Sony KP-43T70 43 in. TV

The Sony KP-43T70 is an NTSC-standard analog 4:3 aspect ratio rear-projection television (RPTV) in the company's "tabletop" line of RPTV's. While this TV might be a bit bulky for some people to consider actually putting on a tabletop, its weight of 132 pounds puts it about thirty pounds under one of Sony's regular 32-inch Wega direct-view TV's, making it feasible to put this set on a shelf in a sturdy entertainment center or other wall unit. Sony sells an optional stand, the SU-43T3, which brings the TV up to a reasonable viewing height for floorstanding use.


Better Alternatives to the 43T70

With its street price of $1,600, the 43T70 isn't the biggest bargain around. Panasonic is scheduled to bring a 47-inch 16:9 H/DTV-ready set with a list price of $2,000, the PT-47WX49, to the market in June. The street price on the Mitsubishi 46807 16:9 H/DTV-ready TV just dropped to $2,000. If you want to go with an NTSC-standard set, there are models from Mitsubishi and Panasonic which give you quite a bit more screen real-estate than the 43T70 for the same price or less.


NTSC-Standard Image Quality

The picture quality on this Sony is fairly sharp for an NTSC-standard analog (non-high-def) TV, though its limited to 480-interlaced (480i) resolution, as are all NTSC-standard sets. Because of the set's limited interlaced resolution (only half the horizontal lines are projected onto the screen at any given moment), the line structure will become apparent if you sit closer than about five feet from the set. Because of this, I would recommend that you consider purchasing one of the H/DTV-ready RPTV's. The prices on the entry-level high-def-ready rear-projection sets are now so close to sets like the 43T70 that it's just not the best investment to buy an NTSC-standard TV now.


Further Alternatives

If you're completely set on getting one of Sony's "tabletop" models, you might want to wait until this August when Sony will bring out an H/DTV-ready model with similar dimensions to the 43T70, the HiScan KP-43HT20 which will feature CineMotion (3:2 pulldown recognition for optimum quality when line doubling a film-source interlaced-scan DVD signal) and have a list price of $2,500.

But if your goal is to get a compact RPTV, and you'd prefer to go with H/DTV-ready capability, there's an excellent option on the market right now, Toshiba's 40H80. The street price on the 40H80 at regular electronics superstores has recently dropped down to around $2,100 and, if you hunt around for a bargain on the net, you can probably find it for even less.


No Vertical Enhancement for 16:9

The 43T70 is a pretty basic TV. Unfortunately, it lacks vertical compression, one of the only really useful features Sony has included on their NTSC-standard Wega line of direct-view TV's. The vertical compression feature allows a letterboxed 16:9 image to have the entire 480-interlaced lines used in the image area between the letterbox bands. Most analog TV's, including the 43T70, use part of their horizontal resolution to create those letterbox bands which are used when showing a 16:9 image on the set's 4:3 screen (i.e., an image with a width-to-height ratio of 16:9 and a set with a screen width-to-height ratio of 4:3). In other words, while the DVD image has a resolution of 480-interlaced horizontal lines, with the 43T70 the black letterbox bands used with projecting the widescreen, vertically narrower 16:9 image onto the 4:3 screen use up some of the screen's horizontal lines, leaving you with something like 300 lines actually used in the picture itself.


Picture Features

Picture enhancement features include a 3-line digital comb filter, velocity modulation scanning (though this can actually cause edge distortion), and picture stabilization. To adjust the convergence of the three cathode-ray-tubes (CRT's) which must line up precisely to project their combined images onto the inside of the screen, there's a one-touch auto-convergence system. Color temperature is adjustable with three settings -- high, medium, and "NTSC standard." Three "program pallette" presets let you have a series of pre-adjusted picture parameters, including contrast, brightness, and color. The three settings are Standard, Movie, and Sports. Even the least-expensive Sony direct-view TV's, such as the KV-27S42, have three program pallette presets. The better Sonys have five.

The two-tuner picture-in-picture feature lets you view a second broadcast channel or video source in a box-shaped area of the main screen. On-screen menus and an "Easy Setup Guide" allow you to conveniently adjust the TV's initial settings. Tuning options include favorite channel, speed surf, and jump channel. A freeze memo feature lets you freeze the on-screen image, convenient if you need to get an address or phone number from a commercial or PSA.


Audio Features

The MTS stereo audio system features dbx noise reduction and pumps 15 watts to each of the sets two L/R speakers. The "Steady Sound" automatic volume control feature stabilizes the audio level, boosting the lows the bringing down the highs. This is convenient for late-night viewing when you don't want to wake up others. The audio performance of the TV is fine for any broadcasts and even adequate for video movie and DVD soundtracks. The TV's "matrix surround sound" feature is designed to increase the sense of audio spaciousness.


Remote

The RM-Y906 remote is quite large, as is the case with all Sony remotes. This back-lit remote can also control TV, VCR, DSS, and cable gear from Sony and other manufacturers.


Inputs/Outputs

The rear panel of the set has a single component-video input, two S-Video inputs, and two composite-video inputs. There are corresponding L/R analog audio inputs to go with each of these. There are also two RF inputs, allowing you to simultaneously connect, and switch between, an antenna and a cable box or satellite receiver. A set of L/R fixed/variable audio outputs lets you feed the set's audio to either an A/V receiver or directly to a pair of speakers. The front panel has an S-Video input, composite-video input, and L/R audio inputs, allowing you to quickly and conveniently connect a camcorder or video game to the set.


Misc.

The 43T70 is Energy Star compliant, burning 165 watts in normal operating mode and one watt in standby mode (standby mode is what the TV does when you've turned it "off" -- meaning it's actually still running, though consuming only one watt, and awaiting the "on" signal from the remote control). The set weighs 132 pounds and its dimensions in mm's are 971.6 by 1060.5 by 508.


Conclusion

If you're looking for a compact RPTV, you like Sonys, and you'll settle for an NTSC-standard TV, you should take a look at the 43T70. Because it's rather expensive for what you get, even though the basic quality of the set is fine, I do not recommend this television. Buying an NTSC-standard RPTV now is like buying the latest horse-cart just before the introduction of the Ford Model A.