My dad told me today he wants to upgrade his TV. Based on his budget it looks like a 50" - 55" rear projection lcd is what the doctor ordered. He wants to buy something in the morning and I don't have time to research before we meet. Based on what I've read/seen I was thinking about getting the Sony KDF-55E2000. It's on sale for $1799 canadian (including matching stand) at future shop - part of there boxing day sale.

Other TV's I'm considering are:

Sony KF50E200A (including matching stand) for $1699
Hitachi 50VS69A for $1599 and
Hitachi 55VS69A for $1799

I usually would do more research on this but I don't have the time right now. Just looking to see what you guys suggest. Just to let you know - he's not anal about this stuff. He has an old rear projection TV (about 7-8 years) which looks like crap. All the TV's listed above are a lot better. Just want to make sure I'm not purchasing a TV that has a known problem. Any other TV's you may think I might have missed?? Budget is about $1800 and size does matter to him. If I can get a 55" rather than 50" he will be happier.

Any suggestions??

Have to go out for dinner now - hopefully when I get back a few people will have responded. Not looking for answers just some opinions to help make a decision.

Thanks guys.

50-55 range, RPTV, the top things talked about are the Sony 2000 series, the Samsung 7x/8x series, and others.

I've been looking at Samsung personally. It gets great reviews here, but so does the Sony. I've not seen much on the Hitachi. FWIW, I'm obsessive before I spend that much money, and I *personally* have settled on the HL-S5088w, but havn't bought one yet.

From my personal research, mainly in the samsung line, the 7x series is 720p, the 8x series is 1080p. Which is better? That is a WHOLE big can of worms to open up. 720 is cheaper, and as good as 1080 above certian distances, but you pay more for the upgrade.

-Joel

As long as you're happy with your decision, I don't believe you'll go wrong.

After this year run Hitachi will be going to a flat screen company.

The xxVS69A is a poor product compared to the Hitachi xxVG825 IMO is the best LCD Micro Display I have ever seen.

What ever you buy, please buy some type of Calibration DVD like AVIA or DVE.

If you are looking at Sony's 720p sets, I would also look at JVC's HD-ILA rear projection sets. Most big box retailers sell the JVC tv's in a package that includes the stand. The JVC model numbers are HD-52G787/887 for the 52" and HD-56G787/887 for the 56". Not that cabinet color is an issue or anything, I know that the Sony tv's you've listed only come in the silver/charcoal. The JVC xx787's have all black cabinets, with the xx887's being silver/black. I own a 56G787 w/the included JVC stand and I absolutely love it. I looked at the Sony E2000 series alongside the JVC's because they both use the LCOS technology, meaning that they have 3 chips to DLP's 1, and they don't have a color wheel like the DLP's (which is big for me, because I'm susceptible to rainbows in DLP tv's...however, some people aren't). I would have to say that there is nothing wrong with the Sony E2000 tv's. The deciding factor for me was the all black cabinet of the JVC sets. I just wanted to pass on my opinion, having first hand being in the same position...did I mention I'm extremely impressed by my JVC daily. It's an awesome tv. My only regret is that my pockets weren't deep enough to get a 1080p tv...but even then it would've still been a JVC!

Samsung is DLP correct?? I personally bought a DLP from Samsung a few years back HLN-467W and love it but I thought DLP was a dying technology?? From best buy canada the only models available are the:

HLS5066 - $1549
HLS5087 - $2299
HLS5687 - $2499
HLS5666 - $1899

The only ones that fall into his budget are the HLS5066 and the HLS5666. Didn't see the HL-S5088w??? Do you know anything about the 5066 or the 5666??? Do you think DLP is better than LCD at this point?? I know there are color wheel issues on some DLP's + the bulb needs to be replaced at a certain # of hours??

Anyone have any suggestions?? If money wasn't an issue I would probably suggest a 50" plasma but because he wants something large (50" - 55") I think DLP or LCD are the only choices??


50-55 range, RPTV, the top things talked about are the Sony 2000 series, the Samsung 7x/8x series, and others.

I've been looking at Samsung personally. It gets great reviews here, but so does the Sony. I've not seen much on the Hitachi. FWIW, I'm obsessive before I spend that much money, and I *personally* have settled on the HL-S5088w, but havn't bought one yet.

From my personal research, mainly in the samsung line, the 7x series is 720p, the 8x series is 1080p. Which is better? That is a WHOLE big can of worms to open up. 720 is cheaper, and as good as 1080 above certian distances, but you pay more for the upgrade.

-Joel

As long as you're happy with your decision, I don't believe you'll go wrong.

Thanks. Checked out prices for the JVC's and it doesn't look like best buy, future shop or audio video 2001 sell any of the models you mentioned?? They only sell the:

HD56FC97 - 1080P - $2799

Everything else they sell is bigger and more expensive. Not sure why??

If you are looking at Sony's 720p sets, I would also look at JVC's HD-ILA rear projection sets. Most big box retailers sell the JVC tv's in a package that includes the stand. The JVC model numbers are HD-52G787/887 for the 52" and HD-56G787/887 for the 56". Not that cabinet color is an issue or anything, I know that the Sony tv's you've listed only come in the silver/charcoal. The JVC xx787's have all black cabinets, with the xx887's being silver/black. I own a 56G787 w/the included JVC stand and I absolutely love it. I looked at the Sony E2000 series alongside the JVC's because they both use the LCOS technology, meaning that they have 3 chips to DLP's 1, and they don't have a color wheel like the DLP's (which is big for me, because I'm susceptible to rainbows in DLP tv's...however, some people aren't). I would have to say that there is nothing wrong with the Sony E2000 tv's. The deciding factor for me was the all black cabinet of the JVC sets. I just wanted to pass on my opinion, having first hand being in the same position...did I mention I'm extremely impressed by my JVC daily. It's an awesome tv. My only regret is that my pockets weren't deep enough to get a 1080p tv...but even then it would've still been a JVC!

Thanks. Checked out prices for the JVC's and it doesn't look like best buy, future shop or audio video 2001 sell any of the models you mentioned?? They only sell the:

HD56FC97 - 1080P - $2799

Everything else they sell is bigger and more expensive. Not sure why??


I bought mine at Best Buy!...of course, that's in the US. The Best Buy model number is a bit different for the set (HD567BP7 instead of HD56787). "BP" is where the "8" should be. This designates that the tv comes with JVC's stand. Here's the link to Best Buy's page for my TV:

JVC HD56G787 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7699001&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050028&id=1138084693793)

As for the Samsung 720p models...the model numbers are as follows:

HL-S5086 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705708&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050039&id=1138085296465)
HL-S5686 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705735&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050039&id=1138085317109)
(Best Buy pages linked)

The Samsung HL-S5088 (http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_HL_S5088W/4505-6484_7-31951563.html?tag=pdtl-list) is a 1080p model and is not sold at Best Buy (at least it's not on their website!). However, they do sell the HL-S5087 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8131041&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050039&id=1162593226223) , which is the same TV as the HL-S5088, minus picture-in-picture and a few more features. Apparently even the HL-S5087 is an online only deal.

p.s. I didn't know that Best Buy in Canada sold different items than here in the US...sorry about that.

Samsung is DLP correct?? I personally bought a DLP from Samsung a few years back HLN-467W and love it but I thought DLP was a dying technology?? From best buy canada the only models available are the:

HLS5066 - $1549
HLS5087 - $2299
HLS5687 - $2499
HLS5666 - $1899

The only ones that fall into his budget are the HLS5066 and the HLS5666. Didn't see the HL-S5088w??? Do you know anything about the 5066 or the 5666??? Do you think DLP is better than LCD at this point?? I know there are color wheel issues on some DLP's + the bulb needs to be replaced at a certain # of hours??

Anyone have any suggestions?? If money wasn't an issue I would probably suggest a 50" plasma but because he wants something large (50" - 55") I think DLP or LCD are the only choices??

Maybe it's because you're in Canada, or maybe those stores just don't sell them, but the xx87's are 1080p and the xx66's are 720p. The xx88's are also 1080p but they have some extra features over the xx87's.

I would go with a Samsung DLP. If you're talking rear projection you're going to be replacing bulbs one way or the other and the Samsung's have the best picture potential (after tweaks and/or calibration) according to professional calibrators.

Ok, now I'm getting that the Samsung 5086/5686 are the same as the 5066/5666. Just that the latter are the Canadian model numbers...just too confusing.

If you are looking at Sony's 720p sets, I would also look at JVC's HD-ILA rear projection sets. Most big box retailers sell the JVC tv's in a package that includes the stand. The JVC model numbers are HD-52G787/887 for the 52" and HD-56G787/887 for the 56". Not that cabinet color is an issue or anything, I know that the Sony tv's you've listed only come in the silver/charcoal. The JVC xx787's have all black cabinets, with the xx887's being silver/black. I own a 56G787 w/the included JVC stand and I absolutely love it. I looked at the Sony E2000 series alongside the JVC's because they both use the LCOS technology, meaning that they have 3 chips to DLP's 1, and they don't have a color wheel like the DLP's (which is big for me, because I'm susceptible to rainbows in DLP tv's...however, some people aren't). I would have to say that there is nothing wrong with the Sony E2000 tv's. The deciding factor for me was the all black cabinet of the JVC sets. I just wanted to pass on my opinion, having first hand being in the same position...did I mention I'm extremely impressed by my JVC daily. It's an awesome tv. My only regret is that my pockets weren't deep enough to get a 1080p tv...but even then it would've still been a JVC!

the one problem with this is the JVC's are terrible with reliability. The picture looks AMAZING i must say it is one of the best out there but the bulb burns out way too fast. at my place of employment we had to replace the jvc's bulb four months after it was put on display wheres almost all the other tv's were fine. just a word of caution, there is a tradeoff to the amazing picture.

Just wanted to thank everyone for there opinions. My dad ended up getting a Sony KDF-55E2000.
In my opinion a lot of these TV's in this price range are VERY SIMILAR and you can't go wrong with any of them. This TV just happened to have the best sale. Also picked up a bose surround set-up and a upconverting dvd player. Set it all up for him yesterday - lets just say - he was in sports heaven.

Just wanted to thank everyone for there opinions. My dad ended up getting a Sony KDF-55E2000.
In my opinion a lot of these TV's in this price range are VERY SIMILAR and you can't go wrong with any of them. This TV just happened to have the best sale. Also picked up a bose surround set-up and a upconverting dvd player. Set it all up for him yesterday - lets just say - he was in sports heaven.

How is the brightness in day time? I am looking at that set too. The price is right and I need something much larger for my family room than my 37" LCD.