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This is my first post in a while here (so long, I forgot my old username and password and had to create a new account). Anyway, I've been out of consumer electronics for about 6 years and am now looking at replacing my TV and have no idea what to do. I used to work for a mid-fi electronics chain that carried brands like Mits, Sony, Hitachi, and Toshiba as well as Denon, Yamaha, Sony ES, Energy, Polk Audio, and Boston accoustics. This is where I derve most of my experience from but it has been an extremely long time since I bought any equipment and I don't exactly relish the thought of paying retail, but, I need a new TV.
Now, to what I have. The home theater package consists of Energy APS5+2 bipole speakers up front with the matching center, Energy A3+2 bipole towers in the rear, Energy RVSS bi/dipole speakers on the side, and a Klipsch 12" sub for low frequency. It is run by a Denon AVR-3800. I also have an Onkyo progressive scan DVD player, Mits SVHS VCR and a Monster Power line conditioner and surge protector.
This is where my system sucks (or at least I think it does). I have a nine year old Mits 32" TV that we sit 12 feet away from. Not exactly enveloping in the theater experience. It is still performing flawlessly and the deal with the better half was to let it wear out and then buy a new big screen. Well, she got a new bedroom set without absolutely needing it so, we get a new TV as well. I do have a couple of restrictions, though. I can only spend $2000 and it needs to be technology that will not have to be replaced within the next few years...especially when the analog signal gets switched off, if it ever does. I have been mainly looking at two units:
Mitsubishi WS-55517
Sony KDP-57WS655
The links wouldn't work, can't post them with under 5 posts to this board. The Good Guys has the Sony for $1999.99 and Best Buy has the Mits for the same price. Both have about the same feature set so, if you're not familiar with them, go to those two web sites and check them out.
I will buy from a brick and mortar store so that it will be delivered and brought into my home and they will remove the box (the kids don't need another playhouse) and because I believe in spending my money in the local community if the price is commensurate with what I can get online (both of the links are). These two sets seem to have plenty of features for the money and, from what I know from previous experience, were two pretty good quality manufacturers.
The thing I'm not crazy about is either having to stack all of my equipment on top of the TV or getting a separate cabinet to put on the side of the TV (speakers are bipole and you can tell a difference in imaging when there is something sitting next to one side of the TV or the other). Currently I have a very nice glass stand that provides room for all of my equipment and is low enough that an LCD or DLP display would fit on it but I don't think there is one in my price range that I will think is big enough, I just don't know if 42" will do it as far back as we sit.
Also, since I use the Denon to do all of my switching (S-Video), am I to understand that I will not be able to take advantage of the progressive scan output of the DVD player? The Denon does not have upconversion from composite and S-video to component, although the DVD player, obviously, has component outputs.
I guess my question, after this long winded dissertation, is what would some of you do in my situation and how would you spend your money? Is there something I haven't seen or looked at that I should? Oh, I should mention that I am on DirecTv and have no plans of going to the cable monopoly around here. I also have no plans of buying a HD DirecTv receiver anytime soon so all of my high def viewing will be done by over the air broadcasts, which would be a nice thing to have. This is what took the Toshiba H84 series sets out of the running because they don't have the integrated tuner (unless they're that much better pieces than either of the other two that I just shouldn't pass it up...in that case I can get the 65H84 for about $1800). Thanks for the help and sorry about the long post, but this is a major purchase and I want to get all of the info I can.
Jarrod
Now, to what I have. The home theater package consists of Energy APS5+2 bipole speakers up front with the matching center, Energy A3+2 bipole towers in the rear, Energy RVSS bi/dipole speakers on the side, and a Klipsch 12" sub for low frequency. It is run by a Denon AVR-3800. I also have an Onkyo progressive scan DVD player, Mits SVHS VCR and a Monster Power line conditioner and surge protector.
This is where my system sucks (or at least I think it does). I have a nine year old Mits 32" TV that we sit 12 feet away from. Not exactly enveloping in the theater experience. It is still performing flawlessly and the deal with the better half was to let it wear out and then buy a new big screen. Well, she got a new bedroom set without absolutely needing it so, we get a new TV as well. I do have a couple of restrictions, though. I can only spend $2000 and it needs to be technology that will not have to be replaced within the next few years...especially when the analog signal gets switched off, if it ever does. I have been mainly looking at two units:
Mitsubishi WS-55517
Sony KDP-57WS655
The links wouldn't work, can't post them with under 5 posts to this board. The Good Guys has the Sony for $1999.99 and Best Buy has the Mits for the same price. Both have about the same feature set so, if you're not familiar with them, go to those two web sites and check them out.
I will buy from a brick and mortar store so that it will be delivered and brought into my home and they will remove the box (the kids don't need another playhouse) and because I believe in spending my money in the local community if the price is commensurate with what I can get online (both of the links are). These two sets seem to have plenty of features for the money and, from what I know from previous experience, were two pretty good quality manufacturers.
The thing I'm not crazy about is either having to stack all of my equipment on top of the TV or getting a separate cabinet to put on the side of the TV (speakers are bipole and you can tell a difference in imaging when there is something sitting next to one side of the TV or the other). Currently I have a very nice glass stand that provides room for all of my equipment and is low enough that an LCD or DLP display would fit on it but I don't think there is one in my price range that I will think is big enough, I just don't know if 42" will do it as far back as we sit.
Also, since I use the Denon to do all of my switching (S-Video), am I to understand that I will not be able to take advantage of the progressive scan output of the DVD player? The Denon does not have upconversion from composite and S-video to component, although the DVD player, obviously, has component outputs.
I guess my question, after this long winded dissertation, is what would some of you do in my situation and how would you spend your money? Is there something I haven't seen or looked at that I should? Oh, I should mention that I am on DirecTv and have no plans of going to the cable monopoly around here. I also have no plans of buying a HD DirecTv receiver anytime soon so all of my high def viewing will be done by over the air broadcasts, which would be a nice thing to have. This is what took the Toshiba H84 series sets out of the running because they don't have the integrated tuner (unless they're that much better pieces than either of the other two that I just shouldn't pass it up...in that case I can get the 65H84 for about $1800). Thanks for the help and sorry about the long post, but this is a major purchase and I want to get all of the info I can.
Jarrod
