Any of the manufacturers releasing new 16:9 tube models this year or the next?

[KungFu-tse]

Or is this the end of the road for 16:9 CRTs?

[waltchan]

All of the brands have already announced new models this year.

[KungFu-tse]

Yay, that's all I need to know. :)

[Joxer]

Toshiba's new 2005 models just came out recently.

[justsc]

[QUOTE=KungFu-tse]Or is this the end of the road for 16:9 CRTs?[/QUOTE]
I know for certain you'll see new tube sets this yeaqr from Samsung, Sony & Philips, as well as Toshiba.

[Dark Rain]

Sony isn't for 16x9 HDTVs, but they are releasing a new 4x3 32" HDTV. AFAIK, the Sony 30/34HS420, 30/34XS955, and 34XBR960 16x9 models were carried over for this year and are widely available. It's a good time to buy a Sony CRT HDTV because they've recently gone down in price.

[justsc]

[QUOTE=Dark Rain]Sony isn't for 16x9 HDTVs...[/QUOTE]
I don't understand. What have you learned about Sony & 16:9 sets?

[red98lude]

[QUOTE=justsc]I don't understand. What have you learned about Sony & 16:9 sets?[/QUOTE]

I believe he is reffering to the fact that sony is not releasing any new 16:9 sets.

[RandyWalters]

[QUOTE=justsc]I know for certain you'll see new tube sets this yeaqr from Samsung, Sony & Philips, as well as Toshiba.[/QUOTE]

Toshiba has a new 26", 30", and 34" tube sets but they're apparently now outsourced and made by a low-end company called Orion.

Also Panasonic has a few new 30" models and a new 34" model for 2005. The smaller ones are rumored to be outsourced to Orion who makes the Toshiba sets.

Sony is not releasing any new models for 2005, instead they're carrying over their 2004 widescreen lineup as 2005 models.

Samsung, Philips, and RCA all make crappy TVs and i wouldn't touch em.

Dunno if Zenith is coming out with new models or not.

JVC only makes one 30" widescreen TV now, dunno if they'll be making it in 2005.

[Jon S]

My Sony dealer has said after the current inventory is out, they cannot get any more 34" Sony sets.... The 34XBR960 dropped to $1999 with stand. He said a dropped price like that usually means Sony is clearing out their inventory.

[justsc]

[QUOTE=RandyWalters]...Samsung, Philips, and RCA all make crappy TVs and i wouldn't touch em...[/QUOTE]
I've found Samsung capable of making an outstanding set. Like all the rest, they can put out a lemon, but the PQ and value they deliver, IMO, is hard to beat.

Watch the Samsung brand over the next 12 months. I believe you'll see them taking huge chunks of market share and earning an enviable reputation for both high-end sets and value priced tvs, and other components. The giants are snoozing and losing to Samsung.

Cheers! ;)

[RandyWalters]

[QUOTE=Jon S]My Sony dealer has said after the current inventory is out, they cannot get any more 34" Sony sets.... The 34XBR960 dropped to $1999 with stand. He said a dropped price like that usually means Sony is clearing out their inventory.[/QUOTE]

But that conflicts with Sony's announcement that they're carrying over all five of their widescreen tube TVs for 2005. Maybe they're just clearing out the old inventory that was at the higher price point before they bring in the new ones that are at the new lower price point. Or maybe Sony misled the public and are discontinuing some (or all?) of their widescreen tube sets afterall. Time will tell. No matter, i'm done with tube TVs now :)

[justsc]

I believe what we're seeing from Sony is compliance with the law regarding the digital transition. As of July 1st, all sets of a certain size must be manufactured with a built-in ATSC tuner. I believe we'll see no more offerings from Sony of HD-ready tube sets, but I believe we will see more tube sets in both 4:3 and 16:9. Maybe just no new 16:9 offerings this year, with the carry-over and all.

[RandyWalters]

[QUOTE=justsc]I believe what we're seeing from Sony is compliance with the law regarding the digital transition. As of July 1st, all sets of a certain size must be manufactured with a built-in ATSC tuner. I believe we'll see no more offerings from Sony of HD-ready tube sets, but I believe we will see more tube sets in both 4:3 and 16:9. Maybe just no new 16:9 offerings this year, with the carry-over and all.[/QUOTE]

I believe the July 1st 2005 mandate (that came a week ago) is that 50% of all midsize TVs in the 25" to 36" range have a digital tuner, which is probably why Sony is carrying over their 30" and 34" HS420 series TV until March 2006 where ALL midsize TVs have to have a digital tuner. Until then, they can still sell HD-ready sets as long as they don't exceed 50% of their sales.

[justsc]

[QUOTE=RandyWalters]I believe the July 1st 2005 mandate (that came a week ago) is that 50% of all midsize TVs in the 25" to 36" range have a digital tuner, which is probably why Sony is carrying over their 30" and 34" HS420 series TV until March 2006 where ALL midsize TVs have to have a digital tuner. Until then, they can still sell HD-ready sets as long as they don't exceed 50% of their sales.[/QUOTE]
That's correct - I forgot to include that.