amazed by this tv. I saw it side by side with the new Sony 50" sxrd set at Sears, and while the sxrd definitely was a slightly better picture, it isn't worth practically 2X the price. Especially in your home, you won't have the 2 sets to compare to each other. I've been over to friends' houses who have hd projection crt, and it just doesn't compare. I'm still sold.
I do have 2-3 stuck pixels that have shown up, and they are all green. The ONLY time you can see them is on a completely black screen (an unused input works), when you're standing less than about 3 feet from the screen, and when you know exactly where to look. You'd have to be the most @nal person on the planet to get annoyed by them.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony KDF-E50A10 50-Inch LCD Rear Projection Television

Bring a true cinema experience into your own living room with the 50-inch Sony KDFE50A10 rear-projection LCD TV, which features a new design with a thin dark black bezel, a compact body and invisible speakers located at the bottom of the set. It features built-in analog (NTSC) and HDTV digital (ATSC) tuners. (Digital high-definition programming is available via terrestrial signals (over-the-air) or unscrambled cable signals provided by your cable company.) It's also Digital Cable Ready, so you can enjoy digital cable without an additional box or remote.
The KDFE50A10 uses the 3LCD video projection system, which combines three LCD panels to produce an image for a brighter picture in well-lit rooms, intensly vibrant natural colors, and spectacular HD performance. It's driven by Sony's WEGA Engine System, which delivers superb picture quality from any video source by minimizing the signal deterioration caused by digital-to-analog conversion and stabilizing the signal processing.
The Digital Reality Creation line doubling feature replaces the signal's NTSC waveform with the HD equivalent, while doubling the number of vertical and horizontal lines. This results in four times the density for quality sources, such as DVD, satellite and digital camcorders. The CineMotion technology feature uses reverse 3-2 pull down technology, providing smoother picture movement when playing back movies or other video sources on film. Other features include the Steady Sound audio equalizer (for consistent output between programs and commercials), parental controls (V-chip), Favorites channel list, front AV Inputs for connecting camcorders or video game consoles,and an HDMI connection for uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface between the TV and any HDMI-equipped audio/video component.
It has a 24-watt stereo audio system (two 12-watt speakers) and TruSurround XT compatibility. It features the following video and audio connections:
Composite AV In (RCA): 3 (1 front)
S-Video In: 1
RF In: 1
Component Video In: 3 (1 front)
HDMI In: 1
PC In (D-Sub 15-pin): 1

What's in the Box KDFE50A10 TV, remote control, two AA batteries, printed instructions

Buy cheap Sony KDF-E50A10 50-Inch LCD Rear Projection Television now.

Samsung SIR-T451 High Definition Terrestrial Tuner Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently purchased the Samsung SIR-T451. Although not advertised on this site, there is a $50 rebate from Samsung that makes this a very affordable unit indeed.
But now for the really good news. About two years ago I purchased a Mitsubishi widescreen "HDTV-Ready" TV. DVDs looked great, but regular TV did not--if you preserved the 4:3 aspect ratio of over the air broadcasting, the vertical bands looked bad; if you expanded to fill the 16:9 format, the faces looked bloated, the legs like stumps, and the overall image looked muddy. My next step was to order cable with HD. The HD channels looked great... but there are really a very limited number of them--just the basic networks, plus Discovery, a couple of cable-only channels that repeat a limited amount of content and a few (very few) HD things on ESPN. At $45/month, not a good value.
And now: the answer. For the price of less than five months of cable, this unit works unbelievably well with almost no setup, straight out of the box. Set up equals connecting your standard antenna (I have way substandard coax running for miles an old rooftop antenna) into the box, plug a set of component cables to your HDTV ready TV, and an audio cable to whatever you are using for audio (I am using a "home theater in a box"). The Samsung seeks out channels effortlessly, and an awful lot of them, and sets them. Presto allegro, in less than five minutes, you are watching some of the clearest, sharpest television you can imagine, much of it perfectly suited to your 16:9 format TV.
But the best thing is this. Oddly--amazingly-you will receive, for free, over the air, a lot of stations broadcasting HD content. In my case, more content that I actually watch than what is carried by cable! Imagine: on cable: no Super Bowl in HD (Fox is not one of the HD stations), but of course Fox is there for this happy owner of the Samsung! And then there are the 6 channels of PBS content, much in true HD, all very child friendly... truly the family friendly answer.
And --best of all--it's all "free". Why this isn't all the rage is beyond me.
PS: the competition is a Motorola decoder that has a serious liability: not only does it cost $100 more, but it has a very noisy, whining fan. You do NOT want the Motorola if you are watching TV in a reasonably quiet room.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung SIR-T451 High Definition Terrestrial Tuner

Samsung brings you great flexibility for delivering FREE over-the-air digital television signals to a DTV-ready television or DTV-capable computer monitors. Award-winning Samsung technology easily tunes and decodes all 18 ATSC Table 3 broadcast formats. With the Samsung SIR-T451, you can view HDTV, SDTV, and listen to Dolby(R) Digital 2.0 stereo or Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 surround audio through your audio system. Samsung solves output worries with a wide selection of output options including 1080i, 720p or 480p/i DTV formats, and connection options including DVI (1), Component (1), Composite (1), Audio-Rt/Lt, Dolby(R) Digital Coaxial and Optical. Attractive styling and affordable pricing make the Samsung SIR-T451 a perfect solution.

Buy cheap Samsung SIR-T451 High Definition Terrestrial Tuner now.

Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-Inch TheaterWide HDTV-Ready Projection LCD TV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Having researched a lot of HDTVs including DLP, Plasma etc., the Panasonic PT-50LC13 represents the best out of the lot out there!
Both from a quality and price perspective, it represents a great buy - purchased mine from Circuit City for $3000 and was delivered the next day (would NOT recommend buying from an online retailer even if it is $300 - $500 cheaper, since LCD TVs can have some bad pixels sometimes - this is a lot easier to exchange at your local supplier vs. dealing direct with Panasonic! Most online retailers - you canNOT do the exchange with them and have to deal with the manufacturer).
The TV itself is quite stunning to look at - a lot better than the Sony WEGA LCD which looks quite terrible at the base and the sony does not have RGB input either. It is a whole lot cheaper than a 50" plasma tv and does not suffer from the same problems as a plasma tv does.
Very easy to handle (compared to a regular CRT or projection or even a Plasma).
The depth is only 16 inches and tapers off sharply at the top. Does not suffer from a convergence problem like most projection TVs do.
Does not suffer from the Plasma TV burn - most Plasma TVs will last only 20,000 hrs and need to watch out for burn-in if you have constant bars at the side or at the top.
LCD TVs do not suffer from this.
Plasma TV - cannot be fixed if they have the burn-in.
LCD PTVs on the other hand can have a lamp burnout - but the good news is that the lamp can be replaced for around $300. The lamp usually lasts around 10,000 hours.
We sit around 6 feet away and the picture is quite stunning on HDTV.
Note however, if you just connect plain analog or even digital cable, you will be sorely disappointed - with the signal, not the TV :-).
DVDs look good - had to purchase a progressive scan DVD player just to make the pictures look good! Progressive scan DVD at 480p look great. However if the DVD is of poor quality, then the errors are magnified on the 50" screen!
The TV does 1080i and 720p very well on the DVI connector.
The RGB inputs work great - was even able to get my Dell Latitude laptop connected and working (most of the older laptops cannot connect with RGB to a LCD monitor).
THe BBE sound is nice as well - provides a much better surround sound experience. However, the auto volume correction does NOT work with BBE. Overall, having external speakers definitely makes the experience a lot better.
LCD TVs like Plasma TVs have a fan to cool the inside - but I did not hear the fan with normal and very low volume output. Only when the TV is off, I can hear the fan operating silently for some time before it switches off completely (after the lamp is cooled).
Pros:
- Looks extremely sleek - better than Sony wega LCDs!
- Lot cheaper than a 50" plasma and performs better over a longer period
- 2 sets of RGB inputs - one at side and one at back - this is great for laptop or computer connectivity. Imagine connecting the laptop to it and surfing from the couch with a wireless keyboard
- DVI / HDCP Input - for those who understand what this means, connecting the cable box via this connector provides the best possible connectivity (better than composite, better than RGB). Works great on Time Warner / Brighthouse HDTV cable box with DVI output.
- TV Comes with DVI cable
- Lots of composite and component inputs and digital audio out as well
- Remote looks and performs well (silver finish just like the TV) and is able to control the cable box as well if needed. We use the cable remote to control the TV instead.
Remote menus very easy to understand and operate.
- Offers quick aspect scaling from Normal 4:3 -> Full (extends the normal 4:3 screen to 16:9) -> Just (extends only the extreme sides so that people in the middle do not look abnormally fat!) -> Zoom (uniformly zooms out - but can lose the ticker at the bottom!). This aspect scaling works on the component, composite and the coax inputs.
Cons:
- Does not come with composite cables - but ask your cable provider - they usually provide one.
- Standard Cable (even just plain digital) looks just so-so. The size of the TV and the high resolution of the LCD display magnifies any deficiencies in the signal.
- DVI input does not seem to have closed captions - do not know if the problem is with the signal or with the TV
- BBE surround sound does NOT have auto volume correction
- takes around 30 sec - 1 min to startup after a cold start
- Lacks a built-in HD Tuner - but then most plasma TVs do not have it either and is a lot cheaper because of its absence!
- Cannot scale aspect on the Digital Input (DVI/HDCP) - I think this is a restriction on the signal as it is already 16:9 720p signal.
- Need to set the TV to Cinema mode otherwise the cable inputs on standard or digital look terrible! Make sure you do this, otherwise you will NOT have a good viewing experience! Wish Cinema mode is the default.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-Inch TheaterWide HDTV-Ready Projection LCD TV

The slim-body PT-50LC13 liquid-crystal projection TV offers a perfectly flat, 50-inch display in a widescreen (16:9) dimension that's perfect for viewing DVDs in their native aspect ratios. The high-definition-ready set is equipped with a total of 13 different inputs, including four component-video inputs, a DVI digital video input for a direct digital connection with a DTV set-top box, and two PC inputs (capable of VGA, SVGA, or compressed XGA resolution). A handy PCMCIA/SD Memory Card slot lets you hook up your computer for viewing a digital photo slide show.The set offers a native resolution of 1,280 x 720 alongside high, 400 cd/m2 brightness ensures vivid, exacting images from DVD players and other devices. What's more, Panasonic's Progressive Scan Doubler will upconvert standard interlaced (nonprogressive) broadcast and auxiliary signals to flicker-free, 480p resolution.The PT-50LCL13 is considerably less bulky than most rear-projection televisions and consumes less energy. Further, LCD displays don't suffer from misconvergence or flicker, like their CRT counterparts. The Panasonic multimedia display incorporates thin-film transistor (TFT) technology, also known as active matrix, to improve color reproduction, eliminate ghosting, and boost response speed. TFT technology also helps achieve an extraordinary brightness level of 700 to 800 cd/m2.Two-tuner picture-in-picture with split-screen display lets you view two programs at once by dividing the screen in half down the middle. Each program is shown at full height, with one program on the left side and the other on the right. Eight-bit PIP image processing provides 256 levels of gray from black to white in the inset picture for finer image detail. Movie sources get their due with Panasonic's 3:2 pulldown feature, Progressive Cinema Scan. This enhancement compensates for motion artifacts that sometimes result from the telecine process that's used to convert film's 24-frames-per-second to an NTSC-friendly 60 frames per second. Other picture-enhancing features include horizontal and vertical edge correction and a motion-adaptive 3D Y/C digital comb filter, which eliminates "hanging dots" and color rainbow effects in closely spaced patterns.What's in the Box TV, remote control, remote batteries, and user's manual.

Buy cheap Panasonic PT-50LC13 50-Inch TheaterWide HDTV-Ready Projection LCD TV now.

Sony KP-51WS520 51-Inch Hi-Scan 1080i HD-Ready Projection TV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The television offers a great picture for the price. While I was a little nervous about ordering it on-line, it arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The price on Amazon was several hundred dollars less than the store price, including shipping. The tv offers great picture and sound. It is large, so make sure you have room in your living room to fit it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony KP-51WS520 51-Inch Hi-Scan 1080i HD-Ready Projection TV

Dim the lights, fire up your DVD player or HDTV receiver, and let Sony's 51-inch Hi-Scan KP-51WS520 turn your living room or board room into a movie theater. The set uses Sony's HD Microfocus CRT and lens system, featuring smaller phosphor particles, thinner phosphor layers, and other improvements that give the set a beam spot 28-percent smaller than Sony's standard CRTs. And that means sharper focus, higher contrast, and brighter images. The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio that matches the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and the KP-51WS520 is compatible with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i sources.The set's HD Detailer wideband video amplifier provides high detail from high-res images to give you the best possible image from high-bandwidth sources. Auto 16:9 enhanced mode with auto ID1 detection automatically renders anamorphic DVD content in letterboxed widescreen, using all available display lines for the image and wasting none on the black bars that frame the image when a program's widescreen aspect ratio differs slightly from the set's.Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital Circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source. TwinView 2-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously--even 2 TV stations. Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver) maintains the integrity of a digital signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.The set offers 2 different digital video interfaces: a Digital Visual Interface (DVI-HDTV) and an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), each of which permits a direct digital connection with a compatible DTV set-top box. Other connections include 2 component-video inputs, 4 composite-video inputs, 3 S-video inputs (with 1 each composite-/S-video on the front panel for ready connection to a camcorder or gaming console), and 2 RF coaxial inputs and 1 coaxial output for hookup with an older VCR, cable box, or antenna.What's in the Box TV, remote control, remote batteries (2 AA), a user's manual, and warranty information.

Buy cheap Sony KP-51WS520 51-Inch Hi-Scan 1080i HD-Ready Projection TV now.

Toshiba TALEN 65HM167 65-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV - EOL August 2007 Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A great buy from Amazon! Even after shipping costs I saved nearly $300 over B*st B*y and Circ*it C*ty. I can't believe this unit shipped so fast and in perfect condition to Florida. Ordered late on 25 April and received the unit on 30 April from Fed Ex (estimated delivery date was 29 April - 4 May.) Fed Ex delivery person helped me bring it into my house, which is unusual for curbside shipping. He also told me he could have delivered the TV on 27 April but that was before the shipping date so he held onto it. No sweat though, it was still ahead of schedule.
I'm pleasantly surprised with the TV. One word of advice - don't buy HDMI hi-def cables from a retail vendor or you'll pay 5-6 times more than you need to, like $50 for a 6 ft cable which is ridiculous. It's a digital cable, so the signal is there or it isn't. There's no advantage to buying M*nster C*bles or another overpriced brand. I picked up 12 ft cables from a reputable online vendor for $10 each.
Remember this unit doesn't ship with a TV stand. I have it resting on two end tables until I make my own stand for it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toshiba TALEN 65HM167 65-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV - EOL August 2007

Toshiba 65HM167 65" Talen 1080p DLP HDTV

Buy cheap Toshiba TALEN 65HM167 65-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV - EOL August 2007 now.