Well, I ventured outside yesterday...

[Adam]

and after paying homage to the glowing orb in the sky, I made my way to Circuit City.

I'm a modern window shopper...that is, I look at pictures and specs of products on the internet. Ewww, the Onkyo 805. Drool. Look at that new LCD TV. What a beautiful (simulated) picture it has when viewed on my LCD monitor. I hardly ever see products in person until I open the outer delivery box.

Yesterday, I took my car in for service and walked over to Circuit City while I was waiting. A good experience for me. I learned a few things:

1) LCD TVs have come a long way since I went shopping last. The off-axis viewing is MUCH better than I was imagining. Quite nice.

2) I think that the new Onkyo receivers are butt-ugly. I like Onkyo products. I've recommended them based on my past experience and current reviews. However, IMO, this year's crop looks much better in pictures than in person. After seeing one in person, I'm very glad that I didn't buy an 805. I like the looks of my Pioneer much better. Disclaimer - doesn't mean that it's not a great receiver, but the cosmetics are not for me.

3) On the flip side, this year's Denons look much better in person to me than they do in pictures. Honestly, I was a little smitten.

Well, that's what I learned on my biennial trip to an A/V store. I suppose that I should take field trips more often.

 

[stratman]

Yes, it's good to get out of the cave so often and smell the roses.

 

[Hi Ho]

I install or work with many of the products discussed on these boards on a regular basis so I see things in person all the time but I still stop by the big box stores to see what's new from brands that my company doesn't carry.

One thing that is really bugging me is the trend to put glossy covers on LCD screens. The new LED backlit Samsung appearently has this.

 

[Adam]

One thing that is really bugging me is the trend to put glossy covers on LCD screens. The new LED backlit Samsung appearently has this.

If that's the case, that will be quite disappointing to me. I had high hopes for those Samsungs (there weren't any on display at CC yesterday), but a glossy screen would keep me away. The reflections from my windows and patio door would be too much. I'll have to go look at the new Panasonic plasmas that have the anti-glare coating. Those interest me.

There was a Samsung on display that just blew away the other LCDs. I forget the model number, but it wasn't a new LED model. I figured that it might have just been set up by CC to look better than the others, but it just stood out heads and tails above the others in terms of light output when I stood back and viewed the entire wall of LCDs.

 

[Tomorrow]

Forget the new Panasonic plasmas. They have the anti-glare screens and an ultra-shiny black mirrored bezel. What is the matter with these designers?! I guess they're designing for people who like to look at their windows, ceilings, lamps, and other decor while watching tv/movies.

The Panny LCD Viera flat panel, OTOH, is the perfect design of flat black bezel plus anti-glare screen. Now if they'll just start making those in 58" panels for under 2 grand I'll be in heaven.

(EDIT: That was the sun?? Homage...yes...a blessed event in coastal Oregon. )

 

[Hi Ho]

There was a Samsung on display that just blew away the other LCDs. I forget the model number, but it wasn't a new LED model. I figured that it might have just been set up by CC to look better than the others, but it just stood out heads and tails above the others in terms of light output when I stood back and viewed the entire wall of LCDs.

I haven't seen the new LED models because they haven't come in yet at work but we just got a few other Samsung LCDs with glossy covers and I cannot stand it. Glossy bezels don't bother me at all but glossy screens are terrible.

I setup a new Mitsubishi LCD for in store display last week and it looks phenominal. It has the best blacks of any LCD I've seen to date. I was comparing it to the new Pioneer Elite 50" 1080p plasma which was next to it and it's the first LCD I've seen that really gives the Pioneer a run for it's money. I can't remember the model of the Mitsubishi right now.

Speaking of Circtuit City... The last time I was in there I was looking at the Panasonic 42PX75U and saw that the remote was nearby. I played with the settings until I got it looking better than any of the other displays on the wall which were all at factory default overly bright settings. An employee came up to me when I was about to walk away and said, "I need to put it back to the proper setting" and proceeded to set it to vivid mode with it's overblown whites and crushed blacks. I just walked away without saying a word.

 

[Seth=L]

Adam, you are just plain weird.

You say you like the look of the Pioneer VSX-1015, it is decent looking IMO for the price especially. It looks a lot better than the VSX-1016 and VSX-1017 for sure. I hate the way the new Denon's look, big box versions and boutique alike. The new Onkyos up to the TX-SR705 are IMO, but ugly, but I really like the TX-SR805, 875, NR905, where as the Integra series as a whole looks aweful, once again, IMO.

 

[Adam]

You say you like the look of the Pioneer VSX-1015...It looks a lot better than the VSX-1016 and VSX-1017...

I totally agree! One of the reasons that I like it is the relatively simple front face. I wanted a clean look while still having buttons to select the source, and the 1015 fit the bill. A nice panel covers a lot of seldom used buttons and jacks. Pioneer went back to having more visible buttons and jacks on the 1016 and 1017...not my cup of tea.

 

[Adam]

That was the sun??

Oh, is that what that was? Whew. Scared the crap out of me. I looked up and saw this bright glowing orb and payed my respects out of fear of retribution. I could feel my pasty skin burning and thought that I might need to sacrifice a chicken or something.

Now that you mention that it was the sun, it makes sense and I feel kinda stupid. I'd read about that thing before but just didn't make the connection. Glad that there weren't any chickens around. I would feel really bad about hurting one for nothing.

 

[Seth=L]

I totally agree! One of the reasons that I like it is the relatively simple front face. I wanted a clean look while still having buttons to select the source, and the 1015 fit the bill. A nice panel covers a lot of seldom used buttons and jacks. Pioneer went back to having more visible buttons and jacks on the 1016 and 1017...not my cup of tea.

Don't you think the Onkyo TX-SR805 has a clean look?

 

[Adam]

Don't you think the Onkyo TX-SR805 has a clean look?

There aren't a lot of visible buttons. I'll give you that. I just didn't like the look of the materials or the angles that they used on the front panel.

 

[Seth=L]

There aren't a lot of visible buttons. I'll give you that. I just didn't like the look of the materials or the angles that they used on the front panel.

You don't like heavy aluminum? what is wrong with you, LOL?

The tasty looking receivers, IMO, are the Pioneer Elites, the new ones.

 

[MDS]

You guys are scaring me. I have yet to see the new Onkyos in person but from the pictures I've seen they look just like all the prior models and if that is so, I am fine with it.

I just ventured out to Furniture in the Raw and put in my order for the new TV stand. A&B TV is right around the corner and I stopped in there too. A&B has the Toshiba 52LX177 and they sell it for $1000 less than MSRP. I didn't notice any green where it shouldn't be nor did I notice any bands on the Sharp D92U they had on the same wall. Decisions, decisions...I have 4 weeks or so until the stand is completed and then I can rejoin the world and actually own a TV again.

 

[Adam]

...then I can rejoin the world and actually own a TV again.

We eagerly await the return of the prodigal son. Our celebration will be a mighty one.

 

[stratman]

You guys are scaring me. I have yet to see the new Onkyos in person but from the pictures I've seen they look just like all the prior models and if that is so, I am fine with it.

I just ventured out to Furniture in the Raw and put in my order for the new TV stand. A&B TV is right around the corner and I stopped in there too. A&B has the Toshiba 52LX177 and they sell it for $1000 less than MSRP. I didn't notice any green where it shouldn't be nor did I notice any bands on the Sharp D92U they had on the same wall. Decisions, decisions...I have 4 weeks or so until the stand is completed and then I can rejoin the world and actually own a TV again.

You might want to wait till Black Friday, but only if you can control yourself.
Predictions are high as far as really deep discounts accross the board on flat panel TVs.