Sony Grand WEGA KDF-46E2000 46-Inch 3LCD Rear Projection Television
I never thought I'd buy a Sony...
...but after seeing this model in stores, I had to have it.<br /><br />I had been on the fence between the (slightly) less expensive Samsung DLP televisions, and some low-end 42\\" plasma televisions in the same price range. I spent a couple of weeks researching forums, checking out different models in different stores and playing around with the display controls, and waiting to see how prices changed with different sales. Each time, the Sony KDF-XXE2000 (different stores had different sizes) came out ahead.<br /><br />The factors that really pushed me over were:<br />1) Knowing that the bulb could be replaced for about $150 if you look around online (you can't fix a dim plasma TV at all).<br />2) There was imperceptible lag (DLP sets are notorious for delays between the picture and audio), and<br />3) The picture quality was far more natural.<br /><br />When I got this home, I connected it to a DirecTV HD receiver, an Xbox 360, a progressive scan DVD player, and a cheap set of rabbit ear antennas that I had laying around in my garage. I was delighted to find that regular 4:3/480i channels looked great -- which is a very serious concern when buying any HDTV. The DirecTV HD channels looked amazing, as expected, and the Xbox 360 was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Even my DVD's looked stellar, compared to my old Panasonic Tau. What really surprised me was that I could get HD channels with the rabbit ears. The SD channels barely came in at all (as usual), but the HD channels were razor-sharp, and had next to no dropouts or artifacts, which leads me to believe that the tuner in this set is well above average.<br /><br />The only thing I don't like (and I can't believe I'm saying this) is the number of inputs. Switching from OTA to the first component input takes five \\"clicks\\" on the remote. I'm sure there's a way around this, but it isn't obvious.<br /><br />As far as the \\"screen door effect\\" or \\"silk screen effect\\" that some allege exist on all projection sets, I can say that I've looked hard, and this model doesn't seem to suffer from either. Keep in mind though, this isn't the sort of TV you want to sit three feet away from when you're playing video games.<br /><br />Only your eyes can tell you which set is really best for you. I wouldn't suggest spending as much time as I did, but you really should go to a \\"big box\\" store and compare televisions for yourself. That said, I'm willing to bet that this one will make the top of your list.<br /><br />10/11/2006 Update: I don't know why this isn't possible with the included remote from Sony, but the Logitech Harmony remotes are able to tell the TV which input to go to, without cycling through *all* of the inputs. Now I've finally reached home theater nirvana.em to suffer from either. Keep in mind though, this isn't the sort of TV you want to sit three feet away from when you're playing video games.     Only your eyes can tell you which set is really best for you. I wouldn't suggest spending as much time as I did, but you really should go to a \\"big box\\" store and compare televisions for yourself. That said, I'm willing to bet that this one will make the top of your list.     10/11/2006 Update: I don't know why this isn't possible with the included remote from Sony, but the Logitech Harmony remotes are able to tell the TV which input to go to, without cycling through *all* of the inputs. Now I've finally reached home theater nirvana.