LCD vs SXRD?

Question

I was looking at a new HDTV with 1080p. My initial idea was to get the sony 60" SXRD Rear Projection HDTV with max 1080p resolution, however the sales person at Best Buy told me that an LCD with a 720p res will be much better quality than the SXRD rear projection HDTV with 1080p. IS that true, if not do i sacrifice alot of quality by going with a 1080p rear projection vs 720p or even 1080p LCD. The guy sold me a 1080p 52" LCD from Samsung for 5113$ after taxes, while i could get a 60 inch Sony SXRD with 1080p for 3k$ after taxes. That's bigger and alot cheaper. I don't care too much about mounting. However if my picture quality will be the same of a 720p lcd, i'd rather keep the LCD i bought, if not, i'd like to save the 2k and get the SXRD. Thank you.

Answer 1

Home Theater magazine proclaimed the SXRD from Sony as the best 1080p display earlier this year. These guys look at it all, so I'd have to give them the benefit of the doubt. With the identical 1080p inputs, the SXRD will be superior to any 720p LCD, especially close up.

And think about it -- the salesman is on commission, so if he gets you to hand him $2k more, he probably gets at least $200 of it. He has nothing to lose and $200 to gain if he fibs to you.

LCD's can suffer from poor response time (how fast the LCD changes from one level to another), so fast motion, like sports, can be a lot worse on an LCD than a different technology.

The best thing you could do is take a DVD that you've seen several times before and display it on both sets, with the same DVD player. Also, be sure to use something like the Digital Video Essentials DVD to calibrate both displays as best you can before you view your DVD. It will take some time (as much as 30 min per set), but we're talking about $5k here, so unless that's peanuts to you, it's worth it. Then you can compare the displays with the same input and make the judgment for yourself instead of relying on someone who just wants to make as much money as they can.

If the store doesn't want to let you spend an hour with their equipment before you drop $5k, then find another store! That's too much money and the technology is too new for them to insist it's all good right out of the box. If it were good right out of the box, they wouldn't try to sell you the calibration service for another $300 or so...

Answer 2

Don't ever believe an ordinary sales person at Best Buy, Circuit City or any major consumer electronics store. They get almost no training in the characteristics of the products, especially complex ones like HDTV. The Sony SXRD is superior to just about any HDTV available, and there is no way a 720p is better than a true 1080p display. Return whatever it is you got and get the Sony.

Answer 3

SXRD is the latest tech of projection TV, the picture definitely better compare to LCD projection (without considering the 720p and 1080p) and the viewing angle also better (try to see the image from the side of TV, you'll see the different between this two TV). About the salesman I think he means between the SXRD and the Flat panel LCD TV. The picture quality of SXRD is much softer compare to Flat LCD TV, but the bad things about projection TV they uses bulb as their light source, and the lifetime of this bulb really annoying expensive also. If it's me I'll chose Flat panel LCD TV life time is better.

Answer 4

Only you can decide what's best for your viewing preferences and viewing environment.

There are many trade-offs with a rear projection TV.

My advice is go to http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php? and ask for opinions there from people using the TV's you're looking at.