Very well manufactured
Written: Sep 23 '03
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Pros: Excellent construction/design, great display, very durable. Lots of preinstalled features.
Cons: Limited warranty. Speakers cannot be uninstalled. May be a bit heavy.
The Bottom Line: An expensive buy (and a centerpiece in my best friend's home) but worth it. Best on market.
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| mattspire's Full Review: Sony WEGA KLV-30XBR900 30 in. HDTV-Ready TV |
There isn't much to say about a product of this type in a review, in a sense, because the two more important aspects are the overall presentation, and then its durability over time.
That being said, the casing job is very well done and does not feel at all flimsy or breakable. I've seen several other similar items where the geometry of the unit seems to affect its security. The stand, too, is well-designed and doesn't make it too topheavy. Physically it will stand up correctly without any excess support. The base, adequately, is about the size of the television; hard to believe some other flat units that stress the slim nature of their product still have excessively wide bases. The overall case is very attractive as well, fitting smoothly into the environment it'll become part of, smooth and chromatic while not overly techy.
Also, it is incredibly easy to move. There are contours for moving on just about every angle, so carrying the unit or lifting/sliding is very simple. Which is good, because it is a bit heavy for such a small unit (around 45 lbs, as shown in the stats later). If it were not for the contours, the length and weight would make it an awkward carry.
About the only problem I found with this unit was that the factory settings were atrocious when it was first installed. Ultra vibrant color and dim contrast. It was actually so bad that navigating the menus was annoying at first, but once it was set on a standard setting the display was crisp and clear. Perfect color.
The only other gripe is that the warranty only lasts for one year, and when you make an investment of this size I think it ought to be a little longer. But, such is the norm these days.
One foreseeable problem that you may have is inability to remove the speakers (though you may channel the sound elsewhere)--I personally do not mind because the included speakers are much better than the typical pre-installed speakers on other sets. Those with other setups in mind like surround sound may wish they could remove the preinstalled speakers, however.
If you'd like to see the hard specs, here they are as reported in the manual:
** Key Features
Flat Panel Type LCD
Screen Size 30 in.
Aspect Ratio 16:9, 4:3 Enhanced
Digital TV HDTV
Display Resolution 1280 x 768
Built-In Tuner NTSC
** Audio Features
Audio Type Virtual Surround
Audio Output Variable / Fixed
Audio Leveler Yes
** Video Features
Aspect Ratio 16:9, 4:3 Enhanced
Picture In Picture With PIP
Closed Caption on Mute Yes
Comb Filter 3DYC
Digital TV HDTV
Progressive Scan Yes
Adjustable Color Tempera... Yes
HD Video Signal Compatib... 480i, 480p, 1080i, 720p
** Connecters
Number of Component Inputs 2
A/V Inputs Composite 3 (1 Front/2 Rear)
A/V Outputs Composite 1
S-Video Inputs 3 (1 Front/2 Rear)
S-Video Output 1 (rear)
PC Connectors DVI-HDTV
** Physical Characteristics
Flat Panel Type LCD
Display Resolution 1280 x 768
Diagonal Screen Size 30 in.
Viewing Angle 170 degrees
Depth 3.63 in.
Height 20.63 in.
Width 38.38 in.
Weight 44 lb.
** Other Features
Remote Control Yes
Parental Control Yes
Sleep Timer Yes
Energy Star Compliant Yes
Warranty 1 Year Parts and Labor
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 3299
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Epinions.com ID:
mattspire
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:I'm an artist. go see.
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