[bogey776]

I just found this site today after looking at some big screen tvs last nite. Presently, I have a 32"Magnavox, Sony DVD, Kenwood Receiver, DISH PVR, Panasonic VCR, and an old PSOne game system. I love my sound system, and my tv actually has a great picture, but I've been thinking about a big screen.


Now for my tastes, most any 47-53" rear projector will do fine. Some don't look as good as others, but most I see in the stores in the $1500 range look great to me. However, I have a question that may seem very elementary, but I thought this would be a good forum to ask it on. Where do you put all of your components with one of these cabinet model rear projection TV's? I haven't really seen this addressed anywhere.


Also, while I'm at it, any recommendations on a $1500 or below rear projection TV?


Thanks

bogey776

 

[jimnc]

My components are in a black cabinet next to my TV. I bought the cabinet at BB.

As for which RPTV, before you go that route (and it may be the perfect route for you) learn a little bit about front projectors. Instead of getting a new RPTV, I bought an X1 for under a grand and now have a 106" image on my wall for movies and HD sports. I use my existing TVs for regular TV and daytime viewing. Good luck, and welcome to the forum!

 

[bogey776]

Jimnc,

Thanks for the info and suggestion. The problem with a projector is I don't have a room I could put it in. I have windows in every room and I need an everyday day/night setup. Our main TV is in our living room, and I just don't have the ability to put in a projector.


I believe a RPTV would work fine for our viewing habits, mostly SD tv and occassionally a DVD. But I also like the looks of the 36" flat screen CRT they have now. But the man in me makes it hard to spend $1200 on a 36" screen when I could have a 50" RPTV for about the same price. I guess it is a good dilemma to be in anyway.

 

[David_Larkins]

Quote:

But the man in me makes it hard to spend $1200 on a 36" screen when I could have a 50" RPTV for about the same price.

We agree with this statement... That's why we normally suggest that people look into getting a 100" for about the same price as a 50" !!

 

[bogey776]

David,

That is one [email protected]$ setup you have. I would love to go that route, I just can't make it work right now. In the future, in a different house I will definitely look into a front projector. I bet that thing is sweet with a good DVD or some HD sports.

 

[carlsbadd]

I bought a Panasonic 47 widescreen and it's been pretty good for my setup. Any RPTV you purchase is going to needs some tweaks after break in to get the best picture. I have a audio component rack next to the RPTV for all the other stuff(reciever, Tivo ,dvd player,xbox)

Shop around and you can get some good deals.

The only other advise I have is to not go to big for your room size, RPTV's always look smaller in the showroom than in you living room...Good luck

 

[David_Larkins]

bogey,


Thanks. I do enjoy it - but always looking to make it better. Please don't think for a minute that I would try to push anyone to go that route if they couldn't find a way to make it work. I think that one of the reasons that I and many other folks on this forum would even suggest it is that you would be surprised at how many people don't even know that front projection HT is even a possibility. When you go into your typical circuit city or best buy, all you see is 'TV's' - some larger, some smaller.


I think that a good RPTV is going to serve you well. Just wanted to make sure that you (or any other person reading this who might be in a similar situation) knows that there is a larger world of HT out there if you have the space/means/time/desire to keep going.


To answer your question about where to put components... I think a nice rack to go beside the set would look good. there are some entertainment units made for large TV's that span the set and have storage on either side and a place for a center channel speaker over the TV. You could even look into doing a DIY rack if that's something you're into... The equipment rack in my theater is one I built myself with a little inspiration and help from folks on AVS Forum.


Good Luck.

 

[greywolf]

If you click my gallery, you'll see pictures of my setups.

 

[Mulch]

You may want to consider which RPTV you get by the cabinet shape as well. I bought a Mitsubishi 55" a few years ago based on price, picture and reputation. The bonus to the Mitsu is the box shaped cabinet. It is a rectangle with a full shelf on top. Most RPTV's try to make the thing look thinner by angling down the top / back. So even though it is 5' x 2' at the bottom the sloped top / back makes it appear slimmer. What it really does is take away a 5' x 2' shelf you could have put all of your components on.


We have a huge wall unit w/bridge that surrounds the TV and I still keep all components on top of the TV. Looks great and I have short cable runs.

 

[PamW]

bogey776,


Welcome! When we first purchased our Pioneer Elite 710, we noticed that we could purchase a Pioneer Elite equipment rack to match it! There's just something about that glossy black finish...

 

[bogey776]

Thanks everybody,

After reading your posts and seeing some setups in the photo section of this forum, I think I know where to put my components. And the answer was staring me right in the face. My current 32" TV sits on a nice black stand that holds my components. When I get the big screen, I'll just move the TV and use the current stand and leave the components in it. After all, I can use the vacant TV spot as a small table for a plant and maybe a couple of photos. Problem solved, now onto picking out my new TV!


Thanks

bogey776

 

[Morespam]

Unfortunaly a seperate storage area for your compnents is required. Maybe shelfing above the TV, or a cabinent by its side (or in anothe area of the room)

 

[N8DOGG]

Make sure you look at hitachi, they make some awsome t.v's

 

[Gary McCoy]

One thing you might want to consider is the matter of widescreen TVs and standard 4:3 video material and CRT burn-in. The inexpensive RPTVs today all use CRTs. Both the cheap CRTs and the very expensive plasma panels are subject to burn-in when the aspect ratio of the video material does not match the display, resulting in black sidebars or letterbox bars. I would not reccomend anyone buy anything except an HD-capable display today, be it 4:3 or 16:9.


I have seen RPTVs burned in as little as 2 years when the owner ran it in a brilliantly lighted room at high brightness and contrast. Once burned, a CRT RPTV is essentially ruined, as it costs more to replace the CRTs than the entire set. I believe the current owners of those very expensive plasma panels are about to make the same discovery, as they are likely to last 2-4 years and are not repairable at all.


I think it worth considering to upgrade to a DLP, LCD, or DiLA technology rear projector. These are free from burnin, and you simply replace a bulb every 3-5 years at a cost of about $300/bulb.


Few women are entranced with the idea of a gigantic black box RPTV in their living space. The relatively thin DLP, LCD, and DiLA technology table-mount RPTVs in the 30-52 inch range are the answer, in furniture-quality cabinetry.


Gary