Hitachi 43GX01B 43 in. TV

Got this set a week ago, and after a false start, which was not the set's fault, this set is impressive. Surfed the net quite a bit before buying this set for data. This is a relatively new model (September 2000). When we saw it in various stores, the picture clearly had more "pop" than others. It seemed better than others in bright showrooms, and had great clarity from most horizontal viewing angles, better than most. I had looked at the Toshiba 40x81 and Mitsubishi 46805/46807 sets. The Toshi was a bit too small - its 16:9 screen was not much bigger than letterbox showed up on the 43" Hitachi, and the 4:3 images just too small, and I did not like changing aspect to make them bigger. I was afraid of the Mitsubishi - While people love them when they are working, they seem to have too many problems. I have heard the same from some sales people I know and respect. I also love Hitachi quality, and they make the guts for most RPTV sets.

Got the set home for $1999 and the stand was thrown in for free. Bought the set at World Wide Stereo in Montgomeryville, PA. Knew the salesman well. Setup looked easy by the somewhat inexperienced tech (I was warned he was brand new). Menus and remote very well thought out. But - the remote did not work well after the tech left my home! Had to hit buttons multiple times to get it to work. Salesman gave me a new remote, but when I told him I had a Powermid remote control extender, he told me to unplug it. Bingo! Remote worked fine with Powermid unplugged!

After that hurdle was overcome, the set was great. The PIP works neat, it does not have Picture outside of Picture (POP) as do some 16:9 sets, but I think this is of most use to sports junkies. The feature works just fine, and has an option where three channels can be "surfed" while viewing a primary channel. The set has crosshair converence adjustment, would have liked minimally 9 point convergence adjust, but picture is fine as it is. If it ain't broke....don't fix it. As an update, I saw mention an another web site of some adjustments if you remove the front panel that allow for more granular adjustments (9 point perhaps). DO not know if I would want to go there!!

DVDs on this set are great, Satellite very good (rented Mission to Mars from Directv and it blew me away), cable is cable. Company on Thanksgiving could not help but remark on the picture and the fact that it was very good from the side as well as right in front. Mount this set at a good high level of viewing, however, as view from above eye level does drain off somewhat. No big deal for me - I do not usually stand up while watching TV. Have not tried video games yet. Has two COAX inputs and one output, has 2 sets of RCA/SVIDEO/Component inputs and one output.

Bottom line, a great set, will not be obsolete when HDTV comes in, give me good 4:3 size viewing of 4:3 images, great picture, Hitachi quality. I am very happy with this purchase. Got the extended warranty just because I am anal retentive.