Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. I've been reading the boards for a few days ...excellent information and appreciate everyone's various insights.

Been trying to decide between the Sony KDS-A3000 or the 61 inch Samsung **87. Right now I'm leaning towards the Sony due to the feedback on this forum. I've seen both at the store and appreciate both pictures, but the Sony appears to be a more stable product. I would hate paying 2k and then have to wait for a repair man...grrrrrr.

My question has to do with Vertical viewing - Sony vs. Samsung. My entertainment center (no option to change it) has a base that is 62" wide (good), 22" deep (good), and 30" high (good, bad, or ugly?). Trying to determine if that's going to be a problem viewing the screen from 6 to 14 feet away? My wife and I sit 14 feet...guests are closer..around 6 to 8 feet (off center). If this is going to be an issue, could I slightly tilt the TV down? In other words could I shim the rear and have it lean forward down towards the viewing area?

Also (this is probably in the wrong thread) but when I go high def, I plan to put the DirecTV tuner and HD player in the cabinet next to the TV, connected via HDMI. The problem is, all my components are 25 feet away in a AV closet. Currently, I have a 45 ' S-Video, a 45' component video, and 45' RCA (for subwoofer) cable's running under the floor to my entertainment center. All my video sources work and look fine. All I'm running is standard DirecTV and a standard DVD player..no upconvert, no HD. I have to say with my current setup, my Pioneer Elite Pro-100 51" of 9 years still displays a great picture. Everyone compliments me on the picture and asks if its HD. Course, they know not what they speak of.... So the issue is, I have to get the audio back to my AV cabinet for 5.1 ....and would like your input on the best way to do it? I'm thinking I would need two 45' toslink or coax cables to accomplish this. Is there a better way? Should I consider placing the HD DirecTV receiver and HD DVD player in my AV cabinet and run a 45' long HDMI cable? I'm sure there are HDMI cable limits. If i just used my current component video cable/inputs and not the HDMI for video transfer, would I be missing out on the best picture?

Many thanks for your thoughts,

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. I've been reading the boards for a few days ...excellent information and appreciate everyone's various insights.

Been trying to decide between the Sony KDS-A3000 or the 61 inch Samsung **87. Right now I'm leaning towards the Sony due to the feedback on this forum. I've seen both at the store and appreciate both pictures, but the Sony appears to be a more stable product. I would hate paying 2k and then have to wait for a repair man...grrrrrr.

My question has to do with Vertical viewing - Sony vs. Samsung. My entertainment center (no option to change it) has a base that is 62" wide (good), 22" deep (good), and 30" high (good, bad, or ugly?). Trying to determine if that's going to be a problem viewing the screen from 6 to 14 feet away? My wife and I sit 14 feet...guests are closer..around 6 to 8 feet (off center). If this is going to be an issue, could I slightly tilt the TV down? In other words could I shim the rear and have it lean forward down towards the viewing area?

Also (this is probably in the wrong thread) but when I go high def, I plan to put the DirecTV tuner and HD player in the cabinet next to the TV, connected via HDMI. The problem is, all my components are 25 feet away in a AV closet. Currently, I have a 45 ' S-Video, a 45' component video, and 45' RCA (for subwoofer) cable's running under the floor to my entertainment center. All my video sources work and look fine. All I'm running is standard DirecTV and a standard DVD player..no upconvert, no HD. I have to say with my current setup, my Pioneer Elite Pro-100 51" of 9 years still displays a great picture. Everyone compliments me on the picture and asks if its HD. Course, they know not what they speak of.... So the issue is, I have to get the audio back to my AV cabinet for 5.1 ....and would like your input on the best way to do it? I'm thinking I would need two 45' toslink or coax cables to accomplish this. Is there a better way? Should I consider placing the HD DirecTV receiver and HD DVD player in my AV cabinet and run a 45' long HDMI cable? I'm sure there are HDMI cable limits. If i just used my current component video cable/inputs and not the HDMI for video transfer, would I be missing out on the best picture?

Many thanks for your thoughts,

First of all both sets are nice but in the end I went with the Sony also...could`ve went the other way but like you I read thru all the reviews and it just seemed like it had the least of problems.

I sit about 15 feet away and behind me there is 2 more sitting areas which makes it about 17 feet away. This Tv looks great at that distance. My set sits about 2ft above the stand, average I suppose but what I did was sit on the floor at about 6ft away simulating the vertical angle of your entertainment center and also 17ft away. The set looks great at that angle. I don`t think you would have to tilt it forward but if you did no big deal. When I bought this Sony I did a side angle and top to bottom view and in my opinion it had the least washout view at those angles not by much but enough to make a decision.

I`ve notice that you`ll maintain almost 100% illumination of the picture as long as your eyes are not above the top or below the picture frame. If I stand up and lets say my eyes are about a foot above the top edge then it does wash out just a tad. I think you`ll be ok.
As far as cables I would go HDMI. I also have the Toshiba HD and a Onkyo 805 with all HDMI sources going to the receiver. Stick with HDMI you`ll be assured of getting the best HD possible. Go to this website: monoprice.com for advice and they do sell extra long cables and switches, etc for HDMI at a very affortable price.
Goodluck!

Thanks for your response and for checking the viewing angles using your setup.

I'll attempt to simulate my setup at the store before I purchase, but i doubt given the # of shoppers and the lack of store flexibilty I will be able to do that.

Again, thanks and enjoy the holidays.

This is a good thread as I am in the process of deciding between these exact sets.

If viewing angle is your primary concern, go with the Sony. I think that both sets are comparable in terms of quality and durability but the Sony has better viewing angles than the Samsung. I bought the Samsung 6187 and I love it. However, in the stores, the Sony had a better viewing angles horizontally and vertically. I set up did not need the angles, so the LED technology made the difference for me. But if your set is 30'' high, you are going to need all of the horizontal angle that you can get. Most of the RP DLPs are on 19-21'' stands.

On the sound, I would not consider running HDMI cables that long. Those things are seriously expensive. In the big box stores, a 6ft cable can cost $50-100. You can get a better price in online places and electronic stores but the length that you need will cost you anywhere. Run the TOS or Coax.