[slash007]

After researching tv's for a couple of months, I had decided to go with the toshiba dlp 52hm84, but after reading up on the hitachi crt's, I'm starting to reconsider. I am now trying to decide between the two mentioned in the title, but have been unable to really find a comparison of the two. I know that the "s" series has the built in tuner and cable slot, etc., and other than that I havn't been able to spot the main difference between the two. I did notice that the x series is has a diff. kind of anti-glare shield, but one thing that I was concerned with as well is the size. The "x" series ends in 700 as opposed the 715 of the s series, so should I assume that the x series is last years model and lacks some of the enhancements of the s series? Any insight as to how these two models compare would be greatly appreciated. I am ready to purchase asap and am awaiting your words of wisdom before jumping in. Thanks in advance

 

[Paul Clancy]

The x500 has hitachis best of line wideneck2 crts, better ag shield and firewire. It is hitachis top of line crt display director series. The s715 has an hd tuner w/cablecard and is the mid line ultravision model. The 715 is newer and the only feature of the rom that it has that the x500 lacks (I can think of) is it's ability to stretch hd material. Anything else is related to the tuner. I'd get the x500 and get the best rpcrt available.

 

[slash007]

thanks for the reply. 3 things that i like in the 715 over the x500 is the built in tuner (that would probably be the only hd I would watch for a while as I am not going to get hd cable or satelllite for some time), the slimmer profile and lower weight (over 50lbs.) and the price, (about 700 cheaper). That being said, I have heard that the x500 has the better picture and better screen, but I don't have one in the city that I can look at to compare. For anyone that has seen both, is the picture really $700 better + the cost of a ota tuner? Thanks.

 

[slash007]

just want to give an update, I talked to my local rep today and he told me that he would sell me the 57x500 for $2500 or the 57s715 for 2k. what do you guys think? He is really pushing the x series and tells me that the picture upgrade is worth the extra $500. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[rgriffing]

That is a killer price. Take the X500 and spend an additional $350 or so to get it calibrated.

 

[Marc Alexander]

That's a tough one. Do you need the tuner and cablecard support?

 

[The_smokester]

The x500 is considered one of the best HD TV's...up there with the Mitsubishi Diamond CRT's. There is just no question about it's picture quality


I got the S715 and am very pleased, satisfied, etc.


Should you go with the S715 or the x500...Really only you can judge but with the x500 you will you know you have one of the best.

 

[slash007]

thanks for the input. I am leaning toward the x500 just for the fact that everyone seems to agree that there is a positive difference between it and the s715. about the tuner, I really need one as that would be the only hi-def I would be watching for a while, so I wouldn't really be able to utilize the potential of the tv without one. would a stand-alone tuner be expensive? I have heard that they run around $200, but have never really tried to find one.


Also, the x500 has the deep black anti-glare shield. Is that really something to be excited about? Thanks.

 

[jonwww]

The x500 is supposed to be one of the best sets on the market (I can't say that I've actually seen one to verify this) but I personally can't believe it's really that much of a better pic. for the price. Many people rave about their f500/f510's that they are great & they are just Hit's entry level set. I have the 57s715 and love it, one of the main reasons for my purchase over 'f' series was that I liked the cablecard feature & the slightly better optics and for the slight money difference it wasn't a hard choice (I was almost ready to spend over 3k on a dlp). The s715 has all kinds of stretch modes & options so you could calibrate/adjust it til you were more than happy. I guess if you're a hardcore videophile & you just need to say you have 'the best' then go for the x500, but if you're one of the many that just wants an outstanding set at a very fair price that will probably still put your neighbors set to shame then I would definitely recommend getting s715. You could get s715 & have it prof. calibrated for a few hundred dollars more for less then just the price of the x500.... plus you get built in tuner like you mentioned earlier!!

 

[slash007]

I have a cousin who is awaiting my decision on a tv so that I can order him one as well, except bigger. Therefore my problem with the s715 is that the biggest they make is 57, and he wants the 65", so I couldn't just get an s series for both of us. I can get the x500 series at a pretty good deal, so that is also an option, except that we both really want an hd tuner. Therefore I've decided to look up tuners and see what I can find as well. That way I would just add it to the price of the x500 when I consider it.


So, what is the cheapest I can expect to find an hd tuner for?