I think this is the TV I want. I can't decide between the 60" or 55", but that will come. After reading the Sony, Toshiba, Samsung and Mitsubishi threads (well, most of it. Some were long!), I believe Sony fits the bill. My second choice is the Mitsubishi WD-57734.

I'm concerned about the rainbow effect and I'm quite sensitive to anomolies that will give me a headache. Heck, any refresh rate on a CRT monitor less than 75Hz does the same thing. That should rule out the traditional DLP Mitsubishi, but it did look very nice. I saw the Samsungs (both DLP and LED) and they had the worst viewing angle limitation of any TV in Best Buy. It's sweet spot was so small, I even had dark and bright spots from the same seat!

So I think the LCOS technology of the Sony is my best bet, or at least the lesser of all evils. What I can't find from most of the threads are these questions.

1) How does the Sony A2020 models compare to their XBR brothers? What are the big differences?

2) How is the scaler in the Sony when fed an analog or 480i signal? I believe the Mitsubishi, from what I gather, has the best one in this regard. I read little about the Sony scaler, other than "regular SD looks bad. So only view HD!!" Well, one would interpret that as a bad scaler.

3) On a more broad note, if the LCOS technology improves upon regular DLP in almost every way - (no rainbow effect, no headaches, no bulb replacement, colour wheel noise, etc.), then why aren't the Sonys selling head and shoulders above everybody else? What is it that the Samsungs, Toshibas and Mitsubishis of the world have that would make people want a "regular" DLP?
Just curious...

Robert

Part of the reason is some of the DLP sets are larger. Sony has also drug their feet unnecessarily slow in terms of their inputs. Unlike some of the DLP's, namely the Samsung, the Sony does not accept 1080p over anything but hdmi. That's a big turn off to many people. They gimped the VGA input, and that's a big turn off as well. At the resolutions it will accept, it's basically a worthless input.

Some of that stuff, plus a slightly higher price is why Sony is not head and shoulders above, imo. Things such as color issues, particularly the early green blobs and the fact the Sony doesn't tend to stack up against some of the high end DLP's in terms of color accuracy, although I think they are good enough for their target audience.

Both setups have pluses and minuses. I don't think it's fair to say either technology is head and shoulders above the other. I think it is fair to say, however, that certain brands have unnecessarily harmed themselves with design decisions such as Sony and its inputs and Samsung with its geometry issues. Neither set is as good as it could be, given the state of the respective technology.

There is a bulb replacement on LCoS systems, plus the optical engine can go out as well. Granted, there is not the issue of rainbows, but silk screen effect is still a factor.

Would a professional ISF Calibration fix the color accuracy issues?

From what I understand, it's more of a question of ceiling: i.e. some of the other sets, such as the Samsungs, can get more accurate with a custom calibration. A lot of people seem awfully happy with the color of the Sony's, however, so I'm not sure it's a hugely significant point for the majority of users.

This may be of assistance:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/1335/dlp-vs-lcos.html

Would a professional ISF Calibration fix the color accuracy issues?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10082255#post10082255

No more replies necessary. After reading the new Sony A3000 series thread, it would take a major botchup from Sony for me not to buy this TV when it comes out.

Robert