dmd2157's Full Review: Sony Grand WEGA KF-42WE610 42 in. HDTV-Ready LCD T...
I've had this TV for about 6 months and have not yet experienced the bulb problems that many other owners report. It is a real problem, however, and I have my fingers crossed.
I use this TV for watching standard definition satellite (DirecTV) and progressive scan DVD's. The DirecTV picture is "acceptable" but it is, by no means, any better than you'd get with a conventional tube TV. DVD's look great with progressive scan and component video inputs. I do not have HDTV at this time.
The picture looked good right out of the box. With minor tweaking, it looked a little better. The picture is bright and affords a wide horizontal viewing angle. The vertical viewing angle is not nearly as good. If you stand up while watching this TV, the picture darkens significantly. To get the most from this LCD TV, you will need to have it professionally calibrated, which can cost $300 to $400. It's a shame they don't do this at the factory.
The KF-42WE610 is very light weight and has a slim profile. These are nice features if you have limited space or if you need to move the TV occasionally. The onboard speakers sound pretty good. I use the TV speakers for satellite TV sound only.
Things to consider:
* If you aren't hooked up to an HDTV signal yet, you may want to wait on a widescreen purchase. Few standard definition channels use the widescreen format, and the picture quality is just as good, if not better, with a tube-based TV. If you watch a lot of DVD's and/or plan to upgrade your system to receive HDTV in the near future, then it makes more sense to purchase now.
* The 42" screen looks nice and is considerably larger than the picture most people are accustomed to, but for a true "home theater" experience you should consider at least a 50" screen (space and budget permitting). After watching the 42" model for a couple of months, I realized that a bigger screen would have been worth the extra money. The 42" screen does not provide the "enveloping" effect that home theater was designs for.
* Buy an extended service contract. I don't normally recommend buying these contracts, but any "early adopter" of an expensive new technology like this needs the extra insurance. LCD technology is not new, but assembling it into widescreen television is not a simple process (The KF-42WE610 screen is actually composed of three perfectly aligned LCD panels. The slightest error will ruin the TV picture). Given the numerous reports of bulb problems with this TV, it makes even more sense to protect your investment. ***Note: With most extended warranties, bulb replacement is not covered, But in this case, the problem is not with the bulb itself, but rather with the switch that fires the bulb.
Now that all of the negatives are out of the way... I am quite happy with this purchase overall. If I was still in the market for a widescreen TV, I would definitely consider the Sony Grand Wega LCD.
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