Sony Bravia / Buying guide.

[Pluto]

My parents are looking to buy a new television. They went to a Best Buy earlier, and they were looking to buy a HD television in the price range of $2,500 - $3000.

Apparently the man at the Best Buy recommended a Sony Bravia. Does anyone here on the forum own that type of television to give me their opinion on it? Or can anyone recommend a television?

[Benson]

Sony SXRD Rear Projection LCD. I have the model before the SXRD came out, and it is AWESOME. I have a 55" one and I just am in awe of it all the time. Sony still does one thing right, make TVs.

Bravias are good if you want a regular LCD, but I recommend a Rear Projection LCD.

[frosty]

Noooo. Rear projection anything sucks. The contrast ratio is nowhere near as good nor is the brightness. Not to mention they require more maintenance, and don't have as sharp of a picture. The mirror they project onto must be periodically cleaned or the image gets fuzzy. Bravia FTW. I'm not sure if they all are or not, but make sure it's 1080p capable. If you are going to drop that much cash on a TV 1080p is a must.

[Garfunkel]

get a 1080p sony bravia lcd. They use samsung panels and so are of very good picture quality. Do not get rear projectors.

[Benson]

I don't agree at all.

I compared all of them at the store many times and I really think that LCDs are dead last in terms of quality.

[Hrama]

I don't agree at all.

I compared all of them at the store many times and I really think that LCDs are dead last in terms of quality.

If it's not a holographic, 4d, projection, it sucks.

In reality, Rear projection LCD's aren't the favored choice when compared to regular LCD's. Frosty pretty much has it pegged right on down as far as they are concerned. Sony Bravias have definitely risen the bar though on picture quality, on the other hand, and I thoroughly recommend them.

[Garfunkel]

I don't agree at all.

I compared all of them at the store many times and I really think that LCDs are dead last in terms of quality.

there are many variables that could make them appear better. But LCD's are much better in the PQ department.

[Pluto]

Thanks for the tips, guys.

I think they're going to go along with the Bravia.

[ Which benefits both of us, now I can play my PS3 on a HD TV! Yeaah. ]

[Garfunkel]

1080p?

[frosty]

1080p=1920x1080 (2,073,600) pixels that are displayed in progressive scan. This means that the TV displays all 1080 horizontal rows of pixels per frame, wheras 1080i interlaces the images so only half the lines are drawn on screen per frame. Normally it is the odd lines that are drawn in the first frame and the even lines in the second, which when displayed back to back form a complete image. This does produce some flicker and artifacts when a flat panel TV tries to de-interlace it, so progressive scan is always preferred. It is literally twice the pixel information of interlaced video at the same resolution. 1080p is the highest resolution HDTV allows for currently, which is why so much fuss has been made of PS3's 1080p capabilities.

[Garfunkel]

lol, nah frosty i know what 1080p is, i was just asking the op if he was getting a 1080p model. LMAO!

[frosty]

haha, lol. Oh well, now everyone knows what it is.

[Pluto]

That's what I suggested to my father.

I kinda just re-iterated some of the things I heard from you guys, but I really want to sell the idea to him.

Any of you guys have a suggestion as to WHY it's important to push for 1080p? :spiral:

Other than the pixels..and interlacing..and progressive scans. o_O?

[frosty]

Blu-Ray, which is in PS3. 1080p is a standard resolution for all Blu-Ray movies, and it has more movie studio support and higher istorage capacity than HD-DVD. That equals more image and sound quality and more features, etc. Not only that, but it will upscale 1080i and 720p so all HDTV broadcasts will look better as well.

In short, it's the highest quality possible, and therefore the most future proof. It will have the needed image quality and copy protection hardware needed to get the most out of the next gen movie formats, and gaming as well.

[Benson]

I guess it may be different nowadays. When I was seriously looking it was over a year and a half ago, before 1080p. So maybe you guys are right, sounds like you probably are.

[Garfunkel]

OK consider this, place your monitor on 800x600 (assuming it's 4:3), look at the picture quality and observe. Switch to 1024x768 and look again, now put it on the highest it can go. Which one looks better?

get my point?

You will have a greater experience with 1080p. the choice is obvious!

[masteratt]

Is it true that 1080p is not 'worth it' if your TV is under 50" (or something)?

[Coded-Dude]

CRT is still the best picture, but LCD looks good too(its just sleeker)