Well, after deliberating and scouring craigslist for months, I finally bought a TV today, a Sony 36XBR800. I was happy to watch as the seller and his friend hauled that behemoth into my living room. (I have a mediocre back, which went into spasm just looking at the thing).

After spending the evening with it, I have two issues:

1) The PQ in SD is grainy. I mean, VERY. We use a rabbit-ears antenna as a source.

2) The letter box effect is pronounced, took up about 1/3 to 1/2 of the screen when I watched a movie tonight. I have the 16:9 enhanced on "auto" and the DVD player on 4:3. I searched through the manual and played around with the TV for quite a while but I could see no way to change the aspect ratio to 4:3. Is there a way? Or must I resign myself to the letter boxing?

Thanks for your help.

You got it delivered, that's rare on CL.

Grainy PQ-how far away from local transmitters? Use VHF/UHF input. Also, check that "clearedge VM" is OFF and sharpness it set in center, and it's not "vivid" mode either (try Pro or Standard). DRC mode interlaced.

Letterbox-if the movie is widescreen, letterbox is normal. More black bars if movie's aspect ratio is wider. 16:9 enhanced means the DVD will be letterboxed with more vertical resolution. TV has no way to zoom out. Try turning Off the 16:9 enhanced. Your DVD may be widescreen within 4:3, try the Pan scan side of the disc if it has one.

You got it delivered, that's rare on CL.

Grainy PQ-how far away from local transmitters? Use VHF/UHF input. Also, check that "clearedge VM" is OFF and sharpness it set in center, and it's not "vivid" mode either (try Pro or Standard). DRC mode interlaced.

Letterbox-if the movie is widescreen, letterbox is normal. More black bars if movie's aspect ratio is wider. 16:9 enhanced means the DVD will be letterboxed with more vertical resolution. TV has no way to zoom out. Try turning Off the 16:9 enhanced. Your DVD may be widescreen within 4:3, try the Pan scan side of the disc if it has one.
I know, and I was delighted he agreed to it. Truth to tell, it's the only way I would buy it and he wanted to get rid of it. So, there it sits, in my living room, without me having to lift anything more than the remote.

I know, and I was delighted he agreed to it. Truth to tell, it's the only way I would buy it and he wanted to get rid of it. So, there it sits, in my living room, without me having to lift anything more than the remote.
JDRE, thanks for the suggestions. Re the grainy PQ: I'm not sure how far away I am from the local transmitters. I live in a first ring suburb of Minneapolis, so I wouldn't think the transmitters would be too far away.

Re the 16:9 enhanced, I saw no way to turn it off; the options were "on" or "auto", no off. Is there a way to turn it off that I couldn't see?