bruce gubnitsky

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $2600.00 from sears

Summary:
I Bought the Hitachi 50v500 approx. 4yrs ago. The Tv stopped working after 1 month, sears repair man, which are very incompetent, could not fix and sent me a new TV same model. It lasted 3 years and now light engine ($500 part) needs to be replaced. This is common as I see many other complaints about the same part. Basic lesson for me, stay away from Hitachi products as they are very expensive for a disposable TV. I have 2 unopened lamps for this model which I need to get rid of. They are $200 each and I will sell $80 each. The TV and stand are available if anyone wants to change light engine.

brook78

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Rex TV

Summary:
All I can say is this TV is JUNK and a waste of money! I am very diappointed. Within a week of purchase the service men were at the house because of a distorted picture. They made adjustments then 6 months later the relay was replaced. And now that it is out of warranty I have a big red circle glow in the screen. I call for service and no one wants to make a house call let alone work on the TV. The light engine is bad. The television is 2 1/2 years old and broke. Hitachi says they will not help with repairs knowing that this is a problem with the TV and I had prior service records. I will never buy from Hitachi again. They don't stand behind their products!!!

Weaknesses:
The whole TV especially light engine and relay.

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I would avoid this at all cost. Great TV when it works, however this thing is always broken. I have been through 2 light engines, 3 lamps, and many ghosting adjustments. This is the second one of these as well, the first one I returned the next day for a very bad pitcure and colors that bled onto others. Should have gotten the hint there. This is after my brother in law returned his after a week for a broken light engine.

By far the most troublesome TV I have ever owned. Same the hassle, but a pioneer

Strengths:
good picture when it works, occasionally good customer service.

Weaknesses:
Durabliity, lack of available parts, trust me you will need many of them, lack of Hitachi to notice they have a very poor build quality on this box, light engines fail on a regular basis, lamps last less than a year

Price Paid:  $3400.00 from Sears

Summary:
Wife purchased this in Sept. 2004 without telling me. Used it until Mar. 2005 when sis in law turned off the cable box vice the tv. Next morning, a small blue speck was at the top center of the screen. Over the next 30 days, it grew across the top to the right, down to the bottom and across it. It eventually has enveloped the entire screen. Had factory warranty plus extended warranty, cause was a bad light engine. Though repair is under warranty, refurbished light engine: $829, labor: $227. For this, you can purchase a newer tv with better longivety and better quality picture. I have worked in the electronics field for over 25 years, I do alot of research before buying tv's, especially due to the technology out there. Best recommendation, see what your friends and neighbors have, look at it, see how they feel about the item and reliability. I would not recommend this tv to anyone, once this breaks again, I'll salvage some of it for parts.

Strengths:
has good picture quality, good sound system.

Weaknesses:
Reliability of light engine and interior electronics very questionable. Power supply is also weak. Bulb has short life.

Price Paid:  $2299.00 from circuit city

Summary:
Hitachi 50V500 is an excellent LCD projection display. It is breath taking in it's reproduction and the audio is nice also. The unit far outclassed other units on display.

However, the unit has quality problems. I have had the light engine replaced twiced and I am currently waiting on a lamp or a fuser or both. I cannot get Circuit City or Hitachi to commit to the fact that there is a quality problem with this series.

Strengths:
The picture and sound is incredible. Compared to the competition it is a no brainer.

Weaknesses:
There is a serious quality problem with the light engine and lamp unit. However, when it works, whch is most of the time there is not a unit on the market which can touch it. Because of the quality problems this unit should be at least a $1000 cheaper!!!!

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