Sony KDS-R60XBR1 is Engadget's Readers Choice

The 2005 Engadget Awards are out and we quickly skipped past all of the uber-cool, but not so high-def devices until we found the Engadget HDTV of the year. Looks like there was a split on this one, but we can see why. The Engadget Readers voted the Sony KDS-R60XBR1 LCoS HDTV as the best high-def set of 2005. Several of our readers also like the 60-inch Sony so we can't argue with that pick. Engadget picked the Toshiba SED set and after personally viewing it at CES, we understand. The SED sets aren't available for consumers yet, and likely won't be until very late this year, so we're expecting to see the SED set top the list for the readers next year.

What HDTV sets would you consider as the top high-def TV for 2005?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2006 1:01PM]

To be specific, Engadget picked a "Toshiba SED 50 inch" HDTV - but for the life of me, I can't find any article about CES anywhere that mentions such a thing. Doesn't anyone else think it's ridiculous to give an award to a product that didn't exist in 2005 and still might not in 2006? It's not like it was the "best HDTV tech" award... it was "Best HDTV".

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2006 6:21PM]

gromit, you mean you didn't read my Engadget coverage of CES? *wipes tears from eyes* I'll get over it and while I do, you can check it out at: http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/08/sed-up-close-and-personal/

The SED set was only 32-inches and running at 720p, but it was arguably the best picture I've seen yet. These will be in the 50- to 55-inch range running 1080p when we see them.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2006 10:40PM]

Um, yeah... I read your coverage. I guess you still don't get my point. It would be great if I could look at the Engadget awards to see what kind of HDTV I might want to buy. I'm not surprised that so many readers like the Sony model, but maybe Engadget has seen something better/competitive I'd like to check out. Something that was actually manufactured and sold during the year 2005. Basically, it's an "award" wasted on a non-existent product. Yeah, we might see them later this year, but why would you believe Toshiba/Canon when they said the same thing at CES *last* year? Aren't these 32 inch screens the same SED sets they've demonstrated in the past? (Hint: Dan Wu might know... he wrote Engadget's coverage of SED at CES 2005)

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2006 9:15AM]

gromit, I do understand where you're coming from. I would have assumed that every product on the list would be commercially available too. I can't speak for what happened at CES 2005, but I spoke with both the Toshiba and Canon folks at length during CES 2006. The plan is for SEDs to hit the market in Japan first during the last quarter of 2006. I would love to see these hit the US this year, but I have doubts. In any case: point well taken. Thanks!