Sylvania LC195SL9 19" LCD TV

After the tuner on my CRT TV in my bedroom went haywire, I was in the market for a new TV.  Not having shopped for a TV in ten years, I had an amazing case of sticker shock upon going to the stores and seeing the prices on the new LCD and plasma TVs.  The prices made me consider getting another CRT TV, but the selection was paltry, and I was tempted by the lower weight of the LCD and plasma TVs.  After searching the stores for a model that was not outrageously priced, I happened upon this Sylvania LC195SL9 model.   I could not find any reviews in publications, such as Consumer Reports, on 19 inch LCD TVs.  I looked for online reviews on this model.  Of the few that were available, some were positive while others complained about the sound quality.  Since it was for the bedroom, and I did not expect theater quality sound from it, I figured it was worth the “risk”. 

I must also admit that I’m not a person who has to have the latest and greatest in technology, so I didn’t have rigid requirements for it regarding inputs and outputs.  If you plan on hooking it up to other audio equipment, be aware that there is only one coaxial digital audio output jack.  There are lots of inputs, however:  HDMI, antenna, component video and audio, other video and audio jacks, and S-video.  (I just pulled this from the diagram in the manual, for those of you who may be interested.) 

After three months of ownership, I can’t tell you about its long-term life expectancy and durability.  So far, the TV has operated without a hitch. 

The first thing I DID notice was the quality of the sound.  It is slightly ‘tinny’, if that can be used to describe it.  I almost packed it up and returned it, but I decided to first take a closer look (or, rather listen) at some of the other ones in the price range.  It appeared that most of those units in the price range I was shopping had sub-par sound quality has well, so I decided to keep it.  I can tell you that it is relatively easy to set up, and the manual is helpful in explaining all the features, not that I can remember everything it does.  But, I do remember enough to navigate around its basic functions, and the remote is fairly intuitive.  I have since gotten hi-def cable, which controls most of the TV’s functions, anyway.   Even without the hi-def cable, the picture was surprisingly crisp and clear.  With hi-def, I can appreciate the enhanced picture quality afforded by the hi-def channels, despite the fact that it is only a 19 inch screen.  I have also gotten used to the sound quality; it no longer bothers me as when I first got the set.
 
If you are looking for a smaller TV for a bedroom or den, this model is worth considering.  So far, I am happy with the picture quality and its performance.  If you are someone who demands high quality sound and multiple output types, it’s probably best to look elsewhere.