Any suggestions

Sony or Mitsubishi. The Toshiba and Hitachi and Some RCA / Proscan models labeled as HDTV are not really HDTV. To display the full resolution of HDTV a set has to be able to display 1080 lines in a 16x9 format. Toshiba, Hitachi and the RCA / Proscans that are 4x3 cannot meet that spec. The Mits. 55905 and 65905 are going to be about the best "reasonably" priced 16 x 9 sets available. The Sony KP53XBR300 and 61XBR300 look better, but they are a 4 x 3 format. The Sony 65" widescreen has the best picture I've ever seen, (I think more vibrant colors and just as sharp as the ultra high dollar Faroudja and Runco), but it is pricey and availability is very limited.

Hope this helps

I have read where RCA has started labeling their 4x3 sets as 'high performance' instead of high def for reasons that Dave C. points out. The Mits does have a 4x3 set that can display the 1080i in a 16x9 format. This seems to be the best of both worlds. You get HD 16x9 without the screen burn issues that seem to be all to common with the 16x9 sets.

-Jim

I just purchased the Toshiba TN50X81 rear projection unit. It is a 4x3 set that is capable of displaying 1080i in 16x9 mode. I couldn't justify the 16x9 display at this time given that a majority of the sources I'm watching are still still 4x3. I also had a width limitation based on the built-ins in my room. This unit provided the best 16x9 viewing area that I could squeeze in anyway.

One thing I have noticed is that a bad source looks even worse on the digital ready sets. It seems that the up-conversion adds additional noise to an already bad signal. I noticed this on all the sets I looked at. If your out previewing, be sure and get a demo using the source you'll be using, not just that swoopy 1080i signal!

Doug,

Read the article about the Consumer Electronics Association and the Toshiba HDTV ready sets. It is not truly capable of receiving 1080i, in the letterbox (16x9) mode it will only give you around 800+ lines.

Jim,

Thanks, I saw the post. I talked with the shop where I bought the set yesterday (Listen Up) and they were surprised also. It will be interesting to see what Toshiba and Hitachi do. I don't think it's a simple firmware update. For now, the set still works well for me. Guess I'll have to reevaluate when a majority of my programming is coming in at 1080.

Doug

Jim and Doug,

I do believe that the Toshiba 4x3 RPTVs in question can in fact do 1080i. The problem is that you have to enter in the Service Mode to do it. Basically you do the same thing any other 4x3 set would do by "squeezing" the image. This does throw convergence off, so you wouldn't be able to switch between 1080i and 480i easily.

I know its a technicality, but I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned in many of the discussions on this issue. Besides, the performance of the set hasn't changed, just some arbitrary definition of "HD". I bought my TP61H95 knowing full well that 16x9 material (anamorphic or HD) would result in losing about 25% of the lines. Like Doug said, when there is more 1080i, I might have to re-evaluate. But for now I am extremely pleased with my set...

Chris

How would this work with the Toshiba?

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SOURCE Hughes Network Systems
Web Site: http://www.hns.com

I belive that the only tv's that can display true high def are those with 9" crt's. There are no consumer direct view tv's or 7" crt rear projection tv's that can display the full resolution of HDTV. They can recieve it, but can only display around 800 lines at best.
The rear projetion tv's capable of displaying all of the lines in an HDTV broadcast are (as of now)

The Mistubishi WS-73905 73 inch 16:9
Philips 64PH9905 64 inch 16:9
Samsung HCJ655W 65 inch 16:9
Zenith IQB64W10W 64 inch 16:9

all of these are in the $9-10,000 range as 9" crt's are expe$ive

There was also another 9" introduced by Panasonic, I belive, at the CES.

It seems to be somewhat of a secret that only 9" + crt's can display true high def. And, the only direct view tv's that are capable of full resolution are professional moniters in the $20,000 plus range....

that is not my understanding. the Mitsu 659xx and 559xx both have true 1080i and are 7". others due as well but if you check the Home theatre forum you will see the Toshiba story. With cable adaptors you can use most any of the DSS/off air receivers with any of the TV's. All of the TV manufacturers have moved away from proprietary receiver hook ups

What is "true" HD? It seems to me that any display device capable of 800 lines of resolution at 16x9 should have no dificulty with ABC's 720p broadcasts or the 540p signal coming from the RCA DCT-100.

A good explanation of why 7" crt's cannot display all of the resolution of HDTV is available at:

[Link: etown.com]

ron your confusing horizonal resolution with ntsc specs. true hd is in fact a pixel count of 1080x1980. where 1980 represents the number of pixels along a horizonal line. 7" tvs can display about 1200-1400 pixels depending on the brightness and contrast ratios. 9" crts just have more surface area.