[mbovaird]

I had the opportunity yesterday to see side by side comparisons of:


1. Sony KLV-32M1

2. Mitsubishi MLM300

3. Sharp LC-37HV6U


I had full intention of buying the Sharp based on my reading on this site....but I'm disappointed to report the Sharp was very dull. The blues were washed out and the objects were less defined. When the SAME video source was switched between the Sony/Mits/Sharp.....the Sony and Mits were VERY close. While watching a Nascar race in HD, I even tried to tweek the Sharp....but couldn't get the definition of the clouds or the blue in the sky or the detail of the buildings to come through as it did with the Sony & Mits. The odd thing, was that the Sony gave the most "depth" to the picture.....but the Mits might have been a little more sharper. With the Sony, people looked three-dimensional.....as opposed to with the Sharp (and even slightly with the Mits)....the images looked like one pasted on top of the other....if that makes any sense.


Does anyone have any comments on the Sony vs. the Mitsubishi....or for that matter....anything else I should consider in the "less than 38 inches wide" category.....like the Hitachi, new HP or BenQ?


Finally.....if I do decide to go with the Sony or Mits.....is there any harm in ordering over the Internet? The prices are substantially less than a traditional B&M.


Thanks in advance,


Michael.

 

[billd]

I didn't evaluate the Mits at a B&M store but I did compare the Sharp with the Sony side by side in multiple stores displaying the same feed.


I'm going to order the Sony and it will definitely be off the internet. I'm not sure exactly where I'll place teh PO but it'll probably be in a few days. I'll be happy to report my findings when the TV arrives.


It's eventually going to go in the bedroom but it'll be the living room TV till we order a plasma in the Feb 05 timeframe.

 

[mbovaird]

Please let me know how it goes....and more importantly where you find the best deal on the net.


Mike

 

[billd]

I Tried to order this TV twice.


One time from Plasma House. My order was put "on hold" and I had to call my sales rep. He advised me that the "normal" shipping rate didn't apply ($149 on the website) and I had to pay $300. Order immediately cancelled.


Ordered again from Foto Connection. Woah is this place shady. They tried to charge my credit card an additional $300 for "insurance" on top of the $149 shipping fee. This insurance info was not disclosed anywhere on the website. Again my order was put "on hold" and I had to call up Scott who put on the HARD sell for about 1 thousand dollars worth of add ons.


Both of these circumstances might sound benign, but it clearly was a case of advertising a low rate and then charging all types of hidden fees to jack up the price afterwards. Foto connection even tried to charge my card the additional $300 without my approval. GEEZE!


Anyway I'm still trying to figure out where to order this TV. None of hte sponsors of this forum sell the Sony, so I'm trying to figure it out on my own. FYI lots of the online sites seem to be connected in some way to Plasma House. Like it's basically the same company with about 50 different websites.


I'm *extremely* nervous at this point. I have ordered hundreds of items online, both cheap and expensive. I've never had a single experience like this, forget two experiences.


ANyway, need sleep. REd sox hangover.

 

[mbovaird]

I'm not liking the sound of this. Your experience sounds like a nightmare. If you do find a "good" on-line retailer, please let me know. I'm in no rush....but do plan on buying within the next few weeks.


As a suggestion, you may want to contact www.oade.com I've heard from B&M stores around here that Oade Brothers is quite good. Oade sells very high end Sony products -- including the HS51Projector (soon) and SACD players costing several thousand dollars. They are big into high-end Sony. I have never ordered from them myself (yet)....but have heard good things.


Also, a few online merchants that received good ratings from Yahoo Shopping are dbuys.com and ibuydigital.com....they do sell the KLV-32M1


Hope this helps.


Mike