video & sound

price & weight

When I decided to upgrade my 1992 32" Sony XBR to a Wega 36" back in August 2001, this was my first choice. I bought it and was very pleased with it until I had the "bright" idea that I did not need the HDTV ready feature for now, so I decided to save a few hundreds of dollars and exchanged it for the way inferior KV-36S13. That was a BIG mistake.

The difference in picture and audio quality are huge. I was so displeased that I did my second exchange for the KV-36XBR450.

I do not see any difference between the KV-36HS20(Hi Scan 1080i) and the XBR450. In other words, I should have kept the first one and save $200-$300. The picture quality and sound quality in both sets is simply great. I don't want to repeat what I said in my reviews for the XBR450 (and XBR400 section).

Similar Products Used:

SONY KV-36S13
SONY KV-36XBR450

Picture is best in business, plenty of inputs, intuitive menu system, side-by-side picture in picture

Weighs a ton and is expensive compared to other brands (but this picture beats them all!)

Simply put: simply awesome. The only complaint I have is that from the component video inputs, the TV will not automatically switch to anamorphic mode (I'll fix it with a macro on a programmable remote). Other than that, the picture is jaw-droppingly gorgeoue, the menus are easy to use, and the side-by-side PIP is actually useful. I use a progressive scan DVD player and I'll tell you, I've never seen a better, more stunning picture than this TV delivers (barring HDTV) for movies. The colors jump out at you, the details are crystal clear, black is black and colors never bloom or bleed.

If you want the best picture available, buy this TV. You won't regret it (unless you try to lift it- it's damn heavy).

Similar Products Used:

None

Amazing picture, inputs galore, did I mention amazing picture

set is so heavy it put my neighbors back out of place

I am not going to give a long drawn out review, but I will say if you are shopping for a flat screen tv, I shopped many other brands and found the Sony to be the best value. I did look at the 40" 16:9 widescreen version and still decided on this primarily because of size limitations of my entertainment center. I am still very pleased. This set is almost perfect with whatever input I put to it, which is either dish tv sat or dvd. I am using a standard dvd player, the Pioneer 301 disk and am amazed how the line doubler and drc work. The picture is absolutely beautiful sitting right in front of it or to either side.

Similar Products Used:

Mitsubishi x-400 3000 lumen data projector

Picture, Sound, Remote, PIP Joy Stick

Warrenty

This is a great TV. The picture quality for digital is so crisp its unbelieveable. DVD and digital movies are better than at the theater. The sound is also great without going through a receiver. I have a Yamaha RX-V1000. It's worth every cent. It only has a 90 factory warrenty so I bought the extended package at Best Buy ($299 for 4 yrs).The PIP is also wonderful - it has a twin view feature which makes it look like your watching two 19" TV's side by side. Very easy to set up and use.

Similar Products Used:

JVC

Remote controls multiple devices, PIP capability, easy picture mode changing, favorite channel viewing

weight

I went through the Hitachi, the KVXBR450 and the Panasonic TVs. thank goodness the stores have 30 day return policies. Between the 4 units I "tested", I'm pleased with my final choice... the Sony KV36HS20. I watch a lot of sports and this one provided the best picture quality of the 4. The DSS picture quality is much more enhanced when in progrssive mode and with some stations, you can see the difference between the interlaced and progressive settings. A nice feature I see is with the multiple inputs. The Hitachi forced you to switch through video inputs not used but this is not the case with the Sony(s). One of things that I'm not pleased about with this set as well as the others is that you cannot program favorite channels for the video (DSS) channels. If there is a way, I haven't figured it out. Overall, after watching these 4 sets over the course of 2 weeks, I think I'll keep this one for awhile.

Similar Products Used:

Hitachi 36UDX10S, Sony KVXBR450, Panasonic CT36HX41