Same as other reviews, very good picture, lots of inputs, etc.

Some directional problems w/ remote. I have to point it at the base of the TV for it to work.

Basically, I agree with the reviews found here. My unit was a closeout at Sears, but, it looked better than all but the HD units, so I bought it. I'll go for HD in 2 or 3 years, for now I'm very pleased.

Recently, the green CRT died and had to be replaced. The unit is still under standard warranty and it cost me nothing. Picture looks great again. Still glad I purchased the 3 year extended warranty.

Similar Products Used:

None

Excellent Picture, 'Magic Focus' auto-alignment, Screen Shield, Three (3) sets of Inputs

Remote, Direct input selection would have been useful. (only a minor complaint)

Extremely Satisfied.

Twin Tuner PiP is useful for cable: can tune two (2) channels without external splitter. Also, can use DSS/Cable Box on 2nd coaxial input while having 1st input operate on twin tuner. (Pass-Through Feature) This is very nice, although it is slightly annoying to cycle through all inputs to get to the one you want.

Sound is nice, very powerful for cable. Turn up about halfway for DVD though to get adequate volume level.
There are external connections on television for various Pro Logic configurations.

If you plan to sit VCR, DVD on top of the television, be sure get long cables because the TV is tall and the rear inputs are on the very bottom. TV is on rollers and moves very easily... even on thick carpet.

Overall, execellent television. Great picture for a projection set. I have about 12'-14' viewing distance and it looks awesome... Far enough to be clear and it feels like you are in the picture!

Highly Recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Researched Sony, Toshiba, Mitsubishi
Almost purchased Sony KP-53V85. Hitachi was $200.00 less, has a better picture, overall appearance of SBX01B is more appealing too.

Excellent picture with wide viewing angle, excellent "channel surfing" features. Great audio flexibility

The built-in audio system seems a bit underpowered.

I purchased the current year model, the 53SBX01. The main differences from the previous model appear to be a grayer screen background (which they say reduces reflections) and a much-improved remote. The new remote is more intuitive and logically layed out. I researched this purchase extensively. Toshiba offers more screen size for the money (but not with a 3DY/C comb filter), and Sony has a good 53inch competitor. In the end, the 61 inch Toshiba was just too big for my room and the Sony offered nothing compelling for its higher price (it has fewer features and no visible picture superiority). The picture on the Hitachi is as outstanding as others have said, and the multiple-point autoconvergence helps keep it that way. Watching DVDs is like being at the theater. Hitachi offers an excellent package for the money with this TV.

Picture, sound, looks, manufacturer

none

WOW, what a great TV. You can not beat the picture on this TV. The dolby pro logic sound is great too. For the first 8 months I had only the built in Pro Logic to use for my HT. I used cheap Bose 141 for surrounds and it sounded really good. The last 3 months I put together a HT audio set up and its AWESOME. Still the crown jewel is this TV. The PIP is great with all the different set ups you can use. I personally like the 2 large pictures(great for football). also the set up functions are easy top follow and well set up. The magic focus is a great function. The picture clarity is unsurpassed at this price level and beyond. DVD's are absolutely magnificent. If you are looking for a RPTV look no further.

Similar Products Used:

first rptv

Fantastic Picture!

None!

My wife and I decided to get a big screen television this past Christmas. We have friends and relatives who own Sony, Magnavox, and Proscan RPTV's. The only TV's I've owned in the past have been Sony, so we were pretty sure we would be buying another one. We were in a local Circuit City on Super Bowl Sunday to buy CD's and I decided to check out their RPTV's. The side-by-side (Normal-Digital-HDTV) display was pretty effective in demonstrating the differences in picture quality and it wasn't long before the two of us had decided to buy digital (HDTV was WAY too expensive). Then we experienced a real, honest-to-God miracle........

The sales guy (who had been quietly observing us for some time) came over and introduced himself and offered assistance. We expressed our interest in a digital RPTV and I braced myself for his inevitable hard sell of their most expensive models. I was caught completely off guard when he calmly smiled, looked me in the eyes, and said "Let me show you the best deal we've EVER had on a television...". He walked over to the Hitachi 53SBX on display and patted the top.
He began to explain that there were two very important things to know about the $3500 digital RPTV's: 1) They have a digital receiver already built into them and 2) They are typically 800 Lines Per Inch resoultion. He showed us the specs on the digital RPTV's they had to back up his assertion and pointed out that the DVD player and DSS receiver were both digital inputs, so our picture would be the same or better than the more expensive RPTV's. In addition, they were giving an additional $100 off the already sale price of $1999.
The Hitachi is incredible! We've loved it from the first time we sat down to watch it. I couldn't have bought a better television.....

Similar Products Used:

None...

Picture Quality, Brightness

Remote control

So far I've been very impressed with this TV. I did a lot of research and for the price, I don't think I could find a better value in terms of size, quality and features. I paid $2,000 for mine from Sears and couldn't find a cheaper price anywhere else.

The TV is very easy to set up and also very user friendly. My wife hasn't had any problem using the TV so far and she is very happy with the quality of the picture.

My only complaint would be the remote as it seems to be laid out backwards. I keep wanting to use the stupid thing upside down. I've remedied the problem by using a third party remote for my daily viewing and will only use the Hitachi remote for tweaking the TV, etc.

I will be very happy with this product until HDTV reaches our area in full strength. Being that I live in a rural area, that is still about 5 years away so I figure for about a buck a day, I'll have a great TV until I upgrade to HDTV in 2005 or 2006.

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n/a

Fantastic picture. Best rptv for the money on the market

Remote would be nice if it were a learner. Would like to see direct access buttons for video/antenna modes

I had just about resigned myself to the fact that I would have to settle for a 36" direct view tv, since I was not happy with the picture quality from projection TVs. Then I saw this beauty. WHAT A PICTURE!! I am very happy with picture quality, especially when I watch movies on my DVD player. The quality of signal from DISH Network and my DVD player, combined with the large screen and bright picture are allowing me to see details of movies that I had never noticed before.

My only real complaint is that I would like the ability to have direct access on the remote to the various video/antenna inputs. That way I wouldn't have to toggle through them to get from video 2 back to video 1. Barring that, it would be nice in the setup to eliminate the inputs that you don't use when toggling through.

PIX

NONE

I received my 53SB last month and I couldn't be happier. EXCELLENT picture, and minimal brightness loss outside of the recommended viewing angles (for a rptv). Also, sound quality far surpassed the equivalent Sony and Mitsubishi. The remote, although not a "learner," was easily programmed to control my Technics audio system, Quasar VCR, and Pioneer cable converter box. The individual unit remotes, of course, are capable of more detailed functions (e.g. programming, CD skip, etc.). Nice patch bay for speakers, sub-woofer, A/V inputs. P.C. Richards had the best price @ $1,995 plus $35 shipping and setup.

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Same size Sony and Mitsubishi

Outstanding Picture

Remote is not a genious at all. No learning function like the older genious remotes.

Love the magic convergence. Would give a five star if it wasn't for the cheap remote control. It will not work my brand new Denon reciever, or my Yamaha tape deck.

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Have a 46 inch Ultravision since 91. Not even a hiccup (except for the fact that I had to screw up the dynamic convergence board (analog).

Great picture and sound

Concentric lines etched on the screen (bullseye without the filler color)

This is an update to my previous review.

The service company contacted me today saying Hitachi will replace my screen. Hitachi says the problem with the bullesye outline on the screen is occurring in TVs in the colder climates (I'm in upstate NY). That sounds OK but the problem looks more like a manufacturing defect.

Rex is replacing this set with another of the same model, I like the TV so I'll take my chances on getting one without the defect.

By the way, the model is Hitachi 53SBX01B, this is the current year model. The 53SBX59B is the prior year's model and may still be available.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Samsung, Toshiba