Sony KV-36XBR250 36 inch TV

By no means does this TV suck, it's outstanding. It's as good as I would imagine any TV to be when you are shelling out this kind of money ($2000). I just have some issues about lack of video inputs.

By the way, I'm not Big Bank Hank and I did not buy this TV. It's my investment banker roommate's monstrosity. Call me lucky. I helped my roommate plan and hook it up so I find myself very opinionated about this matter.

LET ME OPINE:
There are four total video inputs, one component video and two composite, on the back and one composite on the front of the TV. This seems like more than enough but to me it is a bit misleading. Each input corresponds to a video input control in the TV menu. The problem here is that the first composite video input shares the s-video input. You can use one and not the other, and the s-video takes precedence.

rear video input #1 - composite/s-video - s-video to DVD
rear video input #2 - composite - VCR
rear video input #3 - component video (Y/PB/PR) - EMPTY
front video input #4 - composite/s-video - EMPTY

If it is understood that you do not use the front panel clearly because you do not want unsightly wires hanging out of your TV face, AND you don't use component video, then you only have two usable inputs.

Shouldn't that be enough? Well, sure, but in my situation, I am lacking an input for two other components:

#3 - the Sony Playstation (PSX) and
#4 - the onscreen menu for my A/V digital receiver (also belongs to my roommate).

This is frustrating since it is no easy task to move the 200+ lb. jurassic beast to change jacks when you have a Gran Turismo 2 (PSX game) fix you need to satisfy. Also, this is an expensive TV, and I should not be having these common problems.

Don't get me wrong, I am not one to kick and moan and not do anything about it. I rigged it so that ALL components go through the A/V receiver, which has many more inputs and outputs. I had to sacrifice a certain key TV feature in order to do this.

Picture in picture (PIP) is now useless. It was always useless for watching TV/TV because you can't do it with a standard single output NYC cable box. With this current setup, I can't play a movie while watching the Yankees playoff scores, or things of that nature. Once I hit TV/VIDEO on my TV, all controls are relinquished to the A/V receiver, giving up all TV control extras like PIP and PIP with sound control. Kinda sucks.

I also question the A/V receiver's circuitry. I am now running video, digital video and sound, through the receiver, then to the TV, rather than directly from DVD to TV. Is this the best setup for the cleanest picture possible? I've heard and read things that say this is never the best idea, but I can't say that I can notice a difference.

I also have remote control clutter. Fortunately, I had a friend show me how to program Sony's universal remote to work for the cable box and VCR and thankfully our DVD is a Sony. Here's a review on the Sony DVP-S560D:

http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-6DE5-20279259-39EC5EC5-prod3

Still though, my receiver is JVC (another possession of my roommate) and cannot be controlled by Sony's universal. The universal is also not advanced enough to single-handedly control the DVD while it is playing. So I have three remotes: TV, DVD, and A/V, laying out on my coffee table, taking up about one full square foot of space. Wah!

From watching TV to playing a DVD is a four step process:
1 - press TV/VIDEO on my TV remote
2 - press DVD DIGITAL on my A/V receiver remote
3 - press PLAY on TV or DVD remote
4 - adjust volume on my A/V

I guess more luxury means becoming more lazy! What's funny is that I don't even remember how many steps it took before the Sony Wega entered my home. All I know is that I have a great big TV to provide me with hours of mind-numbing, gut-softening activity.

My comments about picture quality: It's great. Black is black on this TV, not some funky dark gray shade. Detail is so clear that the high contrast from black to white does not strain my eyes. This TV (XBR) is more expensive than the standard (FV) Wegas, because it has filter circuitry that reduces digital scan lines and pixelation normally found on high-resolution monitors. This results in ultra-realistic, smooth imaging, at least from a digital video source, like DVD.

Sound quality: don't bother with the integral speakers. If you don't have the sound system to go with the TV, you shouldn't let this TV take up any valuable real estate in your $2000/mo. studio apartment, nor should you have any of the problems I've described. We went with the Bose, ultra-low profile center channel speaker which fits perfectly on top of the Wega.

Our TV came with infrared headphones - nice touch although a bit tight. The TV also came with a fitted stand, although I'm not sure that it was optional. It's black laminated / painted particle board and quite necessary if you don't have any other load bearing furniture in your house to accommodate the TV. It's got a couple of shelves and glass doors, fairly unobstrusive and perfect for videos and Playstation. Oh yes, and by the way, the TV, and entertainment setup we have is so satisfying, that it inspired us to get a new couch.