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The HTSA has picked Sony’s XBR8 as one of its favorite TVs for the season.
You may be very proud of that new TV purchase. You may have even punched someone in the head for it. Black Friday shoppers’ remorse aside, the Home Theater Specialists of America say you could be paying for that cheap TV purchase in the long run.
HTSA experts say many of those $700 TVs that keep popping up this season are seriously flawed. David Berman, the HTSA’s director of training and public relations, cites cheap processing engines and lesser warranties as some of the common problems associated with TV deals. The HTSA also says that although you may be excited about a new HDTV, you may not be getting “real” HD. They say that many of the bargains being sold right now have a pixel count more like 1366 x 768, which is “less than half the pixel clarity of a true HDTV and only about 10 percent of all HD programming comes across in this format.”
As part of the announcement, the organization also announced some of its favorite sets for the season: To help consumers, HTSA has published a list of their favorite flat panel models for this holiday season. Those include:
- Limited Edition Sharp Aquos LCD
- Pioneer Kuro
- Sony Bravia XBR7 and XBR8
- LG
- Mitsubishi
Of course, for some, a new TV is better than no TV—and some of those models are beyond the average shopper’s budget.
Do you agree with the HTSA’s statements? Do you worry about your recent purchase or are you too busy basking in the glow of a new TV? Sound off in the comments section below.
” own a 1080i Pioneer Kuro and it looks way better than many of the 1080p sets my freinds have. Way better.
(Though I lie to them and say it’s 1080p since it accepts that signal anyway) “
There is no such thing as a 1080i plasma, except for a few oddball models from Hitachi. Your Kuro is amazing, yes, but it’s a 768p set. Resolution is less important than contrast, agreed, but to be technical, 1080i, properly de-interlaced, IS 1080p, so at a technical level, anyone with HD cable should get a 1080p TV with proper de-interlacing to see all the resolution of 1080i, and the only advantage of 1080p over 1080i is its ability to display true 24fps 1080p24 for movie content.
I own a 1080i Pioneer Kuro and it looks way better than many of the 1080p sets my freinds have. Way better.
(Though I lie to them and say it’s 1080p since it accepts that signal anyway)
The value of a 1080p display goes beyond screen size and how close you sit to the display. I often refer people to this article from Secrets:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/features/technical-topics/high-definition-1080p-tv-why-you-should-be-concerned.html
Blu-ray is not the only 1080p source by the way, 1080p24 content can be enjoyed from a VUDU movie box as well as home theater PCs and Dish Networks new 1080p offerings.
Than, RobRuffo, you are a rare breed. Most people aren’t even close enough to the screen to tell a difference between 720P or 1080i, let alone 1080P (and they don’t care about the diffence). I wouldn’t buy a no-name cheap tv because of the poor warranties and poor video processing of the chips inside, but to say that consumers of a 720P set are somehow missing out on much is subjective at most. Resolution plays only one part in good HD picture quality and 720P is good HD. Unfortunately, the marketing departments of large corporations have gotten involved and repeatedly spread half-truths as truth.
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Most content is 1080p? Not even CLOSE. Most content is 480 or 720 (i.e. standard DVD’s by FAR currently outnumber Blue Ray). Most HD signals (cable and satelitte) are BOTH less than 1080p. Get your facts straight.