|   Help with buying HDTV: Sony vs. Panasonic Tau | Cliff Harvey
Jul 4, 2001 10:51 AM | | I am replacing my aging 25" and have been looking at the Sony 36HS20 (which I have been told is the same as 'last year's' XBR400), the Sony 36XBR450 and the Panasonic 36HX41. The picture quality seems to be negligbly different (at least on the DirecTV and DVD they showed me) so I'm more worried about upward compatibiltiy...
First, I have DirecTV (which I watch mostly) and a Pioneer DV-414 DVD player (about 2 years old, but with component out - which my wife watches mostly). And a Yamaha Dolby Digital/DTS reciever with full compliment of Klipsch speakers.
1. Are the inputs the same (i.e. two component inputs with full 1080i/480p capability?)
2. The Panasonic sheet says it has the 3-2 pulldown that everyone is talking about on the XBR450. Is this true/same? Further, does that matter if I replace my DVD player with one that has a 3-2 pulldown chip it? (obviously it wouldn't help with the satellite stuff - but is there enough film-sourced material there to matter?)
3. The Sony seems to be able to force 4:3 stuff into 16:9, but the Panasonic can force 16:9 into 4:3, and they seem mutually exclusive. My wife wants to see as much of the screen filled as possible - obviously - and with anamorphic DVD's and upcoming widescreen HD broadcasts the Panasonic seems to have the edge in our mind for apparent screen size. Any words?
4. Are there any major differences I need to know about before buying? I'm not worried about price. Just a quality product which I can fully utilize in a couple of years when I get a HDTV Satellite box... And a progressive scan DVD...
Thanks |
| re: Help with buying HDTV: Sony vs. Panasonic Tau | Adam
Jul 4, 2001 5:06 PM | | http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?73
That should get you going. The jist of the article was the Sony has a tad better picture quality although the panasonics cost less, weigh less, and take up less of a foot print (for some it make a big difference.
To answer your questions specifically:
1. Yes same.
2. The TAU offers a line doubler and a frame doubler option. The sone has a 3-2 pull down. If you have a progressive scan DVD player it will bypass the TV's 3-2 functions. I have seen the TAU (i own the 32HX40) with on progressive scan DVD, cable TV, and Digital TV. The Tau is impressive. I have not seen the sony.
3. Both offer the 16x9 squeeze. you can fill the screen on both as far as I know. I tried it with the TAU today and it works fine.
4. The Sony will offer a tad bit better picture although not enough to justify the price difference. |
| Oooh Yah, good old "foot print" comment. | Smokey
Jul 4, 2001 6:55 PM | | Adam give good advice. Also Sony have three months labor warranty Vs Panasonic having one year labor warranty. |
| You Had To Know It Was Coming..Happy 4th (nt) | Adam
Jul 4, 2001 7:10 PM | | |
| Okay, A Few more quesions | Cliff Harvey
Jul 5, 2001 3:14 PM | | Thanks for the advice... A few more questions:
1. Did they in fact fix the separate adjustment for each input? I've read both in reviews...
2. Can you turn a particular input off when nothing is plugged into it? Again I've seen both.
3. What are the important differences in the features?
4. Are the Sony HS20 and the XBR400 the same thing? |
| Okay, A Few more quesions | Adam
Jul 5, 2001 7:30 PM | | 1. Not understanding you.
2. No not on the panasonic dont know about the sony.
3. I'd say the features are basically the same, the panny costs less and thats a big featuyre for me.
4. No clue, I know more about the panasonics. |
| Okay, A Few more quesions | Cliff Harvey
Jul 5, 2001 8:11 PM | | The First question was this. I have read that there is NOT a way to save a setup to a particular input (i.e. color/tint/brightness...)on an Panny. A friend has an XBR and said he can save one setup for DVD movies, and a different one for DirecTV on the separate inputs. Does the Panasonic have this capabilty? Real bummer about not being able to turn off Video 2-4 when nothing is going into it... Oh, Well - can't have everything. Thanks again. |
| |
