[brota]

I am sort of stuck on the decision between these models.


With the price of the Sony at bestbuy this week it makes it a hard choice.


Is the sony a better TV than the Panasonic? why/why not?


I only got quick look at the Sony today


Built in tuner is not important for me.


Can this Sony be used for a quality HTPC?


Thanks

Brian

 

[jrapps]

I am in the exact same boat. I just saw the 60XS955 today at Best Buy and it looked really good. I had previously decided on the Panny but now I am rethinking. I too have no need for the built in tuner or cable card, but if the quality is worth the difference in cost, then I'll get the Sony. I want to go back and look at the set some more, but I wonder if anyone else out there has already seen/bought this new set and can comment?


Jason

 

[bradvoy]

I looked carefully at the 50" versions of these 2 sets. They are quite close in picture quality. I felt that the Sony looked slightly better on SD material and that the Panasonic looked slightly better on HD material, especially in dark scenes.

 

[brota]

Is it possible to make the bars on the Sony black when watching 4:3?


Thanks

Brian

 

[Zues]

Sony has better blacks, pannys look blue,, less screendoor effect,sony still has it though, better colors, looks cooler... Sd and stretch modes on sony are unmatched..

 

[jrapps]

Wait, the bars on the Sony when watching 4:3 are not black? That's a deal breaker for me.


Jason

 

[brota]

They were gray today at best buy I asked the person there but he know nothing about the TV and I could not stay long.

 

[NVboy]

I was in the same boat about a year ago. Sony or Panasonic. After lots of mental deliberation, I went with the Panny, but mostly because of the inputs. PQ looked extremely close with both sets. I didn't notice a difference in the black detail, but I can say that the blacks on the Panny don't look blue. SDE is being blown way out of proportion on this forum. Most people still don't understand that you simply can't see SDE from a viewing distance-I can only see it with my nose right up to the set, and at the most 1' away.


I wasn't concerned with how "cool" the set looked, as I was looking for PQ and inputs above all else. However, I think the Sony looks a bit more stylish than the Panny. All in all, I don't think anyone would be unhappy with either one, if LCD RPTV is their ultimate choice.

 

[robvmi]

I assume that SDE is Screen Door Effect as mentioned above. What is SDE?


NVboy; after a year's time, how do you like the Panny? I am also interested to know how the SD digital channels look (i have Directv).

 

[PackFan]

Quote:

Originally posted by NVboy I was in the same boat about a year ago. Sony or Panasonic. After lots of mental deliberation, I went with the Panny, but mostly because of the inputs. PQ looked extremely close with both sets. I didn't notice a difference in the black detail, but I can say that the blacks on the Panny don't look blue. SDE is being blown way out of proportion on this forum. Most people still don't understand that you simply can't see SDE from a viewing distance-I can only see it with my nose right up to the set, and at the most 1' away. I wasn't concerned with how "cool" the set looked, as I was looking for PQ and inputs above all else. However, I think the Sony looks a bit more stylish than the Panny. All in all, I don't think anyone would be unhappy with either one, if LCD RPTV is their ultimate choice.

I would add though that the new Sony GWIV series looks a lot better to my eyes than previous versions of LCD rear projection sets.


I would choose the Sony 60XS955.

 

[jrapps]

I ended up buying the Sony 60XS955 and couldn't be happier! The set is truly amazing, well worth the extra cost IMO...


Jason

 

[laynrubr]

I also went with the 60XS, this is an awesome set.

 

[plethera1]

You guyz are making me jealous....I'm planning on getting the 60XS but have to wait until after Dec 13th...that's when I close on my new house.....Man, I can't wait....this 27 inch TV is killing me!!!!

 

[jhav]

By default, the 4:3 bars on the Sony are black. Various TV stations broadcast grey bars on all 4:3 programs.


I picked up the 60 XS last Sunday --- am very happy with the TV... SD looks very good and HD is amazing.

 

[dmbatch]

Quote:

Originally posted by jrapps Wait, the bars on the Sony when watching 4:3 are not black? That's a deal breaker for me. Jason

I thought the sidebars were created at the source not the RPTV. When I am in 1080i mode on my SAT-100 (on an SD pic) the sidebars on my Sony RPTV are black. Doing the same thing on my DTV 10-250 shows the sidebars in grey. I assumed the bars were created by the STB when up-converting.


On the OTA HD channels that do their own up-convert the sidebars are controlled by them and vary in color and style.

 

[g35david]

I went ahead and purchased the 60XS955 the day after Thanksgiving from CC. Able to get $400 below MSRP and 24 months same as cash. Couldn't pass that up. Set was delivered 3 days later. Could not be happier with the set. Would recommend to anyone.

 

[rkunces]

I was sort of in the same boat in that I was looking at a dLP instead of the panny and I went ahead and got the 55XS955 for sony. I've looked at the panny and the wega series looks better on my eyes not to mention dvds and hd programming looked very good from what i saw at CC. I went with the sony also just because I've been a fan of sony for a long time and now I can get longevitiy and reliable service with them. Heck I have 2 27" Sonys that have lasted almost 20 and 25 years!!

 

[drengka]

Quote:

Originally posted by g35david I went ahead and purchased the 60XS955 the day after Thanksgiving from CC. Able to get $400 below MSRP and 24 months same as cash. Couldn't pass that up. Set was delivered 3 days later. Could not be happier with the set. Would recommend to anyone.

Where did you get that nice looking entertainment center for the 60XS? It looks like a custom fit.

 

[dwdrums]

Same thing here team. Except, I was looking at the Samsung, Vs. the Sony.


I went to BB and bought the Sony, 60"xs955 yesterday. Gets delivered on the 19th


I have bought Sony products my entire life ( Well, since I was like 16 or so. I'm 36 now) and have always been happy


My buddy just bought this TV as well and it's pretty amazing. I worked the dudes at BB. Retail was $4,099. I got it for $3,484.15 Add tax and the 4 year warranty, and I walked out of the store paying $4,135.75.


Extremely happy with this purchase. O, I also added it to my rewards points ( BB) and I get a hundred or so back.

 

[g35david]

Quote:

Originally posted by drengka Where did you get that nice looking entertainment center for the 60XS? It looks like a custom fit.

I had the entertainment center built last year. I used to have a mits 46" sitting there. It was just plan luck that the dimensions of the 60XS and my entertainment center were the same. That was one of my deciding factors between the 60XS and the 60WF.


Thanks for the complement.