Introduction It never ceases to amaze me just how quickly technology marches forward. Take the 40-inch television, for example. Five years ago, in 2001, Sony introduced the first 40-inch Direct View HDTV CRT Television featuring flat-screen WEGA (pronounced “Vega”) tube technology. At the time, this model, the 40XBR700, was the largest and most expensive consumer direct-view CRT ever created, retailing for a cool $4,000. Aside from its enormous size and weight at 385 pounds, the picture tube was designed to offer the best color fidelity and resolution for an NTSC consumer television up to that point, save for the Sony 32XBR100 squared (available from 1994 through about 1997), which remains the only consumer direct-view CRT monitor to have achieved the full NTSC color gamut in a commercially produced television, not counting, of course, the new Qualia 005, which is a Tri-Luminous LCD television capable of 105 percent of the 1953 NTSC color gamut and a ...

Introduction As we inch closer to the DTV transition, many television manufacturers are hedging their bets as to which display technology—plasma, LCD or micro-display—will ultimately win our hearts and checkbooks. Some companies have chosen to offer both plasma and LCD flat panels; others can’t even narrow it down that much, bringing out product in every new display category. Pioneer has taken a road less traveled. The company is quite content to put all of its eggs in the plasma basket. (Okay, I’m done with the platitudes.) They no longer manufacture rear-projection TVs of any kind, nor do they offer panels smaller than 42 inches, since that would essentially require them to give LCD a serious look. As I write this, the Pioneer website lists a total of nine TVs on the roster, all plasmas ranging from 42 to 61 inches. If all you do is plasma, then you had better do it well. ...

Introduction The old saying is true: There’s no such thing as a free lunch … or a free DVR. Okay, maybe I added that last part, but it’s worth mentioning. In one way or another, you will pay for the wonderful convenience of time-shifting, be it a lump sum for an external box, a monthly service fee from your cable or satellite provider, or both. A few television manufacturers have decided to try a new approach: build the DVR into the TV itself. It lessens the number of boxes and cables in your equipment rack, and – if said TV is an HDTV – it allows you to record high-definition content without confronting copy-protection issues. LG Electronics is one such manufacturer; their 2006 TV line includes six models with internal DVRs (four plasmas and two LCD HDTVs). Screen sizes range from 42 to 60 inches, and each model uses the free TV Guide On ...

Introduction Back in the day, which in the world of consumer electronics can mean yesterday, televisions and flat panel displays could cost as much as a car. Today, we have companies like Vizio that are feverishly working to put an end to the notion that you have to pay a lot to get a lot. A few months ago I wrote about another fine Vizio product, the P42HDe plasma display. While P42 had its faults, it was one of the greatest values in all of home theater. I say “was” because the P42, as reviewed in January, has been discontinued to make way for a newer model coming out in March. Shortly, after my unsolicited review of the P42, Vizio contacted me and set me up with their 50-inch high-definition set, the P50HDM. The P50HDM has already found its way onto several ...

Introduction During a recent trip to one of my local AV stores, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of plasma screens available on the market today. Being a die-hard fan of front projection, I’ve resisted the urge to pony up the dough and welcome the flat gas into my home, but this trip was different. As I gazed at the countless options, I noticed two things. The image quality had gotten much better over the years, and the prices have gone way down. Instead of talking my way out of the store, I began daydreaming over the possibilities of having one such plasma in my home. Sure, I didn’t really need another television, but that’s never stopped me before. Not wanting to break the bank, I was immediately drawn to a manufacturer that I had never heard of: Vizio. At ...