Great over the air and satellite hdtv reception, good size screen for TV and movies, good audio tuner with 5.1 capability, progressive scan DVD inputs

minor component video software glitch, remote is not lighted

Great T.V. and tuner. Networks are broadcasting more HDTV programming. The RCA is the largest direct view T.V. widescreen at 38 inches. Colors are vivid and picture is crystal clear. Remote is easy to use and menus offer good control. DVDs exceptionally clear, particularly using a proscan player. RCA is recalling and replacing first generation models due to a software glitch which results in a moment of disruptionafter 28minutes of play. On my unit this no longer seems to occur. Highly recommended.

Great over the air and satellite hdtv reception, good size screen for TV and movies, good audio tuner with 5.1 capability, progressive scan DVD inputs

minor component video software glitch, remote is not lighted

Great T.V. and tuner. Networks are broadcasting more HDTV programming. The RCA is the largest direct view T.V. widescreen at 38 inches. Colors are vivid and picture is crystal clear. Remote is easy to use and menus offer good control. DVDs exceptionally clear, particularly using a proscan player. RCA is recalling and replacing first generation models due to a software glitch which results in a moment of disruptionafter 28minutes of play. On my unit this no longer seems to occur. Highly recommended.

No DTV (Wide Band Component Input), No Video Out

This set will not support a Set Top HDTV box or other DTV component input. The set is only capable of 1080i High Def providing that you sign up with DirectTV... No Video Out to a VCR... Very disappointed... It looked great at the store, but under SoundTrack's 30 day Satisfaction guaranty it's going back. Very tried of the propritary formats, compatibility wars, and fine lines of print that are vague when in reality RCA is forcing me into DirectTV Satellite. The fact that I can't even Video Tape programming was deadly, well at least for RCA...

Beautiful Picture, Case, Easy to Use. Built in HDTV and DirecTV

None, really, it weighs 216 lbs, but that's a lot of glass up front.

This TV will set the standard for HDTV, hands down.
I also purchased the $59 RCA1020 amplified antenna to
receive broadcast HDTV here in Salt Lake City.
(Don't get a non-powered antenna.)
I especially like the HDTV off-air signal meter,
when adjusting the antenna for HDTV signals.
I also installed DirecTV.
You can connect one of the dish coax outputs directly into
this tv. The tv comes with it's own DirecTV 'card' that
looks like a smart credit card. Don't buy an extra one,
because you won't need it -- and they cost $39.95.
As for the picture - it's HDTV capability is stunning.
Now, Regular TV is boring.
There are plenty of video inputs(3) in the back.
I could now unhook my old 4 way Video switch.
The two antenna input is a great idea. You can
plug cable tv into one(A), and connect the other(B) to your
"rabbit ears" antenna for local HDTV broadcasts.
There's a button on the remote to switch antenna sources.

At first, I didn't like the gray bars on either side of
an NTSC picture, but later learned that the bars prevent
center tube burn-in, and now realize its a good idea.

My biggest complaint has nothing to do with the TV, but
this TV is so nice that now my wife and I are starved
for HDTV programming. We desperately seek more HDTV shows.
Our local CBS affilliate in SLC hasn't turned on their
HDTV transmitter yet - and all of our favorite HDTV shows
are on CBS - this really breaks your heart.

Just my luck - the first live HDTV broadcast here in SLC
was the Mormon General Conference in April 2001. The picture
was so nice that I actually stood there and watched as much
as I could handle.

If you are thinking about HDTV the RCA38310 is your baby.
No, I don't work for RCA.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic 34WX50

Picture
Sound
Inputs/Outpuits

none.... so far

I recieved mine this week and it is very good... The picture quality is outstanding and sounds graet with the factory built-in speakers... I love the optical output which will be nice once I get HDTV here... I will be able to send the true DD signal to my reciever via the optical port....

Shop around, the price has been cut! Only 38" tube
with built-in Hi-Def DirecTV with Dolby Digital Optical out.

Standard Def digital broadcasts look terrible. The resolution of the TV shows the poor picture quality.

This is is an update to my first review 4 months ago.
I dumped cable and got DirecTV. This is the set for me.
Just watching HBO in High-Def and DD 5.1 makes it all
worth it. HDNet on channel 199 is running a lot of neat
High-Def demos and is going to start broadcasting major
sporting events on a regular basis. Baseball and Football
in High-Def and Widescreen is amazing. You can see the
blades of grass on the palying field. As soon as DirectTV
offers Showtime High-Def, I am there. Anyway, back to the RCA.... If you want to be blown away, this is the set.
My only complaint is that Standard-Def digital broadcasts
are blurry and grainy on the set. They do look great on
my old Toshiba though.
Enjoy the show,
Russ

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba tube, NEC monitor

Screen size, price

curved screen

First let me say that I can not even hear the fan. I bought my set from Sears. I did the internet price matching thing and found a site that had it for $1,980 BEFORE shipping (after shipping is was $2,230) I showed the salesman the website and he informed me that they would match the price after shipping, after a little haggling about not having to pay sales tax on the website I got the TV for $1,980 with a free $250 stand. I can't really give a good review for this TV because I have yet to see true HD content on the set, but for DVD's and my Xbox the picture is great.

Similar Products Used:

SONY

HDTV Receiver Built-In, Ease of Use, 16:9

No Video Outputs

I purchased this television after 2 years of research and could not be happier. After looking at what I believe to be every projection TV in a 50 mile radius of my home, I was never happy with the picture clarity. This is the largest direct-view 16:9 TV produced. The HDTV reception is remarkable. Friends and family have dropped their jaws when viewing local broadcasts in HiDef. (Which by the way I receive easily with a $50 standard roof mounted antennae.

When hooked up to a Toshiba SD4700 progressive scan DVD player, the picture is outstanding. I could not reccommend the TV more unless RCA had photos of me with a goat. If you are at all contemplating purchasing this unit, do so without a second thouhght.

Similar Products Used:

None

low price, great picture with DVD.

NTSC picture not breathtaking, fan runs constantly, skimpy warranty, not non-glare or flat screen, can't defeat upconversion, no built-in handles for moving, center channel mounting problem.

Associated equipment:
Dish Network (non-HD) 500 satellite receiver
Monster Cable HTS5000 power center
Monster Video M2000HD S-Video cable
Marantz RC2000 remote
Tivoli Design TVC 40" TV stand
Video Essentials DVD
Endust for electronics

First off, once the set is up and running, your first order of business should be to reduce the contrast. It comes cranked from the factory (as do many sets). You could actually do some serious burn-in if you don't reduce the setting.

I was going to wait to do my review until I received the free RCA DVD player from their promotion, but RCA is out of stock and won't have more for several months. I rented a DVD player with only composite output, but the picture quality was outstanding. I am UNimpressed with the quality from my sateliite receiver (using high-end S Video cable). I think being able to turn the internal upconversion on or off as desired would help. I think Panasonic is the only set that allows this. Was also disappointed with the quality using "Fill" mode, which makes the picture very, very soft. Have been unable to receive any HD signals so I cannot speak to that.

I am experiencing one fault with the set. Whenever I exit out of the tone controls menu, the set shuts down completely and loses time/date settings. Very annoying, but I'll live with it. I also get a right side black or red/green vertical bar when in "Fill" mode using the satellite receiver. Dish Net says this is because there isn't enough information in the signal to fill the screen, thus the black bar. Direct TV says this happens with theirs as well. I find this quite annoying. In 4x3 it is fine, but switch to "Fill" and it's there.

I did months of research before buying this. The price drop was the final clincher. The other sets sell for at least $1,000 more, have a smaller screen, and are only HD-ready. Panasonic had a pronounced red hue, Toshiba had a green hue, Sony was too soft. Having sold TVs, including RCA, their reliability and picture quality isn't very good. The small chain I worked for dumped them becasue of the multitude of repairs. In my opinion, they have a terrible reliabilty record, but I decide to bite the bullet anyway. It also seems unfair to spend several grand on a TV and get a one year warranty (two on the tube, I think). You get the same warranty on a $100 microwave oven. You should also see the reviews on epinion.com.

One thing no other review has pointed out concerns the rear cooling fan. You cannot turn it off...it runs constantly, even with the set off. This makes no sense if the set isn't warm, is a waste of electricity, and shortens the life of the fan. The fan's noise is also annoying if the TV volume is at a low level.

Sound Logic, RCA's version of commercial sound leveler, is a joke. Doesn't seem to keep the volume at the same level at all. Dialogue can sometimes be difficult to hear, but in general, the internal speakers are surprisingly good.
Tough to adjust color settings using Video Essentials calibration DVD, as you can't defeat their auto correction and the menus cover half the picture.
Difficult to place center channel speaker on top of TV because it's slanted and has control buttons on top.
Owner's manual contains no specification table and should have separate section for Direct TV users and not mix it all in with everything else.
It would've been nice to have a flat, anti-glare screen, but I'm sure that would've raised the price. The picture tube is similar to what Loeve uses, and that set costs over $5k, so it can't be all that bad.

Lastly, DO NOT buy from Best Buy. I realize they aren't the place to go for expert sales advice and product knowledge, but their customer service is really bad. I would have gladly bought it from Circuit if they had a similar finance promotion. I've written complaint letters to the store and to their HQ and never received a single response. Shows their lack of respect for one's time and repeat business. Totally unacceptable.

Despite my grumblings, this model is a super value. I recommend it. Factor in the free $500 progressive scan DVD player promotion, and you can't say no.

Similar Products Used:

compare to Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Princeton 16x9 monitors.

HDTV Decoder Built-in, 16:9 Fortmat screen

Anolog Pip only

I just received my new set last week after being in the market for almost 2 years. I was looking to replace my 7 year old 32 inch XBR. I was really strong on the new 36 inch xbr but was waiting to see this years model. Then I saw the new Proscan 38 inch brother to this set and was blown away. Then after doing alot of research I found out that other then being in a different case, the RCA was the exact same model and 200 bucks cheaper. So now I am an owner and I would say I made the right decision. It took me 2 days of work to get my new Hi-Def dish and new Yagi antenna hooked up but it was worth it. I also have TIVO and since the TV doesn't come with outputs for video what I did was keep my old sat decoder hooked up and connected to one of the Video inputs so I still can record just not in Hi-definition. I will update this review after a while to see if I have any problems. Plus if you buy it by July 7th you get a free progressive scan DVD player. Hey for 2400 total with shipping to get a complete HDTV and Progressive scan DVD, it cant be beat.