Price Paid:  $2900.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I recently had the CRT's in my Sony 57" HD, rear projection TV fail. It was just outside warranty and the repair estimate was $1500 (TV originally $2800 in 2002). The repairman said it was quite common for these TV's to have this kind of failure and that they don't even repair them unless there under warranty because the picture quality is never as good and the customers complain. Additionally he said the CRT's have phosphurous in them which almost guarantees they'll fail within five years, that's if you can find them since Sony stopped making them!
Sony actually extended the warranty on these to four years because of a "flicker" issue. The recommended service was to replace the CRT's, which of course would keep the TV running past the warranty date (which I believe happened to me when I had it serviced under warranty).
I think I got a "Lemon", but Sony's no help. I've found consumers on other websites who had this problem, but not here. Has anyone else here had this problem?

Strengths:
Great HD pic when it worked

Weaknesses:
TV was built to self destruct in 4 years

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Excellent TV...picture is vivid, especially with DVDs. Recommend you get a home theater sound system if you want movie theater-like sound. Never got the infamous flicker some talk about. Knock on wood.

Strengths:
Picture (HD)

Weaknesses:
Bulkiness, weight, price.

Price Paid:  $1700.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
I upgraded from a 24" to a 57" projection. Well of course I'm going to be wow'd. But to not dissuade my experience, my friend and neighbor has a Toshiba 40H80 and as pictures go, his is very nice. So coming from that experience to this, it took a few days for the TV to wear off the 'OMG its so huge!', to 'Yea, I love this, I can't stop loving you.'. heheh.

Its a great set. Autoconvergence is only as good as its original conversion. Mine is off, I've used Avia's disc to get as close to normal as I can, and I have tweeter to come out and converge it for me. If that doesn't satisfy me then I'll go the distance and research out the grid overlay and do it my self..because.. My tv is great, but it could be better, and I know its all due to just poor settings/intransit bumps/somesuch.

For those who don't use a AV center the tv has enough inputs to satisfy (but I don't use but a few so pip is optionial).

It also does upconversion, which is its nice attempt to make your signal better, which it does admirably.

This TV never has many reviews (if you search down out there) but I'd have to say its a solid performer. I got mine open box with a 5 year full warrenty for 50% off and an additional 10% coupon. If you can foot it and you have the space, man I think you'll love it.

Note, if you do diligent reserach you can see a few posts here and there about people griping. When the debuted it had a chance of having an impregnated cathod which causes flicker. Sony will fix it for free. Mine has been a demo unit so its passed its 5mos of use and no cathode issue..so I can't vouch for that issue.)

Strengths:
Clean, crisp imagry
Beautiful colors
Lots of inputs

Weaknesses:
Large-ish
Front speakers adequate but get an audiosystem!

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 40H80

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I love my sony it is off the chain in my book Job well done. Keep up the good work

Strengths:
picture very clear on analog, digital and HD

Weaknesses:
No way to work your reciever on the tv remote

Similar Products Used:
There is nothing close to the sony

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
After owning my set for 6 months, the infamous flicker appeared. I recently called Sony and had 3 CRT's replaced in less than a week. I recieved excellent service, unlike some of the reviews I read. So far it works as good as new. Next time I will research the products better.

Strengths:
Excellent picture. Two component and 3 s-video inputs.

Weaknesses:
Sony never alerted me to the flicker issue.