Price Paid:  $1900.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
screen burned after only 2 months. the picture was good while it lasted. Hitachi's customer service was poor and they will not cover burn. the tv was never hooked up to anything else but an HD tuner. would not buy or recommend.

Strengths:
picture good before burn

Weaknesses:
burned

Price Paid:  $1360.00 from hhgregg

Summary:
Was looking at hitachi all along. Great stretch modes for SD, and excellent hardware. Couldn't afford a nice pioneer. Was originally looking at the 51swx, but the price and size ended up being too much. Was down to this set and a mits, and the pq of the hit just blew the mits away. Everything you need to get started in hd. Beware though, it will tend to shrink a little after you get it home. If you are on the fence and can afford the 51, go for it.

Strengths:
Excellent pq, user has access to service menus (not available on mits), good size, not enormous, and is table set, not free-standing.

Weaknesses:
No DVI, although there is really no need for DVI on an analog set. Component will get you as close as you can get to "perfect picture".

Similar Products Used:
None.

Price Paid:  $1289.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
This Hitachi Widescreen is perfect for the price. Hitachi also makes a majority of all parts found in most Widescreen TV so why not buy it directly from them. I most have looked at close to 30 different choices in its class and this one is the best.

Strengths:
Sharp picture. Color alignment works great.

Weaknesses:
Remote is not user friendly at first.

Price Paid:  $1599.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Hitachi provides many name brand manufactures with parts for HDTV's. The picture on the 43-inch Hitachi is awesome. It has several different stretch modes for 4:3 images. The 16:9 HDTV material is phenomenal. I have a JVC HD-VCR, JVC progressive scan DVD player and a Samsung HD DirecTV decoder connected via my Sony STR-DA5ES receiver. Unfortunately, the Hitachi doesn't have three component inputs, but most HDTV's in this price range don't. After looking at several HDTV's, (Sony, JVC, Panasonic) this set truly provides a superior picture for the price. If you have a small to medium size room, I strongly suggest that you consider this model. The optional stand provides just enough space for a VCR or Satellite Receiver. Not much room for anything else. Hitachi's new sets will include a IEEE input as well as a DVI input. If you plan to purchase a HDTV tuner that includes either output, I would suggest looking into one of the newer sets, however component video connections on this set provide a superb picture. Additionally, you will need to calibrate this set after you purchase it. I suggest using the Digital Video Essentials DVD. Afterwards, you can truly take advantage of a detailed HDTV picture.

Strengths:
Excellent picture, two component inputs, three S-Video inputs, custom picture settings. 480p,540p & 1080i compatible.

Weaknesses:
No 720p output, no IEEE or DVI connections. No sleep timer although it has an on-timer. No separate settings for each input. Once you calibrate your set for one input, you have to use it for all inputs.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 43 inch HDTV.

Price Paid:  $1529.00 from Circuit city

Summary:
What a pictuer. Ive looked and looked till I didnt want to buy a HDTV. You know reading reviews looking from store to store. My wife and I went to circuit city to buy a movie and there it was. Its not huge as the others and does require a stand . Dont buy the hitachi stand it has no room for components. It looked small in the store but compared to the 50 56 and 63 inch tv's its cool. Picture flawless in hdtv and very good in digital cable. Movies in progressive scan are excellent. I have no regrets buying this set.Outputs are plentiful and remote is excellent. Magic focus is incredible 20 seconds and the picture is clean. A little info, hitachi is a pioneer in the digital tv age and nearly 70% of other tv manufacturers today use hitachis outdated circuity or lower end. So why settle get the real deal. Im yet to hear that the japanese make crappy electronics.

Strengths:
Picture price and sound

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Sony, rca scenium, mitsubishi (overpriced) and Panasonic (Yuck)