My First Word: "Wow!!!"
Written: Apr 27 '04 (Updated Dec 20 '04)
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Pros: Immaculate picture. Crystal clear sound. Remarkably easy to use remote control. Awesome TV!
Cons: A great TV - just have a "glare" problem because of all of my windows!
The Bottom Line: The 2-year hunt was worth the wait because I am extremely happy with this TV. Just hope we don't become couch potatoes!
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| Jev04again's Full Review: Sony KP-51WS510 51 in. HDTV-Ready CRT TV |
This is my offering to CaptainD’s Challenge Yourself Write Off - http://www.epinions.com/content_3850084484 – in the "Electronics" category.
I’ve been going to my nearby "Best Buy" store for 2 years, looking at TV’s and dreaming about the day when I’d find the one that I just had to have. The friendly salespeople have come to know me very well – although I know what they had really been thinking: "Come on, already! Buy one!" Well… I did. And I am extremely happy with my choice.
I bought the Sony 51" Widescreen HD-Ready Rear-Projection TV with DVI Input and 2-Tuner PIP. This is a sleek and contemporary looking TV, matte-silver in color with a black back. It’s 52-1/2" high X 47-1/8" wide X 25-3/4" long, and its weight is a hefty 172 pounds. The actual screen size is 51", which is a perfect size for my living room. This TV came with a silver universal remote control, which is very easy to use.
A family friend who is proficient of electronics essentially set this TV up for me, so I wish I could be specific about the different cables and connectors he had to use for sound and video. I can tell you that I have my receiver, DVD player, VCR, (all Sony brand) and Dish Network satellite receiver hooked up to this TV, using a Monster Power PowerBar 1100 which I bought separately. My Sony Home Theatre System is also hooked up so when I want to watch a DVD, it has incredible sound. It didn’t take long to get all of this completed – roughly 30 minutes.
Some of the following information relies on the manual that came with the TV… this is for your sanity as well as mine! Heh…
The Universal Remote Control…
The remote control matches the TV – it’s silver with a black back. It is preset to operate all Sony brand video equipment. If you have equipment other than Sony brand that you wish to control with the TV’s remote control, you will have to set the Manufacturer’s Codes that are listed in the manual. This is a very simple process, and should take only a few minutes to complete.
There are two panels on this remote; one is on the outside and the other is in the top – like a flip-top style. On the front you will find buttons for Muting, Sleep, Antenna, Display, Jump, Freeze, Index, a joystick for maneuvering through the activities, Volume, Picture Mode, Favorites, Reset, Power Button, Function Buttons, TV/Video, 0-9 and Enter, Guide, Menu, Channels Up and Down, DRC/Cinemotion, and Wide Mode.
The inside panel houses the System Off button, Play, Rewind, Record, Stop, DVD Menu, MTS/SAP, Code Set, Power, Fast Forward, a Switch Control between AV1, V2, AV3 and DVD, Pause, Menu, Up/Down/Left/Right to operate the DVD menu, and a "musical note" which you press to select audio option.
It sounds like a lot and possibly complicated, but it’s really not. Just take your time to look it over, read the manual, and "play" with it. You’ll have the hang of it in no time at all. This remote is a bigger size than I’m used to, but that’s just a minor thing.
Features of the TV…
This Sony 51" Widescreen TV, model KP-51WS510, is "High-Definition" ready. It’s fully capable of HD display when it’s connected to an optional HDTV source. I could have chosen the HDTV model, but I’m not ready to admit that I "need" that quite yet! Heh.
The front of the TV has A/V (audio/video) inputs so you can easily connect your X-Box (which is what I have) or other game stations, or you can even connect a Camcorder very easily. If you don’t want to use the inputs on the front, there are also rear A/V jacks available.
When the projection TV is first turned on, you can run Auto Setup to set up your channels. The Auto Setup screen appears and you can then automatically program the TV for all receivable channels.
In a projection tube, the image appears on the screen in three colors: red, green and blue. If these colors don’t converge, the color is poor and the picture will be blurry. So it’s recommended that the convergence is adjusted, and this is called Flash Focus. This procedure can be done automatically by pressing the "Flash Focus" button that is on the front of the TV (everything is hidden away behind a push-front door). Once the button is pushed, a cross pattern appears on the screen and Flash Focus begins to work. There is a cross pattern in the center of the screen, and once that cross becomes white, convergence is complete and you are returned to the program you were watching. You can also perform this convergence manually which allows you to fine-tune the color alignment of each section of the TV. This is a bit more detailed and takes more time, but for those of you who are more patient than I, it may be a fun thing for you to try.
Favorite Channels…
The Favorite Channels feature lets you select programs from a list of favorite channels that you can preset. They can be set automatically or manually (instructions are given in the manual on how to do this manually.) When it is set on "Auto", the last 8 channels selected will be set as "Favorite Channel" options.
Twin View…
Twin View lets you watch two programs at the same time. You can also change the size of both the let and right pictures. Although two pictures appear on the screen at the same time, only one picture is active. You can change this by using the remote control by simply toggling the joystick to the picture that you want to be active. You can also change the picture size by using the same process, utilizing the joystick feature of the remote.
Freeze Function…
I love this feature! The FREEZE button lets you to temporarily capture a program’s picture. You can use this feature to write down information such as phone numbers during those annoying "buy me!" commercials, or for recipes on such channels as the Food Channel. I’ve used this feature a few times and it’s just way too cool. Once you press the "Freeze" button, the TV switches to "Twin View" mode and displays the "frozen" picture on the right side, while the current program continues on the left. Once you’re done writing down the information, you simply press "Freeze" again and normal viewing will return.
Scrolling Channel Index…
The Scrolling Channel Index lets you view and select from all receivable channels scrolling on the screen without leaving the current channel. Using the remote, you just press the appropriate button and the current channel is reduced in size and displayed on the left in normal motion picture format. Then all you do is look to the right to see the scrolling channels in their own cyan frame, and the first channel is briefly shown on the bottom-right side of the screen, then frozen. It then scrolls up and the next channel appears on the bottom right, and the process is repeated for all other channels that you receive. You can use the joystick to choose the channel you want, and all you have to do is press the joystick in and that channel will be displayed in normal motion picture. It’s that easy!
Wide Mode…
Wide screen mode lets you watch 4:3 normal broadcasts in 4 Wide screen modes. (16:9 aspect ratio). To do this, you press "Wide Mode" on the remote and you can toggle through the mode settings. You can choose from 1) Wide Zoom, which allows the picture to have as normal a picture as possible; 2) Normal, which returns the picture to it’s original size. Bars are visible to the left and right sides to fill the 16:9 screen; 3) Full Mode, which stretches the entire picture horizontally only to fill the screen. The picture will have an elongated appearance; and 4) Zoom Mode, which enlarges the entire picture to fill the screen. This is useful for watching Letterbox movies.
Menus…
You can adjust the TV by using the Menu options. You can use the remote control for this, or you can use the front of the TV to do this. The available menus are: Video, Audio, Channel, Wide, Timer, and Setup.
Video lets you made adjustments to your picture settings, and it allows you to customize the Picture Mode based on the type of program you’re watching.
Audio offers enhanced audio options such as listening to second auto programming (SAP), or customizing the Effect of sound on your TV.
Channel lets you set up a Favorite Channel list, run the Auto Program function, and more.
Wide lets you set the wide screen mode, adjust the vertical center in wide mode, and set the 4:3 default mode.
Timer Lets you set the clock on the TV and allows you to program the TV for scheduled viewing using the timers.
Setup This provides several options for setting up the channels, labeling the video inputs, and choosing the language of the on-screen menus, and you can choose Caption Vision here, as well.
Parent Menu…
This wonderful feature, "Parental Control", lets you set up the TV to block programs according to their content and rating levels. To use this feature you will need a password to set it up, and you will need to choose your country (U.S.A. or Canada). You will then need to make your selections based on your personal household requirements. You can choose from Off, Child, Youth, Young Adult, and Custom. The Parental lock can be deactivated at any time, using your stored password. Don’t forget your password!
What Comes With The TV?…
A very helpful and detailed manual comes with this TV – keep it handy! It also comes with a Registration Card that will enable Sony to contact you with important announcements and periodic mailings. It also allows Sony to contact you in the unlikely event that the television needs adjustment or modification. A registration web site is provided to register the TV. A phone number is also provided to find a Sony dealer in your area in case you should need service. There is a 1-year Warranty on Parts and a 90-day Warranty on Labor.
Why Do I Love This TV?…
When I am watching a DVD on this amazing widescreen TV, I actually feel like I’m sitting in the perfect seat of the perfect row in my favorite theater. The picture is so clear and the sound is just out of this world. The clarity of the picture is amazing, even when I’m watching my normal television stations, and while I’m watching satellite. The two front speakers on the TV are great for watching "normal" TV, but I really love the stereo sound on my Sony home theatre system for movies and satellite programs. I love the "Twin View" (picture-in-picture) option as well, so I can actually see what other channels are offering before I have to turn the channel.
I’ve tried playing a couple of my X-Box racing games on this 51" screen and while the picture is utterly awesome, I have to say that I personally cannot do this because it makes me feel nauseous! LOL I’ve always suffered from motion sickness so I have to refrain from the racing games, I’m afraid. Maybe X-Box will come out with something slower – like Model T racing for those of us who can’t handle the fast stuff! lol Gawd, I feel old.
Final Thoughts…
It was worth the 2-year wait to know that I’ve chosen the right Widescreen TV for me. It was well-worth the $1549.99 that I paid for it. Sony has been my favorite brand for many years, and they have never let me down with their quality. I am also glad that I bought the Monster Power Home Theatre PowerBar 1100, too. I feel better knowing that AC power noise is being "cleaned up" so that I can have much clearer sound and picture. It allows me to see the most vivid video possible and hear more natural sound with increased dynamic range and less noise. I cringed at the $199.99 price tag, but when I have a TV that cost me $1549.99 ‘big ones’, I want to get the best quality I can.
Contact Information…
Phone: 1-800-222-SONY (7669)
Web: www.sony.com
If you would like to join CaptainD’s Challenge Yourself Write Off, please go to http://www.epinions.com/content_3850084484. It’s a lot of fun and it might just make you want to write more reviews in categories that you wouldn’t normally feel 'comfortable' writing. Plus, Dave has a literal ton of amazing "Challenge Yourself Write Off" reviews listed. Have fun! :-) Thanks, Dave!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1549.99
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Jev04again
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Member: Sunni
Location: Perso in un sogno.
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