Sony KD-34XBR960
Pricing not available
CNET Editors' Review
- Reviewed by: Kevin Miller
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
- Updated on:
The good: Highest resolution of any consumer direct-view HDTV; independent memory per input; excellent color decoding.
The bad: Bulky tube form factor.
The bottom line: This is the reference standard for picture quality among direct-view HDTVs and happens to be a great value.
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
The design of the 960 series is quite attractive. The perfectly flat screen is surrounded by a dark gray, almost black border, which is in turn trimmed with a thin vertical line of silver on the sides of the set. A Memory Stick slot and a full set of A/V inputs are housed beneath the flip-down door on the front.This TV's one Achilles' heel is size. Compared to flat-panel plasmas and LCDs of similar screen size, the KV-34XBR960 is both deep (24 inches) and heavy (196 pounds). The optional matching stand or some other sturdy riser will be necessary to get the TV to eye level, and lifting it there will require at least two strong people.
The remote uses the same design as Sony's previous XBR direct-views from the past several years and remains among our favorites. It is a universal model with some of the key buttons illuminated for use in the dark and secondary controls stashed behind a flip-up lid.
On the other hand, the internal menu system has been completely redesigned. We found it cleaner and more intuitive than previous iterations, with all the functions highlighted in orange. The menu bar is now vertically oriented, which makes navigation even easier.
Aside from the standard features such as three selectable color temperatures, four preset picture modes, and two-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture), the XBR960 adds two key performance features. Finally, Sony has seen fit to implement true independent memory per input, which allows you to optimize all inputs separately without having to change modes for each input. Secondly, the user menu contains a setting for accurate color decoding (see Performance for more).The KD-34XBR960's aspect-ratio control also deserves kudos. The set offers four choices for both standard- and high-definition sources; many wide-screen HDTVs can't control high-def aspect ratios at all.
Hide ReviewUser Reviews
See all user reviewsMost Helpful User Review
stars 42 of 43 users found this review helpful
"Excellent! No better picture around" By mgeb
Pros Picture is outstanding, even for non-HD signals. You cannot find a better picture. I have had it for a month now love it and have no regrets. Features are easy to access and remote is easy to use.
Cons It weighs about 200 lbs, and takes two people to move. The remote not compatible with all DVD players, ie Sharp, which is the one I happen to own.
Summary CRT is still the way to go if you want to get the full benefits of HD. You simply cannot get the full benefit of the HD signal on a plasma or LCD. I believe the technology isn't even there yet and if it is you probably have to ... Expand full review
Most Recent User Reviews (Showing 2 of 132 reviews)
Where to Buy
Pricing not available
%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_KD_34XBR960/4505-6481_7-30787600.html&x_breadcrumb=6449:6475:6481){kind=small}