A great TV for people, like me, who don't watch too much! (General Hitachi TV Opinions)

Member Name: Karael

Product:	General Hitachi TV Opinions
Date:	25/02/01 (543 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent picture and sound

Disadvantages: Encourages you to watch too much television.

I suppose like a lot of people I don't admit to watching too much television. However, when our old Hitachi finally collapsed in a puff of smoke and wouldn't function any more I soon made sure I bought a replacement. Just for my wife, of course! She likes a couple of the soaps and I do 'sometimes' watch the sport.

I went for another Hitachi, primarily because the old one had given us such excellent service.

I went for a 28", wide screen model with a 3DS Spatial Sound system. Well it impressed my wife, but quite honestly I wasn't absolutely sure what it meant.

I have since learnt, after using the television and reading the hand book, that this allows me to 'enjoy full Cinema Sound' in my own home, impressive eh?

The sound is very good. It has three speakers built in to the set so I don't need any separate ones to get the full Dolby sound. Well this isn't 100% true, but the sound is OK for me (sorry I mean my wife!).

There are two sockets in the back so that additional speakers can be attached if required. I don't think I'll bother.

Setting up the television, when I first got it home, was very easy - even for a non technic like me. The tuning is done automatically by just following the instructions on screen.

After this tuning I was ready to watch - well I would have been if I watched a lot of telly. But I forced myself and the picture was excellent, along with the aforementioned sound. There are simple adjustments that can be made (on screen) for colour and brightness - again easy to do.

Going back to the sound there are four different sytems to choose from:

(1) Dolby Pro Logic. I keep it on this for most viewing.

(2) Dolby Pro Logic Theatre. This is supposed to 'create a larger sound field for programmes that have little surround sound content'.

(3) Hall. This helps to 'create an ambient so
und effect...especially when viewing mono broadcasts'. Great, if I knew what it meant!

(4) Stereo. Yes, stereo I understand.

It's also possible to change the shape of the picture that you are watching. I leave the setting on 'auto' and this seems to be quite adequate. But I guess some people love fiddling with controls. So there are also 'Panoramic', '16x9L' and '14x9L' settings. I'm sure you will understand the benefits of these! Choose 16x9L and it looks like a 'Letterbox' with a black band top and bottom. And 14x9L either gives black bands at the sides of the picture or thin ones at the top. I think this depends on what sort of transmission is being beamed out.

There are the usual sockets at the back of the set: two scart, ariel, audio and so on. It's possible to link a camcorder up if you are so inclined.

Headphones and other bits can be inserted into the front of the televison under a hidden flap.

Well I'm impressed by this television! I've got it fixed up to Sky and a video - for my wife (of course!) The sport is quite good, and the films, and .... well, so I've been told.

The Hitachi C28W5510N is recommended! As well as producing a first class picture, and sound, it looks OK as well. It's a sort of grey silver and comes with it's own stand. There is an easy to understand remote. What more could you want from a telly?

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