HItachi 65F59A

Yes, Yes, and yes. CRT based sets look horrible in the stores. If I didn't already own one I would never consider buying one based on store displays.

Typically at a store you are looking at the set from a few feet away at most, not the normal viewing distance at home. From 3 or 4 feet away there is a vast difference in pq between the microdisplay and crt based sets. This all disappears when you back off to about 10 feet or so for a 65" set. Poor calibration and high ambient light in most stores also put crt sets at a severe disadvantage.

I own a 5 year old 57" crt based Sony HD-ready set and sit 12 feet back from it. In a moderately to darkly lit room the picture quality with dvd and HD is at least as good as any of the highly touted 1080p dlp sets I've seen. I have used AVIA to calibrate the picture in the user menu and done a couple of minor service menu tweaks. My set is too old to have HDMI connections and until I absolutely must have HDMI or unti the set craps out I wouldn't trade it straight across for a brand new dlp set.

once you get it home and adjust the settings this tv will look as good if not better then all those tv's. one thing you must do is make sure you don't have a bright room other then that this tv will look great. also i know i'm not suppose to post price's,but i just got an e-mail from hhgregg ( if you have one were you live) they have these tv's hitachi f59's on sale for 20% off. i have the 57f59 and it's great. another thing to remember is the feed/source of the picture. if it's not that good then it won't look good on the tv. good luck and hope this helps.

I've also been looking at this TV, and am wondering if anyone can post some screen shots of there TV at home, calibrated and maybe in HD.

Or if there's another post somewhere that already has pics maybe someone coud point me to it.

Thanks

Here's a thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...31#post8408331

no, both tv's have the same lens/crt's the differences are cable card slot, protective screen shield and maybe a couple of other things i might have forgot,but the picture will be the same on both tv's. hope this helps

here are a few pictures from my 57f59. the pictures don't do it justice on how good the picture looks ,but you can see from the limited camera quality that it has a pretty darn good pic. http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture129ry7.jpg http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture124cm4.jpg http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture019un2.jpg

I'm really thinking about this one, but I do get bright light at times in the room... how dark does it need to be?

Also, would I likely be able to do better than the circuitcity online price if I went into the store & haggled?

Thanks!

I always watch mine in a fairly bright room. I have one of those floor lamps with 3 different settings. I normally watch mine with the lamp on the second highest setting. Even brighter the picture still looks good.


I think it only hurts the picture if light directly hits the screen. Like sunlight coming through a window.

it only hurts the pic if it's direct sunlight or the room is light brightly by sunlight. in either case if you can control the sunlight by say a blind on the window or curtain then it should be fine.

Thanks for the info!

What are the implications of no screen protecter with kids/pets? I'd rather not have it as to avoid the glare, but I don't really know what 'bad' things can happen - or how easily they can happen.

Is it crazy expensive to replace one should the need arise?

May sound like a silly question, but what exactly is this TV sitting on?
Where do you put your cable box, DVD player, etc. when you buy a TV like this?

on this tv i have an audio video rack/stand ( i purcahsed at walmart this is a link to the one i have ,but i know i didn't pay that much for mine i think it was around $99 when i got it http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=2138613 ) with my cable box, dvd,and receiver that set's next to the tv. you can also purchase a self that goes on top of it through hitachi i think. i have an omni speaker shelf on top of mine for the center channel speaker on my surround sound. as for the other question about the screen protector it all depends on how good your kids are about not messing with things. i have a 2 and a half year old and a 1 year old and neither mess with the screen. i don't know how hard it would be to break,but it can be scratched as it a vinyl type material. as for how much a new screen cost i think i saw some place it was around $200. hope this helps!

I used to feel the same was as you until I saw somehing like this

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...chmentid=63932

and

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...chmentid=63936

This is the WD-65831 - $4199.00

But next time you goto CC look at the WD-Y65 - $3199.00

If that does not impress you ( WOW ) then .....

Good Luck

Go back to the store with a DVD copy of "Sky Captain and the world of Tomorrow" and compare the picture on all the sets. Make sure the CRT set is converged.

Hello. Just bought a 59F59a from Circuit City for $1199, great deal! Have a question. One night while watching an HD program, everything turned blue. Seemed like the red lens went out. Shut everything down, tv, cable box, receiver, then back on. Tv was ok. Happened two more times. First was the pic went all blocky. I dont mean pixelated, I mean garbage characters on the scren. Second time, the screen just went black. Both times turning the tv off and back on "fixed" it. Hasn't repeated for a few days now. Should I exchange it right away or hold out?

Other question: while this set has a breathtaking picture on HD or even digital cable, basic cable picture kind of sucks. The basic cable pic on our 7 year old Hitachi 61sbx01b is much better. Any idea why an older set would look better? Thx

anyone?

Are you using HDMI for your connection? This sounds like HDMI issues.

Yeah, HDMI cable for main input (HD Comcast)

Then switch over to the component connections to get rid of this issue.

Could do that but was wondering if the component cables give the same quality as the stupid $85 HDMI cable. I've only gotten the "weird" screen once since the original post.

I think It will still look great, but you should have just bought a $10 HDMI cabl, you got ripped off, all HDMI cables are the same, monster HDMI cable are no better then a $10 cable. This is a fact.

Well the 20yo mits finally said bye bye. This is the only 65" crt really sold here and in my price range.

Thought they would have better info here but guess not. If anyone has any more info please give it.

Can the tuner get OTA HD??? I watch more movies than tv and have basic cable but will be switching to Direct next football season and more HD...

I love the TV. Yes, it will pull in OTA HD. I have Comcast HD and it is amazing. Cant judge the tv by the reception in the store. Looks worlds better at home. There is a problem with the HDMI software in Hitachi sets. Waiting for the update. $1198 with 2 year interest free...gotta love it!

Look here for the HDMI update:

Hitachi 51/57/65F59A CRT RPTV Tweaks Thread

Far as I know no one plans on a 1080p CRT RPTV. If they did however I feel it would be a big seller to those of us with current ones.