Summary: I may have rushed when I bought this TV. I got this TV and enjoyed watching the last super bowl on it! The TV is the biggest TV I have ever owned and is bigger than any TV any of my friends have, or anyone that I know for that matter.
The experience is fantastic and whoever enters my home is always impressed with my theater, it is not just some big TV. The remote is well made, just like the TV, but it would have been desirable if it had more function or some sort of display. I find it to be very standard and not nearly enough what I need to control my entertainment center or really use the HDTV at all, I use it to turn it off an on, and require the usage of three other remotes!
The TV requires a lot of additional components. I do not believe the sound was sufficient enough for the display; additional speakers are a must, with corresponding receiver. I have an older high-end Sony receiver that does the job well, but I will probably need to upgrade it to utilize the digital sound that I thirst for.
The Magnolia store in the Best Buy that I bought it at was not helpful in putting together a complete package. I was required to go back numerous times to buy everything I needed and am still missing essential components like a remote control that will control all the components that are necessary to enjoy this HDTV. They are also trying to weasel me out of more money in consultation fees, they should really pay these guys a commission and stop trying to make me pay for services they should be providing me free of charge. The stand they sold me, may not be the appropriate stand either, the stand they had their 70 Inch XBR standing on cost a whooping $1200! I am not going to spend $1200 on a piece of glass and steel, maybe $600. I am reading now, the stand they sold me is not for TVs greater than 60 inches, and that worries me a lot!!!! I asked them specifically about an appropriate stand and they said the one I bought was made for my TV, I doubt this now.
In addition, an advanced surge protector/backup is necessary. If the LCD is unexpectedly shut off without a cool down period it will explode or burn. I would recommend an additional $700 dollar backup system. If you buy this HDTV, you will absolutely need an HDTV receiver, and will require some further investment and programming is not cheap either and is not abundant, expect to pay at least $65 dollars a month to utilize your HDTV at all, but HDNET is really fun to watch and I have stayed up nights watching my HD programming, because it is simply the best and most interesting programming that I have seen; not to mention, absolutely brilliant to watch on such a big TV! I am eagerly awaiting Direct TV to get their HD satellites working.
The most upsetting thing about the TV is that it does not have HDMI and only has DVI. In addition, only one DVI input. I use the DVI with my HD Receiver, would also have loved an HDMI input for my DVD player, it also happens to be a top of the line Sony DVD player (or at least an additional high end input would have been nice).
I have many, many, Sony products! From computer displays, to laptops, PSP collector’s edition, disc-man, cd players, headsets, TVs, DVD players, DVD burners, Cameras, camcorders, memory sticks the list is endless! I have noticed the quality not to be as satisfying or as high end as I expect Sony to be. I always buy the high-end and newest products Sony releases. Overall, I am very happy with my HDTV, but it took a lot of additional components to even make this TV usable and I am already noticing things that they may have cut corners on. For instance, the memory stick reader is a bit slow. I have their 8 mega pixel digital camera and of course their memory sticks, and the memory stick reader is very slow. And I think that I will need to use their conversion software to get any movies to work, but the reader is so slow, that I have not even used my memory to playback mp3s, which would have been fun to do, by simply placing in the memory. I have their new Duo pro memory with adapter, I still need to try that in the TV, but I doubt there will be a difference. It is nice to view pictures I take on my camera on the HDTV, but it is slow, granted my pictures are all 8 mega pixels!
I no longer have the urge to go to movies at the theater, unless there is something really good out and it will take a year to get on DVD. If you buy this TV expect to pay much more to enjoy it! At least $300-$1000 (HD Tivo) for the HD receiver/satellite, $65-$95 a month for programming, high-end DVD player $150-$1000 (mine was $325), cables $300-thousands! Stand is also a must and must be over looked, I paid like $350, worry every day that I should have gotten the one for $1200!
Recommended: 1) HD Tivo, $1,000 ; 2) Hi-end DVD $300; 3) Stand $1200, 4) Surge protector/backup $700; 5) remote control $250; 6) Receiver $1,000; 7) Cables (Dvi etc,) $500; 8) speakers that at least will be good for movies $2,000; 9) HD programming $95 a month!
If you cannot see yourself spending that type of money to watch a TV, don’t even bother getting this TV. One of my friends thinks that his Plasma is crisper, I don’t know, I think I played around with the settings and it is much better now since he has seen it. I have noticed those displays to look a bit better, but maybe it is because they are so sleek and their design, and they are much lighter and you can move them around easily, etc… Also, there is no burn in danger with this LCD like there is with Plasma, and the bulbs have lasted me almost six months so far. Also, many movies do not live up to this TV, I can even see the reflection of the light of cameras in actors’ eyes!!! Sports are amazing to watch on it too! I can’t wait till football starts!
