Hitachi 43GX01B 43 in. TV
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- Screen Size: 43 inch
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Mixed Reviews
Pros
Gorgeous color
Cons
Motion artifacts, misalignment, reflective screen
Recommended it?
No
Having had success with earlier 50" and 60" Hitachi Ultravision sets, I decided to try the 43FDX01B as a replacement for a 41" Sony rear projection set. On the plus side, the color accuracy and resolution is gorgeous. Scenes on familiar DVD's display subtle gradations in color I had never known were there.
On the down side, the glass screen is highly annoying. Where I could watch the Sony matte screen with any combination of lighting at any time of day, I have to play with blinds and turn lights on and off as people change seating positions with the Hitachi in order to avoid screen reflections. The salesman said this screen was used because of complaints that the matte screens could not be cleaned when kids write on them or smear them with food. If people cannot keep their kids from smearing $2,000 TV's with junk, the glass screen could at least have been made detachable, as with other brands.
Now, the real problems . . . the set was delivered with a convergence misalignment that caused the right two inches of the screen to bloom upward and downward from center. A service technician will have to correct the problem, but it's going to be a week before he can come. And the set displays noticeable motion artifacts when receiving a satellite signal, perhaps as a function of the progressive scan. These artifacts are not visible with a DVD component signal. I called Hitachi service, and they told me to reduce the sharpness. I did, but to no effect. And the artifacts were not present with the DVD signal even at the sharpest setting.
It's a good thing this set came with a 30-day return option. It may have to go back.
HERE'S AN UPDATE ON THE ABOVE SET. The night before the service tech was scheduled to adjust the convergence, the set blanked out twice for about 5 seconds each time. It made a single pop and blanked completely out . . . looked just like the set had been turned off (although the "on" light remained on). I called Hitachi, who said the set had to be replaced. They said some of the earlier production units had this problem, which had been corrected with a software upgrade during the summer. (My set, however, bore a sticker on the back that said it was manufactured in November 2000.)
Anyway, I had a new set delivered. It had the same problem as the first set with a blooming picture on the far right side. And, now, it's also blinking out occassionally. It will sometimes do it twice in a night and sometimes go two or three days without doing so. (This set also has a November 2000 manufacture date.)
I'm going to make one attempt to have a service tech repair this set. It's the only digital HDTV-ready set on the market in this size, which is the largest screen I can fit into the built-in library wall where I use it. But, if size is not that critical to you, STAY AWAY FROM THIS MODEL! It has a fundamental design or build flaw.
On the down side, the glass screen is highly annoying. Where I could watch the Sony matte screen with any combination of lighting at any time of day, I have to play with blinds and turn lights on and off as people change seating positions with the Hitachi in order to avoid screen reflections. The salesman said this screen was used because of complaints that the matte screens could not be cleaned when kids write on them or smear them with food. If people cannot keep their kids from smearing $2,000 TV's with junk, the glass screen could at least have been made detachable, as with other brands.
Now, the real problems . . . the set was delivered with a convergence misalignment that caused the right two inches of the screen to bloom upward and downward from center. A service technician will have to correct the problem, but it's going to be a week before he can come. And the set displays noticeable motion artifacts when receiving a satellite signal, perhaps as a function of the progressive scan. These artifacts are not visible with a DVD component signal. I called Hitachi service, and they told me to reduce the sharpness. I did, but to no effect. And the artifacts were not present with the DVD signal even at the sharpest setting.
It's a good thing this set came with a 30-day return option. It may have to go back.
HERE'S AN UPDATE ON THE ABOVE SET. The night before the service tech was scheduled to adjust the convergence, the set blanked out twice for about 5 seconds each time. It made a single pop and blanked completely out . . . looked just like the set had been turned off (although the "on" light remained on). I called Hitachi, who said the set had to be replaced. They said some of the earlier production units had this problem, which had been corrected with a software upgrade during the summer. (My set, however, bore a sticker on the back that said it was manufactured in November 2000.)
Anyway, I had a new set delivered. It had the same problem as the first set with a blooming picture on the far right side. And, now, it's also blinking out occassionally. It will sometimes do it twice in a night and sometimes go two or three days without doing so. (This set also has a November 2000 manufacture date.)
I'm going to make one attempt to have a service tech repair this set. It's the only digital HDTV-ready set on the market in this size, which is the largest screen I can fit into the built-in library wall where I use it. But, if size is not that critical to you, STAY AWAY FROM THIS MODEL! It has a fundamental design or build flaw.
