Panasonic CT-32HX40 32 inch TV

These are the five sets I considered heavily before purchasing the Panasonic:

#1: Panasonic CT-32HX40, 32" HDTV - $1500 - 4:3 standard
#2: Sony KV-36XBR400 - 36" HDTV - $2700 - 4:3 standard
#3: Panasonic CT-34WX50 - 34" HDTV - $3500 - 16:9 widescreen
#4: Phillips 34w9815 - 34" HDTV - $3500 - 16:9 widescreen
#5: Hitachi 43FDX01B - 43" Projection HDTV - $1800 - 4:3 standard

Everyone that has seen the Panasonic has been amazed with the picture quality. It is a standard 4:3 picture tube, which was a compromise... 16:9 sets of the same size will run at least $2000 more, and considering more than half the time will be spent watching standard 4:3 television and video games, it was not worth the extra money. None the less, I do like 16:9 widescreen sets better, but not $2000 better.

In any case, the picture quality even on cable appears better than an NTSC (standard) TV - DVD quality is out of this world (especially with a 480p DVD player) - and a PS2 component out gives wonderful quality. I have not actually seen HDTV broadcasts (1080i) yet, but I assume they will make the 480p DVD player look poor... But until cable operators set on a standard, I will not be purchasing a $1000 external box for converting HDTV signals.

These TV's can show pictures in three resolutions:
480i (standard NTSC) / 480p / 1080i. The 480i resolution is for standard television, standard DVD players, videogames, and any other component-in signal. 480p is for high end 480p compatible DVD players (gives, effectively twice the resolution.) 1080i is for HDTV signals. Still, until they get the rules of HDTV all worked out, it is best not to purchase an external HDTV tuner box (another $600-$1000). They expect to work out the regulations within the next couple of months, which means expect your neighbors to start watching HDTV in a couple of years. Still, you COULD watch it with a satelite and external box today if you wanted, but factor in an additional $1000 for the cost plus whatever it costs for Direct TV.

There is one main problem with watching standard TV on an HDTV set: There can be "artifacts" in the picture brought on from the TV converting the low quality signal to this monitor. This 'artifact' presence is not noticable on a good clean video signal, but the worse the signal for the processor to work with, the more it shows up. However, this 'artifact' thing is only something that bugged me on the Hitachi set listed above. It is difficult to see on the Sony, and Panasonic sets - and, given the choice between scan lines (what you will get on a non-HDTV set) or artifacts (HDTV), in my opinion the scan lines are far more distracting. So, from my perspective HDTV sets represent standard NTSC broadcasts better than standard NTSC televisions - however some do not feel that way. Watch some TV and decide for yourself. The Panasonic CT-32HX40 has seemingly flawless picture when it comes to 480p (high end DVD).

It weighs about 120 pounds, so it will require two people to move (it is bulky), but it can be done without problem. No complaints at all .. I would have preferred the 16:9 Panasonic listed third, because I love widescreen, but could not justify an additional $2000 for it. The sound quality with it separation capability is quite excellent IF you are not hooking it up to a stereo. If you have a Dolby stereo, than the separation will be worthless and you will need to turn it off.

The only set that had better picture quality for decreasing artifacts is the Sony XBR and it is only slightly better. However, that slightly better picture was not worth the extra cost and over twice the weight.

The Panasonic picture looks identical between the 16:9 and 4:3 versions - aside from the difference in dimentions.

Be careful when in a store looking at HDTV sets, because even though it may not look much better than the TV's next to it, that is because they are feeding the set with the same COAX video signal on the regular TV's. Yet, when you take it home, you will hook it up to a DVD player with component video output (possibly a 480p model if you shop correctly) that will give you significantly better picture quality than a normal TV. Even a CLEAN RF coax signal from cable (which they do not have at your stores) will yield amazingly picture quality on an HDTV set - but those connections at the stores are usually so lousy that the signal converter makes the picture even worse than NTSC TV's. So do not be fooled. Ask them to hook up a component DVD output directly to the TV and THEN look at the quality, and then hook that DVD up to anything else you want to compare it to. You will be amazed at how much better an HDTV set will look. TRUST ME. I watched Toy Story attached to a Wega Sony costing $1500 (standard NTSC), and then the Panasonic at $1500 (HDTV), and it was an easy pick.

Here are the negatives on the Panasonic that I have discovered:
1. The universal remote could not program my Aiwa receiver and CD player, despite having it listed.
2. The lower left hand corner curves slightly on television broadcasts. I do not know why. (Someone tell me if they do - but I do know this problem is apparent on all of these Panasonic sets.) In any case, you will not notice unless you look for it.
3. CRT sets this big have a light blue shade in the very upper corner facing polar north. Once again, not noticable unless you look for it.
4. The enormous number of audio settings are great, but they are missing setting to 'line level out' while at the same time having adjustable audio on the TV. (A setting I would like.) You can have variable level out, or line level with TV acting as center surround speaker - which is close but no cigar.
5. Artifacts can be seen on small text while watching low quality signal sources. (Standard coax cable TV.) Otherwise, I have been very pleased with the picture quality on standard cable. (I did have to replace the cable in my house to get as high quality of a signal as I could.)

In any case, these are minor quirms for an amazing set.
Good luck..