Sony KV-30HS420

Tube sets may not seem all that sexy compared to flat-panel LCDs and plasmas, but they do offer the best value in HDTV these days. Sony's 30-inch wide-screen direct-view CRT model, the KV-30HS420, retails for just less than $1,000. That's less than a third of what a like-size Sony LCD panel, such as the KDL-32XBR950, would cost. Unfortunately, at 150 pounds and nearly two feet deep, this CRT is pretty difficult to mount on a wall. But if you have the space for it, the KV-30HS420's picture quality will blow away that of any LCD.

Cosmetically, this model is your fairly standard, flat-tube wide-screen set surrounded by a nicely sculpted silver plastic casing with built-in speakers on either side of the tube. The well-designed remote has glow-in-the-dark keys but doesn't offer the superior backlighting of more expensive remotes. Also, there are no dedicated buttons for the various inputs; instead, you have to cycle through inputs with the TV/Video button. In the long run, however, we didn't find this to be a major nuisance, and we liked the user-friendly, onscreen menu system. Props to Sony there.

While you can't change the aspect ratio when watching HDTV--a significant minus--four options are available for standard 4:3 sources. These include two zoom modes--one that stretches the side more than the center and one that zooms the entire image, eliminating the windowboxed black bars from four sides of nonanamorphic wide-screen material. This model doesn't have picture-in-picture (PIP) or a built-in HD tuner, but you do get a few picture-adjustment options and plenty of connectivity choices.

Around back, you'll find a pair of broadband component-video inputs, as well as the new HDMI digital video/audio port that's set to become to HDTVs what USB is to computers. HDMI-equipped DVD players and cable/satellite boxes are due to arrive shortly, and those who already have a DVI-equipped cable/satellite box or DVD player can convert the HDMI connection into DVI with an affordable adapter. The set also features three S-Video connections, one of which is on the front panel.

Like all of Sony's HDTVs, the KV-30HS420 has DRC (Digital Reality Creation), a fancy term for a video-processing system that's supposed to make the standard TV images (that is, anything that's not progressive-scan or HDTV) look more lifelike. You have three settings to choose from, but you'll probably just want to stick with CineMotion because it's the only one that offers 2:3 pull-down circuitry to smooth out images of from non-progressive-scan DVD players and TV programs originally shot on film. You get four customizable picture presets to tweak brightness, contrast, and color settings for the various devices you might attach to the set, including video game systems. However, there's no independent input memory, which means, for example, that when you switch to your DVD player to watch a movie, you'll also have to manually select the desired preset picture setting.

From a performance standpoint, you'll be hard-pressed to find a 30-inch wide-screen HDTV for less than a grand that offers better picture quality. Like many sets, the KV-30HS420 pushes red (see the geek box for more), for example, making flesh tones appear rosier than they should. But the push wasn't as strong as with some other sets we've tested and was easy to fix by reducing the color control at the expense of full saturation. We did notice some flaws, including a slight greenish tinge to the right of the screen--a convergence error that may have been unique to our review sample. 

After a very effective grayscale calibration, we had the set producing sharp, highly detailed DVD and TV images, with deep, dark blacks that allowed for nuances to come through in shadowy elements of scenes. And while viewing high-def sources on this relatively small set might not have the visual impact that say, viewing HD on a 60-inch Grand WEGA would, the picture still looked a bit more detailed than DVD and exhibited especially saturated colors.

Bottom line: If you don't want to spend a ton of money on a new HDTV and you don't mind one with an "old-fashioned" style, the KV-30HS420 should be near the top of your list. Note that Sony will offer a more expensive step-up model, the KD-30XS955, in August that will have a higher-resolution Super Fine Pitch screen. Look for our review then.

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.

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