Hitachi 43GX01B 43 in. TV
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Hitachi 43FDX01B TV -- Good Value but Some Picture Problems
Pros
Sharp Picture, Covers Two Digital TV Resolutions, Reasonable Price, Compact
Cons
Doesn't have 16:9 widescreen, overly bright and hard to adjust picture
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
Nice features for the price, but the picture is way too bright and it's impossible to get it adjusted to a proper level. Hitachi hasn't kept pace with HDTV values.
As the Hitachi 43FDX01B television shows, they don't exactly give away HDTV-ready TV's. However, for just a couple hundred dollars more than you'd pay for a Sony rear-projection television (RPTV) with standard resolution only (such as the KT-43S75), the 43FDX01B includes not only the NTSC-standard 480i (interlaced) mode, but the standard-definition digital television (SDTV)-level 480p (progressive) mode and the high-definition digital television (HDTV)-level 1080i mode.
When Good TV's Get in the Not Recommended Category
Because of the image quality of the 43FDX01B, I have placed it in the "not recommended" category. The set has a very bright, shimmery image quality. You can't get rid of it by turning down the brightness. If you turn contrast low enough, of course, you can completely blank-out the image. However, as long as the contrast is high enough so that the picture is reasonably viewable, you still have that bright, shimmery image quality.
But It Looked Good at Circuit City
I must admit that, initially, when viewing a 43FDX01B under the bright fluorescent lights at a Circuit City store, the TV looked very good to me. I suspect this might be the case for many people, as the store had the TV displayed in a prominent location. Unfortunately, the picture that grabs your attention at a retail display might not be the best for home viewing.
The problem is that this picture is chromatically inaccurate and, over the long haul, may become straining to your eyesight. With the user-accessible adustments on the set, it's not possible to get a really accurate picture. If you're willing to invest in the services of an ISF-certified technician (generally over $200), it might be possible to get the set professionally-calibrated to a satisfactory level.
I mention the set's image quality as a warning for those who demand a highly-accurate image. The really picky videophiles might not be happy with this set's image quality. For myself, I prefer more accurate, neutral colors in my video monitors. However, many people will be perfectly happy with the set's image quality. For example, Epinions user Flashfoto owns a 43FDX01B which he has adjusted to his satisfaction (he has a review on it).
Do the Vertical Squeeze
One other serious problem with this set is that the 1080i resolution is not truly 1080i. This is because, while all 1080i broadcasts (both over-the-air and satellite) are in a widescreen, 16:9 aspect ratio, the screen of the 43FDX01B is in the almost-square 4:3 shape. To give the two measurements a common denominator, 4:3 is the same as 12:9 -- meaning width to height. Many TV's, such as the Sony 4:3 direct-view (XBR400) and projection (53 and 61HS10) models, perform a function, when showing 16:9 material, known as "vertical squeeze."
Vertical squeeze means that, instead of using up some of the screen's lines of horizontal resolution to create the letterbox bands, the black letterbox bands are created digitally and the tube's raster is vertically squished, pushing all of its 1080 interlaced lines into the 16:9 section in the middle of the screen. As the 43FDX01B does not perform vertical squeeze, in 1080i mode it uses 270 of its horizontal lines for the letterbox bands, leaving 810 lines for the actual letterboxed image. Now, 810 lines is still a very fine, high-quality image, but, using the strict definition of high-def resolution, it's not a true high-definition image.
Keep in mind that, although Hitachi describes this set as an "HDTV Monitor," and it can display the levels of screen resolution needed for two of the digital-TV modes (480p and 1080i), the 43FDX01B only accepts analog signals. In order to receive digital HDTV broadcasts over the air, you'd need a digital tuner (usually called a set-top box) to receive these signals and convert them from digital to analog.
Still a Great Value, for Now
Still, with a street price of $1,900, the 43FDX01B provides a very nice set for the money. It's relatively small for an RPTV, and would fit in well in an apartment or space-limited A/V room. Although the screen is small by RPTV standards, it's still big enough to begin to give an approximation of that visually-overwhelmed feeling that's so enjoyable in the cinema. Also the 43FDX01B, with it's dark-silver and charcoal case, is a very good-looking TV.
Since this set has a short base (i.e., the distance from the bottom of the set to the bottom of the screen), you will probably want to either purchase the optional, decor-matching Hitachi stand or put the set on a short shelf or homemade stand in order to bring the center level of the screen even with seated eye level. Of course, you might prefer to have the center of the set below your eye level, but I've always found TV looks a bit better when the center line is a bit above my eye level, just as the center line of a movie theater screen is usually well above your horizontal eye level.
As previously mentioned, the 43FDX01B has an NTSC-standard 4:3 aspect-ratio screen, meaning it's 4 units wide by 3 units high. HDTV broadcasts and letterboxed DVD's and VHS tapes are shown in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Consequently, the more expensive HDTV-ready televisions, such as Panasonic's PT-56WXF95, which has a street price of $2,800, have screens with the 16:9 aspect ratio. While the 16:9 widescreen is very nice for viewing letterboxed movies, the 4:3 aspect ratio will let you watch regular old broadcast television without having to cut off the sides of the picture to make the image fit.
47-Inch 16:9 Widescreen for $1,599, too Good to Be True?
If you're looking for a set in the price range of the 43FDX01B and you want a 16:9 screen, take a look at Toshiba's 40H80 (or last year's TW40X81 -- see my review of the set for more information). If you can wait until June, Panasonic has a 47-inch 16:9 H/DTV-ready (480p, 1080i) set, the PT47WX49, coming out which will list at $2,000 but which onecallDOTcom has already pre-listed at a selling price of $1,599. Let's hope this isn't the consumer-electronics equivalent of vaporware.
Letterboxing Issues & Seating Distance
As I said above, when viewing letterboxed, 16:9 images on the 43FDX01B, the set will have to use horizontal black bands above and below the image (i.e., letterboxing) to compensate for the set's native 4:3 aspect ratio. But this isn't a big drawback. You'll get used to the letterboxing very quickly and, with the set's fairly large screen, you'll have a good-sized image even with letterboxed material.
By the way, if you're worried that the set's 43-inch screen, when showing letterboxed material, will be too small, keep in mind that the distance you sit from your TV screen should be three times its screen height. So, for this TV's 25-inch screen height, you'd want to sit 75 inches away (six feet, three inches). However, this is a recommendation for a standard, interlaced, NTSC signal. With a standard, 330i, NTSC broadcast image, if you sit any closer to the set the interlaced line structure will become visible. However, with the 43FDX01B's 480p and 1080i resolutions, you can sit closer, if you'd like. Considering the size of this screen, it's hard to imagine that you'd want to sit much closer than five or six feet from it.
Now, I'll admit, I don't follow the standard viewing-distance recommendations with my 27-inch TV, and anybody who buys a 43FDX01B to bring that cinematic experience home is probably going to want to sit a bit closer than the recommended distance. I found this screen size excellent for viewing 16:9 movies, but, of course, you should see one of these TV's yourself before making a buying decision.
Picture Quality Factors
Speaking of seeing this TV, the picture quality is excellent, as long as you don't mind the bright, shimmery quality. While RPTV's can't quite match the image quality of standard (direct-view) sets, the 43FDX01B has a picture quality which some people might find very pleasing (though strict videophiles probably aren't going to be among those people). That quality, of course, will be much improved by the set's SDTV (480p) and HDTV (1080i) modes. Keep in mind that all NTSC-standard, 480-interlaced (480i) input is automatically line-doubled by the set up to 480p. This feature is referred to as "full-time progressive."
Other picture-improving features include a five-element lens system, digital convergence circuitry, a digital 3-D comb filter (the highest-quality type of comb filter), velocity scan modulation, and dynamic focus. The protective screen covering the front of the 43FDX01B's screen is non-removable. According to video experts, it's preferable to have a removable protective screen, since these screens slightly reduce the image quality of an RPTV. However, even with the screen permanently attached, this TV has an excellent picture.
Sound Advice
For a modestly-sized TV, the 43FDX01B has a very capable built-in sound system, featuring a 12-watt-per-channel stereo amplifier and a pair of four-inch speakers located in the lower-front face of the set. While these audio capabilities won't let you get by without an A/V surround-sound system, the built-in sound has enough presence to give you the majority of the sonic impact from most movies.
Picture-in-Picture & Convenience Features
If you love doing two things at once, the 43FDX01B includes a two-tuner picture-in-picture (PIP) feature, allowing you to view a second broadcast (or video) source in a small box on the main screen. The difference between two-tuner PIP and "one-tuner" PIP is that the latter requires you to have an auxiliary tuner, such as the tuner in a VCR, to display a broadcast television signal in the PIP window. Adding to the set's convenience, there is an on-screen help menu, front-panel controls (immensely handy when you lose the remote), favorite channel selection, parental control, closed-caption decoder, commercial skip, and a sleep timer which turns the set off automatically after a time period between 15 to 180 minutes. The backlighted remote control features a thumbstick menu selector.
Inputs
No matter what kind of digital tuner (set-top box), DVD player, or satellite receiver you buy now, or in a couple of years, you're going to want the highest-quality connection possible to feed the 43FDX01B's analog input. The set obliges, with not one, but two rear-mounted sets of high-definition component video inputs (on some sets, not all the component inputs will take a high-def signal -- some will only take 480i).
In fact, the 43FDX01B has two groups of input jacks. Each group includes one component-video input (the component video input actually consists of a set of three RCA jacks, each of which takes one of three cables which carry the components of the signal), one S-Video input (multi-pin MiniDIN jack), one composite-video input (RCA-jack), and a pair of L/R analog audio input jacks.
Viewing the total of six input jacks, you might think the TV has six inputs which can all be used at once, allowing you to switch between six different video signals. However, you can only use one of the inputs from each group of inputs (i.e., component, S-Video, composite) at a time. Thus, if you've got a component-video output from a DVD player connected to the component input in one group of inputs and the S-Video output from an S-VHS VCR connected to the S-Video jack in the other group of inputs, you'll have maxed out the inputs. If you then, subsequently, want to connect, let's say, the output from satellite receiver (component), you'll be stuck.
Now, the front panel does include a set of inputs, but these are S-Video, composite, and L/R analog audio only. There's no component input on the front panel. Generally, front-panel inputs are used for devices like camcorders or video games which you're likely to want to quickly and temporarily have connected to the TV.
It's unfortunate that this TV has such a limited set of inputs. However, there are some ways to work around this. You can use an external switch box, such as one of the units which sells for about $50 and includes four sets of S-Video/ composite-video/ L/R audio inputs and a single S-Video/ composite-video/ L/R audio output. Another option is to use an A/V surround-sound receiver with video switching, though many of the least-expensive receivers don't include S-Video switching and component switching is generally not found on units selling for less than $1,000.
Input Types Explained
By taking the analog video signal into the set on three component lines, with three RCA-input jacks, the component inputs will maintain a high degree of signal quality. Those three components of the signal, by the way, are known as Y (luminance, the black & white portion of the video signal), Pb (the yellow-blue difference color, or chrominance, portion of the signal), and Pr (the yellow-red difference color, or chrominance, portion of the signal). Matching each of the two component input sets, there are also two rear-mounted S-Video input jacks. Dividing the signal into two parts, Y (luminance) and C (chrominance), the S-Video jack provides signal quality that's almost as high as you get with component inputs. Finally, in line with each of the component/S-Video sets, there are two rear-mounted composite-video jacks. Along with each of the two sets of video inputs (component, S-Video, composite), there is an analog L/R stereo input. Finally, there are two rear-mounted RF inputs for connection of an antenna or cable-box.
There is also a rear-mounted set of A/V outputs which includes an S-Video output jack, a composite video output jack, and L/R analog audio output jacks.
On the front of the set, there's an A/V input jack group which includes an S-Video connection, a composite-video connection, and audio L/R analog inputs. These front-mounted inputs are handy if you want to quickly connect a camcorder or a video game to the TV.
Because Size Does Matter
Folks who are planning on installing the 43FDX01B in an apartment will be pleased to note that the set's depth is only 20 inches, following a happy trend in RPTV's of avoiding the old box shape by tapering the back of the set to keep it very shallow. Of course, you can't escape the height and width, since the case is built around the amply-sized screen, but at 43 and 39 inches, respectively, these are reasonable.
Tipping the scales at 143 pounds, the 43FDX01B is fairly lithe for its screen size, though you'll want to have a dolly and a couple of friends to help you bring it home (promise them that everybody will get to see your new Drugstore Cowboy DVD, "with director's commentary," as soon as you get the TV ensconced in your livingroom).
Conclusion
Is the 43FDX01B an ideal H/DTV-ready set? No. In fact, technically speaking, it's not an HDTV set at all, though it is definitely a DTV-ready set. For this set to be an ideal H/DTV-ready set, it would have to have all three popular H/DTV modes (480p, 720p, and 1080i), plus a 16:9 screen. To be called a true H/DTV set, it would need a set-top digital tuner (which will cost at least $600, but this is true of any H/DTV-ready sets) to receive off-air H/DTV broadcasts. Another quality of the set, which may be a drawback, depending on how important color, brightness, and contrast accuracy are for you, is its bright, shimmery picture.
Is the 43FDX01B a very-good HDTV-ready set? Definitely. For its quite-reasonable street price of $1,900, this TV is ready to serve as the monitor in a mid-level home entertainment system. For little more than you'd pay for a Sony KT-43S75, you get a set with over twice the picture definition, a set with the image quality, and the proper kinds of inputs, to deal with the digital future while letting you enjoy awesome quality in the DVD present. On the other hand, if we can trust Panasonic about the imminent (June) arrival of the PT-47WX49, you'll soon have a much higher-value alternative to Hitachi's 43FDX01B. With any luck, this will inspire Hitachi, and the other manufacturer's, to bring out competitive sets, and widescreen, rear-projection H/DTV-ready sets will finally be affordable by the upper-middle-class.
When Good TV's Get in the Not Recommended Category
Because of the image quality of the 43FDX01B, I have placed it in the "not recommended" category. The set has a very bright, shimmery image quality. You can't get rid of it by turning down the brightness. If you turn contrast low enough, of course, you can completely blank-out the image. However, as long as the contrast is high enough so that the picture is reasonably viewable, you still have that bright, shimmery image quality.
But It Looked Good at Circuit City
I must admit that, initially, when viewing a 43FDX01B under the bright fluorescent lights at a Circuit City store, the TV looked very good to me. I suspect this might be the case for many people, as the store had the TV displayed in a prominent location. Unfortunately, the picture that grabs your attention at a retail display might not be the best for home viewing.
The problem is that this picture is chromatically inaccurate and, over the long haul, may become straining to your eyesight. With the user-accessible adustments on the set, it's not possible to get a really accurate picture. If you're willing to invest in the services of an ISF-certified technician (generally over $200), it might be possible to get the set professionally-calibrated to a satisfactory level.
I mention the set's image quality as a warning for those who demand a highly-accurate image. The really picky videophiles might not be happy with this set's image quality. For myself, I prefer more accurate, neutral colors in my video monitors. However, many people will be perfectly happy with the set's image quality. For example, Epinions user Flashfoto owns a 43FDX01B which he has adjusted to his satisfaction (he has a review on it).
Do the Vertical Squeeze
One other serious problem with this set is that the 1080i resolution is not truly 1080i. This is because, while all 1080i broadcasts (both over-the-air and satellite) are in a widescreen, 16:9 aspect ratio, the screen of the 43FDX01B is in the almost-square 4:3 shape. To give the two measurements a common denominator, 4:3 is the same as 12:9 -- meaning width to height. Many TV's, such as the Sony 4:3 direct-view (XBR400) and projection (53 and 61HS10) models, perform a function, when showing 16:9 material, known as "vertical squeeze."
Vertical squeeze means that, instead of using up some of the screen's lines of horizontal resolution to create the letterbox bands, the black letterbox bands are created digitally and the tube's raster is vertically squished, pushing all of its 1080 interlaced lines into the 16:9 section in the middle of the screen. As the 43FDX01B does not perform vertical squeeze, in 1080i mode it uses 270 of its horizontal lines for the letterbox bands, leaving 810 lines for the actual letterboxed image. Now, 810 lines is still a very fine, high-quality image, but, using the strict definition of high-def resolution, it's not a true high-definition image.
Keep in mind that, although Hitachi describes this set as an "HDTV Monitor," and it can display the levels of screen resolution needed for two of the digital-TV modes (480p and 1080i), the 43FDX01B only accepts analog signals. In order to receive digital HDTV broadcasts over the air, you'd need a digital tuner (usually called a set-top box) to receive these signals and convert them from digital to analog.
Still a Great Value, for Now
Still, with a street price of $1,900, the 43FDX01B provides a very nice set for the money. It's relatively small for an RPTV, and would fit in well in an apartment or space-limited A/V room. Although the screen is small by RPTV standards, it's still big enough to begin to give an approximation of that visually-overwhelmed feeling that's so enjoyable in the cinema. Also the 43FDX01B, with it's dark-silver and charcoal case, is a very good-looking TV.
Since this set has a short base (i.e., the distance from the bottom of the set to the bottom of the screen), you will probably want to either purchase the optional, decor-matching Hitachi stand or put the set on a short shelf or homemade stand in order to bring the center level of the screen even with seated eye level. Of course, you might prefer to have the center of the set below your eye level, but I've always found TV looks a bit better when the center line is a bit above my eye level, just as the center line of a movie theater screen is usually well above your horizontal eye level.
As previously mentioned, the 43FDX01B has an NTSC-standard 4:3 aspect-ratio screen, meaning it's 4 units wide by 3 units high. HDTV broadcasts and letterboxed DVD's and VHS tapes are shown in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Consequently, the more expensive HDTV-ready televisions, such as Panasonic's PT-56WXF95, which has a street price of $2,800, have screens with the 16:9 aspect ratio. While the 16:9 widescreen is very nice for viewing letterboxed movies, the 4:3 aspect ratio will let you watch regular old broadcast television without having to cut off the sides of the picture to make the image fit.
47-Inch 16:9 Widescreen for $1,599, too Good to Be True?
If you're looking for a set in the price range of the 43FDX01B and you want a 16:9 screen, take a look at Toshiba's 40H80 (or last year's TW40X81 -- see my review of the set for more information). If you can wait until June, Panasonic has a 47-inch 16:9 H/DTV-ready (480p, 1080i) set, the PT47WX49, coming out which will list at $2,000 but which onecallDOTcom has already pre-listed at a selling price of $1,599. Let's hope this isn't the consumer-electronics equivalent of vaporware.
Letterboxing Issues & Seating Distance
As I said above, when viewing letterboxed, 16:9 images on the 43FDX01B, the set will have to use horizontal black bands above and below the image (i.e., letterboxing) to compensate for the set's native 4:3 aspect ratio. But this isn't a big drawback. You'll get used to the letterboxing very quickly and, with the set's fairly large screen, you'll have a good-sized image even with letterboxed material.
By the way, if you're worried that the set's 43-inch screen, when showing letterboxed material, will be too small, keep in mind that the distance you sit from your TV screen should be three times its screen height. So, for this TV's 25-inch screen height, you'd want to sit 75 inches away (six feet, three inches). However, this is a recommendation for a standard, interlaced, NTSC signal. With a standard, 330i, NTSC broadcast image, if you sit any closer to the set the interlaced line structure will become visible. However, with the 43FDX01B's 480p and 1080i resolutions, you can sit closer, if you'd like. Considering the size of this screen, it's hard to imagine that you'd want to sit much closer than five or six feet from it.
Now, I'll admit, I don't follow the standard viewing-distance recommendations with my 27-inch TV, and anybody who buys a 43FDX01B to bring that cinematic experience home is probably going to want to sit a bit closer than the recommended distance. I found this screen size excellent for viewing 16:9 movies, but, of course, you should see one of these TV's yourself before making a buying decision.
Picture Quality Factors
Speaking of seeing this TV, the picture quality is excellent, as long as you don't mind the bright, shimmery quality. While RPTV's can't quite match the image quality of standard (direct-view) sets, the 43FDX01B has a picture quality which some people might find very pleasing (though strict videophiles probably aren't going to be among those people). That quality, of course, will be much improved by the set's SDTV (480p) and HDTV (1080i) modes. Keep in mind that all NTSC-standard, 480-interlaced (480i) input is automatically line-doubled by the set up to 480p. This feature is referred to as "full-time progressive."
Other picture-improving features include a five-element lens system, digital convergence circuitry, a digital 3-D comb filter (the highest-quality type of comb filter), velocity scan modulation, and dynamic focus. The protective screen covering the front of the 43FDX01B's screen is non-removable. According to video experts, it's preferable to have a removable protective screen, since these screens slightly reduce the image quality of an RPTV. However, even with the screen permanently attached, this TV has an excellent picture.
Sound Advice
For a modestly-sized TV, the 43FDX01B has a very capable built-in sound system, featuring a 12-watt-per-channel stereo amplifier and a pair of four-inch speakers located in the lower-front face of the set. While these audio capabilities won't let you get by without an A/V surround-sound system, the built-in sound has enough presence to give you the majority of the sonic impact from most movies.
Picture-in-Picture & Convenience Features
If you love doing two things at once, the 43FDX01B includes a two-tuner picture-in-picture (PIP) feature, allowing you to view a second broadcast (or video) source in a small box on the main screen. The difference between two-tuner PIP and "one-tuner" PIP is that the latter requires you to have an auxiliary tuner, such as the tuner in a VCR, to display a broadcast television signal in the PIP window. Adding to the set's convenience, there is an on-screen help menu, front-panel controls (immensely handy when you lose the remote), favorite channel selection, parental control, closed-caption decoder, commercial skip, and a sleep timer which turns the set off automatically after a time period between 15 to 180 minutes. The backlighted remote control features a thumbstick menu selector.
Inputs
No matter what kind of digital tuner (set-top box), DVD player, or satellite receiver you buy now, or in a couple of years, you're going to want the highest-quality connection possible to feed the 43FDX01B's analog input. The set obliges, with not one, but two rear-mounted sets of high-definition component video inputs (on some sets, not all the component inputs will take a high-def signal -- some will only take 480i).
In fact, the 43FDX01B has two groups of input jacks. Each group includes one component-video input (the component video input actually consists of a set of three RCA jacks, each of which takes one of three cables which carry the components of the signal), one S-Video input (multi-pin MiniDIN jack), one composite-video input (RCA-jack), and a pair of L/R analog audio input jacks.
Viewing the total of six input jacks, you might think the TV has six inputs which can all be used at once, allowing you to switch between six different video signals. However, you can only use one of the inputs from each group of inputs (i.e., component, S-Video, composite) at a time. Thus, if you've got a component-video output from a DVD player connected to the component input in one group of inputs and the S-Video output from an S-VHS VCR connected to the S-Video jack in the other group of inputs, you'll have maxed out the inputs. If you then, subsequently, want to connect, let's say, the output from satellite receiver (component), you'll be stuck.
Now, the front panel does include a set of inputs, but these are S-Video, composite, and L/R analog audio only. There's no component input on the front panel. Generally, front-panel inputs are used for devices like camcorders or video games which you're likely to want to quickly and temporarily have connected to the TV.
It's unfortunate that this TV has such a limited set of inputs. However, there are some ways to work around this. You can use an external switch box, such as one of the units which sells for about $50 and includes four sets of S-Video/ composite-video/ L/R audio inputs and a single S-Video/ composite-video/ L/R audio output. Another option is to use an A/V surround-sound receiver with video switching, though many of the least-expensive receivers don't include S-Video switching and component switching is generally not found on units selling for less than $1,000.
Input Types Explained
By taking the analog video signal into the set on three component lines, with three RCA-input jacks, the component inputs will maintain a high degree of signal quality. Those three components of the signal, by the way, are known as Y (luminance, the black & white portion of the video signal), Pb (the yellow-blue difference color, or chrominance, portion of the signal), and Pr (the yellow-red difference color, or chrominance, portion of the signal). Matching each of the two component input sets, there are also two rear-mounted S-Video input jacks. Dividing the signal into two parts, Y (luminance) and C (chrominance), the S-Video jack provides signal quality that's almost as high as you get with component inputs. Finally, in line with each of the component/S-Video sets, there are two rear-mounted composite-video jacks. Along with each of the two sets of video inputs (component, S-Video, composite), there is an analog L/R stereo input. Finally, there are two rear-mounted RF inputs for connection of an antenna or cable-box.
There is also a rear-mounted set of A/V outputs which includes an S-Video output jack, a composite video output jack, and L/R analog audio output jacks.
On the front of the set, there's an A/V input jack group which includes an S-Video connection, a composite-video connection, and audio L/R analog inputs. These front-mounted inputs are handy if you want to quickly connect a camcorder or a video game to the TV.
Because Size Does Matter
Folks who are planning on installing the 43FDX01B in an apartment will be pleased to note that the set's depth is only 20 inches, following a happy trend in RPTV's of avoiding the old box shape by tapering the back of the set to keep it very shallow. Of course, you can't escape the height and width, since the case is built around the amply-sized screen, but at 43 and 39 inches, respectively, these are reasonable.
Tipping the scales at 143 pounds, the 43FDX01B is fairly lithe for its screen size, though you'll want to have a dolly and a couple of friends to help you bring it home (promise them that everybody will get to see your new Drugstore Cowboy DVD, "with director's commentary," as soon as you get the TV ensconced in your livingroom).
Conclusion
Is the 43FDX01B an ideal H/DTV-ready set? No. In fact, technically speaking, it's not an HDTV set at all, though it is definitely a DTV-ready set. For this set to be an ideal H/DTV-ready set, it would have to have all three popular H/DTV modes (480p, 720p, and 1080i), plus a 16:9 screen. To be called a true H/DTV set, it would need a set-top digital tuner (which will cost at least $600, but this is true of any H/DTV-ready sets) to receive off-air H/DTV broadcasts. Another quality of the set, which may be a drawback, depending on how important color, brightness, and contrast accuracy are for you, is its bright, shimmery picture.
Is the 43FDX01B a very-good HDTV-ready set? Definitely. For its quite-reasonable street price of $1,900, this TV is ready to serve as the monitor in a mid-level home entertainment system. For little more than you'd pay for a Sony KT-43S75, you get a set with over twice the picture definition, a set with the image quality, and the proper kinds of inputs, to deal with the digital future while letting you enjoy awesome quality in the DVD present. On the other hand, if we can trust Panasonic about the imminent (June) arrival of the PT-47WX49, you'll soon have a much higher-value alternative to Hitachi's 43FDX01B. With any luck, this will inspire Hitachi, and the other manufacturer's, to bring out competitive sets, and widescreen, rear-projection H/DTV-ready sets will finally be affordable by the upper-middle-class.
