Hitachi 53SDX89B Rear Projection

Hitachi 53SDX89B Rear Projection 

DESCRIPTION

53 inch UltraVision SDX Series - DHTV ready - 1000 Lines Resolution - UltraBlack Screen - Dolby Pro-Logic Surround Sound - 60 Watt Bass Reflex Speaker System - Universal Remote Control

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 26  
[Feb 15, 2005]
bri guy
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Great picture,magic focus, Features such as cine and theatre settings, easy to use remote, durable lens protector(with proper care) 2 component jacks,and numerous analog, great picture with proper signal.

Weakness:

No digital input

This tv is wonderful!!,granted i see people say they have had some problems but have you bought a new car lately, same thing, there are lemons everywhere. If you buy a tv over line you deserve what you get! Did you see the picture before hand or ask questions, did you know the pain staking process of warranty work, did you ask if it was refurbished?If not you again deserve what you get. This tv is by far one of the best projection screen pictures there is, and with the proper connections such as component cables, thick speaker wire,a decent home theatre system( personal tastes apply) Progressive scan dvd or better,and for ultimate possible picture, a hdtv receiver from provider such as cable or a dish.( you can see the fleas on a bears back!!) Then get on the web, type your model number and phrase like set up and adjust your settings to what people or proffesionals found was best. It seems like alot to do but it truly makes a differance and makes the money you have spent on the tv worth while, its not just take the tv out of a box and plug it in and expect the best. And yes sometimes you do recieve a lemon but with a repitable dealer the problem is less of a head ache! So dont bash the set on the web because your mad, if you didnt do things the right way and for the guy who bought it for 400 dollars, you should have expected that for the price!!

Similar Products Used:

sony,sharp

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 12, 2002]
Willie
AudioPhile

Strength:

Picture

Weakness:

none

Great TV.

Similar Products Used:

RCA, Zenith

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 01, 2000]
Jim
Casual Listener

Strength:

Best Picture Quality of any digital TV. Good internal speakers. Magic Focus makes ajusting convergance a snap.

Weakness:

Only one component input. Remote does not work for DISH Satellite receivers.

This is my third 53sdx89b from Hitachi. The first two were defective. The new model, which I now have, is the 53sdx89bA which was just released. I think all the bugs have been worked out with this model.
The set's picture quality is outstanding. Much better than the Toshiba and Mitsubishi Digitals take I have looked at. I use a roof antena for locals and a satellite receiver for all other channels. Both sources provide outstanding pictures on this TV.
If you watch a lot of regular TV via satellite, cable or roof antena, this is the TV for you. If you mainly watch DVD's, then you should probaby buy one of the 16:9 digitals; although I don't think the picture quality would be as good as this Hitachi set.

Similar Products Used:

N/A

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jul 31, 2000]
Patrick Nuckle
Casual Listener

Strength:

Picture quality, progressive scan.

Weakness:

Remote Control

I have been shopping for the 53SDX89B for a month. The Ultravision Digital has the best picture in its category but I was not willing to pay that much money for a TV. I was finally able to get the TV for the price that I wanted at CG Electronics (http://crazyg.com/). They sell refurbished TVs that are as good as new, still in the box and everything. I am very statisfied and payed $1850 for it...

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 18, 2001]
Absolutely Frustrated
Casual Listener

Strength:

Its probably a great TV if you buy it new and from a good dealer

Weakness:

Its a lemon if you skimp and buy it refurbished from CG Electronics

I did a lot of research on the kind of TV I wanted and I decided that I could not go wrong with Hitachi. I bought the 60 inch model. I still do not regret the decision to buy this MODEL. It is a good TV in my opinion, incredible picture with no visible lines, really good sound, and has all the possible inputs/outputs you would want. It works well even in a bright room and is absolutely amazing for home theatre experience at night - my only mistake was buying it refurbished from CG electronics, and I want to warn everyone that it is a RISK to buy a refurbished TV from them, because you may get one with massive problems. Yes, you MAY end up happy with a TV that works great if you are lucky enough to get one like that. But my case was disasterous. The TV arrived and did NOT work right off the bat. That was just the beginning of it. Even though they have a 7 day replacement policy they adamantly refused to consider that option and insisted that I take it to a repair shop, saying that something minor was probably wrong with it and it probably happened during shipping. After many hours of bitter conversations over the phone I gave in and sent it to the repair shop, believing them. That was a mistake. The TV was there for two weeks and returned back to me apparently fixed. It worked for one whole week and then started having problems again. CG once again insisted I take it to the shop, promising to send all brand new parts needed for it for the repair. It ended up going to the shop again. It was fixed - once again temporarily. It worked fine for 2-3 weeks. At which point the 30 day warrantly with Hitachi was over as well as any time period for returning it to CG. We have become very used to wheeling this gigantic TV in and out of the house every month. It is covered under a third party warranty, so we don't pay for the repair, we just have to take it in to the shop and live without it 3 weeks at a time. It is being taken in for the 6th time now. I HATE that TV if only because of the emotional damage associated with it. As soon as it is humanly possible to buy a brand new one and throw this one as far away as possible, we will do so. CG electronics made their money and couldn't give a hoot now - they just had to wait out their 30 days and intimidate us into keeping that TV. If you do buy from them and you are lucky enough to find any problems within that 7 day window DO NOT keep the TV. INSIST on returning it. And my best advice is just go buy it new from a dealer nearby that will replace it if it has problems.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Oct 07, 2000]
Robloid
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Picture Quality, 2 Component 3 SVHS inputs, PIP scanning mode

Weakness:

Somewhat cheap remote

I had looked at digital TV's for some time, and compard them in different stores around the city and found that, when the store had them on display, the 53sdx outperformed them all. I have no problems with grey bars, red bars or anything else wrong with the picture. Absolutely the best NTSC picture I have seen on any Projection TV. Maybe the fact that the canadian division of Hitachi does their own QC has something to do with the fact that I have no problems, or maybe because it is not a first run TV. My dad always said not to buy a product on the first run. My TV wasn't even made until August. Anyway, its the best TV I've seen in a long while.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Aug 17, 2000]
Steve
Casual Listener

Strength:

Good looking picture

Weakness:

No Picture in Picture, What a remote!!!

This TV does have a nice looking picture but Sony's KP-53HS10 has just as nice if not better picture. I had both these TV's side by side at Circuit City and was able to adjust both the TV's to look good as the other. When i first looked at the two side by side the Hitachi looked better but then I found that the Contrast and the Sharpness had been turn all the way up on the Hitachi, which I think... the sales people set the color up on the TV that there trying to push.. and throw in the DVD of A Bugs Life and your sold.
But my biggest complaint is that the TV does not have picture in picture(PIP). It is advertised as PIP and it has a PIP button on the remote and also a Move button that is absolutly useless. The features list sayes it has PIP. Sure it has Split screen picture beside picture but no PIP. When i talk to Hitachi I told them they need to change that button to PBP = Picture Beside Picture, I don't think they found that funny. Hitachi acts as tho I am a idiot to expect my TV to have a picture in a picture just because they said it did and advertise it as having it.Hmmm.....Dum Me.
Now the remote Hmmmm.... what was designer thinking when they designed that!! Don't think I have yet picked up the right end of the remote. And you have to aim it at the floor to get it to work.
Last but not least is the Surf mode, I like how Sony does there's which they call indexer. As it cycles threw the channels Sonys indexer leaves the number of the channel there so you can look back and see what was on the other channels but the Hitachi and shows the active channel number.
So after contacting Hitachi serveral times and asking if there was anything they could for me to make up for not getting PIP they told me to take it back if if i didn't like it... So i nicely explain to them that I would never own another Hitachi product the rest of my life. And know IM waiting delivery of my new Sony KP-61HS10
P.S. I think the rest you guys out there should call Hitachi and ask them were your Picture in Picture is.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Aug 11, 2000]
steven
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

picture quality/simplicity of remote/multiple inputs

Weakness:

The instruction manual could have been more indepth.

After 12 months of searching for the right brand and the right price let me fill you in. CG electronics @ 702-795-3399!!!!!(I get no reimbursement for that). It is a refurbished set but you could never tell once its in your living room. Their customer service is great because 1.They will be honest about availability and delivery times 2.They can sell you an inhome warranty cheap. I got the 53sdx with 5YEAR!!! warranty for 2500$ including delivery that only took one week. Now beat that.Now as far as the tv itself...NO LINES EVEN WHEN I SIT 5 FEET AWAY!!! I was replacing my 31 inch toshiba and the picture quality is just as good. REALLY the picture is that much better than the sbx analog and through cg would even save you money compared to circuit city.The picture is absolutely breathtaking.

Similar Products Used:

sony toshiba

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 04, 2000]
Dan

Strength:

Great picture under certain conditions

Weakness:

Red line and and grey line in the background. Can't tone this tv down to veiw non digital format. when there is motion every thing goes out of focus .

I would be very careful purchasing one of these sets. I had two of them. The first had a red vertical line about three-fourths of the way over from left to right. Tech tried to tell me it was my cable company but that was not the case. Had them ship me another TV and had the same problem only this time the line was gray. I returned this one also to Circuit City and they refunded my money....they were great to deal with! I now have a Sony KP-53HS10 and in my opinion has a better picture. no background lines either. The Sony was $500 cheaper also. It listed for $3000 at HHgregg but they came down to $2750 by just asking them to cut the price. The stereo systerm is only about 20 watts on the Sony but it souns great !!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony KP-53HS10

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Mar 09, 2000]
Gary DiChiara
Audiophile

Strength:

Great picture no visible scan lines. Nice cabinet styling

Weakness:

Remote is clumsy and useless for my other components. (Yamaha DSP A3090 and JVC Dish network D-VHS) Built in shield glares in anything less than a pitch black room and is non removable. Color is off, skin tones too orange.

This is a very nice transitional TV to use with a satelite receiver. The picture is excellent especially at a distance of 6ft plus. I use the set as a monitor only in a dolby digital HT setup with a Yamaha DSP A3090 Amp and B&W 600 series speakers with a Sunfire sub. although the 53" is nice the 60" probably would have been better in a room of my size (15x19. I do see the grey line down the center on some material. I will try the fix described above.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-10 of 26  

(C) Copyright 1996-2018. All Rights Reserved.

audioreview.com and the ConsumerReview Network are business units of Invenda Corporation

Other Web Sites in the ConsumerReview Network:

mtbr.com | roadbikereview.com | carreview.com | photographyreview.com | audioreview.com