See It and you will Believe It

Summary
After researching far and wide, I am here to tell you that the Sony A2000 series of rear-projection TVs unleashes a new level of High Definition viewing pleasure. It features Sony's SXRD (Silicon crystal Reflective Display) technology and their WEGA picture engine. It is available in 3 screen sizes: 50", 55", and 60". The 55 isn't always stocked in stores, but I bought the 55" so I am posting my review under the 55" model only. Please note: this review IS APPLICABLE to the more common 50" and 60" sizes because the insides are virtually identical except for the screen. There are so many great things about this set it must simply be seen to be believed.

Background
We have in our home a 19" CRT that is almost 10 years old. Recently it started making a high-pitched whine when turned on, and it was starting to show its age. Because the prices on TVs have come down so much we decided to shop for an HDTV that we can keep for many years to come.
Because to us this is a major purchase, my wife and I shopped around for almost a year, looking at the pros and cons of all the different technologies and then shopped several different competing models and manufacturers before settling on this set.

The Competition
I had written plasma off, so that only left DLP, LCOS (of which this SXRD is a variant) and straight LCD. Straight LCD sets are simply not a good value for the money, tri-LCD sets have a horrible viewing angle and low contrast, and DLP can play tricks on the eyes. We went to several chain stores in different cities, a few "mom and pop" outlets, and a Sony Style store, to see all the different sets in action. The direct competition to this model was pretty much the same in every store: Mitsubishi DLP, Samsung DLP, Hitachi DLP, and other Sony models. Some stores had this TV right as you walk in, others had it almost hidden in the back, proving that it's a set that could easily be overlooked depending on the salesperson and the customer. After seeing this set my wife and I seemed to gravitate to it again and again, and the salespeople never took us directly to this set, we just seemed to find our way to it each time no matter what store we went to.

Seeing this set on the same video source was very telling, because you can see where the Sony excels and the other sets just don't measure up. Then seeing some movies in high-definition Blue-Ray or HD-DVD such as the "Hawaii demo" you get to see the full range of color, clarity, and sheer beauty that this set can bring to life in High Definition. And, of course, colorful animated pictures such as Finding Nemo are a good way to bring out the "wow" factor.

Selling Points
What specifically sold me on this set was:
1) Stunning Picture Quality, rivaling even Plasma in overall "Wow factor"
2) Comparatively Wide horizontal viewing angle
3) 1920x1080@60Hz Progressive (1080P) HD resolution, the highest in the industry. This way it is ahead of the curve and won't become obsolete as fast as the 720P sets.
4) Sony's Website - has everything about the set including the manual for download. They also offer an extended warranty for an additional fee regardless of where the set was purchased at a fractional cost of aftermarket store warranties.
5) Aesthetics - it actually looks like a TV instead of a box with a screen on it.
6) Goes along with #5: The Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF). The WAF on this set was 100%. We decided on this model and then waited several months for a sale before pulling the trigger.
7) 10000:1 contrast ratio. While the brightness on this display is spectacular, glare and ambient lighting still affects the ability of your eyes to see the screen and that is inherent in most if not all rear-projection TVs. This one just happens to be brighter than the competition I saw.

Recommendations
If you can see an A2000, side by side, with other similar TV's (such as a DLP), it might speak for itself. The comparison, in my opinion, is literally night and day. If you are shopping specific models, try to see them right next to each other (not around the corner, as you can't directly compare them at the same time). Now some would argue that side-by-side comparison is not a true test and depends on how that particular set was calibrated, and that the source material is being split so it depends on the quality of splitters, cables, etc. That is true, it does depend on how each set was calibrated to reproduce greyscale, color, and contrast as to how it will perform. However, when we got our set, it was amazing right out of the box. I definitely feel I got what I paid for, and knowing that I can calibrate and adjust it even further makes it more worthwhile.

Other Features
Input, input, input. This TV has plenty of inputs. 2 HDMI (one that takes audio-over-HDMI and one that takes L/R RCA audio plugs for separate audio sources), 2 YPrPb Component, 1 SVIDEO, and several standard single-video-dual-audio RCA inputs. It even has an HD15 VGA Input so you can use the TV as a video monitor for a computer (but it doesn't run 1080P via this input). It also has RCA audio out and PCM Optical Audio Out so you can connect to your favorite sound system.
It has separate cable-in and antenna-in 75ohm coaxial connectors so you can connect a separate antenna for Over-the-air (OTA) HD signals. The remote can be programmed to control your DVD player or cable box, but it is not backlit so you may have trouble using it in the dark.
Something I found out later, the display software that runs the TV is powered by Linux! While it wasn't a selling point, and may be irrelevant to most users, it certainly makes me happy as an advocate of open source collaboration.

Source Material Matters!
Now one thing that must be mentioned with ANY HDTV is the fact that if the source of video you are watching has flaws, they will basically be magnified to fit on the screen and be even more evident. Adjusting Zoom Mode and Picture Settings are a must to suit your tastes. Standard definition (SD) regular/analog cable can be displayed in a smaller window so the resolution isn't stretched, but if you plan on watching regular TV on this be prepared to learn to live with a loss in clarity versus HD. You will immediately be able to tell which programs are in SD versus HD, and the TV has a ton of picture adjustments, but it still takes getting used to seeing different picture quality. This TV allows you to adjust picture settings on each video source independently, so you can have your cable box adjusted differently than your DVD player, which is most helpful.

Our In-Home Testimonial
Our local PBS, ABC, and CBS offer some programs in HD. (I wish we had local NBC and FOX HD, but that's another story.) We watched a few minutes of Letterman at 1080i resolution, and we could see a tiny cut on his finger like we were right next to it. A little too realistic in some cases, but still an absolute testament to the clarity of HD when the source material is produced properly. Nature shows on PBS and both movies and primetime shows on ABC have been highly enjoyable even at 720P. What few sports I've been able to see are just amazing. I can be standing 20 feet from the TV and still feel like I'm right in the game. I also purchased an upconverting DVD player (review coming soon) and have been playing some older standard-definition DVD films at 1080i, and it brings them to a whole new level.

I read many reviews and forums regarding this TV before making my decision, and most owners argue that despite some early manufacturing flaws, it has what may very well be the best HD picture of any TV set in its class. If you are considering a DLP rear projection TV, this can compete with them directly in every way. DO NOT overlook the A2000; you may regret it later.