The Pioneer PDP4270XD which you can now get for around £998.00 on Currys/Dixon's websites (Only 1 HDMI Though) and the 427XD better with 2 HDMI's for around £1,100.00 from quite a few sites all had good reviews. Problem now, is that ( would you believe) anyone who bought a TV say in the last 12 months now has an out of date TV owing to the fact that the new one's are more future proofed with 1.3 HDMI versions such as the SONY KDL-40D3000 and PIONEER PDP-428XD.
I have seen the 4270XD/427XD and 428XD in action and also the KDL-40D3000.
All 3 Pioneers are great.Sound is above average but where they really seem to excel is in Colour.If you really want a Pioneer, I would suggest you hang on until say the 428XD comes doen in price. Currently it's £1,595 on the Dixons website-My guess it will come down to around £1,299 by Christmas. It's also had 1.3 HDMI connectivity and will doubtless go extremely well with either of Pioneers 2 new Upscaling DVD players DVD 400 and 600 , the 400 being fine if you only want to use the TV's existing sound. I also believe that the 428XD can also take 1080p/24 like the SONY KDL-40D3000
However, the KDL-40D3000 LCD is a lovely TV.I saw a SKY HD recording in the SONY shop displaying the TV, of Ghostbuters, and I was in awe by the what I can only describe as a supreme, often, 3 dimensional picture......You could almost reach out and touch the actors.......It was wonderful and the detail was there for all to see. I originally thought about the Pioneer but am now seriously considering the SONY because in my opinion, the overall picture is better. Moreover, you can get the SONY from a SONY shop for £1,299.99 including a 5 Year Warranty or alternatively I have seen it on some websites between £885 and £943...that's currently £600 cheaper than the Pioneer. The smaller KDL-D3000 was reported to produce excellent standard definition and from what I saw of Freeview on the SONY...it was quite impressive, although anyone with a normal SKY BOX ( not SKHDTV) should experience even better pictures especially too if you were to upgrade your SKY DISH for at least a 60CM one to give a better signal.
Many people will still want to watch Standard Definition TV like me, because of the high monthly costs involved with Upgrading with new cable, new SKY BOX and almost £50.00 a month for a glut of channels.So if you can get a TV with nr CRT picture quality great.
I haven't yet decidied proper myself, because I also want to audition ( what manny are saying could be the TV of 2007 along with the SONY) the Toshiba 42WLT68 for around £1,200.00 due to the fact it's ONKYO sound system, excellent SD and HDTV are being raved about. The SONY's sound is above average but I am told the the Toshiba 42WLT68's sound is great, and that with it's SD performace alone may swing it for me, even though it has 1.2 HDMI connectivity.............But like so many reviews seem to suggest...........can you really.....really tell the difference?
If I don't like the Toshiba,( because I would ideally like a 42ins TV as opposed to a 40ins one) then I will go for the SONY no question.
Apart from whathifi reviews which are great you will also see other reviews of these TV's ( albeit only for the KDL-32D3000) on
www.hdtvtest.co.uk and
www.hdtvorg.co.uk
Good luck and all the best with your ultimate choice