What`s a good HD TV?

Since room is not really a big deal, you can't go wrong with a nice DLP. The cost to value ratio is great and 10 to 12 inches deep is negligible compared to a rear projection.
Personally, I prefer Samsung DLPs. The primary reason is they had the rights to use DLP technology first and they got a pretty good jump on the competition. That isn't to say other manufacturers aren't making great DLP products, it's just to say that they have had a bit more time with the R&D than the others.

This is my personal preference...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102137
1080p, 10000:1 contrast ratio with 3 hdmi inputs....plus it is amazing in person.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I would second the suggestion of a DLP and stick with Samsung/Sony/Toshiba/Mitsubishi.

Sony's are nice - but pretty pricey. LOTS of people have Samsungs and they're pretty comparable to Mitsubishi price wise (for similar features) which is in between Toshiba's and Sony's.

Personally I was looking for something cheap - and I ended up with the toshiba 65hm167 and I LOVE IT. Amazing picture, 3 HDMI inputs (which may or may not matter if you're gonna also get an AVR with HDMI for the new soundtrack options) and you can probably pick it up for around $1500 (I paid more a couple months ago, but it's come down in price considerably, mainly because toshiba announced they're discontinuing their DLP line). Everyone that's ever come over to my house has been blown away by my TV (except for reef nerds who care more about my tank /site/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif)

If you've got more money to spend I would say look at the Sammy's and Sony's. The new sony XBR3 (or XBR5 IDK 1 is the LCD one is the DLP equivalent called LCOS) are SWEET, but they're pretty pricey. The previous year's 60" Sony model was more expensive than my 65" toshiba and had less features...the new ones which are the same model year as my toshiba are like twice as much as I paid.

I don't know how far away you're gonna sit - but I'm about 10-12' away from mine. At first I was like "WOW this is huge, did I go too big?" - but that lasted for all of 10 minutes - now I think I got the perfect size.

All that being said - I won't buy a DLP in the future, but that's only because the Plasma/LCD prices will have dropped enough by the time I'm ready to buy more TVs in 3+ years. DLP has an awesome picture, is the cheapest technology currently and the only downsides are the size (won't hang on the wall) and there really is a sweet spot for viewing (most people put the sweet spot where they view from a seated position, so if you're standing you can't see it as well or vice versa that's why when you go to a store the DLPs are all much higher than you'd have them in your house cause people are standing walking through the store).

 

PS - if you want a good source of information once you narrow it down to a couple models here's a great forum. This link goes to their rear projection area, but if you decide on LCD or Plasma they have areas for those technologies as well.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=63

 

My Toshiba has a great viewing angle and my son is in heaven with his xbox...

DLP is defintely the way to go if you dont need to hang it on the wall...

eins

 

I will agree with einsteins that my toshiba DLP has a much better viewing angle (both horizontal and vertical) than other DLPs I've seen in person, but DLPs aren't the way to go if the TV will often be viewed from different viewing "heights" (I wouldn't worry that much about horizontal viewing, mine is pretty easy to see even from a 45 degree angle, nothing like a LCD or plasma though which can be seen perfectly standing almost parallel to the set)

 

whatever you buy make sure you spend the extra money for the extended warranty.
75 percent of the time fixing a hd tv exceeds its worth.

 

good advice on the warranty...especially if you get a DLP.

I rarely buy extended warranties and didn't on my TV, but after reading some more I wish I had.

If you do buy a DLP and warranty make sure the warranty includes a bulb replacement and if the one from whatever retailer you buy from is too expensive there's a link somewhere on the avs forums to one offered by a 3rd party that's a good deal.

 

I would say 65" and maybe a little bigger (70" would prob be OK, but might be pushing it).

I typically watch my 65" at 10-12' and occasionally at 8 or 9' and it's fine...but it does take some getting used to.

I also don't usually stand to watch my TV either - but if you're a gamer and you play a lot of Wii or Guitar Hero then you're usually standing!

 

Especially when you're talking about TVs and Tanks!

 

hmmm....well i still love my HD projector, takes up no room and has a 100 inch by 85 inch viewing area.