flat screen, 16x9 mode, component inputs, cool silver case

useless manual, stupid slanted top, a tad on the hefty side

A lovely set - great picture, good sound, has lots of audio and video options, generally a cool-looking item when turned off, too. The flat screen means no glare, and unlike the Panasonic superflat the Sony has a sheet of glass in from of the screen, which is great if you have a small child who likes to lick TV's.

Similar Products Used:

Philips, Sharp

Widescreen mode for anamorphic DVD and HDTV receivers, flat screen, component video input, over all well engineered except for...

...geometry errors

I have mixed feelings about this TV. I purchased the Zenith flat-screen last year for an upgrade over my "old" Panasonic Superflat. It was every bit as good as the KV-27FS12 in picture quality and better than last year's KV-27FV15. It has a ton of inputs. 4 A/V, 3 S-Video, 1 component (remember, the FV15 lacked component video), and even an A/V out including S-Video. It also had nice translucent menus, lots of features, and a superb 3D comb-filter that is clearly better than the Wega's. But it had geometry errors in the same places as the Wegas, making me wonder if Sony provided the CTR for Zenith. I took it back to the store to have one of their techs look at it. A few days later I got a call from the tech saying that everything was in factory spec. I decided to return it and just live with the Panasonic until I was ready for HDTV. I missed the sense of depth that I saw in the Zenith, but I could live without the dual PIP and other features. The comb-filter in my Superflat is not nearly as good, but the one in my S-VHS deck is decent so I just used the VCR as a tuner. What made me want to buy the new Wega was the 16x9 mode.

The 16x9 feature alone makes this TV worth buying, but a run-through with Video Essentials confirmed that this set is much better than my Superflat. It has a great contrast range, holds black level very well, is extremely sharp (540 lines according to Sound & Vision), and once the red-drive and red-cut were fine-tuned, an accurate color decoder. I don't know if the color temp. is close to NTSC, but I could detect no trace of blue or red by eye with test patterns.

But those pesky geometry errors . . . while I was in the service menu to adjust the red-drive I also tried to fix the geometry. I improved it but could get it exact. The most offensive error is the entire left side of the screen, about a 1/4" wide is stretched vertically. I managed to straighten out the top and bottom of this area but that was all I could do, short of expanding the image off the screen. The right side of the screen is also slightly compressed, but to such a small degree that I only notice if I look for it. There are also a few "humps" here and there but I haven't noticed them with actual program material, only test patterns. I should also note that the Superflat has even more geometry errors, however the curvature of the screen for the most part obscures them on actual program material. With a flat-screen these errors stand out more, make it both a plus and a liability.

As I mentioned earlier, the comb-filter is not the equal to the Zenith's. With the Zenith, even with DVD I couldn't see a difference between S and composite video. The one in my S-VHS VCR is cleaner, but softer. Still, the Sony's is good enough that I rarely bother to use the VCR as a tuner (except when watching football). And while the Zenith had many more inputs, my A/V receiver has 5 S-Video ins and 3 outs so I didn't need a TV with a lot of switching. The Zenith had XDS also, but you could turn it off with the display button. The display button on the Sony just toggles between XDS and time/channel. You have to turn it off in a menu, which makes this feature a burden rather than useful information. The Sony's remote is OK I guess but I have the Marantz RC2000 Mk. II so this is a non-issue to me. And lastly, I found the cosmetics to be uglt at first but I have to admit that its looks are growing on me.

Even with the geometry errors, I think I am still going to keep this TV. It just does so well in other aspects and the 16x9 mode is a real plus.

Similar Products Used:

Zenith/Intech IQB27FW, Panasonic CT-27SF14

Flat screen, 16x9 enhanced mode, Velocity scanning modulation, component input, button placement.

Geometry problems, convergence on edges.

I work in the video department at Circuit City and this was pretty much the TV I was looking for. The 16x9 mode is almost a good enough reason in itself to buy this set. The flat screen is nice but there are a lot of geometry and convergence problems. Otherwise years ahead of Panasonic and JVC.

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All competitors.

Very easy set-up, love the screen menu. Nice picture!

none so far

My first Sony TV. We'll see...lately I've been very unhappy with Panasonic-Technics products, so I decided to get my new TV from Sony. Great price, great picture, great out-of-the-box experience so far. I'll keep you updated.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic TVs

well i have been reading about this tv or months- i bought one today for $476 at sears- they had to match best buy price of 528 +10 discount coupon- but felt safer buying it at sears- i will get the unit on tuesday- but from what i have seen, including one that my friend purchased, nothing can beat this tv-
I will post again tuesday when i get it- I hope it was worth the wait- :)

color and picture quality, flat screen, component video inputs, accessible service menu

packaging, weight, no blue screen, geometry distortion

I am on my third Sony unit. The first had noticeable horizontal distortion. The second was D.O.A. from the store with a damaged enclosure. The third works as it should-finally. Third times a charm. My complaint is that there is mild geometric distortion as documented in the first generation units and still noticeable in the FS series, though mild and generally unoticeable unless used in 16-9 compression mode or displaying images with lots of horizontal banding. It is also noticeable with the test patterns generated from test disks. Actually, the third set I got had a tilted picture. I entered the service screen and rotated the image without using the tilt correction.

Aside from that, the picture a quite engaging. Natural skin tones and deep color renditions. Resolution is at 540 according to S&V magazine. The menus and icon are well designed and the remote is adequate. I look forward to watching TV.

Similar Products Used:

D series JVC, V series Sony and Panasonic SF models

Compact design, flat screen, excellent video quality, multiple inputs including component, affordable

remote control, average audio package

Anyone interested in buying a great quality, straight forward television with few frills, this unit is the answer. I needed a television that would hold me over until the HDTV wars and prices settled down. I also required a relatively compact television to fit into an existing cabinet. Although the unit is almost 25” tall, it has a slim width measuring only 27.5”.

Out of the box, the video settings are too bright and too sharp causing jagged edges, especially for DVD and digital broadcasts. However, it was easy to adjust each picture mode and bring them down to more acceptable levels. The menu is so easy to use, it put the manual to shame.

The remote control is awful, the placement and labeling of some buttons could use some work. I’ve settled with a universal instead.

This unit has a total of four video inputs (3 in the rear & 1 in the front) as well as an RF/CATV input. You can name each video input for quick identification. I subscribe to a digital cable service, and the television has some great features that integrate nicely with a cable box and the picture quality is stunning.

My DVD player look also great on this television. Using the component video input produced a noticeably better video image that even my 10-year old son could see. The sound system is okay and typical for that size unit, the surround effect is a waste of time.

If your looking for a short term solution until HDTV becomes more mainstream, buy this unit.

Similar Products Used:

JVC 27"

Great picture so far, even though I havent had the chance to see DVD or S-video, cant wait! Like all the inputs, and even audio out which is nice! I like all the picture options, you can really get the picture down to a T!

As said, very heavy, would like to see another S-video input added. Plus when you use a fixed audio source the TV speaker is shut off, and you cant control your reciever with the remote. Makes volume control cumbersome fiddling with 2 remotes

All in all a great buy, impressive picture and inputs/outputs.

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Magnavox 20"

Great Picture + Anamporphic Squeeze

Silver Color Out Of Place & Center Speaker Placement

My first impression is that I'm pleased with the Wega. The opening of Run Lola Run DVD is spectacular. It looked great in the showroom but at home its silver color is out of place with all the black equipment plus the center speaker isn't level. I had to use double sided picture frame tape between the bottom of the speaker and the top of the Wega for security.
The Wega will do fine until Digital TV's are available for a similar price.

Similar Products Used:

RCA 25"

Great picture, adequate inputs, aesthetically nice looking, nice remote(like all sonys)

Heavy, no outputs, no auto 16:9 detect.

I wen't out looking for a regular 27" trinitron but none looked as nice as our old trinitron. It seems most TVs are looking very plastic and cheap these days, I went to a few different sony dealers before I really noticed the WEGA, then looked a little closer and wow what a nice TV. Lot's of inputs(component, S-video, lot's of composites), my only real complaint is with all those inputs they could have at least put one output. Either way it's a great tele, any bigger than the 27" and you might need a cube van to get it home though :) The 16:9 is real nice, I've even seen a few digital cable broadcasts in 16:9 so I had a chance to take advantage outside of DVD. I Bought it from the Sony Store in Fredericton, N.B. They were asking $1200(canadian) and I ended up paying $1150 after taxes(15%) plus a deal on some monster cables. Pricey but worth the bucks.

Similar Products Used:

Trinitron 27", lot's of big screens at friends places..