Broke down and bought a SXRD KDS-55A3000 RPTV to replace PE PRO520HD

polkatese

and it's amazing, pound for pound, at 1/3 of the price of the PE. Picture is no comparison. The PE has suffered convergence issue that split the blue gun to drift a couple inches from the rest, and bowing. I knew that I had to spring another $200 to $300 to replace the convergence board, and decided to move on with a new display.

I did my research pretty extensively, based on the constraints of the wallunit opening that the new display has to fit in. I have no issue with the depth, and no need to worry about the need to hang the display.

Anyone looking to replace an analog RPTV in their living room, I would recommend SXRD over DLP, colors are a lot more natural, very comparable to the old CRT RPTV standard.

Here is the link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/projection-tvs/sony-kds-55a3000/4505-6484_7-32468848.html

dorokusai

That's a nice TV PT.

polkatese

Thanks, Mark. The budget for a Macbook Pro has been reallocated to this unexpected expenditure. But, no regret.

billbillw

Yep, SXRD is a very good deal these days and is probably the closest to CRT in black levels and color, but with better detail. I love plasma, but it just won't work in my living room with the built in corner unit. I've been looking at the same SXRD model and the older A2020 models (a few are still floating around). Might pick one up this week if everything falls into place.

polkatese

I really like the fact that the bezel is so thin, it maximizes the wallunit real estate.

billbillw

polkatese wrote: »

I really like the fact that the bezel is so thin, it maximizes the wallunit real estate.

Yeah, most of the other TVs I've looked at waste space on the sides and I can't even find a 50" that will fit in my unit, unless I get one of the professional models. The Sony 55" fits in nice and snug by just sticking its face out a few inches. Can't really do that with a flat panel due to the weight distribution (the base stick out too far past the screen). So, as much as I'd love another Panny plasma, its not going to happen until the next house. Actually, most of the rear proj have extremely thin bezels these days. According to users and reviews, the SXRD should look as good or better than the flat panels anyway.

polkatese

a snap of the new 55A3000

haimoc

Congratulation. I own one. Excelent pictures and looks good in the family room. Enjoy.

billbillw

Great sale on these TVs right now at Circuit City. Polkatese, hope you didn't pay too much more. If so, maybe your retailer has a competitive price guarantee?

halo

Very nice set! I wanted an SXRD but they were out of my price range when I purchased a regular Sony RPLCD TV a couple years ago.

engtaz

Congrats, sweet.

engtaz

millerman 3732

Congrats on the new set, I couldn't be any happier with my SXRD, I wish it would do 24fps though, I think your's will. Probably the last TV I'll ever buy, for HT that it, next step front projection baby.

billbillw

millerman 3732 wrote: »

Congrats on the new set, I couldn't be any happier with my SXRD, I wish it would do 24fps though, I think your's will. Probably the last TV I'll ever buy, for HT that it, next step front projection baby.

24fps is over-rated. There is not really any TV out right now that can do it correctly anyway (actual 23.97fps). Not to mention, most of the HDDVD players convert to 1080i internally and then deinterlace. Bottom line, you aren't missing anything.

Personally, I'd rather have 60fps and a top notch source that properly does the 3:2 conversion. Any of the Reon processor equipped players (like your XA2) can do this.

polkatese

Bill, thanks for the info on CC sale..Price match in place with BB, you just made me $355 richer!

also, PM sent on your question.

billbillw

polkatese wrote: »

Bill, thanks for the info on CC sale..Price match in place with BB, you just made me $355 richer!

also, PM sent on your question.

No problem. I always like to spread the word when it comes to good deals.

olilugo

Sony rules.... I actually have last years model and I could not be hapier.
I also added a cheap panasonic upscale dvd player and I am very happy with my purchase.

I think sony has the best TV product for the money...

Systems

Don’t get me started on my SXRD1. SXRD is no doubt an awesome technology, probably the best but tens of thousands of us got screwed on the SXRD1 (which all went away with the SXRD2). Just about every owner of SXRD1 has had problems and then there was the whole "it was sold as 1080p and doesn’t take a 1080p signal). But saying that, after having my SXRD1 in the shop 2 times and being down for the first 5 months I owned it, the past 1.5 years has been flawless and very impressive. I would buy another without a doubt (I think they are up to SXRD6 now right?). At lease Sony bucked up and extended the War on the SXRD1 until 2008 because there is still 200+ pages of people with the same problem over on AVS and still counting up daily

polkatese

interesting news...

Sony Dumps Rear Projection TV

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 12/19/2007 2:05:00 PM

San Diego – Sony will exit the rear projection TV category to focus on flat-panel LCD TV after current inventories of its 3LCD- and SXRD-based products are exhausted, a company spokesman confirmed.

“We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that’s what people really want,” a Sony spokesman said, confirming a published report.

The company began telling select retailers about the decision following several months of study, the spokesman said, adding that Sony will continue selling front projection products through its custom home theater division.

The decision came despite the fact that Sony ranked second in the category for sell-through, with 28 percent of the U.S. market through November, behind Samsung, according to The NPD Group. Sony rear projection sets were also No. 1 in shelf-share at 31.77 percent in November, according to Current Analysis West, an NPD Group company.

Sony’s decision comes as the market for rear projection products continues to compress under advances in flat-panel TV technologies to larger screen sizes and ever-declining prices.

DisplaySearch, an NPD Group company, forecasts North American sales of 1.6 rear projection sets in 2008, down from 3.1 million in 2006. The firm is calling for total rear projection sales of about 670,000 in 2008.

Sony’s decision to drop the rear projection category to focus on flat-panel TV follows similar recent decisions by Philips, Toshiba and Hitachi, and leaves Samsung, Mitsubishi, RCA, Panasonic and JVC as the major players in the segment.
Manufacturers remaining in rear projection are now moving to larger screen sizes, offering a better value than either plasma or LCD flat-panel sets.

billbillw

^
Yeah,
This has been a rumor floating around at AVS forum for a week or so. Now its confirmed. I'm just hoping that they don't run out of them before I can score a sweet closeout deal on a 55" set.

mantis

polkatese,
remove the stickers on the front of your tv man.... they are for store display.

Dan

polkatese

he he he...it was removed, Dan. Pic was taken within a few hours after install.

billbillw

Eff it, I pulled the trigger on one of these today in the 55" size. It will be replacing my 51" Toshiba CRT RPTV. I was holding out for a little better sale price, but they seem to be going out of stock rapidly. I have at least 30-day price protection, so if a sale comes along, I'll get the money back. If not, it still wasn't super expensive. $1620 out the door delivered.

The Perfect Vision's Best RPTV of the Year, CNET Editor's Choice, and also favorably reviewed by Hometheatermag.com

Not sure when it will be delivered, but I guess its time to start trying to sell the Toshiba.

polkatese

NOW, you did it, Bill!

Congrats, can't say you haven't done your homework!

Congrats! where did you find it?

billbillw

polkatese wrote: »

NOW, you did it, Bill!

Congrats, can't say you haven't done your homework!

Congrats! where did you find it?

From C.C. with an AAA coupon (that expired by tonight). I just hope that C.C. puts it on sale for $1499 again within the next 30 days. I'll get back some dough if that's the case.

polkatese

That's a great deal! practically you get it at $1,499 + tax and free delivery.

billbillw

polkatese wrote: »

That's a great deal! practically you get it at $1,499 + tax and free delivery.

Well, I'm hoping that they put it on sale again and I'd get it for $1350+tax ($1499-10%)
It just irks me that Onecall was selling the 50" with the Sony stand ($400 by itself) for $1200 out the door. Makes me think there's pretty good room for discounts on these. There isn't really any reason the larger sizes should be much more than $50-$100 more per size increase. The optics, light engine, and electronics are the same, just a little bigger screen area and more plastic for the frame, maybe a slightly larger mirror too.

billbillw

Well, I'm supposed to get this TV delivered tomorrow. Long story, but C.C. really tool their sweet time getting my TV into Atlanta from their warehouse in Orlando. Good news is I got a price match from Fry's and ended up getting this TV for just about $1300 out the door. Can you say steal?

So, I got a new Bluray player ready to go. Long weekend ahead. Movie marathon?

Still enjoying yours Polkatese? Haven't seen any negatives from you, so I figure things are still great.

polkatese

STEAL, Bill? How about downright highway robbery? AT THAT PRICE, my friend, you should be getting into the hall of savvy negotiator "who's who" , especially that most of these stores inventory have been depleted badly. I noticed that price on this series has gone back up to MSRP, BB for sure.

I am still amazed with the pics quality on this unit. I've been renting a bunch of BD movies from Hollywood video, and going through my collections of SD DVD, and it was just plain outright amazing! The pics details are just unmatched to my old RPTV. Even watching Today's show on NBC HD is a lot mor enjoyable, almost 3D (and to watch Erin Burnett of CNBC in HD, just priceless...)

I know you will enjoy yours, hope the delivery and install are uneventful tomorrow. Btw, I bought an extended warranty direct from Sony ($99) for three years. I was thinking about getting from MACK, which includes Bulb replacement, but decided against it since I don't want to deal with third party vendor.

billbillw

Well the pricematch was more luck than skill. I'll PM you details of how it ended up happening.

I plan to take some of the extra money I got from the price match and put it towards an extended warranty also.

polksda

It's a shame that Sony is abandoning SXRD RPTVs (they're still planning to continue using the SXRD technology in their projectors).

I replaced my old 65" Mits CRT RPTV with a 70" XBR2 this July and had the system ISF calibrated. Nothing short of amazing. While I paid a small fortune when all was said and done, I'm even more glad now that I went ahead and did it, considering that there will no longer be a viable alternative in that screen size.

What's the price again on a 70" plasma or LCD? Yeah, that's what I thought.

70" is nice and big. Here's a pic of the set between my SRS 1.2s before I sold them:

billbillw

Ok, finally got this TV. No thanks to Circuit City. ****! Over the weekend, I had two (TWO!) separate managers tell me that I was scheduled for Wednesday delivery and to expect a call Tues night to tell me the time window. Last night (tues), it was getting to be 8:00pm and I hadn't got the 'call'. So I decided to find out what was going on. When I called, I was told that they don't have any deliveries scheduled for Wednesday(!:mad:!) Of course, I asked to talk to the night manager, who happened to be the same schmuck that 'scheduled' my delivery for Wednesday.

Long story short, I was furious, and after 45 minutes on the phone (mostly on hold) I was told that the earliest they could deliver would be Thurs! I was boiling over. I had already waited two patient weeks for this TV to come, I wasn't waiting another frackin day. It was 9:05pm. They closed at 9:00. I said, can you wait at the store for me to come pick the damn tv up? He agreed (he knew he was responsible for the screw up) I jumped in the van and flew up there, pushing the safe limit for speed the whole way. Got there at 9:40. Had the TV in the van and on my way home by 9:45. I wasn't sure how I was going to get it out of the van or into the house. My wife was sleeping already. Luckily, we have a wheelbarrow that is the same height as the van floor. So I slid it onto the wheelbarrow and carefully (very carefully) got it over to the entry steps in our garage. Luckily the landing is the same height as the wheelbarrow! So I just slid it right on into the door. Unpacked it about 10:30 last night. Everything looked good, but I couldn't get the TV out of the packaging base.

So today, I got it into the rack with the help of my wife and everything looks sweet! Need to some adjusting, etc, but its time to start watching some Bluray movies!