Does 3 inches matter?

[TurboNutter]

I decided to buy a 1080p TV before I buy a BD player, so I can watch movies at their full resolution. I was looking at Crutchfield's website and they have 2 TV's I'm looking at. One is a 37" Sharp AQUOS LCD TV in 1080p and the other is a 40" Sony BRAVIA XBR in 1080p. The Sharp is $2700 and the Sony is $3700. So here's my question. Is the Sony TV really worth the price? Am I really going to notice a difference in size and picture quality between the 2? For the price of the Sony, I can buy the Sharp and a BD player. Any and all opinions are welcome.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by TurboNutter

I decided to buy a 1080p TV before I buy a BD player, so I can watch movies at their full resolution. I was looking at Crutchfield's website and they have 2 TV's I'm looking at. One is a 37" Sharp AQUOS LCD TV in 1080p and the other is a 40" Sony BRAVIA XBR in 1080p. The Sharp is $2700 and the Sony is $3700. So here's my question. Is the Sony TV really worth the price? Am I really going to notice a difference in size and picture quality between the 2? For the price of the Sony, I can buy the Sharp and a BD player. Any and all opinions are welcome.

Short answer: Nah.

A GRAND for three extra inches? Keep the money in your pocket.

Just make sure, size notwithstanding, the display has all the features you want and the quality is where you want it.

[TurboNutter]

Thanx JTK !

[theknub]

for the most part i agree with jtk. however, sample both t.v.'s, especially from what your viewing distance will be and see which you like more.

[JimPullan]

As for one who sells both of these brands, here's a little info. Sony is the # 1 selling TV on planet earth, and for good reason. Consistent uniformity of the image right out of the box, indicating good quality control. Flesh tones are right on, the black level has improved and the detail in the shadows is far better than DLP. They have moved the speaker from the sides to the bottom for those trying to get a rectangle to fit into a square space. Take a close look at the Sony Sony KDLX40XBR2, the newest release, not the XBR1 !!!. I agree you must decide from your viewing distance which gives you the best experience. Some want a 'theatrical experience' where the larger screens make more sense, while other are just watching TV shows. If your going to enjoy watching a Blu-Ray DVD onto your Sony XBR, then as the girls say "Bigger is Better!" and 3 inches matters! (coupled with a quality Surround Sound System).

Jim
Audio Excellence

[ProvenFlipper]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

They have moved the speaker from the sides to the bottom for those trying to get a rectangle to fit into a square space. Take a close look at the Sony Sony KDLX40XBR2, the newest release, not the XBR1 !!!.
Jim
Audio Excellence

Are you talking about this XBR2? 40" Bravia XBR2 Because the speakers are back on the sides and it makes the TV about 5 inches bigger on the horizontal axis than the XBR1. I hope Sony knows what they are doing, but from my day to day experience with customers, people don't like TVs with side mounted speakers. Many come in with space constraints, and others just dont want to see the speakers as much. Last year Sharp had LCDs with side mounted speakers, and their sales in our store were terrible. This year they moved the speaker to the bottom, added a little bit of gloss black and now their sales have gone up quite a bit.

There's no doubt in my mind that the new XBRs look beautiful, but I don't always think they are worth every penny of the premium price that they pull.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

As for one who sells both of these brands, here's a little info. Sony is the # 1 selling TV on planet earth, and for good reason. Consistent uniformity of the image right out of the box, indicating good quality control. Flesh tones are right on, the black level has improved and the detail in the shadows is far better than DLP. They have moved the speaker from the sides to the bottom for those trying to get a rectangle to fit into a square space. Take a close look at the Sony Sony KDLX40XBR2, the newest release, not the XBR1 !!!. I agree you must decide from your viewing distance which gives you the best experience. Some want a 'theatrical experience' where the larger screens make more sense, while other are just watching TV shows. If your going to enjoy watching a Blu-Ray DVD onto your Sony XBR, then as the girls say "Bigger is Better!" and 3 inches matters! (coupled with a quality Surround Sound System).

Jim
Audio Excellence

All true, but three inches really does not make or break a "theaterical experience" imo. 10 inches? Hell yeah.

But for a grand on the table, the best thing the OP here could do is, like other have said:

Demo the hell out of the two sets, take them out of torch mode, take your DVD player and/or game system in there and use material that you know well, try and stand at roughly your home viewing distance, etc. etc. and see what you think.

Sharp deserves big time kudos in the LCD market. They've really been excelling here as of late.

Note: If any retailer or dealer does NOT let you do all of the above, walk out.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by JTK

Short answer: Nah.

A GRAND for three extra inches? Keep the money in your pocket.

Agreed! You can always use the grand you save on the less expensive site on a Blu-ray player. There's some nice one's coming soon.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by nyg

Agreed! You can always use the grand you save on the less expensive site on a Blu-ray player. There's some nice one's coming soon.

Keep in mind my underlying attitude which is: The bigger the better, if you have the money to blow.

You want that 100 inch front projector at 8 feet viewing distance? If you got the money, and your eyes can handle it...go for it!

[theknub]

Originally Posted by JTK

You want that 100 inch front projector at 8 feet viewing distance? If you got the money, and your eyes can handle it...go for it!

i think in that scenario, i'd be able to train my eyes to work independently from each other. think of a guy with two lazy eyes.... scary

[Psiweaver]

Sharp is not the greatest so I would recommend Sony simply because there panels look way way way better than the comparable sharp one does.

[tron3]

It seems people loose the common sense they had when they bought a regular tv. Is it the right size for the room?

What is the sense in a having a sprawling screen if you can't sit at the proper viewing distance?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by tron3

It seems people loose the common sense they had when they bought a regular tv. Is it the right size for the room?

What is the sense in a having a sprawling screen if you can't sit at the proper viewing distance?

No one suggested otherwise. We were just having a little fun here at the end.