Loewe or Toshiba HDTV ready?

I spent about an hour in a shop here in NYC the other night swapping stories and watching some movies on the Loewe Aconda, (having just come from around the corner and oggling all of the 16:9 HDTV's at the Wiz and Circuit City). I'm hooked on the Loewe. I am certain, however, that the quality I saw in the store was at least partially due to the loving care with which the Loewe was set up and the quality of the other equipment that was making it go v. the schlock and apathy that went into the sets at the Wiz, but the Loewe (though slightly smaller) was hands down the sure winner in my book. (So much so that I don't even remember what exactly the other TV's I saw were...). By all accounts, it is currently THE best direct view TV on the market (although we all know what such statements are really worth). If you're hooked on the Loewe HDTV, might also consider the Calida, which, I believe has all the same technology as the Aconda but in a conventional screen shape and for $1.4k less. If you watch much regular TV, might be a good thought for the price. Me, I'm hooked on the Aconda and plan on buying one just as soon as I can find some poor sap to come to the store with me and help me get it home (although they offered "the van" and a helper there, it just seems more festive to bring a friend...).

Panasonics in general have a problem developing solder cracks on their main PCB, very poor workmanship for the last ten years. The toshiba is a very good product well designed and engineered, pix is outstanding. THe loewe is like a ferrari, you won't be able to get it repaired at ther corner Fixit shop, but hopefully it won't be your main
source of entertainment.

I'm not sure, but the Calida may not display a true HDTV signal (1080i). I think it has the same chassis as my Planus which shows 420p (or is it 480p?) Anyhow, I'm told that in smaller sets (under about 32"), there is little if any visual difference due to resolution limits of your eyes. I would also point out that the panaroma mode on the Planus (which allows viewing of a 4:3 format signal at almost full screen width with loss of about 1" top and bottom) works fine in terms of no significant distortion, but since it enlarges the picture, it also magnifies any problems that may be inherent in the source.

I have a Loewe Aconda. It has an exception picture when the source material is clean. Unfortunately I view cable where the signal is less than perfect. The Aconda isn't able to correct skin tone deficiencies (My Sony XBR2 did a much better job at tracking skin tones for NTSC) in the NTSC signal which leaves me watching some green people. With the invar mask you will also find the picture darker than what you are normally accustomed too as well. But when the signal is clean you have a virtual 3D picture. I'm not familiar with the Toshiba model but thought you might find the info helpfull.

Patrick- can you provide more info on "invar mask". I haven't had any significant problem with skin tones, but I definately am fighting a battle between running contrast and brightness "too hot" and it being a bit (my wife says more than a bit) to dark. Any suggestions on how to deal with this issue.