I have a problem with rambling on and on so to make things concise, here are my main questions:

1.) Is the overall quality and feature set identical within Sony/Toshiba/JVC's product line when seemingly the only difference is display size?

2.) Do any of the recently-touted Sony/Toshiba/JVC RPTVs interface 'best' with HTPCs? If so, why?

3.) Besides looking at 'everyones posts' to see which model is most-popular, is there no empirical way for me to make an educated decision on a particular make/model???

Read on if you want to be bored:

I just read Alan Gouger and David Bott's stickies on forum rules here in Rear Projection Units and perhaps I'm posting in the wrong community (since my question is predicated on value, which $$$ is arguably 50% of the consideration of 'value') but I need some recommendations and don't know who else to ask.

I have been pleased by the value LCoS provides consumers. The 'depth' of Plasma really appeals to me but to me it's the most-expensive technology out there. LCDs seem to have cleaned up their act tremendously in the last 1-2 years but in my price range they still seem to have a very 'cold' color depth. I am looking for a true 1080p HDTV solution for under a "certain amount of money", which I guess I'm not allowed to specify, and I assume it'll be a Rear Projection HDTV.

That said, I see that certain Sony, JVC and Toshiba products seem to be highly-touted here lately. In relation to size, do some of these products overall image quality differ between different screen sizes? i.e. - "Go for the 65" Toshiba but not the 55" Toshiba"?

Do all of these products have the same level of frustration behind setting an HTPC via DVI>HDMI adapter (I don't want to use VGA)? ...My only experience with an HDTV and HTPCs was a Sony Plasma which had a built-in DVI and I simply made a custom resolution in the NVIDIA drivers and there was zero overscan.

Besides taking peoples' word for it, is there any empirical/hard data behind whose product is better? Or is this simply a popularity game of sorts that 'since most people recommend Sony A2020's I guess I should get one too' type of deal? The odds of me finding all three brands calibrated identically in one store are basically zero - I'm just not understanding the process of how to make an educated purchase on an HDTV - and that is very important for me - I don't have the money to buy this sort of thing regularly - my last TV was a $225 25" TV from a wholesale club in 1998 for reference.

I'm sorry if this was the wrong community to ask such a question but I don't know where I should be posting such a question if it isn't.

Any input much-appreciated.

I agree with you it is difficult to compare - and my decision was very similar to yours. (i was looking at Toshiba vs. Sony)

I read for a few days on the threads here regarding the Sony's (XXA2000 and XXxbr2) and the toshibas (xxhm166 and xxmx196).

I have a personal preference towards the toshiba brand, but the calibrator's (professional TV "settings tweaking" people, to put it simply, they do SO much more) had a very high opinion of the Sony XBR2's (as well as the Samsung's). They have about the closest to empirical data you can get.

There are review's that are done by magazine's/forum members that you can also use, and compare certain features and how the model's handle different inputs. here's a decent one comparing popular RPTV models from last year - http://www.hometheatermag.com/rearprojectiontvs/207rptvface/index3.html

To me it came down to price (decided i couldn't afford the xbr2), my perceived guage of PQ (I was lucky to find A2020 and 65hm167 close in my local store, who knows how they were set) and features (the toshiba has 5" bigger screen and 1 more HDMI port for cheaper).

If you couldn't tell I ended up choosing the Toshiba 65hm167, and I'm very pleased with my purchase - as I very well could have been with the Sony...

As far as comparing screen size vs. features - typically the "guts" of a TV "model line" will be the same regardless of screen size, with some exceptions (ie the toshiba 50hm167 is only 720p resolution while the 57hm167 and 65hm167 are 1080p)...so most of the time a difference in screen size shouldn't affect much and I would suggest getting the biggest you can fit in your designated TV space. (obviously there are other factors at play, but i sit 10-12 ft from my 65" and wouldn't be happy with anything smaller)

My best advice would be to take a couple days off work (or if possible blow off a couple days of work from your cube ;)) and READ...

... Is the overall quality and feature set identical within Sony/Toshiba/JVC's product line ... Besides looking at 'everyones posts' to see which model is most-popular, is there no empirical way for me to make an educated decision on a particular make/model... do some of these products overall image quality differ between different screen sizes? ...is there any empirical/hard data behind whose product is better? ...

these questions are what this forum is all about, but you might also want to read reviews on CNET, Home Theatre Review, Consumer Reports and others. After 2 1/2 years of following all these, I get the impression that most of the major brands are producing pretty good products. Some individuals on this forum seem to be obsessed about trashing certain makers or models, but I'm sceptical when I see such campaigns. Of course, any set can have problems, so you have no assurances. HDTV is still an evolving technology.

Certain people prefer certain images. Myself, I like the softer image of LCoS, and I have had excellent service the past year and a half from my JVC D-ILA, but others are satisfied with other brands.

So bottom line, get a mainstream brand, go around to the various stores, see what you like and what fits your budget and living room, and enjoy. Whatever you buy, it will be out of date in a year anyway.

Thanks fellas.

It doesn't sound as if any of these brands are one to stay away from which is comforting.

I need to read up on HTPC interaction with these sets next on my agenda.

Am I safely-understanding LCoS has no competitor in terms of price:size? ...I don't want to cut options because I think it has no competitor (from a price:size perspective).

Am I safely-understanding LCoS has no competitor in terms of price:size? ...I don't want to cut options because I think it has no competitor (from a price:size perspective).
Of course LCOS has a competitor -- DLP. The Samsung 61" DLP actually came out on top of a Home Theater 1080p shootout 2-3 months ago, besting JVC LCOS (2nd) and Sony LCOS (4th). It really just comes down to personal perference, and Samsung DLP and Sony LCOS are the 2 most popular options, at least in the RP forum.