Ok here's the deal I currently have two oppurtunities to purchase an HS420 to the tune of roughly $600. The used one is from an AVS member (who I won't name simply because I don't believe it's curteous to publicly speak about the details of ones business dealings with another) and the new one is from a seller on eBay who is willing to sell it to me off eBay but with a PayPal payment and her feedback is great (she won't relist and sell it on eBay). My dilemma is this: The used one is most certainly in good condition, properly calibrated, and should easily last me through college and beyond until I'm making a decent sallary and can be build my dream home theater... but its used. The new one is... well new, which actually presents the problems with it: it will need calibration, it could have terrible geometry issues and theres no way to send it back and it will be a bitch fighting for my money back through PayPal... but it's new. So what do you think? Go for the one I know is in good condition but has also been in use for 3 years? Or go for the brand new one that could potentially arrive and be a lemon and then I'll have to start up a PayPal dispute and try to get my money back?

Regardless of which one you get $600 seems a bit high. I've seen the XS955 for that price. I think Sony's come out of the factory better calibrated that others - I didn't have to touch mine.

Regardless of which one you get $600 seems a bit high. I've seen the XS955 for that price. I think Sony's come out of the factory better calibrated that others - I didn't have to touch mine.

Where have you found an XS955 for that price?

i would get an LCD


:D

Regardless of which one you get $600 seems a bit high. I've seen the XS955 for that price. I think Sony's come out of the factory better calibrated that others - I didn't have to touch mine.

Assuming I did decide to calibrate it to adjust the color decoders or fix geometry issues in the service menu how hard is it? Is there reset option so I don't end up murdering the TV?

i would get an LCD


:D

Based off what you said in my other thread, I'd guess that you'd go without a TV altogether before you bought an LCD :rolleyes:.

I just bought a KV-34XBR910 for $350 off Craigslist... and I saw at least three HS420's for less than that... so $600 seems a bit steep. I would definitely recommend taking an Avia DVD with you to check the quality of a used set. Without the ability to return the TV or check it out before you buy it, a new one is not very attractive.

I just bought a KV-34XBR910 for $350 off Craigslist... and I saw at least three HS420's for less than that... so $600 seems a bit steep. I would definitely recommend taking an Avia DVD with you to check the quality of a used set. Without the ability to return the TV or check it out before you buy it, a new one is not very attractive.

Well I actually don't have the ability to check out the used one either since it would be shipped as well. If I'm correct isn't craigslist for the San Francisco Bay area? Because I'm on the wrong end of the country for that.

I'm not sure exactly where you are located, but Craigslist has added many cities, all the major cities, IIRC. Check them out.

Yeah pull up craigslist.org and select your state on the right, then the nearest city. It seems to have most of the larger cities in there now... for me Nashville was the closest. Lots of deals in Atlanta as well.

That model doesn't have the SFPT, does it? If not than $600 is too high imo.

Yeah pull up craigslist.org and select your state on the right, then the nearest city. It seems to have most of the larger cities in there now... for me Nashville was the closest. Lots of deals in Atlanta as well.

Checked it out, there still isn't a similar TV even relatively close to me. I really live in the middle of nowhere.

So do you guys think it would be a terrible idea to buy either of those HS420s? Ignoring price is it too much of a risk? The used one is from an AVS member who claims its calibrated quite well and should have years of life left in it and I just kind of trust people here. And if I got the new one (which is actually $650 now and that includes shipping) what are the chances that something is going to be so terrible wrong with it that theres no way I can fix it? And couldn't I just buy an extended warranty from Sony on it? And regardless of what happens if something is wrong with either set can't I file a dispute with PayPal and get my money back? Thoughts please.

If you have a BB around you see if they have a 34XBR970 in stock - that would be the best bet. BTW, the HS420 has no digital tuner - something that is a must as far as I'm concerned.

If you have a BB around you see if they have a 34XBR970 in stock - that would be the best bet. BTW, the HS420 has no digital tuner - something that is a must as far as I'm concerned.

Aleady checked, no 970s at BB or CC. A tuner isn't really a must since this is primarily for games and I don't think theres a lot of over the air HD channels being broadcast in the area I'll be in.

Ok, out of curiosity what do you think a reasonable price on a brand new KD-36XS955 would be?

Edit: I've also contacted the eBay seller and told her that I'm not willing to go above $450, does that sound more reasonable?

I wouldn't pay over $900 for the XS955 and $450 is more reasonable.

I wouldn't pay over $900 for the XS955 and $450 is more reasonable.

Well I offered $800 for the XS955 last night and haven't heard anything yet. As for the HS420 I'm not gonna buy it anyway because it doesn't accept 720p and I HAVE to have a TV that accepts 720p or my PS3 will downscale all 720p content to 480p.

The HS420 ABSOLUTELY accepts a 720p signal. Not only does it clearly state so in the manual, but I have owned the set myself, and I assure you it does.

The HS420 ABSOLUTELY accepts a 720p signal. Not only does it clearly state so in the manual, but I have owned the set myself, and I assure you it does.

Really? Awesome! On the eBay listing I had been looking at it said it only accepted 1080i and 480i/p. You're absolutely positive right? Because the PS3 has scaling issues (it can't upscale PS3 games) so on 1080i native TVs that don't accept 720p signals the PS3 will downscale the 720p game to 480p instead of upscaling it to 1080i. You may have known that already but this is a very big deal to me, I literally spent 6 months trying to figure out if the XBR970 would have this problem over at CNET. Thankfully I found AVS and got my question answered in a couple hours :p.

I'm absolutely certain.

Be aware though that the 420 doesn't have mode memory. The picture settings stay the same across all inputs. The 970 will store individual picture settings for each input - a very nice feature.

I'm absolutely certain.

Be aware though that the 420 doesn't have mode memory. The picture settings stay the same across all inputs. The 970 will store individual picture settings for each input - a very nice feature.

Yea, the 420 is a last resort. I'm gonna be at CC, BB, and Sears on Monday and see if, god willing, there's a 970 left in stock somewhere.

If only the display model is left be sure to get a healthy discount - those sets are usually set to "torch" mode 24/7 so some of the life has been used up already.

If only the display model is left be sure to get a healthy discount - those sets are usually set to "torch" mode 24/7 so some of the life has been used up already.

Definately, I dunno if I'd be comfortable buying a floor model at all though. Considering its probably been set up running torch mode 10 hours a day for the past god know how many months.

Definately, I dunno if I'd be comfortable buying a floor model at all though. Considering its probably been set up running torch mode 10 hours a day for the past god know how many months.

Or worst of all..years of use at torch mode. :eek:

Or worst of all..years of use at torch mode. :eek:

I believe they refer to that as a dead TV, and if its not dead then it might as well be.