Model: HD-61FH96
Type of TV: LCoS Rear Projection
Screen Size: 61"
Year Bought: 2006
Cost: $2300
Extended Warranty Bought: No
Likes: This is my first high definition TV, replacing my old 36" CRT Sony. When you go from standard to high definition you are at risk of becoming a couch potato.
I watch mainly DVDs and local stations off a rooftop antenna, from which I get ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS HD programming for free. It took me a while to figure out that the ATSC input was for the digital tuner and HD over the air. When I first hooked that up my jaw hit the floor. It was US Open tennis in HD.
My jaw is chronically sore now from constantly hitting the floor when I watch this TV. The picture quality in HD is stunning and better than most of the Blu-ray and HD-DVDs and I have seen most of them. While I am at it, I will say that if given a choice, I would watch HD-DVD over Bluray. Maybe it is the TV that matches better with the 1080i output of the HD-DVD player.
The detail you can see is incredible. The colors are rich and lifelike. At times the picture looks almost 3D. The skin tones are natural and I do not have to fuss with any of the settings to get the best picture.
So far I have had no service problems with the TV that I could not fix myself. JVC folks were helpful with a problem I had after purchase. I got a great price on a unit that had been repaired due to minor shipping damage. The repair was not completed properly and I had to buy a service manual to figure out how to reset the firmware as it would not accept HDMI signals. I have not had a lick of trouble with this TV since (knock on wood).
Dislikes: This model is now over a year old. It will not accept a 1080P source input, only 1080i, which it then upconverts to 1080P. The TV takes forever to change inputs. Be patient. There are only 2 HDMI inputs. I need 3 - for the Blu-ray and HD-DVD player and one for the HD-DVR.
This TV is too bright for my wife who has to wear sunglasses to watch it. I do not have that problem. I wear sunblock. If you are lying on the floor you will not get the best picture. Otherwise anywhere else, even at extreme angles on the sides, it is great. Best is to be back about 10-12 feet, but even up close it is OK.
Some reviewers complain about lack of detail in the shadow areas, but in my experience this is a function of the quality of the programming. I tried to improve the picture by calibrating the set with a commercial DVD but went back to the factory setting in the end. Why mess with success?
I would expect the newer models to be even better. The tuner is not as sensitive as the one on my DVR. I have noticed artifacts when the camera is panning or zooming in HD, only on PBS programs. This disappears when the scene is still.
Why I Chose This Model: Mainly reading reviews convinced me to buy the JVC. The price has come way down in the past year.
Would I Buy It Again: Yes, I would buy the newer model that accepts 1080P. Everyone who has seen this TV is amazed.
