NoirTech

Seeming that I have a distrust for the sale reps at electronic stores (there is a reason, but it's a long long story), I figured I would ask my very important question here. :-)

Well, my wife finally nagged me enough to buy a house, that I finally did, and will be closing next week (3/28). I did have a condition for her though....that I would be able to build a home theater (at a budget), like I want to...and that I could buy whatever TV I wanted in the $3000 price range. Well,...actually..that's the budget I'm working with...$3000. Seems like there are a lot of choices out there when dealing with this price range. ...and features of all kinds. Getting kind of overwhelming. So I figured I might be able to save me some time, and sanity if I just asked here. So here is the question....
....
....

"If someone gave you $3000 to buy a Widescreen HDTV, which one would you get and why?"

I presented this question to a Best Buy representative, and they suggested the following model:

http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=...at=&e=11124615
Here is the same one from the official Toshiba site:
http://www.toshiba.com/tacp/tv/current/65H82.html

Is this a good choice? Should I consider something else? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!!

Roy28

You can get the 65hdx82 from onecall shipped for less than the Bestbuy price on the 65h82. It's the same as the 65h82, but has supposedly better/brighter wide-neck crt's, a better antireflective screen, DVI input, and maybe a few more upgraded features. Check The Home Theater Spot and the Toshiba website for more info.

Only problem is you can't return/exchange the set if there are any problems (other than shipping damage) - if you have any problems, you have to rely on Toshiba tech support to get it fixed.

Roy

NoirTech

Hmmm. Good advice Roy. I didn't think about problems and needing to return or exchange it. Didn't really care who I bought it from, but that may now be something to consider. Would really hate to have a dead $3k tv at home. My decision on what TV, and who to get it from will have to be very careful.

As for considering the 65HDx82, I'm gonna print out the SPECs and compare soon. I hear Toshibas are pretty good HDTVs. Wish I had time to educate myself more on what exactly I should be looking for, but my work projects are taking a lot of time at the moment.

ckolchak

if you have a dedicated room for this theater- there is no way i would blow $3k on a tv-
get a projector.

i'm assuming you already own a tv for viewing the essential nonsense that comes over cable and dish.

DJ_Longfellow

People seem to rave about Pioneer and Mits TV's....i have a 55" Mits.

Also, do you already have all the other essentials....Progressive Scan DVD, receiver, 5.1 or 6.1 or 7.1 surround for speakers...all that fun stuff....not sure what the budget is for EVERYTHING

Corky Roxbury

Well noirtech, it all depends on what you will be viewing on the new tv, and what will be your viewing distance. Do you play videogames, if you have a xbox look for a tv that will either display 720p natively or upconvert to 1080i?
IF so check out the Sony Grand Wega LCD rptv, a 50" can be had for less than $3500.00, or you can wait till about october and get the new model in a 60" size for the same price.
Does your wife watch alot of tv or cable or Dish?
If so check out the strecth modes, some are better than others at this feature. IF you go with lcd, or dlp there is no real need to stretch the picture for fear of burn in.

But if you set up a crt rptv correctly you don't have to worry about burn in but your wife might think the picture look to "dark".


If this room is just a dedicated room for home theater and you can control the light sources coming into the room, I might go the projector route as well. I am redoing a room in my basement that will be 8 1/2' high, by 26' long and 12' wide so I am also looking into projectors.

Can you get HD channels in your area

NoirTech

Wow, I'm getting such an over whelming response to this post here and in the Home Theater forum. Trying to answer as many questions as possible....

First of all, let me make clear that the room I'm converting into my home theater is actually the family room. Wife and Son can have everything else. hehehe. It is not an enclosed area, but it will have to do. Here is a floor plan for anyone that cares:



This will be the main tv. My current one will go in the "den" (can't do without my CNN), and the other smaller one in the Master Bedroom ...or vice versa.

Here is a picture of the area where the TV will go, but with the current residents (who should be out by now) TV:




I should have taken a better picture of that wall, but I can do that during the final walk through next Thursday. I will make a website with the "inspection" pictures and with the final "walk through" pictures in the near future.

As for a projector...after thinking about it for a few weeks, I decided to go with a TV because it will be our main TV for the house. Mother-In-Law comes over a lot, and cannot really have her trying to figure out how to use a front projector...or could I?
Anyways...how well are FP for everyday television use? Wouldn't that be a problem? TV is usually on for 5 hours straight during any given day. Do people use their FP for everyday TV viewing?

Ok, I hope this additional information helps.

NoirTech

I believe I do have the essentials. Here is my equipment:

DVD Player = Toshiba SD-2109 (bought back on 12/99, time to upgrade?)
Additional info: http://www.toshiba.com/tacp/dvd/archive/SD2109.html

5.1 Surround (DTS) = Kenwood HTB-503 (bought back on 12/00)
Additional info:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?38
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/pr...?productId=641

What do you think? Time to upgrade or will these two items be fine?

NoirTech

Thanks for the info. Yes, I will be hooking up an XBox/Gamecube/PS2 to this TV. Hmm...going to have to check about the display. I have to admit that a lot of this is new to me, since I've been watching everything on a 27" TV for a long long time.

Wife does watch a lot of cable TV. Mostly "Trading Places" , and the "Home & Garden Television". She's an obsessed woman! Then again, I'm obsessed with the news, so I will probably be watching a lot of news and sports as well. I've heard about the problems with burn in, so I will definately have to read up on it quickly.

Oh..and I can't wait till October!!! hahahaha. :-P


You know, I'm not sure if we get HD channels in that area of town I'm moving in. I'll have to check.

As for your other questions and comments, you've probably noticed that most were answered above.

Thanks!!!

Roy28

I may be wrong, but I don't think the SD-2109 is a progressive scan player.

If you're going to get a really large tv (with HD/Component inputs), a good progressive scan player would be a wise upgrade, it makes a difference in picture quality.

As for the TV, I just purchased the 65hdx82 I mentioned earlier and love it. Picture Quality on DSS and DVD is amazing. And the stretch modes with 4:3 material are excellent - almost no noticeable distortion whatsoever. However it doesn't display 720p natively, but upconverts to 1081i.

I've read the Pioneer Elites are the absolute cream of the crop, but they are very pricey.

Of course If I had the room, I may have went with a front projector, but the way my house is set up it just wasn't an option.

Roy

NoirTech

Hey Roy,...
Yeah...for what people have been telling me, it looks like if I do consider the Toshiba model, that I SHOULD go with the 65hdx82. So that is the model I'm looking at now.

As for my DVD player, I went through the SPECs on the website, and you are right, it doesn't look like it has progressive scan. Crap. Guess it's time to upgrade my DVD player. Thinking of getting the MALATA DVP-520. Been thinking on upgrading to that model, since I keep seeing the pop up on DVD Talk :-)

Just noticed that it DOES have progressive scan, so editing my post since I answered that question. Anyone else have this DVD player? If so,...any good?

Roy28

I don't know much about the Malata. Actually, I'm about to get a new dvd player myself, and from what I've read the Panasonic xp-30 is one of the best progressive scan players out there right now. Actually, the Panasonic rp-82 was considered one of the absolute best, but is discontinued and impossible to find.

This Link may be helpful.

NoirTech

Just read a bit on that player, and yes...the Panasonic does look like a good one to go with. Though,..I have to admit that I'm looking for a good player that will be able to play Region 2 DVDs (PAL) as well, since there are several music DVDs overseas that I want. I'm pretty sure the Panasonic is not region free, but if it is, and I overlooked that, let me know. Still really considering getting the Malata.

Anyone here own this DVD player?

Corky Roxbury

I believe there is quite a bit of people on here with the malata 520 model and people were having problems when Not connecting it through component and there looks to be subtitle problems with it. The guys over in the international dvd talk will be able to tell you what is a good region free player, just in case they don't see this thread.

If this is the main family room I would go with a rptv, or FP, just because it is more practical with the family using the room as well, and with the sliding glass dorr there as well.

NoirTech

Cool, I'll check the internation thread out and ask about the Malata in a few. I'm really interested in it. This DVD player would be hooked up to my Kenwood receiver, and then out to the HDTV, so hopefully I wouldn't have any issues, but who knows.

Back to the TV discussion though,...seems like the 65HDx82 is winning. Would most of you seem to be in agreement? Someone in the HTF said I should consider the Mitsubishi WS-65311 first, before the 65HDx82, so I will have to write that one down as well.

Tsar Chasm

I just recently leapt into the rptv owner's club and did a lot of research to make my decision.

Like you, I was going to get the Toshiba ***H82 from BB. I went another B&M in my area and they offered me the HDX82 for $180 less than BB wanted for its little brother. Check other retailers, you can get some sweet deals.

NoirTech

Yes...on my way home from work I have a Circuit City, Best Buy, K-Mart, Sears, and a full mall.,....so I'll definately be price searching for this TV. Which B&M store offered you the HDx82 for $180 less? Seems like HDx82 is going to be the winner of this thread. :-)

DVD Smurf

Redo the garage to the home theater room and park the car outside. No, honestly, good luck and congratulation with the house purchase. I know what you talking about I am trying to convince my wife that we need a projector. And upgrade the DVD player, I got lucky and got the Toshiba 9200 cheap through ubid.

Tsar Chasm

The place I went was a B&M called Video Only. It is definitely a commission based place but they aggressively wanted my cash in hand. National chains can have their hands tied when it comes to price and the HDX line (cinema series) isn't carried everywhere.

Good luck, you'll love it.

Roy28

I looked at the Mitsubishi's when I was shopping around for my tv, and they are good sets. Only problem is they really magnify the faults with anything less than a perfect signal. OTA, Cable, Vhs, even dss looked pretty bad on the sets that I saw. Also, the stretch modes are awful - creating a very pronounced fishbowl effect. On the plus side, quality of HD and DVD was fantastic.

Roy

NoirTech

Ah, I see. I'm now starting to consider getting this TV from someone that might offer an extended warrenty,...like Best Buy...if the price is right? Would you all advice this? I mean, what is the likelihood that something might actually happen to it that would require an extended warranty? I hear the BB reps trying to sell additional extended warranties to people buying HDTVs.

NoirTech

Hmm..That's interesting. Then I guess Toshiba is back on top on my list.

Tsar Chasm

lol, the BB reps try to sell extended warranties on EVERYTHING. Read their offering VERY carefully. The place I bought from offers a 3 yr for $99. I have a month to decide. There is also a Toshiba extended warranty offer in the box. The VERY BIG box.

NoirTech

Yes...they certainly do. I never buy them, unless I buy a very expensive piece of electronics. I can't believe they get people to buy them for USB Hubs, cheap CD burners..and what nots.

clibert

If you could stretch it another thousand I would say a Pioneer Elite. But for this prise I would get one of the Mitsubishis.