Time for a new RPTV - suggestions?

[deldest]

have used great advise here in the past, so I figured I'd see what you guys thought.

I think my living room CRT RPTV is on it's last leg, so I have to find a new one. Tons of light in this room so I'm afraid Front projection is out of the question (otherwise I would do that again in a heartbeat). room size 25x28.

wants:
largest screen (on budget) possible
HD tuner
would be nice to have 1080 resolution
quality picture
a cheap price?

LOL I know that's alot, but I'm the type of person that doesn't care much about extra features, name dropping, etc. I just want the best quality budget large 'picture' I can get (doesn't everyone?).

My present (56in) rptv was CRT and definitely has/had a great picture, and which still seems better than 'many' of the LCD and DLP sets I see today. I have a DLP home theater setup downstairs, and never had color/viewing issues so DLP is doable for me, but that and LCD will probably both require a bulb EVERY year with the amount of use the living room tv gets (just figure on ALL the time).

Do they still make something like the Mitsubishi WS-65815?? I also saw a Hitachi set (65" CRT Projection HDTV (65F59A)) advertised for a good price, what's the opinion on them???

I know I will be doing alot of searching (this site, going to do that now), but Figured I would post now to try and get some opinions, or some direction to 'search in'.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[AVRat]

You might be able to find a Mits 55/65517 (1080i): http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/televisions/details.asp?id=186

 

[AVJedi]

Both Hitachi and Mits. offer 65" CRT RPTVs yet, and the Mits still offers a 73". Going by what you said about the sets being on all the time, those are probably your cheapest bet. Both offer good pictures, but the Mits. get the bigger 9" CRTs in the 65 & 73" versions. But on their website, it looks like the last year for CRT RPTVs! 2007 has no listings, that may change, but it might not either. Otherwise I'd go DLP or LCOS. You can get around a 70"-ish TV that will be much skinnier than your old CRT, and you said you wanted the biggest size you could get! Just my $0.02.

 

[ironlung]

A little off topic. Bob do you plan on using the TV for HD content?

TIA

 

[deldest]

Both Hitachi and Mits. offer 65" CRT RPTVs yet, and the Mits still offers a 73". Going by what you said about the sets being on all the time, those are probably your cheapest bet. Both offer good pictures, but the Mits. get the bigger 9" CRTs in the 65 & 73" versions. But on their website, it looks like the last year for CRT RPTVs! 2007 has no listings, that may change, but it might not either. Otherwise I'd go DLP or LCOS. You can get around a 70"-ish TV that will be much skinnier than your old CRT, and you said you wanted the biggest size you could get! Just my $0.02.

Skinnier is not really an issue as I don't think any TV will stick out past the fireplace (mounting a flat one over won't work either), which is one of the reasons I was leaning towards the old fashioned CRT. I have always gotten a good picture from them, and don't have weight/size issues.

I figured the Mitsu would be a much better quality but I had not realized the hitachi would not have 9in guns! I can never find that kind of stuff in the 'basic' specs and had kind of assumed at 65" they would both have the large guns. Does anyone have/know a PQ comparison? I thought they would be similar and had heard that the Hitachi's were pretty decent.


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A little off topic. Bob do you plan on using the TV for HD content?.

Yes, absolutely, but how much and source is questionable. I currently get OTA HD (about 30 channels, only about 8 with good content) and love it; I also have an "HD" package from DISH and watch them off and on as well. I am probably going back to DirecTV as billing/customer service sux at Dish but not sure if I will bother with premium HD as I watch more OTA.
I don't computer generate any movies/video etc, but will sometimes hook up a PS2.
looking at The Hitachi, it has some questionable specs?? I can't tell what "type" of HD readiness this is supposed to be? I was assuming it would take OTA HD and display it unmolested 1080 (or less for some channels upscaled) to 1080. was also assuming it would just upcale "everything else"?

 

[AVJedi]

I'm not sure on the CRT size for the Hitachis, so don't quote me. But they've always had a good picture. They also have a seemless tuner, that switches between HD and analog w/o any noticeable delay. They have upconversion for weak signals, and a day & night setting. That help w/the brightness on each setting. I know all this, because I've been messing w/my buddy's and it's nice. Look at the higher end 710A models. They're still pretty cheap though, as HDTVs are concerned. I'm thinking about the 51" myself. Another friend has a silver series Mits. from a couple of years ago. I wasn't impressed with it. But now it seems Mit. only makes 1 grade of CRT RPTVs. So I guess, it's up to you what you think looks better, and what is more in your price range. Both, I'm sure will make you happy.