Sony to stop making SXRDs & 3LCD RPTVs

[gparris]

From late-breaking news in engadgethd:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/19/sony-dumping-all-rear-projection-tvs-to-focus-on-lcds/1#c9396371

If this story in engadgethd is true, it's a sad time for those who don't have the extra cash for a HDTV set greater than 60" for a flat panel set.

Who the heck is going to shell out $33,000 for the Sony 70" LCD panel vs. what could have been the now-dumped 70XBR5, originally-retailing at $5,999?
Few, if any, unless you just won the lottery.

As for the JVC, I checked out the 70" LCoS set (HD-ILA series):
- it is harder to find and not advertised as much -  I found a couple at Tapeworks in Houston, TX
...that's it for 70" LCoS size!

Looks like the nail is in the RPTV "coffin" sooner than later, unless this is a bad joke from engadgethd or marketing ploy from Sony, which I highly doubt.

RPTVs are very cost-effective, offer very much more bang-for-the-buck as sizes go past 50":
-So what will Sony offer as the biggest size, only their 52" LCD Panel? :rolleyes:

What else is there out there around 60 inches that is not an RPTV?

A) Panasonic offers a 58" Plasma for under $4,000 (sales at stores).
Vizio offers a 60" 720p PDP (that cnet rates in the 6's for overall performance/features vs. Panasonics's 8's)...at $2500.

B) Panasonic offers an exceptional 65" Plasma at $8,999 (less on sale) that requires mounting hardware or a $999 table stand extra.
Sharp Aquos has its "64U" series with an excellent 65" LCD panel, priced around $6,899 (prices vary) that comes with its own stand (also wall mountable), too.
These are the largest and most "affordable" panel sets out there for now.

But after 60" (outside of a Pioneer's Kuro Plasma at much higher prices):

What is there that is as reasonably-priced in what is left for RPTVs?

-Maybe the Samsung LED DLPs at 61" are the closest, but these still are no 65-70'' sizes.
There are other DLPs use the colour wheels and rainbows (for some):
-Mitsubishi's 73" size, as found at CC and BB, but I (and others) find it harder to watch as its picture is grainy and dark: cnet gives it lower marks, too.

LCoS was so promising (SXRDs) and wonderful, I don't forgive you, Sony!:mad:

[Jimboy]

Just when I decided to order the KDS-60A3000. :bang:

Maybe I need to re-think my decision.

[Bebop]

Soon, your only choice for 60"+ would be front projection.

I guess Sony is shifting their efforts to 11" OLED TV.

[kjnorman]

Perhaps they will dump SXRD and 3LCD because they will go to Laser projection?

[gparris]

Laser TV is a cool concept, but unless it appears big at CES next month, I don't think so.
Sony is after Blu-ray and Bravia LCD-only, unfortunately, not much else in the HDTV area besides HD camcorders and VAIO computers.

SXRD was so hyped for what...2-3 years?
You will still see SXRD in the HT mags for January, but that could be older ads set up in advance, too.

OHHHH...."the replacement for "Trinitron"...the SXRD"
...remember that?:confused:

Even though there were some growing pains with it, once the optical blocks got made better:
There were few problems with the A2000 and the newest A3000 lines after that, so that certainly wasn't the reason.
Then RPTV manufacturing went to Mexico, as I understand it, out of the original PA location (putting US workers out of jobs), to keep costs down, too.

If Sony ever comes up with a 60-65" LCD panel set(s), it will  probably cost too much to buy,  anyway, at least for the present.
-One look at their 70" LCD at $33K is enough to see the shortsightedness of dropping the RPTV lineup.

My focus will be to not advise for setup any Sony products, if Sony is really dumping all RPTVs in their lineups for good.
If Sony doesn't care (about the consumer), why should we?

[agrundman]

I bought the 60" A2000 about 10 months ago for just over $2k and have been very happy with it.  What a great picture!

I don't understand why they would discontinue the line.  Oh well, I'm glad I've got my model.

[gparris]

Your best bet as SXRDs and 3LCDs start disappearing from stores next year is to try shopping at the Sony Outlet Store in Pleasant Prairie's Prime Outlet location off of I-94 and State Rte. 165.

Here they have a good looking store, great service and quality Sony products, including refurbs at factory warranty (that you can extend, too).
On display and for pickup are several SXRDs, LCDs and the complete line of Sony products that are available a significant discounts:
- I have sent many a customer that way with satisfying results.

[Jimboy]

Took the plunge and bought the KDS-60A3000 anyway. Hope this set is as good as I've heard it to be.

[gparris]

For the past 20 months I have had my Sony SXRD 60" and it is the best HD picture I have ever had.
Mind you, I had 65 and 48 inch CRT RPTVs (sold them), a Sony 768p LCD RPTV and a 70+inch LCD RPTV set, too.
Which one do I watch my HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc movies on most often?
-The 60 inch Sony SXRD set, that's the one!

You will be getting the third and best generation SXRD set of them all, IMO. Owners tell me how much they love their sets, even after several months.
Hope you got it for around $2K as that is its going price, though others I know have purchased them for less including tax (outlet malls, Crutchfield, etc).
See: http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=147350&i=15860A3000&tp=162
Here it is priced for $1699 with free shipping and no sales tax.
-Let us know what you think is good about it and how much you like it when you get it and Happy Holidays to you...what a way to start them!:wave:

[flash]

fwiw...
I've been reading some rumors that Sony is getting out of SXRD line and going with DLP RPTV and they are supposed to announce it at CES 2008. There is discussion that it has been "leaked" that a "major" TV manufacturer is announcing their introduction to the DLP market. Since Sony is one of the only companies not doing DLP and by the obvious price drops on the A3000 series (like they're gonna close them out soon) they are the obvious choice.
It's also rumored that they are going to announce LCD's larger that 52"

just rumors................

[gparris]

Seems as though the 57" LCD panel HDTVs are listing for as much as the 70" SXRDs originally did from Toshiba and Samsung.
As for Laser and LED DLP's its anyone's guess until CES what Sony is doing to get out bigger than 52" screen sizes and eliminating SXRDs just isn't a good thing for us consumers.

[Paul S.]

My 60" SXRD XBR1 is a piece of crap. 2 repairs, a replacement, 2 repairs, and now a 3rd one coming up. I wish I could trade this for an old B&W set. Maybe Sony will stop making sets altogether and just start making their games come out on time.

[gparris]

Sorry to hear your fixed and refixed Sony SXRD set that is giving you such a pain overall!

-Maybe that is why Sony is going out of the RPTV business and maybe .

I do know, however, that I have had good experiences with several SXRDs with clients and family members in the A2020 and A3000 series:
Maybe, just maybe, some SXRDs could have been fixed in the manufacturing process, somehow.
Then again, maybe all of those those warranty extensions, amongst all the other problems Sony had with their RPTVs optical blocks (even their LCD RPTVs) could have been just too much for them and now its just LCD panel sets.

FYI, my 70" Hitachi LCD RPTV set is approaching 3 years old now and if it ever needed replacement:
- I would probably get a 65" Panasonic PDP (about the same matching original price), just to spite Sony.
Having seen it in action at a local Magnolia store with Blu-ray/HMDI, it's a must-buy  for all the right reasons, IMO.
But for the price, it's no SXRD, either, so what do you replace it with to match the colour, clarity and deep blacks/great contrast without paying so much more?

All Sony has anyway to sell now,  is their 52" LCD panel:  Big Deal!:rolleyes:
Even if Sony came out with something bigger in size, I probably wouldn't buy/recommend it after this.
Does anyone remember when the SXRD was advertised as the  "Trinitron for the 21st Century"?

[Bebop]

Sony seems to be clueless. First, they got out plasma and now RPTV. They have no proprietary technology like they had with Trinitron. They are trying OLED right now. I wonder how long they will stick with it?

[gparris]

Bebop: I forgot all about the plasma drop by Sony.
So CRTs, CRT RPTVs, Plasma Display Panels (PDP) and now, SXRD and 3LCD RPTVs:
Will their "technology dump" list never end? :rolleyes:
(When will Sony find LCD Panels too expensive to build after 52" and dump them?)

OLEDs (Organic LEDs) still are not stable or long-life displays, (as I understand it) or found in larger displays, either (probably for this reason).

Try again, Sony.:p