Home Page - Rear Projection TV Reviews - 2007 Roundup
Rear Projection TV Reviews
2007 Rear Projection TV Round-up
...Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sony
Rear Projection HDTVs
If neither Samsung nor Mitsubishi represent your brand, then rear projection TV sets may be not for you... unless you decide to opt for one of the few remaining used/refurbished premium 2007 HDTVs from Panasonic, Sony, and Toshiba.
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Not sure if you should buy a 'proven' premium 2008 HDTV now to enjoy a great bargain? Should you opt instead for one of the new 2009 HDTVs to get the latest in technology? We discuss this hot issue with the hope that our discussion will help you make a better choice. |
What about 2007 rear projection HDTVs from major brands like Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sony, still available on the market?
Updated: 18th April 2009
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Up to 2007, if you were after a rear projection HDTV, your choice was not limited to just Samsung and Mitsubishi, but you could also choose from a few other major brands as well.
In particular, Sony's SXRD series of premium rear projection televisions did prove to be extremely popular thanks to their solid picture performance. These sets are not readily available except via refurbished and used equipment outlets. But they still represent a possible valid option at their present significantly reduced price tag.
Panasonic LiFi Rear Projection HDTVs:
Panasonic is mainly renowned for its range of top plasma HDTVs rather than rear projection televisions. But up to 2007, Panasonic was still in the rear projection TV business with its LIFI brand (LIFI stands for Light Fidelity).
Their greatest feature is their long-lasting bulb and which according to Panasonic, lasts as long as the set lifetime - in other words, you will never need to replace the bulb!
The LIFI™ light source carries various advantageous over the traditional 'High Intensity Discharge' (HID) lamp. Apart from their exceptionally long life - which minimizes overall cost of ownership, Panasonic LIFI sets have relatively accurate primary colors, and quick start-up time (typically turn on time is 10 seconds against the 30 seconds necessary with traditional lamps). Equally important, these sets have a stable picture performance over the bulb lifespan.
This does not mean that LIFI-based RPTVs represent the perfect rear projection HDTV solution. Panasonic rear projection televisions lack the deep shade of black - so much typical of Samsung and Sony 2007 rear projection TVs.
Sets from within the Panasonic 2007 1080p flagship line-up such as the PT-61LCZ70 61-inch 1080p LIFI Rear Projection HDTV, are hard to find but entry-level sets that are more readily available include the Panasonic PT-56LCX70 56-Inch LIFI HDTV. This is a 720p with a typical feature set associated with entry-level HDTVs; its main differentiating feature being the LIFI™ light source.
Sony SXRD Series of Rear Projection HDTVs
Sony rear projection TVs have become rather difficult to find. Do not expect to find new sets from the highly popular Sony SXRD A3000 series we reviewed last year. In particular, the Sony Bravia SXRD KDS-60A3000 60-inch 1080p Rear Projection HDTV did prove to be one of the top sellers within its category at the time of release.
These sets turned out to be extremely popular despite their rather expensive price tag. The SXRD series made use of Sony LCoS chip, re-branded in 2006 as SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display). At that time, the Sony was rated by major review sites as the best performing rear projection TV for its excellent color accuracy and best overall picture quality. Surely worth considering if you manage to get hold of one at the right price.
Toshiba TALEN Rear Projection TVs
Toshiba rear projection HDTVs have always represented
an inexpensive, yet feature-packed pick in rear projection TV systems, and
competes very well with other major TV makers. In general, Toshiba RPTVs have
also become hard-to-find now but a few sets from Toshiba 2007 line of HM167 DLP HDTVs may still be
available. The HM167 covered screen sizes from 50-inch up to 65-inch and
exhibited very good overall picture performance; their most popular rear
projection TV being the
65HM167 65" 1080p DLP HDTV
All models are based on what Toshiba defines as 'TALEN' or 'Toshiba Advance Light Engine'. And as with most 2007 models, the Toshiba 'TALEN' range come with 3 HDMI inputs. Furthermore, except for the 50-inch, the remaining 57-inch and 65-inch sets in the HM167 series support 1080p display resolution.
Toshiba DLP HDTVs are rather 'fatty' in comparison to Samsung slim line; the Toshiba 57-inch 57HM167 in this same series is 18.75-inch in depth against the 14.4-inchs of the slightly larger 61-inch HL61A750 Samsung LED DLP TV.
A final word of Advice:
Prior to any decision, we advise to do some research of your own. Rear projection TVs remains the cheapest in terms of screen estate, but they still represent substantial investment.
In particular, review other consumers' feedback about the rear projection HDTV of interest. There is no better insight to a product than to go through what others had to say about their experience following their purchase.
A good starting point are the customer reviews posted on the amazon site. Just click on the link below to access the full range of RPTVs available at amazon.com, and then follow through the reviews once you move on to the respective product page:
More Rear Projection TV Reviews will follow soon.
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Featured Rear Projection TV Reviews: |
Rear Projection TV Reviews and Product Guides for current RPTVs
2008 Samsung Series 7 LED DLP HDTVs
Mitsubishi WD-733/WD-734 Product Guide
Sony SXRD KDS-60A3000 60" 1080p RPTV
Samsung HL-T6187S 61" 1080p LED DLP TV
For the full list of rear projection TV reviews appearing on our site, please click here.
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Are You Looking for a Cheap flat-panel HDTV? Would you like to save anything between 50% and 80% on your HDTV purchase? Visit RefurbDepot.com to see their vast range of plasmas, LCDs, and Projection factory-direct refurbished HDTVs For more information on refurbished electronics and how you can minimize the risks associated with refurbished gear, please check our recently updated guide to |
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