Ok so I'm ging RF and want to hide all my AV and get a flat screen TV, right now I have a rear projection sony 57inch HDTV, and I don't mind the picture or the glare, I don't mind shutting a blind when I watch. I watch DVDs, HDTV, and regular analog TV, plus game with it with my XBOX, but burnin hasn't been an issue with my current TV. I have about $5000 maybe a little more to spend, I know I'll be going to 42 or 50 inches for that price, but do you think it's worth it? Loosing all that viewing space has me a litle concerned. Do you think hiding all the A/V with the rear projection TV will look better? This TV is HUGE!:-) Any opinons?

I'm in the cable business so I see a lot of flat screens and for some reason most look like crap to me, but maybe it's just their wiring, they just seem to pick up every little flaw in the piture, LCD or plasma.

Thanks guys

Pat

Most TVs of any type are set up so poorly I personally find them unwatchable. I don't do lots of visiting at others' houses, but I always seem to fix something when I am there.

Why not jump to front PJ since you are willing to do light control? That's the thinnest screen around. For that price range you can get a widescreen, HD-native DLP model that, properly calibrated, will probably blow away your 57" or anything smaller.

The biggest problem with 'flat screens'; crap in, crap out !
They look great on HD, DVD, but terrible on a standard 'cable' feed. The resoloution is too good to deal with an inferrior signal. CRT's are a lot more forgiving. Hence, they look better.

I think the new TV's are way ahead of the Cable Co's ability to provide a signal that will look good (on analog signals). Its going to take time, and a lot of money, for the cable boys to catch up to the abilitys of the 'new' TV's !!!

When every station is filming in HD, it should be a lot easier for the cable co. to transmit a more usable signal.

Until then, 'grainy' pictures are somethig you have to deal with.

Does't seem right , though.

I would imagine that you have never seen a really good plasma. Check out the Vidikron, Runco, Fujitsu or Pioneer Elite. HD is going to look pretty good even on a poor plasma, it will look even better on a great plasma. The BIG difference is standard def. It looks lika absolute crap on most HD sets, like you have noticed. SD will lok MUCH better on a great plasma. They have better video processing and scaling and better stretch modes.

That being said, your budget will only allow you a 42" plasma, which may not be big enough. If picture quality is a priority, you may need to save a little more. You will be better off in the long run.

Good Luck!