Looking for a direct view TV..what's the best one made?

Marbles · « **on:** 7 Mar 2005, 04:14 pm »

My father is looking for a TV for his home office.

Outside demension should be as close to 37" w x 27" H and space is quite deep.

What's the best one made. Price isn't important.

Thanks

Al Garay · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 05:05 pm »

Can fit some 34" widescreen CRT.

I recommend starting with Toshiba Cinema series, 34HFX84. Can usually find it for around $1300-1500. Excellent picture quality, easy remote and menu options, excellent reliability.

The Sony KD-34XBR960 would have been the top choice but you need at least 40" in width. And the Toshiba Cinema is very close in picture quality.

The Panasonic Tau widescreen should fit. Has excellent picture quality but has had reliability problems. At least, I did with power failure problems with 2 of them in the last 3 years. This last time, I went with Toshiba.

JVC also has a high-end widescreen that should fit. I didn't find the PQ an better than the Cinema series. I would shy away from Samsung, Philips, Zenith, RCA... too many reliability issues and PQ that's not up to Toshiba Cinema and Sony XBR level.

www.avsforum.com is the place to research this to death.

Al

bubba966 · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 05:15 pm »

30" Loewe 16:9, no doubt about it.

Al Garay · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 05:30 pm »

Big problem with Loewe is they stopped selling in USA.
http://www.loewe-us.com/

Loewe's is very hard to find which translates to a real pain to maintain and get service.

He could fit a Sony XBR 30" just as well. But why when Cinema 34" is really good and fits?

Al

bubba966 · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 06:13 pm »

That sucks that Loewe is no longer selling sets in the US.

Guess I shoulda put more effort into obtaining one when it was a lot easier.

At least they're providing service for them, should one ever need it. Though I doubt one would need much of any service on a Loewe. I've been seriously looking at them for at least 3 years. And haven't heard of a single problem with 'em from the local place that sold 'em. The friend of mine that's got one hasn't had even a hint of a problem with his.

All I've really been looking at for at least the last 5 years has been direct views. For the size that Marbles is asking about I'd go with sets in this order.

30" Loewe Articos (sp?)
30" Loewe Aconda (model before the Articos)
30" Sony XBR if the 34" one doesn't fit
34" Toshiba Cinema Series

While I like Toshiba much better than Sony in 4:3 tubed sets, I like the Sony 16:9 tubes better than the Toshiba's. Not that either set from either company is nasty as they've both pretty close to each other. This comes from comparing direct views over & over again at the local shop. I've had 'em calibrate sets there. I've even brought in my High-Def LaserDisc player before to run comparisons for hours on end in the local shop.

I will say that Toshiba's are much more reliable sets than Sony's though. But neither Sony nor Toshiba comes close to the Loewe for PQ from BOTH digital based (DVD/Sat/HD) & analog based (OTA/VHS/LD) source material.

rosconey · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 07:21 pm »

i have the wide screen tua from panny-so far so good,knock on wood

jasonc · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 12:08 am »

You'd be pressed to find a better picture than this model- Sony KD-30XS955. I own the 34" KD-34XS955 and the picture is incredibly natural with HD being the best I've seen. It also has has a built in HD tuner which is nice.

NealH · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 02:01 am »

No question, "jasonc" is right on this one. That Sony is stunningly good. IMO it's the king of the hill in direct views right now.

BeeBop · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 10:55 am »

Just curious - how come direct view and not LCD? These things weight 200 lbs.

Marbles · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 01:00 pm »

A: He has a deep spot for it.

B: He's 70 and doesn't always embrace the latest technologies.

woodsyi · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 03:01 pm »

Direct view is still the best when you consider brightness from all angles. I have a behemoth Panny 36 direct view that is great. I can be on the floor off to the side playing with my girl and still see the screen just fine. My in-laws like it when they visit because it's so "bright," which is a major plus for elder citizens.

rbrb · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

A: He has a deep spot for it.

B: He's 70 and doesn't always embrace the latest technologies.

Good for him. Latest does not always mean greatest. The good old CRT still has life left in it. LCD, plasma etc. can only dream of the black levels a CRT based TV can provide.

TV's have been two feet deep for the last fifty years suddenly that's too big, not sure what people plan on doing with that 10" of floor space they gain by going with some of the latest technologies.

Who cares how much they weigh? I usually don't pick up my TV and move it around the room.

ctviggen · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 06:13 pm »

While I love tube TVs, as the black levels are fantastic (I have to look for the green LED on my RPTV to see if it's on), being heavy is a detriment. My TV weighs 330 pounds. I will likely move it upstairs one day, and I'll be calling piano movers to move it -- even with three people, it's a bear to move.