Sony dropping all rear projection TVs.

[andyinstal]

I can confirm this as all my orders for the 70XBR5 got cancelled and we are having trouble getting the other ones in also. New price sheets show all as discontinued in January.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/19/sony-dumping-all-rear-projection-tvs-to-focus-on-lcds/

[SamS]

Yup, had been speculated over the past six months. When all of their XBR SXRDs went MIA even 6 months after last year's CES, the writing was on the wall.

Kinda dissapointing, as I was hoping to replace my 55" CRT RPTV with a 60" Sony XBR that will never come out.

The real question is what will happen to DLP. With all RPTVs going extinct, can DLP survive on just front projection business? Sony plays hardball with features and price with their SXRD front projectors.

I'm fine with the move to all flat panels. You don't have to worry about geometery, or overscan issues as with RPTV. Color and black level continue to improve year after year.

[pdenny]

I'm fine with the move to all flat panels. You don't have to worry about geometery, or overscan issues as with RPTV. Color and black level continue to improve year after year.
This is a shame. Except perhaps for the very best (and most expensive) plasmas, RPTV (not to mention CRT) provides the superior picture. One fella's opinion, of course, but I was planning to get a Sony RPTV once my WEGA tube croaked. Such is progress, I guess.

[LeeS]

This was mentioned before in another thread but I have some thoughts as one who just spent money on the 50" latest gen:

1. These sets sell for not much money these days. I think Sony's primary motivation is to move up the price point of what they sell so they get more profits.

2. The exit from RPTV creates some really awesome deals for consumers who will still get a great product performance wise.

3. Buy a replacement lightbulb soon as Sony is said to not stock parts for more than 3 years after the exit a product.

[shokhead]

Sony's no baloney .

[Vidiot]

Toshiba, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi have also dropped out of the rear-screen projection business as well.

Flat screen LCD and Plasma's are easier to manufacture and far less trouble to maintain. I'd argue that they look better, too, but it depends on the specific model involved.

To me, Sony is just a shadow of its former self. I think they lost a lot after Morita died, and their products have fallen down hard over the last ten years. I don't recommend Sony products nearly as much as I used to, and I was a big Sony fan for 20 years (going back to Betamax in 1976 and earlier).

[JohnG]

As I just said in another thread....here we go again. Another dead product that was state-fo-the-art not 2 years ago.

You wouldn't mind if the product cost just $100 bucks but I paid $3K for a TV that will now be obsolete and it will be impossible to get it repaired just 5 years from now.

[SamS]

..... but I paid $3K for a TV that will now be obsolete and it will be impossible to get it repaired just 5 years from now.

What about all those folks that paid $3K for a Sony 61" CRT RPTV 8 years ago that was only standard-def 4x3? :eek: Thousands of those folks out there.

Times change, such is life with consumer electronics. Most all TVs are impossible (or cost ineffective) to repair 5+ years down the road. Even folks that buy $3K 52" LCD Bravias this weekend will be feeling out-of-date when Sony announces a 52" OLED at 1/2" thin at CES 2013.

You have a great TV, enjoy it ;)

[Jamie Tate]

I just bought a 70" Sony Qualia RPTV a year ago. Oh well, even though it's now "Old School" (a phrase I'm really growing to despise) the picture beats the pants off of anything else I've seen.

I guess I should stock up on some replacement lamps.

[JohnG]

And its not the bulb I'm worrying about, its the optical block that will surely need replacing probably 2 years from now.

[TBone61]

Thought about buying one this past fall too

[LeeS]

And its not the bulb I'm worrying about, its the optical block that will surely need replacing probably 2 years from now.

Might that depend on the generation of the set? Or is that wishful thinking on my part? :D

[GKH]

Unbelievable! Oh well. Let's see..... my 60" Sony SXRD KDS60A3000 is only a few months old.

[DjBryan]

I almost bought one last week

[andyinstal]

I just bought a 70" Sony Qualia RPTV a year ago. Oh well, even though it's now "Old School" (a phrase I'm really growing to despise) the picture beats the pants off of anything else I've seen.

I guess I should stock up on some replacement lamps.

Nice TV!

[GKH]

And,,,, we went ahead and purchased the 4 year service plan with Best Buy when we bought the 60" SXRD KDS60A3000.

I ain't scared. :winkgrin:

[Jerry]

This is a shame. Except perhaps for the very best (and most expensive) plasmas, RPTV (not to mention CRT) provides the superior picture. One fella's opinion, of course, but I was planning to get a Sony RPTV once my WEGA tube croaked. Such is progress, I guess.

Can you still buy a HDTV CRT? IIRC, the technology keeps them at 36" and under, which is ok with me. I like the fact that I could get a great picture for a decent price, and that if someone breaks in and tries to steal it, they'll drop their nuts trying to lift it! And recommendations for me? A 42" 720p plasma is my next option, as I need to keep the price under a grand.

[Chris C]

Sad news, especially for those that have never seen the picture on one of these rear projection babies!

My SXRD is one year old and is only a 50", but it easily has the best picture that I've ever seen on a TV of it's size. Friends of mine that have gone the LCD way, can't believe the picture that I get on my T.V.! Honestly, I can't believe how BAD a picture that they get with theirs, especially when they try to "stretch" the picture...just horrible!

Chris C

[guidedbyvoices]

Can you still buy a HDTV CRT? IIRC, the technology keeps them at 36" and under, which is ok with me. I like the fact that I could get a great picture for a decent price, and that if someone breaks in and tries to steal it, they'll drop their nuts trying to lift it! And recommendations for me? A 42" 720p plasma is my next option, as I need to keep the price under a grand.


ha! no kidding, I had a 36" Samsung HDTV CRT and it was a hernia in a box. 4 years ago though, it was the best HDTV I could find for under $900 and did the job. Much happier with my 46" LCD though.

[Jerry]

ha! no kidding, I had a 36" Samsung HDTV CRT and it was a hernia in a box. 4 years ago though, it was the best HDTV I could find for under $900 and did the job. Much happier with my 46" LCD though.

Picture-wise, you're happier? Maybe I should be looking at LCDs? My primary interests are movies and tv shows, rather than sports and games. I thought I was more of a plasma candidate.

[Jamie Tate]

I've never been happy with the picture on plasma TVs. They all look too blocky to me.

[LeeS]

I've never been happy with the picture on plasma TVs. They all look too blocky to me.

+1 Many don't have good contrast either imho.

[Dan C]

I've never been happy with the picture on plasma TVs. They all look too blocky to me.


"Blocky" blocks like big pixel blocks or "blocky" 'cause the dark areas block up. Or am I a blocky-head for loving my Samsung 42" plasma? :D

When we decided to upgrade from a crappy Wal Mart-special tube set last year, I had already made up my mind to buy anything but a plasma. When we saw the Samsung plasma we sort of fell in love with it. Great contrast and detail, amazing (but not over-saturated) color that is very kind to skin tones, and few (if any) noticable motion artifacts.

The biggest problem has been the reflective screen, which we figured out by rearranging the room a bit and buying better blinds (something we wanted to do anyway).

No buyer's remorse for us. We love it. I can understand why people don't like plasma sets, but I'm something of a convert. I like LCD but I don't think they're quite up to plasma sets in the under $2,000 range just yet. Both do some things better than the other. And my wife said 'no way' to any rear-projection sets.

dan c

[Taurus]

Just for informational purposes: as far RPTV's being too thick vs. LCDs and plasmas, I thought this RCA sold several years ago almost solved that problem, though it had other issues:

RCA Scenium Profile (http://www.ultimateavmag.com/rearprojectiontvs/205rca/index.html)

I saw its smaller cousin at Best Buy, and it was very slick looking, like something you might see in a sci-fi or James Bond movie. Like the above model, it was only 7" thick at the base but this one tapered at the top to only about one inch thick. From the side it looked like an extremely narrow black wedge.