Hitachi 50V500 HDTV-Ready TV

This is my review of the 50V500 by Hitachi.

First of all, if you are considering this HDTV for your house, congratulations! You have taste and an eye for quality. As you can probably surmise I'm quite pleased with my purchase. But it took some work to get to the point where I was pleased.

HOOKUPS

The TV has 5 input sets. Numbers one and two can be used for component (high definition) inputs and number 1 also has a DVI input. And though new computers have DVI outputs, you won't be able to hook this up to a computer and used it as a 50inch monitor (drat!). On the DVI, only 720p or 1080i data is accepted and no computer outputs that that I know of.

One thing you'll hear is that component video for 1080i is terrible. I disagree. I routinely run 1080i on component to this set and the picture is immaculate. It literally looks like film projection, so I don't know why some folks make such a claim.

The other three inputs can be Svideo or Component Video. There are also two antenna inputs though they are for regular broadcast and are not high definition (they aren't even close to being high definition.) The only real use this TV has for antenna inputs is if the owner has vision problems and cannot see a regular sized set - don't laugh, some folks buy bigscreens for just that reason. There is also a set of inputs in the front of the set hidden behind a panel for temporarily connecting a camcorder to it without having to crawl around behind the set, a nice touch.

Most important when working with this set is to remember that is IS a High Definition set and it needs good quality inputs to shine. It will work with a regular antenna or cable box just fine, and it will even work hard to clean up and improve the picture for you. But if you want a quality picture you are going to have to give the machine a quality signal.

First, a Progressive scan DVD player will display a picture at 480p. This is the lowest of the high-def ranges. The 50V500 will use the same clean-up technology and render a picture so sharp and detailed you'll swear you are at the movies. A regular DVD using Svideo connections will work, but you'll occasionally notice the interlacing during scene cuts. It's a minor thing but movies really do look better on a progressive scan DVD player. And as they are only 100$ nowdays there's no real reason not to get one, especially if you are forking over 30 times that for the set.

Second, get a high definition receiver. This can be either cable box, satellite, or terestrial over-the-air broadcast with a special antenna and box. My experience with cable has been good; even regular definition shows are clean and clear. And when you find a high def channel the television comes alive.

WATCHING IT

Oh, Aspects. I almost forgot. You can watch your shows in a number of different display formats. For a progressive scan DVD, you will prefer 16x9Standard as it shows everything and fills the screen with the picture. But if you are watching cable through a regular box with Svideo or a video tape, you'll need to pick which aspect suits you best. 4x3Standard projects the image as it would look on a regular tv and fills in the sides with grey or black bars. 4x3Zoom1 makes the image stretch out at the sides - it makes the picture look like it's viewed through a fisheye lens but it's my preferred way of viewing regular TV since it doesn't make everything look "fat" as most other stretch modes do. There are other modes as well but they don't seem to be as useful.

Sound is so good on this set that you won't bother using your stereo except for times that you want to watch DVDs with 5.1 surround. SRS is built in and a second set of speakers on the sides of the unit (hidden from view) make the sound field much larger than the set itself. Most of the time we use the TV without the stereo - it's simpler and sounds just as good. There is a bit of noise from the fan in the back of the set that becomes noticeable during quiet passages, but that's true of any projection set.

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT

There are some limitations with the screen. First, don't expect it to magically take your old videotape collection and make them DVD quality, because it won't. The set tries to make pictures better, and you can help by turning on the Noise Reduction in the video settings. But watching video tapes or over the air broadcasts on a high-definition set will really bring out all the shortcomings that we've been ignoring for decades. It's not the sets fault. The set will do its best to clean up the picture for you, but that only helps up to a point. If you want the best possible picture, which I assume you do else why would you buy this, then you need to give the set good inputs to show. That is DVDprogressive or High Definition inputs. Svideo will work but you'll see the limitations. Video input will be barely tolerable and hooking up a set of rabbit ears will be enough to make you scream.

BEFORE YOU BUY

I don't care if the price is HALF online! There are some things that MUST be seen in a storeroom floor before they are purchased to guarantee a quality system. This set is made using three LCD panes (like that in your laptop.) All LCD sets have the potential to have a stuck pixel, that is a single spot that never turns off (or on.) You MUST inspect your set before taking delivery or you take your chances on the screen having flaws!

You do this in two ways. First, in a store, insist on inspecting a unit that will ship rather than the one they have on display. Most quality stores will understand that you won't buy something so expensive without seeing it first and if they have a problem with it, shop someplace else. Have a high definition input of a bright scene and see if you notice any color spots or streaks. Chances are you won't.

Next, put a very dark scene on. The black at the beginning of a film is fine, and pausing the picture is okay. Examine the set first from the viewing distance. Look for both a big red fist-sized spot and also for any bright points of light. The former is caused by a hole in the light engines and the latter caused by a defective LCD. Both are reasons to reject the set for another one.

Then come within 2 feet of the screen and carefully look it over again. If you don't see anything or see something so small that it's barely noticeble then you've found a good set. While you are there, listen for the fan. It's probable that you won't even notice it, especially in a noisy store. If you can hear the fan over the noise of the store then you really should ask to see a different set.

SUPPORT

Make certain to have help when putting this thing in your home. It weighs 110 pounds and is much too large to lift on your own. The set needs to sit 2 feet off the ground for most installations so you may need either a coffeetable or the (expensive) stands sold alongside the TV. If you aren't familiar with modern electronics then you may want to have the delivery personel hook it up for you as things have changed in the last 4 years.

Make certain you have your warranty in writing as there is a chance you'll need it. Also, except for replacing lamps, an on-site tech can't really do much so it is your call whether or not you want the extended contract. Note also that these sets use projection lamps and they DO burn out, so you'll need to replace a bulb at about once every two years. Bulbs run about 200$.

PLACEMENT

Projection TVs do not look good when sunlight is shining on them. Heck, NO TV does. The screen is bright enough to be good for use in a sunlit room, but the brighter the room is, the more washed out the picture will be. You wouldn't try to watch a laptop screen while sitting in the sun so don't expect this set to shine under such conditions either. You don't need to do anything special like make a darkened room for it - I simply put it in the living room with the drapes open and it works fine. But if sunlight pours into the room you won't have a great picture until either you pull the shades or the sun goes down. So those of you wanting to put one in your Solarium be advised.

MY EXPERIENCE

My first set broke during delivery, and after a month the tech wasn't able to get into the engines to fix it. We replaced it and the replacement had a nervous breakdown after 3 days. If you've seen the ending to 2001, imagine that overlaid on everything you watch. The third set is perfect however and I can't help but gush about the picture and sound quality. Every movie we play on the progressive scan DVD appears as if it was being shown with a film projector. But it took three sets even with my inspecting before purchasing to get a quality unit into my house. I shudder to think how long it would have taken had I bought online.

FINAL WORDS

Just like anything else made by man, there are lemons. Don't let my experience scare you because I still have a 50V500 when I could have easily gotten something else instead with nothing but a phone call. But the picture and sound were worth my hassle and I doubt you'll have a fraction of my trouble. Unlike DLP sets there is no rainbow. Unlike CRT the picture is bright and not subject to burn in. Unlike other LCD sets the image is bright and contrasty with no screen door. It really doesn't get any better than this - I wouldn't have put up with so much for anything but the best.

And the very first time you turn off the lights and watch your favorite movie in High Definition splendor, you'll completely forget everything else.

(REVISED)

After 13 months, the screen begins to turn blue. Apparently the first generation light engines have a serious flaw with the blue LCD dichromic filter in that it begins to pump much too much blue light to the LCD. The screen will get blue spots and then become solid blue. The only fix is to replace the light engine, which probably would be a newer model, but they are backordered until November!

The picture is gorgeous... when it works. The reliability is not! If you get this set, purchase the longest service plan you can. The 50V710 and 50VS810 use (supposedly) newer light engines which are supposed to last much longer. I have since replaced this DOG with a bleeding edge Samsung HLR5067W and I am much happier now.

Seriously though, as happy as I have been with the picture, I'm very unhappy with the set's reliability. I expect such a pricy set to last MUCH longer than 1 year.

And if you are thinking of buying a cheap, used 50V500 or 500A, beware!!!