BEST REAR PROJECTION TV 50 to 61"

The biggest tube set I know of was 40 inches and I heard the picture was awful. Thus, your three options are (1) rear projection, (2) Plasma, or (3) Front Projection. Since the last two are rather expensive, the best price/performance ratio is with rear projection. The first question you need to answer is if you are looking for a set that is HDTV ready (or includes an HDTV tuner). If the answer is you want HDTV, I would wait, as the price and performance is improving, and with limited source material, I think the wait is worthwhile. If you do not care about HDTV, I have found the best picture with the Pioneeer Elite models, and the worst with the Mitsubishi models. But, of course, this is only my opinion.

I bought a Pioneer Elite rear projection tv after looking at EVERY projection tv, price is no object, and found them to be clearer and richer color than any other, including Sony. Now they offer HD models as well.

I own a new Pioneer HD710 and I was going to wait a year or two to buy HDTV. After seeing the picture you should agree there is no reason to wait for next generation HDTV. The improvement just incorporated into the 710 64" is also available in the 610 58", and 510 54". There shouldn't be any changes for a year or two for these HDTV's. I compared it to the Sony 34" tube HDTV (which was too small for me), and I would say it was very close in display and twice the size (64"). Pioneer hands down the best rear projection on the planet and well worth every penny I paid.