Great colors, detail, almost flat screen, features

Awful geometry, convergence, quality control

There is another post of mine on this page that gives 4 stars to the Wega -DISREGARD IT!!! I hadn't really given much time to the set, so I hadn't noticed any serious problems. After spending more time with the TV, I have noticed many geometry problems that are exremely annoying! First of all, the set seems to be unable to display a SINGLE straight line anywhere on the screen. Horizontal - vertical geometry is mainly out of whack... The second geometry problem is the infamous linearity or, in layman's terms, "wavy picture" problem, a.k.a. the "stock ticker madness". This problem makes the image look wavy, sort of like the image is a flag in the wind. It is not noticeable 90% of the time and only I can see it - other members of the family can't. You can see it when letters scroll across the screen - they resize oddly. You can also see it on animation, when images pan across the screen. Some problems I have managed to correct thru the service menu... but I'm still unhappy with the performance of this set. I wish Sony would listen and do something.

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Many other TVs

Great picture for broadcast, and DVDs especially in 27in model. Excellent user mode features for adjustments, but not to videophile desires

Audio quality much weaker than picture quality, but consistent with competitors.

I have had this since October. I can say that once I got the picture modes adjusted to my preferences, it is outstanding for viewing in 6ft to 10 ft range. Really like picture mode feature that lets me preset four different modes. Got it set for CAT with two different station quality levels, DVD BW movies and DVD colors movies. Using those four settings I am happy 90% of time. I'd rate this a strong 4 out 5 on picture quality. I have never found built in TV set speakers good enough to listen to regularly. Minimum requirement for this TV is NHT super ones with and NAD C-340. Great start combination would this 27 Wega, Pioneer DV414, NAD C-340, NHT Super Ones. You could go whole lot further on the audio investment and not exceed the picture delivered by this Sony.

Tiny quibble is the lack of Component Video inputs.

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previous 27XBR

I had steered clear of the Sony Wega because I had known that early models had problems with the picture. I needed a new TV, however, and after spending a week looking at different TVs I was drawn back again and again to the Sony Wega.
It seems that with the new 1999/2000 Wega televisions Sony has overcome many of the problems which afflicted the early models.
The prices have also been reduced, you can pick up a 32" Widescreen Wega for £1299 - I managed to get this down to £1079 with bargaining, which is amazing considering that last year when the Wega was released the asking price was about £3500.
An integrated digital version is also available, although this costs several hundred pounds more. To be honest with digital satellite/terrestrial receivers being given away for free it really seams a waste of money to spend extra to get the same thing in a single box and I think Sony has a bit of a cheek doing this.
Initial setup is automatic and so very easy, although some people may find picture fine tuning a little fiddly to begin with. My picture didn't require any adjustment at all, although if you need to tweak it the menus provide adjustment of just about everything including picture rotation.
Setup aside it is simply the best TV picture I have ever seen. It is the sharpest and most well defined I have come across, and I understand this is through Sony's use of a specially designed electron gun.
With digital broadcasts in widescreen it almost looks as if you are peering through a glass window not watching TV. There is no TV (apart from the Panasonic Tau) that even touches it in terms of picture detail, sharpness, colour and resolution.
The flat screen also reduces reflections and unlike many TVs it is easy to watch in bright artificial light or day light.
The TV also looks great in its brushed aluminium finish and build quality is excellent.
The remote is a standard Sony remote and matches the colour of the TV. It is simple and easy to use.

Only really minor niggles. It's heavy (about 70Kg) so unless you're a bodybuilder you'll need someone to help you lift it.
A 32" Widescreen picture is not as big as it sounds, although this is not really a fault of the TV.
The fact that the picture is so excellent means that it can show up deficiencies in the source material. To be honest, watching analogue television is not really a pleasure as you can see all the inconsistencies in the picture, noise, ghosting etc. If you plan to watch analogue TV only then it's not worth buying the Wega as it ruthlessly revealing and will highlight the deficiencies of the format.
No picture in picture (I understand this varies according to the country, and is not common on UK TVs).
Only 2 Scart sockets (the originals, I understand had 3). It would be nice to have an S-VHS socket on the back of the TV as well as the front. Connecting the DVD player to the front socket looks untidy. I don't quite understand the point of having it at the front, how many people have S-VHS camcorders? Like me, most people use S-VHS sockets to connect home cinema equipment like DVD players so if you're going to only put one socket on the TV it would make sense to put it on the back.
The remote, though matching the colour of the TV, is a standard Sony plastic job which doesn't really match the quality of the TV. A specially designed backlit controller would have been more appropriate.
However most people using it, particularly for home cinema, will more than likely have a single backlit programmable remote to control all of their equipment with one handset(I use the Marantz RC5000) so this isn't too much of an issue.

Sony seems to have ironed out problems with the original units with the 1999/2000 WEGA TVs. For digital TV and DVD there is no competion. The Wega is the best TV you can buy. A bargain at £1299 and you should be able to haggle to get discount.
For analogue signals look elsewhere unless you plan to get Digital TV soon or have a DVD player.

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Similar TVs from Philips, Loewe, Panasonic, Toshiba and Hitachi.
Of all the alternatives the only other model that I considered to rival the Sony Wega was the Panasonic Tau widescreen TV. This seems to be basically a clone of the Sony and has the same high-quality flat picture. Unfortunatley the Panasonic was about £700 more expensive than the Sony at £1999, and paying more for what is basically the same TV is ridiculous so I went with the Wega.

Outstanding, clear and crisp picture. Beautiful color rendition. Good looking cabinet.

Extremely Heavy
Would be better if it had a shallower depth
The remote, like most Sony's is difficult to use; unlike JVC or Samsung's remote, you need the lights to see which button to push, and if you are over 40, you better have your reading glasses handy. When is Sony going to make an ergonomically designed remote that allows a user to pick the right button solely by touch?

Very nice sharp picture, excellent color rendition. The remote is poorly designed .. you will need to turn the room lights on to use it and you may well need reading glasses to right the nearly illegible type. It's a pain and a continuing weakness for Sony's otherwise stellar products.

As indicated above, I would have liked a shallower, and less heavy TV. Had I been able to get those I would have bought the 36" TV in a heartbeat. But, due to wall unit depth and weight restrictions, I had to settle for a smaller size set.

Overall, a beautiful TV. If it works half as long as my Sony Pro-feel 25 inch monitor (purchased in 1980 and still running) I will be a happy camper.

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JVC 27"

Great Picture, Flat Screen, Loads of features incl. PIP, lots of inputs - outputs

Some geometry problems, slow response to remote control commands

5 months ago I bought a Sony KV-32FD1 Wide Wega after I read all the rave reviews on magazines and the internet. Well, I can't say I have regreted my purchase - a lot. While it does have the finest picture I have ever seen on a tv it's quality is ruined by a few significant geometry problems. Fortunately, you won't notice them most of the time. And the good news is that most can be fixed through the service menu. As for the picture beeing horizontally rotated to the left or right that many people have, I say check the menu!! There is a "Picture Rotation" option there!

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All of the other Sony Wegas

Great crystal clear image, the audio is great for being a TV

Expensive and kinda heavy

The image quality is great for DVD and DTV, just don't forget to customize the image so you don't get extremely colored images (grass that looks green spray painted or an extremely blue sky).

I would not recommend for use from other sources (it's not worth the price because of the image source).

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Mitsucishi 28", Sony Trinitron 28"

I have a 27" wega (vega it has a double v) I'm on my 3rd one. I'm working with Sony to get one that works right. They are supposed to be kept flat at all times I found out. The first one C.C. had me drive it home screen down messed up geometry and picture. The second one C.C delivered and carried in end up messed up but not as bad as first. The 3rd Sony delivered brought it in on a dolly and kept it flat the whole time geometry was good lines was almost srtait hardly noticable but the picture was bad fuzzy and was not correctable with menu. I'm waiting to hear now about getting a 2000 KV-27FV16, 2000 are not out yet or just starting to come out. So for anyone who thinks thay have a year 2000 think again there will even be a 13" wega! I will write again when things work out and hope they send me a 2000.
Thanks for your time.
Chris

The picture mode function is very nice and usefull. You can change it from standard,vivid,movie,or sports for the most accurate and sharp images.

I feel the Sony Wega KV-36FS10 should have a 16x9 aspect ratio viewing setting.

The clarity and detail is unmatched. the flat tube technology does reduce screen glare and picture distortion. The closest thing that I've seen to the quality of this tv is the Mitsubishi HDTV but we can't compare them due to totally different technology.

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The last few tv's we've had have been Sony's but the Wega is like they say! "It's like watching tv for the first time."

vega

it is too damn good

vega vega vega vega vega if you don't buy this product i will have the company increase its prices and you won't be able to buy discmen for under 5000! if you don't believe that i am actually the managing director then here is my entry password= 2235824*

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vega

excellent picture, numerous inputs, front panel inputs

HEAVY, THE STAND IS A PIESE OF JUNK

the best 36 inch tv i have ever seen. Iuse dss and this tv shines. you will not be dissapointed.