[Mr. C]

Hi.
I've been looking for a new set for a few years, but I'm convinced that flat-panels haven't seen there best days yet, so was starting to consider second hand CRT. I found a 9525 or a Loewe aventos for about £250, think thats a resonable price. Please can someone comment on these? Don't like the 1page memory on the loewe, but otherwise, which one should I choose? Or simply forgett them and get the new HD-ready philips for rough £450 instead? Can't look at them and compare unfortunately, so have to go on your recommendations. And I need to decide today.... sorry.

[steggy]

Unfortunately I don't know anything about the set's you've mentioned the only advice I can give is that you should take your time deciding what TV to get.

It's quite a major purchase in the home, and is something you'll probably be using everyday.

Good luck choosing a set.

[Mr. C]

I've taken 2 years so far without being able to decide! Even had a panasonic 42PV600 at home for 2 weeks, couldn't shake the fear of burning in a picture and also the slight noise from the power supply and minor issue with the fans made me think that I should get a CRT for a year or so and then have a look at the market again.
Anyhow, I know I looked at a Sony FQ80, and a philips upper end at the time, and I was astonshed about the details, could even see the tracks the balls make on the carpet when looking at snooker from eurosport. But I don't know anything about the 9525. Don't know how the older sets rate when compared to the new HD-ready philips either, but they are about £200 more expencive.... The 9525 was about £1200 when new though, so should be a good set I guess (but how old is it?)?

Hi Mr. C.,

It took me a year to decide on my Philips 36PW9618 and I have been very pleased with it. However, buying a second hand television is a bit dicey in my opinion. There may be more available now as people graduate to lcd and plasma but I would suspect the Philips 95254 could be an old one. Loewe is a top make but has Philips tubes in it.

The best way is to click on the Search button at the top of the AV Forum page. In the box put Philips 95254 and put the dot in the threads option. You will then see the threads that were started by our members for this tv, click on them and you will see all the replies. Note the dates, these tvs are not new.

I would go for the HD ready Philips (didn't know anyone but Samsung had done this yet). Samsung HD had a poor review in "What Video and Widescreen TV" magazine.

Sorry I can't be of much help.

[Mr. C]

Sorry for the typo, just noticed, it's a 9525.
But youre right Cynthia, seems most posts are from 2002. Perhaps picture would be much better in a new Philips 9551 knowing the pace they have in developing new algorithms (spelling?) and processors to do the "magic"? And the 9525 doesn't seem to have pixel plus, don't know if thats a blessing or not though
Oh well, it's only a few hundred more.... perhaps a better option after all?

edit: Model 9551 is supposed to be HD-ready.

Thank you for the reply, I think you've made a wise decision.

I looked on Google for details of the "Philips 9551" It showed an archive site from the av forums and I clicked on this. It showed a website review of the 9551 from Holland, but it needs to be translated from Dutch, and mentions the site Babelfish for this. It also mentions a JVC HD tv. Unfortunately, copying the archive avforums website doesn't reproduce this.

I was interested to know that the CRT isn't obsolete. Once I had tweaked the settings on my CRTs I have found the picture to be excellent and a very natural one. My Philips Pixel Plus needed a couple of months to "bed in" to achieve optimum performance, picturewise. I have an oldish Sony in the bedroom and a 17" lcd Panasonic Viera bought last Christmas for the kitchen. Of all the lcd portables, that had the best picture and sound in all reviews and to my eyes too. Because the colours are so vibrant they need toning down quite a bit.

Good luck with your new television when you make your choice. My husband is totally disinterested in AV products and wonders why I have sleepless nights making choices!