I am looking for a new set over 70" and its a struggle. So many variables. Focusing mainly on PQ, I've got it down to Mits 73831, Toshiba 72mx196, JVC 70FN97, and Sony 70XRB2. Maybe I should add the Samsung too. Every source I go to reaces a different conclusion, and then usually only rating the smaller versions of these sets. I'm on Directv which still has very few HD channels so PQ on std. def is important to me. I won't be gaming on this set. Any guidance from you guys would be much appreciated!

lol, i just made the exact same post, but im looking at either the 71 samsung or the 70 sony or jvc... lol well good luck.. i'll tell you which one I went with by this time tomorrow :P

There are some older threads discussing at least some, if not all of the 70" and above RPTVs. I found it hard to locate these sized sets in the stores to do direct video comparisons, so the few vid-auditions I did were with circa 60" screen sizes assuming the results extrapolated to the 70" sizes.

You may be happy with any of the available sets.

For my own personal preferences and reasons I chose the Samsung:
- I only considered the Samsung and Sony.
- I thought the Sony had a softer look than the Samsung, and I preferred what I perceived to be the sharper image on the Samsung.
- Postings by respected ISF calibrators said the Samsungs had the most accurate picture after calibration.
- Samsung can accept 1080p inputs on VGA, Component, and HDMI. I don't think the Sony can accept 1080p over all three of those.
- The Sony is more expensive than the Samsung.
- Samsung has a USB input, which I have been told I can use to display photos taken by my digital camera. Not sure what the 70" Sony's capabilities are for that. I have seen cases where Sony offers Memory Stick inputs on their TVs, but that's a proprietary format I do not use.
- Sony is wider and deeper than the Samsung, which was an issue particular to my room layout.

YMMV

Good luck,
Bruce

I too, just went thru this and ended up buying the Toshiba 72HM196. I find that Samsung gets a lot of "air time" on this board. Not sure that means there better.
I was able to compare the Sony XBR2 70 inch to the Toshiba in a side by side comparison and felt the Sony may have eeked out the Toshiba on picture sharpness, but not for double the money. In Canada, the Sony sells for $7499 and the Toshiba is $3999. I ended up getting the Toshiba for $3499 including the stand and half price on the extended warranty.
Toshiba has received excellent reviews from various Ht mags, and Consumer reports listed them as some of the best DLP's (but for some reason they didn't test the Samsung).

Good luck,
Tim

PS. I just finished calibrating mine with the Avia disk and the picture is stunning. SD is reasonable if you keep to the natural 4x3 format and forget this stretching crap. I find it brings out all the bad things about SD.