Sony XBR910 Vs. XBR960

[Steve Grauman]

Anyone know what changes were made between the 910 and 960? I may be able to
get a really good deal on one of the few remaining 910s at a local Good Guys
store, and want to know if there's any worthwhile reason to spend more on the
new model.

[poldy]

Post by Steve Grauman
Anyone know what changes were made between the 910 and 960? I may be able to
get a really good deal on one of the few remaining 910s at a local Good Guys
store, and want to know if there's any worthwhile reason to spend more on the
new model.

Supposedly HDMI instead of DVI and a built-in tuner for OTA and cable
HDTV channels.

Also suppose to be $2200 SRP instead of $2500 for the 910.

I'll sell you my 910 ;)

[Steve Grauman]

Post by poldy
I'll sell you my 910 ;)

Ha! Thanks, but I think HDMI capability and a built-in ATSC tuner/decoder are
enough to make me want the newer model. =)

[hdtvfan]

That's correct the 960 has the new HDMI connector. They have improved
the yoke and also some improvement on the focus. I forget anything
else. If you buy it from Sony.com you get free shipping. Also if you
buy a Home Theater that's one of five listed, $399.95 is the cheapest.
Sony will sent you back a check for $400 including 3 or 4 Sony DVD
movies. I will know more when my set and the home theater gets here.
Both are on backorder but the set may be only a week so away. Tax and
shipping on the home theater was about $60. This is the new
HT-V2000DP model and it looks really nice on the web page. I saw the
1000DP model its replacing at Walmart tonight for $495.95.

hdtvfan

Post by poldy

Post by Steve Grauman
Anyone know what changes were made between the 910 and 960? I may be able to
get a really good deal on one of the few remaining 910s at a local Good Guys
store, and want to know if there's any worthwhile reason to spend more on the
new model.

Supposedly HDMI instead of DVI and a built-in tuner for OTA and cable
HDTV channels.
Also suppose to be $2200 SRP instead of $2500 for the 910.
I'll sell you my 910 ;)

[Albert Alverez]

Not 100%, but I think they're also including cablecard. I've heard Sony is
releasing 12 or so that have hdmi and cablecard.

Post by hdtvfan
That's correct the 960 has the new HDMI connector. They have improved
the yoke and also some improvement on the focus. I forget anything
else. If you buy it from Sony.com you get free shipping. Also if you
buy a Home Theater that's one of five listed, $399.95 is the cheapest.
Sony will sent you back a check for $400 including 3 or 4 Sony DVD
movies. I will know more when my set and the home theater gets here.
Both are on backorder but the set may be only a week so away. Tax and
shipping on the home theater was about $60. This is the new
HT-V2000DP model and it looks really nice on the web page. I saw the
1000DP model its replacing at Walmart tonight for $495.95.
hdtvfan

Post by poldy

Post by Steve Grauman
Anyone know what changes were made between the 910 and 960? I may be able to
get a really good deal on one of the few remaining 910s at a local Good Guys
store, and want to know if there's any worthwhile reason to spend more on the
new model.

Supposedly HDMI instead of DVI and a built-in tuner for OTA and cable
HDTV channels.
Also suppose to be $2200 SRP instead of $2500 for the 910.
I'll sell you my 910 ;)

[Steve Grauman]

Post by Albert Alverez
Not 100%, but I think they're also including cablecard

What's cablecard?

[Richard]

Post by Steve Grauman

Post by Albert Alverez
Not 100%, but I think they're also including cablecard

What's cablecard?

The FCC mandated OTA/Cable DTV tuners sport a slot into which one can insert
a card supplied by the cable company to allow the set to display scrambled
DTV programs; such as HBO, etc. This eliminates the need to rent a cable box
to receive such programs.

Next up, two way integrated DTV tuners that allow the reception of video on
demand services. Perhaps we will see this feature within 12 months.

Richard.

[G]

Post by Steve Grauman

Post by Albert Alverez
Not 100%, but I think they're also including cablecard

What's cablecard?

It's a slot about the size of a credit card that allows you to plug in
a PCMCIA card you get from your cable company. Doing so will let the
QAM tuner in the TV decrypt digital cable signals without a seperate
cable box.

In essense it makes it so new TV's will be "Digital Cable Ready".
Here's a picture of Comcasts' trial card:

http://www.extremetech.com/image_popup/0,1554,s=25500&iid=71577,00.asp

[Steve Grauman]

Post by G
It's a slot about the size of a credit card that allows you to plug in
a PCMCIA card you get from your cable company. Doing so will let the
QAM tuner in the TV decrypt digital cable signals without a seperate
cable box.

Ok, I get it now. Zenith has has a couple of models with this feature for
awhile. It'd be nice to see sets with built in DirecTV/Dish/Voom hardware that
would eliminate the need for and outboard box, but I think that this would add
to much cost.

[Albert Alverez]

Several makers (hitachi, samsung, sony, etc) have those coming out. I just
recently learned Hitachi is releasing several LCD RPTV's (replacing the
current silver ones) with cable card and hdmi. It would seem the new tech of
2004 is HDMI and cablecard.

Post by Steve Grauman

Post by G
It's a slot about the size of a credit card that allows you to plug in
a PCMCIA card you get from your cable company. Doing so will let the
QAM tuner in the TV decrypt digital cable signals without a seperate
cable box.

Ok, I get it now. Zenith has has a couple of models with this feature for
awhile. It'd be nice to see sets with built in DirecTV/Dish/Voom hardware that
would eliminate the need for and outboard box, but I think that this would add
to much cost.

[Richard]

"Ok, I get it now. Zenith has has a couple of models with this feature for
awhile. It'd be nice to see sets with built in DirecTV/Dish/Voom hardware
that would eliminate the need for and outboard box, but I think that this
would add
to much cost."

Wrong. For example, the new Sony XBR tube sets cost less than the sets they
replace but will sport HDMI and integrated OTA/DTV ready cable tuners.

Richard.

[Steve Grauman]

Post by Richard
Wrong. For example, the new Sony XBR tube sets cost less than the sets they
replace but will sport HDMI and integrated OTA/DTV ready cable tuners.

Um, that isn't what I said. I was talking about a television set with a built
in DirecTV tuner, or Voom tuner, etc... RCA tried it back in 2002. They had an
HD-capable, 16x9 set with a DirecTV tuner built in. But the TV was reportedly
very loud when the fan went on and unreliable, not to mention the cost it added
to the set.

[Richard]

Post by Steve Grauman

Post by Richard
Wrong. For example, the new Sony XBR tube sets cost less than the sets they
replace but will sport HDMI and integrated OTA/DTV ready cable tuners.

Um, that isn't what I said. I was talking about a television set with a built
in DirecTV tuner, or Voom tuner, etc... RCA tried it back in 2002. They had an
HD-capable, 16x9 set with a DirecTV tuner built in. But the TV was reportedly
very loud when the fan went on and unreliable, not to mention the cost it added
to the set.

You would think the FCC would require digital TV's to have built in circuits
for OTA analog and digital, cable analog and digital plus dish and direct
TV. This is the only way to have a fair playing field. I understand Japan
has had satellite tuners in their sets (some or all) for some time.

Richard.