Sony KV-32HS20 32 inch TV
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Similar in Standard Televisions
- Screen Size: 32 inch
- Screen Type: Flat Screen
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 16:9 Enhanced
Similar in Standard Televisions
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$1,229.96
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Best TV for the money
Pros
picture quality, accurate and brilliant color reproduction
Cons
heavy! Component video input does not automatic detect 16:9 mode
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Great picture quality and comes with 16:9 mode. Shop around for a good price
live in a condo, so space is limited. Yet I wish to enjoy some good home theater from time to time. My 7 years old 27 inch Sony still works fine but I wanted a larger and flat screen set. Initially I just looking a regular 32 inch Wega TVs which cost less than $1000. But soon I realized that large screen TVs (not High Definition ready) have very visible lines, especially when sitting only 7-8 feet from the TV. After looking a different TVs at the local store, I am convinced that the Sony 32HS20 is what I am looking for.
Picture quality
The main reason I picked 32HS20 over any other set is the picture quality. A local electronic store has a few similar HD ready TVs side by side. I went there on a Saturday afternoon and just took my time to adjust the picture on each and compared, this set simply had the best color, saturation, accuracy and sharpness. If possible, you should do the same at your local electronic store, not every one have the same color preference.
Direct View (solid state tube) vs. RPTV (Real Projection TV)
Although RPTVs has improved significantly from their initial days, their picture quality is still not as good as direct view TVs. For example, the RPTV pictures will get darker when you are not viewing at exactly 90 degrees, while direct view TV picture will still look the same.
16:9 mode
This feature on the 32HS20 basically allows you to have a regular aspect ratio (4:3) and wide screen aspect ratio(16:9) all in one TV. You can now set your DVD players to output wide screen signals. For DVD discs that are anamorphic (or wide screen enhanced), you will get a sharper pictures on this TV than on regular TV. However, if component video inputs are used, this TV can not automatically detect the 16:9 mode. You must use the remote and navigate through the on screen menu to turn on the 16:9 mode. And this must be done every time, which tends to be annoying. Sony should at least have one button on the remote that switch the 16:9 mode on and off.
Unique feature
One unique feature on this TV is the PIP. Actually it's not Picture in Picture, it's two screens side by side and you can adjust the size. I prefer this over regular PIP, because one picture is not partially blocked by another.
32HS20 Vs XBR450
XBR450 is Sony's top of the line TV, costs two to three hundreds more. It's only real advantage over the 32HS20 is the 3:2 pulldown feature, which processes interlaced signal into progressive signal. I choose the 32HS20 because I rather use the two hundred dollar saved to buy a good progressive DVD player, such as the Panasonic RP56. All progressive DVD players also have the 3:2 pull down feature and most of them will do a better job than the XBR450. This is because the DVD players process the 3:2 pulldown directly in digital domain and output analog signals. While the XBR450 gets the analog signal, convert it to digital domain, do the 3:2 pulldown, and finally convert it back to analog signal. With each conversion, a little bit of original information are lost.
Price
Shop around and you can get a good price. Fry's electronics in the Bay Area had this unit for $1499 a while back.
Picture quality
The main reason I picked 32HS20 over any other set is the picture quality. A local electronic store has a few similar HD ready TVs side by side. I went there on a Saturday afternoon and just took my time to adjust the picture on each and compared, this set simply had the best color, saturation, accuracy and sharpness. If possible, you should do the same at your local electronic store, not every one have the same color preference.
Direct View (solid state tube) vs. RPTV (Real Projection TV)
Although RPTVs has improved significantly from their initial days, their picture quality is still not as good as direct view TVs. For example, the RPTV pictures will get darker when you are not viewing at exactly 90 degrees, while direct view TV picture will still look the same.
16:9 mode
This feature on the 32HS20 basically allows you to have a regular aspect ratio (4:3) and wide screen aspect ratio(16:9) all in one TV. You can now set your DVD players to output wide screen signals. For DVD discs that are anamorphic (or wide screen enhanced), you will get a sharper pictures on this TV than on regular TV. However, if component video inputs are used, this TV can not automatically detect the 16:9 mode. You must use the remote and navigate through the on screen menu to turn on the 16:9 mode. And this must be done every time, which tends to be annoying. Sony should at least have one button on the remote that switch the 16:9 mode on and off.
Unique feature
One unique feature on this TV is the PIP. Actually it's not Picture in Picture, it's two screens side by side and you can adjust the size. I prefer this over regular PIP, because one picture is not partially blocked by another.
32HS20 Vs XBR450
XBR450 is Sony's top of the line TV, costs two to three hundreds more. It's only real advantage over the 32HS20 is the 3:2 pulldown feature, which processes interlaced signal into progressive signal. I choose the 32HS20 because I rather use the two hundred dollar saved to buy a good progressive DVD player, such as the Panasonic RP56. All progressive DVD players also have the 3:2 pull down feature and most of them will do a better job than the XBR450. This is because the DVD players process the 3:2 pulldown directly in digital domain and output analog signals. While the XBR450 gets the analog signal, convert it to digital domain, do the 3:2 pulldown, and finally convert it back to analog signal. With each conversion, a little bit of original information are lost.
Price
Shop around and you can get a good price. Fry's electronics in the Bay Area had this unit for $1499 a while back.
