I am going to upgrade my home theater soon and would like to hear about what is available in 16:9 65 Inch or so sets. I have a 50 IN 4:3 Mitsubishi now. I have been looking or reading about Mitsubishi, Toshiba, and Hitachi models. It looks like the set will be about $3,500 based on a shopping trip to two local Home Theater stores. I can go local or etailer.
The Mitubishi dealer recommends a Platinum Plus WS-65819 and a competing store that has almost all brands except Mits recommends a Hitachi 61UWX10B for the same price. I have read about the new Toshiba Cinema Series and the 65HX81 looks like a good competitor.

I watch mostly DVDs (SD-6200 DVD Player) and Directv. The Mits dealer recommended waiting on buying the HD receiver until the next generation is available - something about the ongoing copy protections schemes.

Any suggestions - Pro or Con - Other models -

I recently purchased a Mitsubishi WS-65819. Out of the box it looked AWEFUL! It was not bright, colors were bad, tint horrible. No setting thru the menu would give me a good picture. When I watched a DVD movie (with comp. output), it looked bad - ghosting, dull and soft picture. Just bad for a $4000.00 HD set. I was about to return it when a friend suggested I get a technician that is ISF certified to calibrate it. I did, and WOW! what a difference! He explained that most manufactures set the sets default settings to extremes to look good on showroom floors with all the bright lighting, etc. He spent 4 hours calibrating the set with all sorts of equipment he brought over. The difference was immence - it now has the color, detail, black level, definition that it should. It looks EXACTLY like what you see in a movie theater. I love my Mitsubishi HD ( I have'nt even seen true HD yet on my set!). But I do recommend you get it calibrated by a certified ISF technician. The cost - $300.00. When you consider that you will spen $3000.00 -$6000.00 on a set, it seems dumb that you won't have it calibrated.

I think it's dumb that the manufacturers set them up so poorly that a person would have to pay a third party to calibrate the things. This is such BS. Big screen TVs usually look pretty crappy in the big chain stores no matter how they arrive from the factory. And the reputable home theatre stores usually take the time to set up a set properly anyway.

I don't know how much rycher10's statement still holds true in 2001, but if it is manufacturers should get off their collective stupid-cans and get in touch.

randy/Jay in Chicago: Thoughts on this? ... Mike

I would buy a mits hd (i'm slightly biased cause I own one) They are the only company that coats the lenses with scantium oxide, as far as I know. The Sony XBR's are really nice, although super heavy.
As far as calibration and big chain stores, what do you expect? The people working there generally do not have the knowledge, drive, or authority to adjust a TV on the floor, and it is unfair to blame the manufacturer. That TV has traveled a great distance, usually in multiple trucks to get to the local dealer, and it is the responsibility of the dealer to make the TV's on the floor look good.
The bottom line is support your local home theater specialty dealer, and pay to have teh TV delivered and set up properly. Most specialty stores will match national chain prices, and you will get far superior service and sometimes some inside info. ISF calibration is definatelly an option, but do yourself a favor and spend the 40 bucks on AVIA or video essentials.
If you want HD now, buy a receiver now. There are no plans by Mits to release a new HD receiver anytime soon, and the copyright/HD format war will rage for years. It is not really the manufacturers that are holding things up, but the powers that be in Holywood and the broadcasters.
rycher10, when you get a true HD signal to that Mits, your jaw WILL DROP, and you will be begging for more. It's aewsome.

thefish:

Your comment about salesstaff at the big stores is exactly my point: they don't know what they're doing. It is, however, the big stores that provide the most exposure to product to the widest audience. And this is one simple but overpowering reason that HD is not a bigger seller. When colour came to TVs, no one had to sell 'em: they sold themselves. But if you can't see a HiDef picture, you won't know what you're missing. But while I often visit the superstores, I generally make it a point to actually buy from my trusted retailer and specialist.

If the staff at the superstores don't "have the knowledge, drive or authority to adjust a TV on the floor", then two things are required: manufacturers need to set 'em up properly to begin with, thus overcoming that barrier to common sense; and, the management at these stores should focus on the "drive and authority" parts, because employees do get training on their products. It's all part of the deal with the manufacturers and distributors.

Furthermore, the local manufacturers' reps would seem to be remiss in not checking out these places as part of their daily rounds and insisting that their product be "lookin' good". I know some reps, but I don't know what their responsibilities are in cases like this. I wouldn't mind finding out.

You would seem to suggest that because they have "travelled a great distance" that they would somehow be knocked out of calibration. I've seen the packing in these things, and I find it hard to believe they are capable of that kind of internal damage during shipping. Yes, perhaps a few degrees, but no more. Maybe I'm wrong.

Most local home theatre specialty dealers include a proper setup at your home for TVs that are priced above the 'snatch'n go" range. Beyond that, expecting customers to pay for an ISF calibration is ludicrous. They wouldn't sell too many sets if they advertised "Look, these things are so out-of-whack from the factory you're gonna have to hire a pro for another $200 to $300 to come to your house and fix it..."

I pretty much have all the fine-tuning DVDs out there, and have managed to establish what I think is a dandy picture quality, although I'm still interested in having our local ISF guy come over and perhaps make it even better.

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