Price Paid:  $2599.00 from Rou Edwards

Summary:
Since 1999 the wait is over. this is the best big screen out there. Here are the reasons:
1) Absolutely the best picture with an Anti Glare Screen guard built in, even Pioneer Elites don't hve this yet.
2) Major sound output with bass modules that compare back to those old console stereo woofers from the '70's. It can be used as a center channel via a RCA connection (need a receiver that has a pre-amp output for Center Channel)
3) Theater Wide modes that do the best stretch modes on the market.
4) One of the best line doublers on the market built in. I have a Toshiba DVD that can switch between Interlaced and Progressive, they are really close. If the input is interlaced the line doubler does a fantastic job.
5) Bells and Whistles that actually do something or you can just turn them off and play with it yourself.
6) Price to performance, to get a set this good from any other vendor you'd have to get the Pioneer Elite and install it into a black backdrop room (to counter the glossy screen guard). It's almost twice the cost.

Strengths:
Picture out of the box (all modes)
Fantastic Sound
Easy Setup
Universal Remote
Absolute best normal TV reproduction on the market, try it out ask if the saleman will watch an off the air broadcast, if not walk out of the store since 90% of the time you'll be watching regular TV stations using analog broadcast technology.

Weaknesses:
None in TV, for the price they could have added a Pronto or added multifunction MACROS to the remote for multiple device setups (for example):
1) Set TV Input
2) Set Pic Size
3) Turn HT ON and to DVD
4) Turn HT volume to proper setting
5) Turn on DVD
6) Eject DVD tray
Wouldn't that be nice?

Similar Products Used:
Hitachi
Pioneer Elite
Panasonic
RCA Scenium
Sony Grand WEGA

Price Paid:  $2300.00 from PC Richard & Son

Summary:
I have only had this TV for a couple of days... Perhaps it's too early to give it a full review; but, I am extremely happy with it so far. This is after I returned a Sony set (57HW40) that was an absolute waste of my time... The picture on this set is so much sharper and brighter than Sony! It has a very pleasing picture. Easy to set; straight out of the box! The line doubler is unbelivable and produces such a crisp picture... I also like the Automatic Light Sensor that adjust the contrast depending on room light condition. Very easy to operate!

Strengths:
Easy remote!
Not much tweaking...
Very bright and crisp picture...
Nice focus!
Shallow size.
Just very high quality!

Weaknesses:
None yet!!! Maybe too heavy???

Similar Products Used:
SONY (57HW40 - waste!)
Denon (4802)
JBL
Wharfedale

Price Paid:  $2300.00 from Showcase home entert

Summary:
I spent over a year looking at big screen tv's and I wanted to make sure I was getting the most bang for the buck. I was looking pretty hard at either the Mitubishi or the Pioneer Elite untill the salesman show me the toshiba sitting next to them. The picture on this television was just as good or better on the HD source this television's picture was easily as good as the Pioneer Elite costing 1000's more. The menu is user friendly and I found their to be plenty of inputs for my needs. The sound is good for built in speakers, even though I go though my reciever. This is by far the best value in HD ready television on the market today!!!

Strengths:
Great picture, ease of use, good built in sound

Weaknesses:
none yet, I hate watching other televisions now

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 53" theater view, spent the extra couple $100 dollars and get the 16:9 wide screen.

Price Paid:  $4600.00 from Krazy Krazy in Sydne

Summary:
I have to confess I don't know a whole lot about big screens other than I hated viewing the older projection big screens unless I was at a perfect angle. The reason I bought the 57HX81 was actually because it was the biggest and most expensive in the store. No really, it had the best picture and I've been wanting a HDTV Wide Screen TV what seems like forever. It was pretty much perfect right out of the box and took very little tweaking to get an unreal picture. I have to say I'm actually quite impressed with the onboard stereo system on this thing. It actually goes up to a decent volume without too much distortion or noise. That's something I didn't expect from a big screen like this. I'd love to be able to get into the techno-babble like the previous reviewers but I can honestly say that they are all miles ahead of me when it comes to this stuff. All I can contribute is that the picture is unreal and when using a progressive scan DVD player the picture really is THAT GOOD. What a beautiful thing it was/is to be watching the NHL playoffs on such an amazing television. I'm in the process of building the surround sound system to accompany my big screen and so far I've picked up the Pioneer Elite VSX-47TX. Only thing left to do is audition some speakers. The dealer is letting me take home a truck load of Nuance speakers to play with. Hope they do the job.

Strengths:
Picture is unbelievable using HD sources. Onboard sound is far beyond what I could have hoped for. The remote control is easy to use and just makes sense where other remotes are bulky and senseless.

Weaknesses:
The only weaknesses are having to watch tv at friends' houses with their 29" sets. ;)

Price Paid:  $4300.00 from Kebecson

Summary:
I've got this baby since last september. Overall I am really satisfied with it's performance. The accuracy of colours are the best in the business with Pioneer IMO.
The natural feshtone is really good too. The Theaterwide 1 do an incredible good job to show 4:3 material. The internal line-doubler is absolutely fabulous. Light years beyound older generations sets. Actually looking at regular satellite broadcast is surprisingly good.

DVD's are absolutely terrific and filmlike ( I use an interlaced Pioneer Elite DV-09 for DVD playback) and of course High Definition look out of this world.

But if you want to get the best from your set, do yourself a favor: hire a ISF calibrator. Mine did a really good job and it made a lot of difference in performance. I mean A LOT!

Strengths:
Excellent color rendition.
Fantastic line-doubler performance.
Really look awesome when properly calibrated.
Certainly the best value in term of cost/performance.

Weaknesses:
A lightier vertical line ( about 1 inch thick ) in the center of the screen only slightly visible on really light scenes ( like hockey ice ) and ghosting at the right of objects when these objects ( or persons ) are dark on a light background.

But these little imperfections are really minor and barely noticible and should not ternish all the superbs qualities of this set.