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Need help making TV decision

I'm looking to replace my ancient Proton 27" CRT with something new. I've poked around AVS forum and CNET but still feel confused and underinformed. Would welcome advice here and pointers to other sources of information.

Here's our situation:

-- Can accomodate up to 40"-42" wide display
-- Use Comcast digital cable box through TiVo box as main source; also DVD
-- TV (not DVD) probably 80% of viewing
-- Viewing distance is about 8 feet
-- Can accomodate the depth of a CRT or rear projection, but a flat panel would be just fine (will sit atop 40" AV cart)
-- Don't need built-in audio as I route audio signals through an AV receiver
-- Price not too much of an issue

So....LCD, Plasma, DLP or CRT? HD or ED? One of my main fears is that I will get a set that kills on DVD or HD but leaves me unhappy when I watch an old movie or a Seinfeld rerun or any non-HD TV program. There's also the issue of our addiction to TiVo and the absence of an HD TiVo box for digital cable (as far as I know).

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.
Ag insider logo xs@2xdrubin
dlstephenson
121 posts
 
After watching HDTV any source that is upscaled seems to pale to True HDTV Source material.

The new Sony SXRD is by far the best black level from any set I have ever seen. I dont like dlp as I can see the Rainbow effect. 1080P is the top right now.

But you dont mention how much that you want to invest. The sony qualia line is unbelieveable but VERY expensive.
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drubin OP
3,274 posts
 
Thanks. We want bigger than 30" (40"=42" would be ideal I think). Isn't 36" about as big as you can get in a CRT?

As far as price goes, I'd like to keep it under $3.5K, but there might be some wiggle room.

> After watching HDTV any source that is upscaled seems to pale to True HDTV Source material.

What's the implication of this? Does one give up watching non-HD programming?
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robdoorack
63 posts
 
May I suggest the Sony 36" CRT KD-36XS955, a steal for $1500. Yeah, it's not hang - on - the - wall sexy and it weighs well over 200 pounds, but the picture (especially after an ISF calibration) is fantastic. The Sony does blacks that LCD and plasma sets can only dream about. In widescreen mode for DVD or HD the image is 33" diagonal, and for SD it's a huge 36". The set has a tuner (and an HDTV tuner) and a whopping 7 video inputs including HDMI, component, composite, and S - video. It handles 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i signals. Yes, HD images are clearly superior to SD, but a calibrated SD picture looks pretty good on the Sony. We still watch a lot of SD programming so that was a requirement when I went shopping for a new TV. I looked at plasma sets but SD programming on a 42" Pioneer or Panasonic plasma just looked awful.
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