Wow, toughest decision ever on a Sony CRT

[Chris in SD]

New in box:

34XBR960: $1899

36XS955: $1299


What would you do? The 34" is at Crutchfield, the 36" is local.

[mortaldivine]

I would not buy the 34XBR960 for $1899. I got mine for $1500

[Chris in SD]

Awesome deal. I just can't find a good deal on it that meets my requirements:

Free shipping
No tax
Authorized Sony dealer

[justsc]

[QUOTE=Chris in SD]Awesome deal. I just can't find a good deal on it that meets my requirements:

Free shipping
No tax
Authorized Sony dealer[/QUOTE]
Don't discount the value in that 36" set. Some have found that set to be fantastic. It's got the same super fine pitch tube of the 34" 960 and it gives a big picture for you 4:3 material. For widescreen you get essentially a 34" screen. That's a great deal for that set.

[kny3twalker]

it would a comparsion of features of the XBR and 16:9 form factor vs 4:3 size of picture and less cost

I think you will be the only one to make such a decision

[DSperber]

[QUOTE=Chris in SD]New in box:

34XBR960: $1899
36XS955: $1299

What would you do? The 34" is at Crutchfield, the 36" is local.[/QUOTE]Do not pay that price for the XBR960.

Check out DigitalCraze.com (http://www.digitalcraze.com/). Their web site shows XBR960N for $1550, XBR960 for $1200. They also have the 34XBR3 stand for $300.

I bought mine from them last year.

Absolutely 100% dependable and reliable, factory sealed brand new products, white glove delivery service into your target viewing room location by Bekins or equivalent, I would definitely buy from them again without hesitation. My phone salesman was Lenny Carrington, if he's still there.

I don't know if they have stock, but I would guess they do... for both sets. You'll obviously pay shipping charges ($299) for Air Freight Express, but no sales tax depending on your state (they're in NYC). Any dealer that offers "free shipping" for a 200 pound TV has certainly already added $250+ to the price.

[Chris in SD]

I guess where crutchfield gets me right now, is, I also want to buy a Denon 4306 as well as a Sony ES DVD player and ES CD player. All three of those items are 10% off IF I buy the TV. That's like $350 right there so makes up for the full MSRP price....

I hate buying TVs!

Why is the 960 $300 less than the 960N? My local Fry's has the 960 at $1500 and the N at full price. I know about the different method of antiglare between the two but wtf...

[jeri534]

Yea but with those extra accessories you're still paying retail for them while you can get them cheaper, if you price those things at another site like those recommended Im pretty sure youll still come out saving more than you did at Crutchfield

[Chris in SD]

Do you think the fact that Crutchfield is authorized for both Sony and Denon and the cheaper places are not is a concern? I notcied Digitalcraze is not Denon authorized, so the factory warranty can be rejected.

[DSperber]

[QUOTE=Chris in SD]Do you think the fact that Crutchfield is authorized for both Sony and Denon and the cheaper places are not is a concern? I notcied Digitalcraze is not Denon authorized, so the factory warranty can be rejected.[/QUOTE]Your original question concerned Sony sets, not Denon.

Why not just do shopping for "best price/deal"? If you can get a better package for everything you want by buying from several etailers then why not go that way? Why do you have to buy everything from one source, unless they give you the best overall deal?

Yes, being an authorized dealer for a manufacturer is absolutely critical to purchase criteria, in my opinion. I agree with you. But if an equivalent alternative is available, then you're covered.

DigitalCraze is authorized for Sony. At least they honestly reveal that they are NOT authorized dealers for Denon, although they do offer the equivalent warranty:

"DigitalCraze.com is not an authorized dealer of Denon, but does maintain a stocking inventory of that company's products. As such, Denon reserves the right not to honor its factory warranty on this product. However, DigitalCraze.com offers an equivalent warranty on all products."

Do you think Denon would really not honor its factory warranty on this item (assuming you even needed service) if you bought it from DigitalCraze? Maybe, but I would think not. However even if so the DigitalCraze warranty would cover your needs, so they explain.

But if you're looking for the XBR960, $1199 + $299 = $1500 from DigtalCraze is better than the $1800 from Crutchfield by $300. Figure that into your other shopping for the Denon, from Crutchfield or others.

Crutchfield's 4306 is $1999 (free shipping I'm guessing), less the 10% you say they offered you for a package purchase, and that's $1800. No extended warranty in that price, is there?

DigitalCraze offers the 4306 for $1549, plus 3-year extended warranty (after manufacturer's expires) for $100 and shipping for $50. No sales tax for either, depending on your residence state. Unclear how they offer or price a warranty that is "equivalent" to the Denon factory warranty, as mentioned above would be a concern for a buyer, unless that's part of this 3-year extended warranty.

Your choice.

[Chris in SD]

Digitalcraze comes in about $350 lower than crutch despite paying for shipping. Thanks for the tip. I saw this on their site too:

"Warranties
All audio equipment, TVs (including plasmas), components, and accessories come with a warranty. If a manufacturer denies access to it's warranty, DigitalCraze.com will step in and fully supply the product with the same full warranty and the same time duration on the warranty as would the manufacturer's original warranty be valid for. If an item is defective at anytime during the length of the manufacturer's original warranty, we will issue to you a UPS return label, and have it repaired or replaced and then returned to you at our expense (excluding TVs) which would be an in-home service. If an item is defective within 14 days of receipt, we will exchange it for you at our expense.
"

So I don't even need to buy their extended warranty on the Denon. They look OK on resellerratings too.

Thanks again.

[DSperber]

[QUOTE=Chris in SD]So I don't even need to buy their extended warranty on the Denon. They look OK on resellerratings too.[/QUOTE]The extended warranty, on either the XBR960 (2 years for $150) or Denon (3 years for $50) are both for the period AFTER the manufacturer's warranty expires.

So if they say they will step in and substitute for the manufacturer's warranty if they deny you (apparently at no additional cost for this seller-provided manufacturer's equivalent warranty coverage), then the extended warranty offer for both TV and AVR is truly "standard", namely kicking in after the regular manufacturer/seller warranty expires.

So your decision to buy the extended warranty or not is a separate decision, having nothing to do with the manufacturer/seller warranty which typically covers the first year or two.

I, myself, went for the extended warranty on the XBR960 when I bought mine from them last year.

[RWetmore]

If you have a high def box, I don't believe you will be able to view your 4:3 content full screen, since the box outputs everything in 16:9. You'll get black bars on the top and bottom and grey bars on the sides, unless you also connect the box via S-video or composite, but that isn't nearly as good as component or HDMI. Plus you'd have to switch back and forth between inputs

I wouldn't hesitate - get the XBR960

[Chris in SD]

My HD DVR is a SA 8300. You can tell it to output SD in 4:3 and HD in 720/1080, all you have to do is tell it what your TV supports. It does all this over HDMI.

Regardless, I think I'm going with the 960 anyway.