Sony Grand WEGA KDF-42WE655 42 in. HDTV LCD TV
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- Digital TV Standard: HDTV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 4:3 Enhanced 14:9
- Weight: 71.63 lb.
- Projector Technology: LCD
- Built-in Tuner: ATSC NTSC
- Screen Size: 42 inch
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42 Inches of pure beauty, so far
Pros
See the update
Cons
See the update
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
This set will keep you happy for a while...until the bulb blows, and then you'll have to go get a new one...but it will be like a new TV!!
UPDATE: January 2007
Had I not bought the extended warranty on this, I would have paid for it twice. There was a problem (apparently one many have had) with what is called "roadmapping" or the "etch a sketch" effect on my tv. I turned it on one night, and there was a purple roadmap on the tv. Turns out there are a ton of problems with this television. I did have it serviced (for free with the warranty I bought with the tv at CC) and so far it has been fine since then. However, after 4 years, will it kick the bucket again?
(Original Review Below)
I purchased this Sony Grand WEGA 42 inch High definition television this past weekend. After only about 20 minutes of hooking up all my cables to the television, it was amazing to actually see this television in my home.
I have not yet purchased any high definition receivers except for the Terk TV5 Powered amplified antenna. I live about 30 miles north of Nashville, TN, where they have several high def channels, but I'm just a bit out of range. I did not choose to buy one of those big bulky outdoor antennas as of yet.
I also purchased to go with the television a Monster brand surge protector with signal cleanups.
Now on to the television:
I have four different things going in to the television.
1. Antenna mentioned above (Terk TV5)
2. RCA DirectTV Receiver
3. Sony Playstation 2
4. Sony Progressive Scan DVD player.
With the antenna alone, I am able to pick up four high def channels over the air, sometimes 5. These stations are beautiful (such as CBS with CSI the other night...wow!) I would pick up a bigger antenna, if i owned my own home, but don't want to fiddle with it in a rented home.
DIRECT TV:
The quality of the signal really will depend on your cords and your receiver. I have a cheap receiver, with an RCA Composite output/input cord connecting to the television. I'm sure it would be better, but I only have an S-Video or the composite outputs on the receiver.
PLAYSTATION:
Have yet to play on the tv yet.
DVD PLAYER:
Amazing. Have watched Finding Nemo, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings on it to check out quality. These are absolutely amazing. I have component video cables for the DVD player.
FEATURES OF THE TELEVISION:
Wide Screen options:
-This is what makes or breaks the television in my opinion. I still have not adusted from the aspect of 4:3 into the 16:9 ratio. There are 4 different screen modes
1. Normal (only available on non-high def shows) where the screen is your normal 4:3, with black bars on the side. Useful for several channels that are non high def.
2. Full- this is where the screen is stretched in several spots to fill the entire screen. Looks okay sometimes, but looks terrible in sports
3. Zoom- This is best used when watching letterbox movies on DVD, or on television when available.
4. Wide Zoom- This stretches the zoom screen. I do not care for this one.
BRIGHTNESS OF TELEVISION (Color Adjustments)
When I watched a movie like Finding Nemo, which is relatively dark in a lot of spots, I found no viewing problem. To the average homeowner who wants a big screen television, my advice is to look over the reviews of people saying negative things about the black levels. It really does not matter.
REMOTE: It took me longer to figure out the remote than it did to unpack the television and hook it up. Now that I'm used to it though, it is easier. It can run several different things since it is a universal.
SOUND: I have my movies playing through a Sony Surround sound system, but my regular television viewing is heard through the provided sound system on the television. It sounds great in my opinion.
Final Thoughts: I love having a television in my home that I can see from my chair without having to squint to read the words. 42 inches of television is plenty big. I am about 10 feet from the tv when sitting in my chair, and its almost too big for that.
The tv weighs about 80 pounds, and is super thin at only around 12 inches deep. The base of the tv is about 6 inches in on both sides, so the base is not as wide as the tv itself.
I have heard no fan noises, and I have really not seen any pixelation yet.
This set is going down in cost as well. I got it at a steal at Circuit City, for $1900.
Had I not bought the extended warranty on this, I would have paid for it twice. There was a problem (apparently one many have had) with what is called "roadmapping" or the "etch a sketch" effect on my tv. I turned it on one night, and there was a purple roadmap on the tv. Turns out there are a ton of problems with this television. I did have it serviced (for free with the warranty I bought with the tv at CC) and so far it has been fine since then. However, after 4 years, will it kick the bucket again?
(Original Review Below)
I purchased this Sony Grand WEGA 42 inch High definition television this past weekend. After only about 20 minutes of hooking up all my cables to the television, it was amazing to actually see this television in my home.
I have not yet purchased any high definition receivers except for the Terk TV5 Powered amplified antenna. I live about 30 miles north of Nashville, TN, where they have several high def channels, but I'm just a bit out of range. I did not choose to buy one of those big bulky outdoor antennas as of yet.
I also purchased to go with the television a Monster brand surge protector with signal cleanups.
Now on to the television:
I have four different things going in to the television.
1. Antenna mentioned above (Terk TV5)
2. RCA DirectTV Receiver
3. Sony Playstation 2
4. Sony Progressive Scan DVD player.
With the antenna alone, I am able to pick up four high def channels over the air, sometimes 5. These stations are beautiful (such as CBS with CSI the other night...wow!) I would pick up a bigger antenna, if i owned my own home, but don't want to fiddle with it in a rented home.
DIRECT TV:
The quality of the signal really will depend on your cords and your receiver. I have a cheap receiver, with an RCA Composite output/input cord connecting to the television. I'm sure it would be better, but I only have an S-Video or the composite outputs on the receiver.
PLAYSTATION:
Have yet to play on the tv yet.
DVD PLAYER:
Amazing. Have watched Finding Nemo, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings on it to check out quality. These are absolutely amazing. I have component video cables for the DVD player.
FEATURES OF THE TELEVISION:
Wide Screen options:
-This is what makes or breaks the television in my opinion. I still have not adusted from the aspect of 4:3 into the 16:9 ratio. There are 4 different screen modes
1. Normal (only available on non-high def shows) where the screen is your normal 4:3, with black bars on the side. Useful for several channels that are non high def.
2. Full- this is where the screen is stretched in several spots to fill the entire screen. Looks okay sometimes, but looks terrible in sports
3. Zoom- This is best used when watching letterbox movies on DVD, or on television when available.
4. Wide Zoom- This stretches the zoom screen. I do not care for this one.
BRIGHTNESS OF TELEVISION (Color Adjustments)
When I watched a movie like Finding Nemo, which is relatively dark in a lot of spots, I found no viewing problem. To the average homeowner who wants a big screen television, my advice is to look over the reviews of people saying negative things about the black levels. It really does not matter.
REMOTE: It took me longer to figure out the remote than it did to unpack the television and hook it up. Now that I'm used to it though, it is easier. It can run several different things since it is a universal.
SOUND: I have my movies playing through a Sony Surround sound system, but my regular television viewing is heard through the provided sound system on the television. It sounds great in my opinion.
Final Thoughts: I love having a television in my home that I can see from my chair without having to squint to read the words. 42 inches of television is plenty big. I am about 10 feet from the tv when sitting in my chair, and its almost too big for that.
The tv weighs about 80 pounds, and is super thin at only around 12 inches deep. The base of the tv is about 6 inches in on both sides, so the base is not as wide as the tv itself.
I have heard no fan noises, and I have really not seen any pixelation yet.
This set is going down in cost as well. I got it at a steal at Circuit City, for $1900.
