Five years ago, I was in need of a new TV and high-definition was a wonder. I rushed down to my nearest BB store to take a look. They were spectacular. I was all ready to buy...when I saw two sets together. They were both Sony CRTs [at that time, flat panels were priced way out of my league]. Both sets were showing a soap opera. One was blurry and fuzzy. One was sharp as a tack. The blurry set? A high-def unit. The sharp one? An analog set. The reason: the program was in SD.

I bought the analog model -- a Sony KV-36F27. The fact was SD signals made up the vast majority -- almost the entirety --of the programming I watched.

With the advertising push for HDTV during the past year, I got the bug again. Mostly through internet sites, I read about the "spectacular, "awesome" and "unbelievable" quality of the HDTV images... but, here and there, I saw comments that took me back to my visit years ago to the BB store: SD signals ain't so good -- especially for DirecTV subscribers [with which, for content and other reasons, I am sticking].

The vast majority -- if no longer the near entirety -- of the programing I watch is STILL in SD. So, that 300-lb gorilla of a TV, that KV-36F27, still rules in my den.

Congratulations... enjoy! ;)

My 38" widscreen look good for SD, great with DVD's and spectacular with HD programming.
My 216lb. baby points and laughs...

BTW, are you sure about that model number of your gorilla?

True indeed. I Like my Sony KV-40xbr800. That other 305pound plus gorilla. Yeah its a 40,its flat, it does 1080i and 720P So.... Next maybe a Sony 60-70inch SXRD(they are awesome picture units). would love to have hdmi 1.3

actually no 720p

See no reason to switch from Sony 40xbr800 either unless we have to move. It is staying where it was set up 30 months ago. SD channels look fine to me, HD channels still look great.

I have one and yes it does 720P

I wonder if they can still create a mimic flat panel CRT. God I hope to be an engineer.

True indeed. I Like my Sony KV-40xbr800. That other 305pound plus gorilla. Yeah its a 40,its flat, it does 1080i and 720P So.... Next maybe a Sony 60-70inch SXRD(they are awesome picture units). would love to have hdmi 1.3

Same here with my KV-40xbr800. I've been tempted to go Plasma, but man taking everything into consideration........ there is NOTHING out there right now that beats the picture quality.... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Same here with my KV-40xbr800. I've been tempted to go Plasma, but man taking everything into consideration........ there is NOTHING out there right now that beats the picture quality.... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

At this point in time your right, however SED will do it in the future, but it's not shipping yet.


nx211

I have owned the KV-40xbr800 since early in 2003. No problems, no regrets.
perfect picture. Depth or size is not a problem in the room it's in.

Today I started my search for a TV for a different room, 37"- 40" flat panel.

Just as many questions as 4 years ago except now it's Plasma or LCD.

My recently acquired Loewe Aconda 38" is more "my baby" than my also recently acquired Mits 57831 Diamond. Although I dont yet have HD hooked up to the Loewe yet, i have seen it and it wins. DVDs? no contest...SD content? No contest. The Mits looks fabulous with OTAHD content. And Xbox 360 looks excellent as well. But the bedroom Loewe is a gem. Especially considering the deal I got on it. ;)

I have owned the KV-40xbr800 since early in 2003. No problems, no regrets.
perfect picture. Depth or size is not a problem in the room it's in.

Today I started my search for a TV for a different room, 37"- 40" flat panel.

Just as many questions as 4 years ago except now it's Plasma or LCD.
I've had the 700 model since 2002, and it's working just fine. When it needs to be replaced, I'm going with a projector and screen in my viewing room. Main difference with the 700 model is no 720p, but that's only a minor annoyance from time to time. My cable box puts everything out in 480p or 1080i, so I'm not adversely affected for now. A monster set, but a wonderful picture. I haven't found anything outside of a high end projector that can put out a clearer pictures. Plasmas don't come close.

I have the same set 40XBR700. The only problem with the set is I wish it had HDMI.

I'm actually in the opposite boat as you.

I have been watching my 24inch SD Sony for many years... loved it. But recently got the bug for my own HD set... got the Sony 34 inch. It now reigns supreme in my house ... and not because it is bigger (heck I think 4:3 content is about the same size actually) but because I have switched 75%+ of my viewing to HD content only. The rapidly expanding HD library has made this easy for me. Living the future now and loving it!

i have the 36" xbr 450 now and will be picking up the 40" on sunday for $1000 (canadian) cant wait to see it set up. can totally wait to move it though...
the 720 is great my 36" has 480 and 1080 so ps3 down converts all 720 to 480.

:)

the 720 is great my 36" has 480 and 1080 so ps3 down converts all 720 to 480.

:)

That's my only gripe right now too. COD3 would look awesome if the set could handle 720p.

XBR960 4 Life!! :D

I have had the KV-40XBR800 for almost four years now and I use it for daytime viewing. The picture is simply fabulous. At night, my Sony Pearl puts up a 133" diagonal picture wich is also superb (and BIG). :D

XBR960 upstairs. It looks great. Infocus 7200 in the theatre. Still lookin' good enough for me.

I own the KV-40XBR800 for about 3 years now and came so close to selling it last
year to get a plasma or LCD, I am so glad I didn't. I instead got a Sanyo Z5 PJ
that throws a sharp 100" pic. and a roll-up screen. So now I have the best of both
worlds.

Just thought I'd let anyone interested know that I'm selling my 40XBR800. I bought a Panny projector and a 106" Da-Lite screen, so the beautiful Sony has to go. My last CRT television, I guess... Everything works flawlessly, at least to my eyes.

You can e-mail me directly if you have any interest in it.

mikado95@aol.com

Randy in Chicago