Rear Projection Viewing Angles?

[delux247]

Hey all,

While I admit to being a little bit biased against rear projectors in the past due to a couple less than great experiences, I'm considering picking up a clearance Sony KDS-60A3000. However, would there be any viewing angle issues having it elevated approx. 3 feet on my entertainment center? Would there be any viewing angle issues at all? In the past, my father owned a diamond series Mitsu and a much, much older rear projection Sony and they both had TERRIBLE viewing angles from the side. Like unless you were looking at it DEAD ON, it looked like complete crap. But, much like plasma burn-in, I was wondering if this was a thing of the past. Thanks for any input, I know I've been asking a lot of questions lately, so thanks for being patient with me.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by delux247

Hey all,

While I admit to being a little bit biased against rear projectors in the past due to a couple less than great experiences, I'm considering picking up a clearance Sony KDS-60A3000. However, would there be any viewing angle issues having it elevated approx. 3 feet on my entertainment center? Would there be any viewing angle issues at all? In the past, my father owned a diamond series Mitsu and a much, much older rear projection Sony and they both had TERRIBLE viewing angles from the side. Like unless you were looking at it DEAD ON, it looked like complete crap. But, much like plasma burn-in, I was wondering if this was a thing of the past. Thanks for any input, I know I've been asking a lot of questions lately, so thanks for being patient with me.

i was a little biased for the same reasson until i went shopping several years ago. i noticed that the angles got a lot better. i saw a demo and was impressed back then. this was right at the dawn of lcd and plasmas and dlp ws new. so my fat rear projection hdtv does a great job with 720p and 10680i via dvi. if you can, watch a demo to see if it meets your criteria

[nycomet]

Although it may be rear projection, do not look at it from behind. The picture will be terrible. Can't you buy an LCD instead? The 52-inch Sharp Aquos is around $2900 - and you can find it cheaper online. I got mine from macmall.com. No tax and free shipping with a rebate promotion.

[delux247]

Originally Posted by nycomet

Although it may be rear projection, do not look at it from behind. The picture will be terrible. Can't you buy an LCD instead? The 52-inch Sharp Aquos is around $2900 - and you can find it cheaper online. I got mine from macmall.com. No tax and free shipping with a rebate promotion.

I really want 1080p/24fps on a 50"+ screen. This particular Sony delivers that all at a very low price. I think the MSRP on it is around $2000 or $2100 but due to clearance sales (since Sony is getting out of the RPTV business), open box buy specials and markdowns on old floor models, it's not unheard of to get these in the $1600 range.

[actionhank]

The best way to find out is to demo it yourself in the store, bring measuring tape to simulate your room

[delux247]

Originally Posted by actionhank

The best way to find out is to demo it yourself in the store, bring measuring tape to simulate your room

I did, in fact, check it out in-store already at a Fry's that still had one in stock. I didn't pick it up then because they still wanted $2300 or $2400 for it. That being said, Fry's has terrible television display areas. They have very poor lighting and put all their TVs on top of cheaply made stands made out of wood covered with cheap carpet. So the KDS-60A3000 looked a little less than stellar in these conditions, but to be fair, so did the XBR4 across the aisle in the same crappy conditions.

[Jordahn]

Delux 247, I have the 55" version of the tv you are looking at, and will also agree that viewing angles are a pet peeve of mine as well. According to the manual, the vertical viewing angle is 60 degrees perpendicular to the screen. At 9 to 10 ft from the screen, I'm just below the middle when sitting down so the picture looks great. But when standing, it's almost as good. So if optimum viewing angle is three feet from your normal vantage point while view angles are a pet peeve of yours, then I'd be VERY cautions of this purchase. Can you give me the distance from the floor to the surface where the television will be sitting? I can deduct it from there.

[actionhank]

Originally Posted by delux247

I did, in fact, check it out in-store already at a Fry's that still had one in stock. I didn't pick it up then because they still wanted $2300 or $2400 for it. That being said, Fry's has terrible television display areas. They have very poor lighting and put all their TVs on top of cheaply made stands made out of wood covered with cheap carpet. So the KDS-60A3000 looked a little less than stellar in these conditions, but to be fair, so did the XBR4 across the aisle in the same crappy conditions.

Try an RC Willey (don't know if you have them in Cali) or Sony Outlet store (I think there's one in Union City or something).

[Brian Cash]

Originally Posted by nycomet

Although it may be rear projection, do not look at it from behind. The picture will be terrible. Can't you buy an LCD instead? The 52-inch Sharp Aquos is around $2900 - and you can find it cheaper online. I got mine from macmall.com. No tax and free shipping with a rebate promotion.

its on sale right now at Frys.com for 1999.

[moviefan]

If it is a SXRD set grab it while you can!
They are the best rear projection sets ever built, and the biggest picture bang-for -the -buck.
There is no viewing angle issue with the SXRD or JVC DiLa (like mine)

[delux247]

Originally Posted by Jordahn

Delux 247, I have the 55" version of the tv you are looking at, and will also agree that viewing angles are a pet peeve of mine as well. According to the manual, the vertical viewing angle is 60 degrees perpendicular to the screen. At 9 to 10 ft from the screen, I'm just below the middle when sitting down so the picture looks great. But when standing, it's almost as good. So if optimum viewing angle is three feet from your normal vantage point while view angles are a pet peeve of yours, then I'd be VERY cautions of this purchase. Can you give me the distance from the floor to the surface where the television will be sitting? I can deduct it from there.

I sit approx. 7 feet away from where the TV would be placed, and the TV would be raised about 40 inches (3 feet, 4 inches) from the floor. Thanks for your help.

[Jordahn]

Originally Posted by delux247

I sit approx. 7 feet away from where the TV would be placed, and the TV would be raised about 40 inches (3 feet, 4 inches) from the floor. Thanks for your help.

Oooooh... Just my personal opinion, it's not looking to good. My TV stand is 23.5" high. That means the TV will be sitting 16.5" taller than where mine is at. Add to that the center viewing area of the 60" will be slightly higher than that of the 55". Also, sitting at 7 feet instead of my 9 to 10 feet puts you at a more accute angle. Are you "stuck" with you "TV stand?" Can you go with something shorter? And hearing that you are only 7 feet away, I would think that 60" is too big. Something else, anticipate at least 20" from the wall to the screen (16 3/4" depth plus a 4" ventilation space.) I hope you see where I'm going with this.

If nothing else, here's my setup found on this thread if this helps any as an example...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=8088&page=59

With the exception of maybe being a foot closer, this is preactically perfect for me for 1080p viewing.

Hey, I'll tell you what. I sit on the floor closer to the screen tonightfor a few minutes, and tell you what I think. I'll get back with you tonight after work.

[delux247]

Originally Posted by Jordahn

Oooooh... Just my personal opinion, it's not looking to good. My TV stand is 23.5" high. That means the TV will be sitting 16.5" taller than where mine is at. Add to that the center viewing area of the 60" will be slightly higher than that of the 55". Also, sitting at 7 feet instead of my 9 to 10 feet puts you at a more accute angle. Are you "stuck" with you "TV stand?" Can you go with something shorter? And hearing that you are only 7 feet away, I would think that 60" is too big. Something else, anticipate at least 20" from the wall to the screen (16 3/4" depth plus a 4" ventilation space.) I hope you see where I'm going with this.

If nothing else, here's my setup found on this thread if this helps any as an example...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=8088&page=59

With the exception of maybe being a foot closer, this is preactically perfect for me for 1080p viewing.

Hey, I'll tell you what. I sit on the floor closer to the screen tonightfor a few minutes, and tell you what I think. I'll get back with you tonight after work.

I have an Ethan Allen entertainment center that I really don't want to part with. Currently, my tiny Samsung is the maximum screen size TV that fits in the TV portion of it (it literally fits flush in there). Since I want to upgrade to a much larger display, I was just going to set it on top of the entertainment center, and turn the area on the interior of it where the Samsung currently sits into a mini A/V rack. I would post pics, but I don't know what the hell my wife did with my camera. Thanks for all your input by the way. Oh, and I'm not dead set on the 60", so would it help at all if I downsized to a 50" or 55"? Thanks again.

[Jordahn]

Originally Posted by delux247

I have an Ethan Allen entertainment center that I really don't want to part with. Currently, my tiny Samsung is the maximum screen size TV that fits in the TV portion of it (it literally fits flush in there). Since I want to upgrade to a much larger display, I was just going to set it on top of the entertainment center, and turn the area on the interior of it where the Samsung currently sits into a mini A/V rack. I would post pics, but I don't know what the hell my wife did with my camera. Thanks for all your input by the way. Oh, and I'm not dead set on the 60", so would it help at all if I downsized to a 50" or 55"? Thanks again.

Ok, I stood a measuring tape 40" from the floor. It just so worked out that 40" is my eye level when sitting down. I moved the coffee table and sat Indian style with a slouch on the rug. So I'm lower and closer with my eye level just above the top surface of my TV stand. See where I'm getting at here? It's minutely darker than my current sweet spot, and the picture still looks nice. BUT I would highly recommend getting the 50" so the center of the viewing area is lower. The A3000 SXRD's are great TV's, but the compromise here is that it would look great when standing wile you have guests around, and the smaller 50" will show less "flaws" in a picture than when seen larger on the 60". But as someone else pointed out, see if you can find out for yourself in an actual store. And forget about the image quality in the store since most times it's lacking. Just see if there is a noticeable difference to you.

[delux247]

Originally Posted by Jordahn

Ok, I stood a measuring tape 40" from the floor. It just so worked out that 40" is my eye level when sitting down. I moved the coffee table and sat Indian style with a slouch on the rug. So I'm lower and closer with my eye level just above the top surface of my TV stand. See where I'm getting at here? It's minutely darker than my current sweet spot, and the picture still looks nice. BUT I would highly recommend getting the 50" so the center of the viewing area is lower. The A3000 SXRD's are great TV's, but the compromise here is that it would look great when standing wile you have guests around, and the smaller 50" will show less "flaws" in a picture than when seen larger on the 60". But as someone else pointed out, see if you can find out for yourself in an actual store. And forget about the image quality in the store since most times it's lacking. Just see if there is a noticeable difference to you.

I went to Circuit City and Sears yesterday. CC had both the 50" and the 60" in stock and the Sears only had the 60". However, when I was at the CC, I noticed the 50 only had 2 HDMI inputs and the 60 had 3. My question is how many does the 55" have then? Hopefully it has 3 because I want to put off buying a receiver for a few more months. Thanks again.

[Woody]

Originally Posted by moviefan

If it is a SXRD set grab it while you can!
They are the best rear projection sets ever built, and the biggest picture bang-for -the -buck.
There is no viewing angle issue with the SXRD or JVC DiLa (like mine)

Ugggghh. Exaggerate much?

[Jordahn]

Originally Posted by delux247

I went to Circuit City and Sears yesterday. CC had both the 50" and the 60" in stock and the Sears only had the 60". However, when I was at the CC, I noticed the 50 only had 2 HDMI inputs and the 60 had 3. My question is how many does the 55" have then? Hopefully it has 3 because I want to put off buying a receiver for a few more months. Thanks again.

The 55" has 3, but I could have sworn the 50" also has 3 from what I saw as well what was in the manual. When you get a chance check again.

[delux247]

Originally Posted by Jordahn

The 55" has 3, but I could have sworn the 50" also has 3 from what I saw as well what was in the manual. When you get a chance check again.

Hmmmm... I'll double check it. I checked the model number for the 60", it definitely was a KDS-60A3000... but I didn't check it for the 50" because it was right next to the 60", so I kind of just assummed. I may have been looking at one of the older KDS-50A2020's.

Oh, and just as a reference, I finally did get a pic of my entertainment center posted, here's the link....
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=1434
The SXRD would go on top of the entertainment center in place of the games currently stacked up.

[BigBluu]

i've got a 61" jvc rptv (see sig) and have no regrets or problems with viewing angle. it sits on the jvc stand that's made for it, about 2 feet off the ground. it looks great from all seating positions on my sofa. i even watch it while doing dishes in the kitchen adjacent to the family room where the tv sits and have no problems. i picked a rptv mostly for it's size to value ratio. i've also got an older 52" 720p jvc rptv. my only complaint is the start up time. the older one's about 30-45 secs, while the newer one's a much more bearable 10-15 secs. hope that helps.