Sony KV-32HS20 32 inch TV
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- Screen Size: 32 inch
- Screen Type: Flat Screen
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 16:9 Enhanced
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Excellent flat screen HD-ready CRT TV
Pros
Outstanding picture quality, loaded with fantastic features, very good sound
Cons
Heavy, annoying "power-on" sound, pricey (but worth it if you can afford it)
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Well worth the money. After using it for two years, I can honestly say that $1,500 for the TV AND matching stand was money well spent.
I purchased my Sony KV-32HS20 approximately two years ago, and I wanted to very briefly summarize my experience with the set over the past 24 months.
Scope
This review will NOT attempt to go into the expansive technical detail present in a couple of the other reviews. Those reviews, especially the one from radioguy, were incredibly thorough and provide all of the technical detail a reader needs. Instead, my review will represent a layman's perspective after having the set for two years, and using it extensively for TV, VHS and DVD viewing during that time.
KV-32HS20 vs. KV-XBR400
First, I performed my usual extensive research before deciding on the 32HS20, and during my investigations I was able to almost immediately rule out Sony's more expensive XBR400 line due to simple price/performance ratios. I was able to get side-by-side viewings of both the 32HS20 and the XBR400, and the 32HS20 decidedly won the price/performance battle between them. When viewing the admittedly more advanced XBR set, it was very difficult to perceive an image quality difference for the type of everyday viewing I anticipated. As a result, the additional $300 or more for what primarily amounts to the advantage of the 3:2 pull-down feature when "upgrading" an analog signal to 480p resolution did not seem worthwhile. However, if you are a videophile who simply must have the 3:2 pull-down feature built-in to your TV, the XBR is a fine set if the price premium is worthwhile to you. (Note that most DVD players now have this 3:2 pull-down feature built-in, thus negating much of the need for such a feature within the TV itself.) For me, I was able to save that extra money by going with the thoroughly satisfying picture on the 32HS20 and apply that extra cash toward delivery as well as the rather stylish optional stand (SU-32HS2) that fits the 32HS20 perfectly and adds peace of mind (due to stability, this baby is heavy) as well as functionality (storage for VCR/DVD and game systems, etc).
Picture Quality
Picture quality on the KV-32HS20 is first rate. Bright, brilliant colors, very little artifacting, and sharp details are the hallmark of this set. Add a flat screen for less in-room reflections and virtually no image distortion, and you get a beautiful picture that is very easy on the eyes. I found the direct-view of the 32HS20 to be far superior to most rear project TVs (RPTVs) since every RPTV I looked at had significant loss of picture quality as the viewing angle increased. Finally, Sony's 3-line digital comb filter appeared to me to be top notch and helps deliver exceptional picture quality.
Features
As with most Sony products, this model is loaded with features. While the majority of them will not be used by a large percentage of owners, there are several that require comment.
The dual tuner Picture in Picture ("PiP") feature is fantastic. It is, in fact, a misnomer to refer to it as picture IN picture, since when this feature is activated the Sony actually splits the screen and places the two images side-by-side, so no part of either image is obstructed by the other. You can select which side you want to have the active audio feed by simply flipping the remote's joystick toggle to the left or right. Even better, however, is the ability to resize the two images at will. The default is to split the screen equally and make both side-by-side images the same size, and this is very useful if you have equal interest in both images. However, with the simple flick of the remote's toggle, you can progressively scale one image up in size while simultaneously shrinking the other. This ability is perfect for watching a "primary" image, while "keeping an eye" on the now much smaller secondary video source. Examples of how I have used this in the past: 50%/50% side by side viewing of breaking news from different channels, 60/40 viewing of two almost equally important sporting events during the playoffs, 70%/30% while watching one show/VHS tape/DVD but keeping an eye on the score of a live sporting event in the smaller screen, and finally playing a video game on the large 80% image while monitoring the cable news/sports in the smaller 20% image. This feature is definitely worth paying extra for!
Anamorphic 16:9 enhanced mode makes your 32" 4:3 TV almost as good as a widescreen set. The ability to take anamorphic DVDs and increase the resolution when presenting them in letterbox mode makes for sensational images and very enjoyable movie watching, at a fraction of the cost of a true 16:9 letterbox set.
Finally, for those who prefer the "softer" look of RPTVs for movie watching, there is the Video Mode feature. It allows the user to easily switch between 4 factory-preset picture modes which alter the color tones, brightness, and sharpness of the overall picture quality with settings such as "Vivid", "Standard", "Movie", etc.
Other notable features include a Channel Jump key on the remote, sleep timer, picture freeze, favorite channel preview screens (which cleverly incorporate the PiP feature), Auto SAP, and more.
Remote
The remote is relatively large, but logically laid out. The central joystick toggle makes on screen menu selections, PiP, and other features quite easy to operate.
Sound
The KV-32HS20 has nice horizontal separation of the side speakers, so for those of us without the addition of home theatre audio equipment, we can actually get a sense of stereo separation. Built-in sound quality is very good, and there are a plethora of audio and video input jacks available if you want to hook it up to your complete home theatre system.
Negatives
After two years of use, I can honestly say that there aren't many things to complain about. The beast is definitely heavy, but you have to expect that when you buy a 32" direct-view TV. As a result, I strongly recommend you get a metal stand that can support a TV weighing in at well over 150 pounds.
Sony probably doesn't sell this exact model anymore (after over two years), but I'm sure its contemporary equivalent is still going to be priced at around $1,200 or more. However, even though I paid approximately $1,500 for the TV and stand, I can definitely say that I've enjoyed every minute of use with my KV-32HS20, and feel that if you can afford a TV of this quality, it is definitely money well spent.
Finally, there is one minor annoyance with this TV. When initially turning it on after it's been cold and dark for a while, as the tube fires up a very brief but loud electrical hum/"whump" sound is heard. I assume this is because of its very large CRT, but it does distract people in the room when they hear it. I seem to recall nearly all larger console TVs doing this many years ago, but I was surprised that a newer model like this would have such an archaic "time-to-power-up-that-big-cathode-ray-tube" sound. However, it lasts less than one second, and is only heard when first turning the TV on after a long cool-down.
Scope
This review will NOT attempt to go into the expansive technical detail present in a couple of the other reviews. Those reviews, especially the one from radioguy, were incredibly thorough and provide all of the technical detail a reader needs. Instead, my review will represent a layman's perspective after having the set for two years, and using it extensively for TV, VHS and DVD viewing during that time.
KV-32HS20 vs. KV-XBR400
First, I performed my usual extensive research before deciding on the 32HS20, and during my investigations I was able to almost immediately rule out Sony's more expensive XBR400 line due to simple price/performance ratios. I was able to get side-by-side viewings of both the 32HS20 and the XBR400, and the 32HS20 decidedly won the price/performance battle between them. When viewing the admittedly more advanced XBR set, it was very difficult to perceive an image quality difference for the type of everyday viewing I anticipated. As a result, the additional $300 or more for what primarily amounts to the advantage of the 3:2 pull-down feature when "upgrading" an analog signal to 480p resolution did not seem worthwhile. However, if you are a videophile who simply must have the 3:2 pull-down feature built-in to your TV, the XBR is a fine set if the price premium is worthwhile to you. (Note that most DVD players now have this 3:2 pull-down feature built-in, thus negating much of the need for such a feature within the TV itself.) For me, I was able to save that extra money by going with the thoroughly satisfying picture on the 32HS20 and apply that extra cash toward delivery as well as the rather stylish optional stand (SU-32HS2) that fits the 32HS20 perfectly and adds peace of mind (due to stability, this baby is heavy) as well as functionality (storage for VCR/DVD and game systems, etc).
Picture Quality
Picture quality on the KV-32HS20 is first rate. Bright, brilliant colors, very little artifacting, and sharp details are the hallmark of this set. Add a flat screen for less in-room reflections and virtually no image distortion, and you get a beautiful picture that is very easy on the eyes. I found the direct-view of the 32HS20 to be far superior to most rear project TVs (RPTVs) since every RPTV I looked at had significant loss of picture quality as the viewing angle increased. Finally, Sony's 3-line digital comb filter appeared to me to be top notch and helps deliver exceptional picture quality.
Features
As with most Sony products, this model is loaded with features. While the majority of them will not be used by a large percentage of owners, there are several that require comment.
The dual tuner Picture in Picture ("PiP") feature is fantastic. It is, in fact, a misnomer to refer to it as picture IN picture, since when this feature is activated the Sony actually splits the screen and places the two images side-by-side, so no part of either image is obstructed by the other. You can select which side you want to have the active audio feed by simply flipping the remote's joystick toggle to the left or right. Even better, however, is the ability to resize the two images at will. The default is to split the screen equally and make both side-by-side images the same size, and this is very useful if you have equal interest in both images. However, with the simple flick of the remote's toggle, you can progressively scale one image up in size while simultaneously shrinking the other. This ability is perfect for watching a "primary" image, while "keeping an eye" on the now much smaller secondary video source. Examples of how I have used this in the past: 50%/50% side by side viewing of breaking news from different channels, 60/40 viewing of two almost equally important sporting events during the playoffs, 70%/30% while watching one show/VHS tape/DVD but keeping an eye on the score of a live sporting event in the smaller screen, and finally playing a video game on the large 80% image while monitoring the cable news/sports in the smaller 20% image. This feature is definitely worth paying extra for!
Anamorphic 16:9 enhanced mode makes your 32" 4:3 TV almost as good as a widescreen set. The ability to take anamorphic DVDs and increase the resolution when presenting them in letterbox mode makes for sensational images and very enjoyable movie watching, at a fraction of the cost of a true 16:9 letterbox set.
Finally, for those who prefer the "softer" look of RPTVs for movie watching, there is the Video Mode feature. It allows the user to easily switch between 4 factory-preset picture modes which alter the color tones, brightness, and sharpness of the overall picture quality with settings such as "Vivid", "Standard", "Movie", etc.
Other notable features include a Channel Jump key on the remote, sleep timer, picture freeze, favorite channel preview screens (which cleverly incorporate the PiP feature), Auto SAP, and more.
Remote
The remote is relatively large, but logically laid out. The central joystick toggle makes on screen menu selections, PiP, and other features quite easy to operate.
Sound
The KV-32HS20 has nice horizontal separation of the side speakers, so for those of us without the addition of home theatre audio equipment, we can actually get a sense of stereo separation. Built-in sound quality is very good, and there are a plethora of audio and video input jacks available if you want to hook it up to your complete home theatre system.
Negatives
After two years of use, I can honestly say that there aren't many things to complain about. The beast is definitely heavy, but you have to expect that when you buy a 32" direct-view TV. As a result, I strongly recommend you get a metal stand that can support a TV weighing in at well over 150 pounds.
Sony probably doesn't sell this exact model anymore (after over two years), but I'm sure its contemporary equivalent is still going to be priced at around $1,200 or more. However, even though I paid approximately $1,500 for the TV and stand, I can definitely say that I've enjoyed every minute of use with my KV-32HS20, and feel that if you can afford a TV of this quality, it is definitely money well spent.
Finally, there is one minor annoyance with this TV. When initially turning it on after it's been cold and dark for a while, as the tube fires up a very brief but loud electrical hum/"whump" sound is heard. I assume this is because of its very large CRT, but it does distract people in the room when they hear it. I seem to recall nearly all larger console TVs doing this many years ago, but I was surprised that a newer model like this would have such an archaic "time-to-power-up-that-big-cathode-ray-tube" sound. However, it lasts less than one second, and is only heard when first turning the TV on after a long cool-down.
