RadioShack
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"Jameson Thottam on LCD Sony Bravia 32" on by jameson thottam
Pros: Good and improved viewing quality and a space saver: Jameson Thottam
Cons: Skimped on a few items and difficult to get at reasonable price: Jameson Thottam
Summary: Jameson Thottam on LCD Sony Bravia 32"
The Sony Bravia KLVS32A10 is a very respectable LCD unit with amazingly good sound in a well designed package.
First Timers: Jameson Thottam
Anyone buying an HDTV for the first time should do some very thorough research and make sure that they understand what they will get for their money and what they can expect. Otherwise they are likely to be disappointed with any quality HDTV and be putting one star ratings on the board for some pretty good products.
I did a lot of research a couple of years ago, and bought a 4:3 Sony XBR (tube type). It is a fabulous product, and with my television service and watching habits, it was absolutely the right TV for me.
The Second Time Around: Jameson Thottam
This time I was looking to save space in the Master bedroom, and bought this unit. I didn't do as much research, and was looking specifically for a unit without side speakers, since the intended wall mount area didn't allow for anything bigger than a 32 inch unit. The KLVS32A10 fit the bill. I think the styling is pretty good.
The Experience: Jameson Thottam
When I started to watch TV using my comcast (not digital) feed, I remembered all of the things I had learned and forgotten from my prior research. When trying to take a 4:3 non digital signal with a few ghosts added in to 16:9 wide zoom, the result can be downright demoralizing. Some stations on my feed do pretty well, but the local broadcasts in the lower numbered channels are better viewed in the original (letterboxed) format. These look "fair to good" but are not any bigger than my 27 inch JVC picture that the unit replaced.
So it skimps: James Thottam
It doesn't have PIP (but then I can PIP the pants off the XBR and almost never use it). It has some amazingly good sound for a 32 inch unit. I haven't even hooked up my surround digital dolby yet...
Now, after being frank about the picture, I want to say that this is everything I should have expected. It is not the TV that is causing the lack of better quality, it is the lack of a better feed.
Comcast: Jameson Thottam
Comcast cable is overpriced and inconsistent, and I will move to Direct TV when and if that company ever figures out how to market their product. I am not buying in with 4 rooms of HD and no HD DVR if I have to pay rental on all of those units. They must have engineers doing their marketing (I am an engineer, and I have seen very few who care to or can do a decent job of marketing). Until then, I refuse to pay the Comcast crooks the extra money for the digital feed [great Internet connection] but $5 more for digital gets me 3 more converter box rentals for non-HD TV's in various rooms, etc. Charges never stop with Comcast, and the Dish TV adds portraying them as "pigs" is a pretty good one as far as I can tell. I grew up when people watched TV broadcast over the air for free (funded by TV adds which seem to still be present on most cable channels). I don't like paying nickel and dime charges for everything they consider 'added on'.
Best Viewing: Jameson Thottam
In my area and I understand in most of America, the best HDTV is broadcast free. Unfortunately, I only can pull in about 8 or 9 stations. Although a bit astray, this discussion is directly relevant to the unit being reviewed. If you use a poor quality feed, and you are disappointed because the television is accentuating the poor quality feed, this is probably not the televisions fault.
Additional Items to Consider: James Thottam
I bought a Samsung T451 set top box to put with this unit (I have one on the XBR as well) and it does just fine. DVD's vary in quality, but quality DVD's look great and if in a widescreen format, they do even better, even at 480P. NFL football is tough to beat off the open air broadcast in full HD with Digital Dolby sound... still I have to compromise on the regular cable TV, but should have expected it.
Overall Rating: Jameson Thottam
I would have rated this at 4 stars if it were available. This is a relative rating, comparing this unit to units much more expensive, like Sony's XBR. It is a very good rating relative to this 'standard'. LCD black doesn't yet match the old tube technology on my XBR and there aren't as many settings to play with, but it is a very good unit. I wouldn't have a plasma screen and could have bought a 42 inch for the same money as I paid on this unit. Although I don't intend to use it for a computer monitor, the 32A10 has the capability, and it is nice to know I have the option.
For the price, still a good buy, and I got back a lot of my bedroom.
Jameson Thottam -
"Consumer Reports Rates it #2 in 30-32" LCD's / 3-06" on by mike e anderson
Pros: Picture better at home than at stores.
Cons: Silver cabinet
Summary: I got my set from Sears for $1529.00 with
6 months 0% finance, which is cheaper than the Sams Club Price. Set up was 10 minutes, with no problems. Using the HDMI cables and Time Warner DVR box the pictures is stunning to say the least. Even with the standard programing the picture is still A quality.
Not Sure why CNet's review and consumer reports are so far apart, but for my money I think Consumer Reports is the better source for reviews. The red is alittle heavy but unless you can't read and have no fingers you can easily adjust that to any color your heart desires. Have found nothing wrong with the set so far. The lack of 2 HDMI connections is really no problem. DVD players are all now progressive scan. The Dvd's themselves are all made in 480 and the upgrade to 1080 is minimal in appearance, at least for my money.
In otherwords dont waste your money on the more expensive DVD players and spend another
$100 on extra set of HDMI cables. Blu Ray is due out this year and it will work with all connections. The set is a pleasure to watch...I replaced a Panasonic that lasted only 3 years and the tube went bad. I have another Sony tube type ....The KLV-S32A10 is better on both HD and standard programing.
Read consumer reports March 2006 and you can see it is the best set for watching regular TV via high quality input. -
"Stylish & Good Quality LCD TV" on by rpathak12
Pros: Easy initial installation, light weight, good quality pictures
Cons: Requires users to adjust settings for best picture quality
Summary: You need to have Digital TV signals for best use of the LCD TV. The analog TV channels viewing in LCD is very poor pictire quality in LCD.
You would also need to choose the right connectors for best possible picture quality:
1. For DVD use Component Cable connectors & audio cables
2. For Dish TV use S video & audio cabes
Don't use the coaxial conenctors. They give poor picture quality. -
"TOP of the LINE LCD" on by jpagliuca
Pros: Sharp picture Crystal clear
Cons: NO built in HDTV tuner
Summary: Best LCD set going. More costly than others but when you look at the picture it will sell you. HD is spectactular won't go wrong with this set.
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"Cnet reviewer must be stoned." on by NickL-
Pros: Great picture, decent price for a sony, many inputs, easy setup, convienent size, best tv I have ever owned
Cons: built in speakers could be better but I have a 5.1 so it doesnt really matter
Summary: I'm not sure that a 5.9 out of 10 is a fair rating at all. The picture is very crisp on most if not all inputs (which there are a lot of,) the size is perfect, and the pricetag isn't too huge for sony. There is a tad red push like they said but NOTHING near as major as what the reviewer said. The blacks are unsurpaced from what I've seen. The autobacklight is wonderfull, and the tv is just great to watch. Definatly reccomend.
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