What will I miss from choosing 36xs955 over 34xbr960?

[RYCeT]

Hi guys, I can get the 36xs955 much cheaper than 34xbr960. From what I've read in this forum, I'll get 33 inch widescreen viewing w/ 36xs955 but huge difference in 4:3 viewing. I saw both of these tv in BB about 3 months ago, I seem to recall that the xbr got a sharper and detailed PQ than the 36xs955. Is this true? I know BB feed them w/ crappy signal. Both of them should have the same PQ, correct? Well, I prefer widescreen but the price difference justify going to 36xs955. 4:3 viewing will be great though since I still use last gen gaming console (PS one, PS2, N64, gamecube) Now, what features will I miss from choosing the 36xs955 over 34xbr960?

[greenland]

[QUOTE=RYCeT]Hi guys, I can get the 36xs955 much cheaper than 34xbr960. From what I've read in this forum, I'll get 33 inch widescreen viewing w/ 36xs955 but huge difference in 4:3 viewing. I saw both of these tv in BB about 3 months ago, I seem to recall that the xbr got a sharper and detailed PQ than the 36xs955. Is this true? I know BB feed them w/ crappy signal. Both of them should have the same PQ, correct? Well, I prefer widescreen but the price difference justify going to 36xs955. 4:3 viewing will be great though since I still use last gen gaming console (PS one, PS2, N64, gamecube) Now, what features will I miss from choosing the 36xs955 over 34xbr960?[/QUOTE]

Have you taken into consideration the difference in warranty duration. The 34xbr960 has a full two years, parts and labor. The 36XS955 has just One year parts, and just ninety days labor. You may spend the price difference on labor and parts coverage,or have to take the risk of hoping that nothing labor intensive crops up beyond the ninety day period. also, if long term 4:3 viewing is important to you, then the 36 will do, but you should be aware that all high def broadcasts are trending toward the widescreen format and within a year or two you may have to live with the full screen zoom feature,or accept the dark top and bottom bands.

[kny3twalker]

the HD image should be the exact same on both TVs
the XBR adds firewire aka iLink, twinview for split screen viewing, and a customizable DRC palette for 480i sources

[SurfingMatt27]

I'll tell you what i won't miss for a 4:3 display is the huge black bars.

I canb live with black bars on the side with 4:3 material on my 16:9 sony than having everything letterboxed except 4:3 material on a 4:3 set.

[RYCeT]

i don't think the black bars will bother me. My parents got sony plasma 42xs955, well some of the dvd's still has blackbar on top and bottom. AFAIK CRT doesn't have problems w/ burn in correct? Since I mostly used full instead of zoom, I will have the black bars on top & bottom, if it have problems w/ burn in, then it will be a deal breaker.
So far, If I do understand correctly, for wide screen viewing, I'll get 33 inch w/ the 36xs955 using full vs 34 inch w/ the 34xbr960. The image in 36xs955 widescreen viewing using full won't be compressed, correct?



edit: btw I can get additional warranty from sonystyle.com so the warranty itself is not a problem for me.

[justsc]

Don't be afraid to get the 36" set. It'll deliver as good an HD picture as the 34" set. Don't let compression worry you either. I believe there is some "vertical compression" bit it doesn't take anything away from the picture, nor does it add anything to it. It's just the way Sony works it with a 4:3 set.

[kny3twalker]

i don't think the black bars will bother me. My parents got sony plasma 42xs955, well some of the dvd's still has blackbar on top and bottom.

well thats cause of the aspect ratio of the movie

movies are normally 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 and some are wider

the only reason 1.85:1 movies fill the screen on 16:9(1.78:1) TVs is cause of overscan which is normal

with a 4:3 TV the black bars will be even larger

if it have problems w/ burn in, then it will be a deal breaker.

its minimal, I have even heard of LCDs getting burnt-in
on a CRT unless its abused, left on a static image for days at a time, you will not have a problem

I believe there is some "vertical compression" bit it doesn't take anything away from the picture, nor does it add anything to it. It's just the way Sony works it with a 4:3 set.

it reduces the area that the electron gun scan on the TV

[greenland]

[QUOTE=RYCeT]i don't think the black bars will bother me. My parents got sony plasma 42xs955, well some of the dvd's still has blackbar on top and bottom. AFAIK CRT doesn't have problems w/ burn in correct? Since I mostly used full instead of zoom, I will have the black bars on top & bottom, if it have problems w/ burn in, then it will be a deal breaker.
So far, If I do understand correctly, for wide screen viewing, I'll get 33 inch w/ the 36xs955 using full vs 34 inch w/ the 34xbr960. The image in 36xs955 widescreen viewing using full won't be compressed, correct?



edit: btw I can get additional warranty from sonystyle.com so the warranty itself is not a problem for me.[/QUOTE]

Well, it is still your call. Which set meets your present and futures needs. If the price were the same on each, which set would you prefer to have. How much of a price difference are you talking about, and having to purchase a warranty to cover the free additional 21 months coverage that comes with the 34XPR960, how close will that make the price difference.