Need TV advice (1 Viewer)

[Christo Ramo]

I am going to pull the trigger on a new TV sometime between now and Thanksgiving. I love the Sony line of TV's and made a decision to definatley get one. I am just stuck between either the 36" WEGA or the 40" XBR. There is about $700 price difference. Is there really a drastic size differance. They have the same amount of ports and I am not interested in their built in sound systems. Is there a 36" XBR?

Thanks.

 

[Jack Briggs]

Since you're asking about specific model recommendations, it's best to post in the area devoted to the topic at hand.

 

[Gary SI]

Hi Christo,
This year the XBR line has gone "Wide Screen"
Well almost , you can still get the 40" , but they have two new models : a 30" and 34" both 16X9 ratio.
For more info check out this link :
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...22to40%22 %29
Best of luck,
Gary

 

[Mando-R]

There is a 36XBR800 but it's hard to find. If you're planning on movie watching, I would recommend the 40XBR800, unless you're tight on space. The 36HS510 (I'm assuming that's the 36 you're looking at) has a very good image quality, but it's not as crisp on HDTV inputs as the XBR is.

The best idea is to look at them yourself at a local Circuit City. I work there, and I can vouch for the weight of an XBR. I've lifted a 36HS510 with a friend of mine, but an XBR takes three people to lift, unless they're mutants. When it comes to reliability, I haven't seen an XBR800 come back, nor have I seen a 36HS510, but I will note that we've had more satisfied customers from the HS510 then the XBR800. Most people that purchase the XBR800 claim, "I paid 2400 dollars. For 400 dollars more, I could've gotten a 42" plasma screen"

What will you primarily be using the screen for? If you're going to be watching movies primarily, then I would suggest a plasma screen. They're 42 inches, they can be hung on the wall, and EDTV plasma screens look GREAT for movies.

The new XBR's are widescreen tv's but I think they're worthless, because you can't watch TV at all with it, (in terms of cable).

 

[Jack Briggs]

That's a bit extreme, Mando. Except for the substandard video quality of most NTSC broadcasts themselves, the widescreen XBRs will display them as well as any other monitor.

 

[Ryan Wishton]

The weight is just insane... Thats why I am going to wait and hope Plasmas go down in the next few years...

I like big screen tv's, I just dont want the clunky box that goes with it...

P.S. I was just at Circuit City and the salesman didnt understand what I meant when I said I wanted to hook up the S-video... He didnt understand what S-video was... I was quite concerned, especially since he was in the tv department...