Which TV is better?

Telemundo

Hi, i'm shopping around for a Rear Projection TV right now and need a few suggestions. I'm comparing the specs and price between the Toshiba 65HX93 with the Hitachi 65S700. I really care about the way the movies turn out with DVD then HDTV. I really like the fact that both TVs has a DVI connection. I will be using the TV with the Denon DVD5900 which has one DVI output. Has anyone here compared the 2 side by side? Let me know what you guys thought was the better out of the 2.
I've checked out plasma, LCD TV, LCD projection, and DLP options out there. I still think HD RPTV is still the best way to go. All the other display technologies are just a little bit more than I can afford. ( I still have to get all the AV components and speakers). So my budget for the TV alone is about $4000. Let me know which one of the 2 would you choose and why. Thank you for taking your time to reply.

scottvamp

Looking at 65's wanting to go big - for $4000 I would also consider Front Projection if your looking at DVD's mostly.

fireshoes

They are both really nice. I would say the Tosh has better whites and the Hitachi has better colors.

steveinaz

Well, up until my divorce 2 years ago, I had a 55" Hitachi that ran without a hitch for 10 years. Very, very nice picture with 3 seperate inputs aside from the antenna/cable input. Audio was even very good given that it was built-in.

As far as I know, it's still running just fine.

acdds

I just bought a Hitachi 57F500 two weeks ago. This TV is fantastic. HDTV signals look incredible (especially football) and also DVD's. If there is a lot of ambient light in the room there can be a glare off the TV, that is the only problem I can see. If you can close the blinds or put the TV where the sun doesn't shine right on it, then the F series is good. I debated with the decision to get either the F or S series and I couldn't see spending the extra $600 for the glare screen and upgraded lens assembly. I would measure the doorway before you buy it because my 57in barely fit into the door way (there was 1/2 in. from the top of the door).

Ron-P

I really care about the way the movies turn out with DVD then HDTV. I really like the fact that both TVs has a DVI connection.

I still think HD RPTV is still the best way to go. All the other display technologies are just a little bit more than I can afford.

I cannot offer up an opinion on either set, but if your planning on spending 4k for 65" you can get twice that screen size for half that price going Front Projection. If you've got good light control and a nice size room, it's the way to go. Most of your HD FP's have DVI input and run as low as 1,500 and look outstanding (of course, you can always spend more). I have a Panny 200u (non HD) I run for DVDs only on an 80" screen and all my friends and family say it looks the same as my older ISF'd 46" Mits HD-RPTV.

Just a heads up and something you might want to consider before dropping 4 grand.


Peace Out~:D

Mike Reeter

Hitachi has been steller in the RPTV market for years.We have a SWX model that has performed flawlessly,I would buy another one today and never blink an eye...

dan t

I'm thinking there should be a HDTV section here

I posted a DVI question on another thread but will answer my own question here about DVI and Component cables now that I have been learned

I recently purchased a Mitsubishi WS-55313 and Samsung SIR TS-160 and 3 LNB dish. I have DirecTV HD channels and with the DVI input (1080i) the picture is truly amazing. Better than Component I notice. (DD 3/2 sound using optical to my Sony TA-E9000ES). The TV only supports one DVI connection so I'm using the DVD with 480p Component to the TV, still no complaints. The Mitsubishi is doin just fine!

Dan

Telemundo

Yea...i've thought about going with Front Projection, but my room size isnt that big and dont have much light control. During the day i can close the blinds but it still cant get rid of all the lights. I've seen the FPs in the local Fry's but there so much light in the area that it always make them look really faded away. I'll still end up getting one of the Rear Projection screens. I already have the Panasonic PT-53WX42s right now. One of the main reason i wanted the upgrade is because i wanted a 65 inch screen and to use the DVI connection for DVDs. There's a model by Hitachi in their Director's Series that has 2 DVI input!! I think the model number is 65X500 or something like that. Has anyone here seen a DVD using the DVI connections? I know that on HD, the DVI outpeform the component, but what about for DVDs? Thanks for taking your time to read this.

hamzahsh

For that kind of money I'll go with the
SONY GRAND WEGA 42" LCD RPTV. The picture quality is razor sharp and colours are deep and rich. The RPTVs are too soft for my taste, I'm personally a freelance photographer and very serious about quality of photographs. Now same goes for the movies I need to see the quality. The PLASMAs are too expensive. The DLP has a wheel system. I've seen a pixel frozen on the screen so I don't like DLPs anymore. The LCD RPTV uses 3 chips of RGB, No image burn, No pixel burn, No phosphor burn.

The video quality is breathtaking on LCD RPTVs I have seen it at my workplace at BEST BUY and I asked the guys in Home Theater Dept. They recommend LCD over DLP and I've seen both side by side no difference except the SAMSUNG had the pixel froze and ugly white dot on it. They said this is there third SAMSUNG DLP with the similar problem.

The RPTVs have convergence problems
we just had our Toshiba 61HX70 got repaired at home about 2 months ago. The problem came after 2 years of use.

In my honest opinion, the best technology in display is still the CRT Tube. Its old and improved to its best.
The only problem is the size, which you can't get any higher than 36".

If someone wants the big size and least amout of money to spend then RPTV is the way to go. But quality wise its not great compared to CRT, LCD RPTV, DLP, LCOS and PLASMA.

If someone wants the quality and doesn't want to spend lot of big bucks than get atleast 40" LCD RPTV. Its almost the price of 65" RPTV but for the money its worth it.

Telemundo

thanks for your comments and posting. Have you seen anything that has to do with LCD on a fast action movie? The LCD simply cant keep up with any kinda movements. And forget about playing any kinda games on the LCDs. LCDs to have a more vibrant picture and it wont burn in, but RPTVs can keep up with the fast moving action movies that I watch the most. And plus, they're alot cheaper. I've pretty much already decided on going with a RPTV, just not sure which one. I'm asking for comparison between the Toshiba 65HX93 vs. the Hitachi 65X500 (2 DVI inputs). I'm leaning towards the Hitachi because of what i've seen on the its specs. I can connect the DVD and HD tuner using DVIs at the same time. On the Hitachi website, it says that it also has a HD processor that can handle 1080P. You guys know if it can really display at 1080P? Or it can just display 1080i images really well that it's close to 1080p? Any feedback would be great. thanks

danger boy

hamzahsh, I think Sony now makes a XBR CRT TV.


SONY KV40XBR800 runs about $2500. it's stunning to look at. even in the bright lights at Circuit City it still looks great.. try that with some of the other types. and they quickly show their weaknesses.

I agree.. i think still CRT (tube) tv's still look the best.. I'm with you..i too prefer sharpness and good colors and contrast over a larger screen.

Only drawback to tube TV's... most of them lack enough connectors... whereby RPTV's have tons of connector options.

I'm very interested seeing how a DVD looks using DVI connections from a DVD player and HDTV decoder.

hamzahsh

I'm agree with you, LCD has low refresh rate for fast moving frames. Its true, but in terms of clarity it is way better than any RPTV. LCDs are sharper and have beautiful bold, vivid colours. While, RPTVs has smoother images and less detail. Every technology has a drawback. RPTV is a great choice cause they are affordable and you get larger set for decent price.

Personally I'm more into sound than video plus I've a very tight budget. I might end of buying RPTV for myself. Probably Toshiba 46HX83.

I'm a freelance photographer and serious about sharpness and colours. When I watched the Toshiba and Hitachi I found that Toshiba produced much sharper and accurate colours than Hitachi, Sony, RCA, Panasonic, Philips and Samsung.

I read many reviews about Toshiba RPTV and majority of people talked about the same. The lenses in Toshiba RPTV are the sharpest than in the any other RPTV set. One guy exchanged his Mitsubishi RPTV cause it wasn't as good as Toshiba.

The Toshiba 65HX93 is a better choice over Hitachi.

Make sure you see both TVs side by side and make the judgement rather than reading the specs. alone.

Here is my 2 cents!

Telemundo

any thoughts on the LcoS? I saw one at my local GoodGuys store. It was the Mitsubishi Diamond series i think. The one that's been showing up in magazines at 82 inches. That thing is HUGE...it was next to the top of the line regular Mitsubish RPTV. Both models were playing the same channel on HD tv. The regular RPTV actually had better color saturation IMO. Toshiba also has a LcoS model out now at around 65 inches. I dont think LcoS is a good buy yet, what's your guys take on it? And plus, it's so damn expensive. For the price of all the new technologies out there, I can get a top of the line 65 inch RPTV and save the money and wait for the new technologies to get improved to its best. DLP is my second choice, but it's still at its 2nd generation. I'll think i'll end up with either one of the RPTVs(toshiba or hitachi) whichever has the best performance to cost ratio. LCD projection might be considerable to me, if they can improve the refresh rates. I havent seen anyone respond to the question i had about how DVDs turn out using DVI connections yet, maybe because DVD players with DVI output is still pretty new. The hitachi Director's Series has 2 DVI inputs, i wonder if it's really worth it spending more to get that 2nd DVI. It would be nice for me to have a RPTV that has 2 DVIs tho, so i wont have to switch it when I watch DVD and HDTV using the separate DVI connections. Thanks alot guys for your inputs.

kberg

Originally posted by danger boy
hamzahsh, I think Sony now makes a XBR CRT TV.

I agree.. i think still CRT (tube) tv's still look the best.. I'm with you..i too prefer sharpness and good colors and contrast over a larger screen.

...and I agree with both of you on the CRT TV's - I still think they look best at this point. Wouldn't it be great if somebody could come up with a 50" flat widescreen CRT set that also wouldn't weigh a ton and eat up half of your room?