Hi, I'm about to buy a Sony 36xbr800 (for $200 delivered--it truly is a buyer's market!). We watch DVDs almost exclusively so we have only a rabbit ears antenna and regular converter box; so when we do watch TV, it's in SD.

Also, in addition to movies, we watch a fair amount of TV series on DVD (currently, West Wing), so it's not cinema-quality. I may buy a separate HD tuner when football season rolls back around, if I can find one cheap, so it's possible that at some point, HD will be an option, but not for now.

I'm wondering if the xbr800 will serve us, or if I should look for a TV that was made for SD. If so, which TVs do you recommend? I'm not overly attached to Sony, I'm open to other brands, I just want a top-notch PQ.

Thanks!

The TV will work fine for SD. Look around on craigslist/ebay for an HD tuner, you can find them for $50 or less, the same price you pay for a regular tuner brand new.

BTW good move getting an excellent TV for $200. Flat panel fever has created a buyers market for the CRT based sets.

On Craigslist, I found a Samsung SIR-T451 HD tuner for $45 and a Sony SAT-HD200 for $20. I think those were extremely low deals however. (The SAT-HD200 is an old Direct TV box that receives HD off the air and Cable Std def analog. The satellite part is SD only, because Direct TV changed their HD service technology.) The Samsung receives signals better (a bit) the Sony gave the best HDTV image on my Sony TV that is like yours, DVI input. HDTV signal will letterbox.

Thanks for the tip. And, yes, I'm delighted to get this fine beast for $200--and the seller even delivered!

I see a ton the the Directv & Dish Network HD receivers for sale on CL & ebay; will these work for me if I don't subscribe to their service--I have only an OTA antenna. Also on CL is an LG LST-3510A for $149; and a Samsung DTB-H260F for $75. I'm drawn to the LG because of the built-in DVD player. Any opinion about either of these sets? Any recommendations for models I should look for or models I should avoid?