New Hitachi LCD projection.

McLoki · January 2006

Local place is having a 1 day sale (so I have to decide today). They have a really good price on the Hitachi 50VG825. Anyone have any good or bad feedback on this model?

One other thing - I can step up to the 55" model for an additional $450. With a 14' viewing distance would it be worth it? (they have a problem with their cable feeds at the store, so it is hard to compare them.)

Will be used mainly for DVD watching and some standard def cable. (maybe some OTA HD - local abc, nbc, fox, pbs is available over the air for HD)

well, 50 or 55?

Michael

Ferres · January 2006

I'm not really a big fan of rear projection tv's. It is a technology that is on it's way out in favor of flat models. It is also a huge box if you don't have the space for it.

McLoki · January 2006

These are the microdisplays so they are only about 16" deep. I am thinking right now about going with the 50" model. The picture with DVD is amazing and I do have a pretty good place for it as it will fit above my fireplace well. (click on the quote in my sig to get to my showcase - the new TV will fit where the old tv and 7's are now. )

It was just do I want the 55 or 50" version?

BTW - for those interested, here is a link to the 50" version. (and here is the 55")

Michael

madmax · January 2006

50 inches would be fine at 14'. 55" would be better though. I have a 50" I watch from 11 feet and it seems perfect size wise.
madmax

McLoki · January 2006

Ok, ended up getting the 50" model. ($450 extra for the 55" and I have to pay a restocking fee to return if I don't like it - so went the safe route. (also didn't see madmaxs post till I got home... ))

Anyway - now, what do I do with a 36" tube tv that weighs 214 pounds? It is HD ready (but no tuner) few people purchase them now though (maybe used?) and it is large enough I would worry about my kids knocking it off a short stand. (kids are 4 and 6)

What you you all do with your old TV's when you upgrade?

Michael

schwarcw · January 2006

Rifle practice! Take your frustrations out on it

PolkThug · January 2006

Don't get rid of that tube! Regular TV will look superior on it, compared to the new TV.

madmax · January 2006

PolkThug wrote:

Don't get rid of that tube! Regular TV will look superior on it, compared to the new TV.

This is true. SD programming can really suck on a HD set. 50" or 55", who cares, either is big enough at 14'. Congrats on the new set!
Enjoy!
madmax

BTW, I plan on digging a hole in the yard (VERY close to the door) when I need to get rid of my 36" tube monitor.

McLoki · January 2006

Well here is a picture of it with my front stage. The shelf for my center channel is not in yet, but it will end up sitting above the center of the TV.

I am really happy with how it looks and SD cable, surprizingly, looks really really good. From my 14' viewing distance - it looks about as good as my old TV with most programming. HD is not as crisp as the Panasonic plasma that I really wanted, but it still looks pretty good (like a high quality picture rather that the "looking through a window" type view that many plasmas seem to give.

Only issue with it right now is that it does have a fair amount of SSE. On bright backgrounds, it is almost like there is a thin vertical pinstripe on the screen. From about 15-16' the image is perfect.

I still wonder if the 55" would have been a better choice, but I am pretty happy with the image quality from my viewing distance and would not want to trade that for a larger image at slightly worse quality.

Here is a pic of the setup (with my new 15's) only a 4:3 image on the screen in this shot though... :rolleyes:

Michael

billbillw · January 2006

Michael,
Looks nice. You got a good fit up there above the fireplace. I'm sure you will be happy with it. Before you get too used to the picture out of the box, I would get a setup DVD like Avia to calibrate the picture. Out of the box, they are usually in "torch" mode with the contrast at full blast and the color set to some high temp (that exagerates the blues). I would set it to Cinema Mode (or Movie) and start your calibrations from there. Good luck and enjoy.

Ferres · January 2006

Doesn't that hurt your neck a little? Having to look up on the screen.

McLoki · January 2006

Ferres wrote:

Doesn't that hurt your neck a little? Having to look up on the screen.

Not at all. You don't even notice it really. You don't have to tilt your head very far at all to see the screen. Since I sit about 14' away from the image, it is well within my field of view and while I may tilt my head slightly, it is not noticably neccesary. (and it is very comfortable while lying on the couch...

)

It is about 4' off the ground and I have it tilted (slightly) down to keep the image sharp when viewed from my couch. (image does get a little dimmer when sitting on the floor, but it looks just as bright with me standing as it does sitting)

Michael

polksda · January 2006

Ferres wrote:

I'm not really a big fan of rear projection tv's. It is a technology that is on it's way out in favor of flat models. It is also a huge box if you don't have the space for it.

And it's a technology that, with proper calibration, can generally speaking get you a much better quality picture at much lower cost, than flat panel models (plasma, DLP).

Yes, CRT RPTVs are big and heavy, but they still have the best bang for the buck. Plasmas and DLPs still have a hard time producing blacks that aren't grey.

Some of the high-end LCOS sets are nice, as are the top of the line models in the latest generation of Mitsubishi DLP sets. If you're spending $4K+ that's one thing, but below that, you're going to be very hard pressed to get a better value than a CRT RPTV. You can buy a "high-end" CRT RPTV for the same or less money than a mid-range flat panel display. This is especially true if you are considering larger screen sizes (60" and above).

I bought my second HD set 2 years ago, a 65" Mitsubishi CRT RPTV. At the time it was about $3K. Even today, you'd be hard pressed to find a quality non-CRT set of the same screen size in that price range.

If you don't have the budget to spring for a high-end flat panel, I think you're better off buying a high-end CRT than a low- or medium-tier panel. You'll be happier with the end result (of course I'm ignoring WAF and room logistics).

Just don't plan on moving it much.

Ferres · January 2006

McLoki wrote:

Not at all. You don't even notice it really. You don't have to tilt your head very far at all to see the screen. Since I sit about 14' away from the image, it is well within my field of view and while I may tilt my head slightly, it is not noticably neccesary. (and it is very comfortable while lying on the couch... )
Michael

Lol! At that distance a hometheater projector would work nicely assuming you can dim the lights. Maybe something to consider in the future.

Ferres · January 2006

polksda wrote:

If you don't have the budget to spring for a high-end flat panel, I think you're better off buying a high-end CRT than a low- or medium-tier panel. You'll be happier with the end result (of course I'm ignoring WAF and room logistics).

Just don't plan on moving it much.

Yes, I would agree. But I would consider a front projector if I wanted to go beyond 40" screens. I guess it is more of a personal preferrence and yes, room logistics.

I'd hate to have to warranty one, with the size and all.

polksda · January 2006

Yeah, I'm not big on extended warrenties, but I buy them on the RPTVs, since all it takes is one problem to equal the cost of the policy.

I would love to run a projector (in fact I had an Infocus X1 for a while in another room), but you need to have SOOOOO much more control over ambient lighting to successfully use a projector. My living room has a lot of ambient light, plus most of my TV/movie watching is done while I am doing other things, i.e., the lights are on, so a projecter doesn't work.

Ferres · January 2006

polksda wrote:

I would love to run a projector (in fact I had an Infocus X1 for a while in another room), but you need to have SOOOOO much more control over ambient lighting to successfully use a projector. My living room has a lot of ambient light, plus most of my TV/movie watching is done while I am doing other things, i.e., the lights are on, so a projecter doesn't work.

Yeah. Something to consider in the future.

A projector was my main choice initially but my place was too small, though I would not have problems with lighting since all windows are covered. But I'm not giving up on a projector just yet, just need to figure out the best placement. Damn throw distance

McLoki · March 2008

Well - it lasted 2 years. It died a death and they tried 2 times to fix it. I had purchased the extended warrantee on it and they are replacing it with a new Hitachi TV. Hitachi got out of rear projection a little over a year ago - now all they have is plasma TV's.

They are replacing my 50" LCD rear projection with a new Hitachi P50X901

The reviews on it do not paint it as the worlds greatest TV, but they never really said that about my old one either. If nothing else it is 2 years newer (and about $500 more expensive) than my old tv so it should be a pretty decent upgrade for me. I really thought about going with one of the higher end LG or Sony 52" LCD tv's, but I would have had to add about $800 to the pot to get one and while the image was better, I do not know how much I will notice it once it is in my home.

Easy come - easy go. I needed an upgrade to something anyway....

Michael

Serendipity · March 2008

Wow, good thing you bought the warranty!

New Hitachi LCD projection.

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