HDTV Widescreen recommendations, please

The Sony XBR has a lot of versatility. I don't know about two component video inputs (DVD video input) but just short of that this TV does it all. The newer ones have progressive scan, flat screen, three comb filters and are HD compatible. Good luck!!!

if you want the very best, you're gonna need to save a few more euros. find a 38" loewe aconda to audition and i guaratee you'll be hooked (i have the 31" flatscreen, which actually has a better picture). i can lead you to a very nice discount from the $5.0k + msrp if you have any interest. -cfb

The Hitachi's and the Toshiba's are pretty good. Pioneer Elite is the one to buy if you can handle it. Stay away from the Mits. The Runco DTV-5801, at about $11k, is a heavily modified Toshiba.

Thanks for the postings to this point, everyone...I've always LOVED Loewes (I even learned to pronounce it "Loo-vah"), but the TV I'm looking for right now would be a step between my regular old television and a true, top-flight Loewe. It would be the type of thing that I'd keep as my main set for a few years, then move it into the bedroom to make room for a Loewe in 2005 or so.

Basically, I saw a Toshiba 42H81 on sale for $1500, and I wanted to see what you guys thought of it before I just dove right in. I live in Washington, so I'll never have enough space for one those those 64" monsters, and it looks like you can get a nice deal on the 36-43 inchers right now. The 42H81 seems to have plenty of inputs and a great picture (even at Best Buy, where the sets are calibrated to about 78,000 degrees Kelvin or so!). Because I hadn't been able to comparison shop too much, I just thought I'd see what everyone thought of that model, especially at such a deep discount.

Again, thanks to everyone for their help so far, especially to CornFed, whose generosity is especially appreciated.

Make sure that you get a direct view tv since you will be using your x-box to play games. Otherwise you will burn the static images in the guns of a rear projection set. Plasma is out of your price range. HDTV would presume that the set have a progressive input. Widescreen would limit your choices as I think that all the big names (Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.) have only one set (34") that is direct view. Even at that it is over your budget.

Your best option given your requirements (HDTV, widescreen and x-box friendly) is compromise the widescreen requirement and go with a direct view 4:3 set with HDTV in the 32" size. I think the Panasonic is less expensive than the Sony and every bit as good if not better in some areas. If you can spend a little bit more go for the 36".