picture quality, remot, s-video, looks

very expencive for its size

I belive that this is by far the best 20" telivison you can buy. With a screen size of 20" it is unnessisary to bye a hdtv monitor, because the pixels are jamed so close together the picture is almost as good as high-definition. This tv is great for a bedroom, it is just the right size and looks biger than it really is. i would recoment this tv for anybody who needs a bedroom tv or don't have the money to buy a 32" or 36" in wega.

Similar Products Used:

32" trinitron wega

Picture(!), Excellent Remote, S-Video input

Lack of component video input, price

I got this TV for Christmas last year and it has definitely proven to me the sheer quality of the Trinitron Wega line. The 20" screen is really a bit too small for anything but bedroom viewing, but the picture looks much larger than a comparable curved screen television.

Even for a 20", this TV is very heavy. It has turned out to be the perfect size, since I have moved quite a bit in the last year and its very space-efficient in my apartment bedroom. This TV probably weighs 40-50 lbs. As a comparison, the 36" Wega XBR weighs about 250 lbs.

As far as picture quality goes, I could not be happier. The only limit seems to be the actual quality of the broadcast or DVD transfer. I had the pleasure of watching "The Fifth Element" from the Superbit Collection on this TV yesterday. What an incredible picture (even with composite video)!

As far as sound, I've never had a problem with it. Then again, my surround sound system should arrive this week and I imagine once I have it up and running I will be a lot more disappointed with the standard speakers on the TV. Since I'm an HT newbie, I really don't have anything to compare the sound to.

The amount of connections is fair. One S-video input (I'd have liked two), and composite video in/out. I use S-video for my DVD connection, but if/when I buy a console game system, I'd like to be able to use S-video with that as well without switching cables. Then again, a good receiver/pre-amp should handle that for you in a 5.1 situation. The only thing I am disappointed in with the connections is the lack of component video. For the price now ($379 +/-) I probably shouldn't be disappointed, and I'm not sure it would make a difference using progressive on a 20" screen anyhow.

Overall, this is an excellent television that anyone who needs a small, but excellent quality, television should own. I had no problems out of the box, and even after being banged around in 4 moves it still functions flawlessly.

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VERY old RCA TV / 36" Wega

perfectly flat screen. brilliant, clear, and beautiful picture.

heavy and hard to move, geometry problems (needed tweaking to fix). speakers lack, but if you're visiting this site you shouldn't be using the TV's speakers :p

I've been using my KV20-FV12 for a year now and I have loved every moment of it. I would have liked to get the 24" but being in a dorm room and having to move around a lot, I opted for the 20". I'm glad I made that choice, as 20" is the perfect size for my room - the 24" would probably have been too big.

Of course what I really wanted to take advantage of was the S-Video input (something hard to find on 20" TVs a year ago). The picture when playing my PlayStation2 or watching DVDs really took my breath away. It still does - it amazes me (especially when I compare it to other TVs) exactly how good this set is. I have to put it real straight: IMO this is the best picture on any 20" set available today.

When a product is this good, I like to focus on the negatives, especially negatives you don't find out until you get home. The most annoying thing about the TV is its weight - this thing is hard to move. If you have to change dorm rooms every year (or possibly more frequently) like I do, expect some serious moving work.

Another frustrating problem was geometric problems out of the box. I hate it when any product is not perfect out of the box. Given the number of complaints on usenet (and even on these review forums) applying to flat screen TVs of virtually all manufacturers, I guess this is anectodal, but still. Of course I did a little research and found out how to adjust things using the service menu, and in no time my picture was adjusted to perfect condition.

On a side note, since people reading this review probably have the same considerations, a few of my friends here at my university have opted for the Panasonic Tau or Toshiba flat. The Pansonic Tau's picture is pretty much as good as the WEGA, but what I notice is the Tau has more edge convergence problems (which are more annoying to me than the slight geometric ones my WEGA had). Of course if these don't bother you, then that isn't an issue, and I'm sure the Tau has service modes which allow you to resolve these issues just as I was able to resolve the problems on my WEGA. I would definitely recommend demoing both the WEGA and Tau (preferably at a place where you can fool around with the settings) before choosing one over the other.

The Toshiba flat, though, really shows that you get what you pay for in the video/audio industry. I have nothing against Toshiba (heck I own a few of their other products) but I don't know a single person at my university who bought one who hasn't returned it and gone for either the WEGA or the Tau. My personal experience trying to remedy friends sets' were that convergence problems on the Toshiba can't be fixed even in service mode - it seems, no matter how much I tinkered, that something was always not perfect. Also, the system seriously pushes red. The only thing going for the Toshiba is its component input, but if that's your reason for buying a TV, then I seriously believe you are going about TV shopping the wrong way.

I would write a review for the Toshiba, but given I've never actually owned one, I don't think I have the right - same goes for the Tau.

Anyhow, if any of you have questions, feel free to e-mail me. I've helped out many of my peers with information about TVs and I'm happy to do the same with audioreview users, especially since I myself have gained so much information from this site.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic Tau, Toshiba flat

Picture, sound, remote, S-video connection, ability to turn down or off velocity modulation.

Lack of connections, weight, price, slight humming/buzzing sound from speakers (heard at lower volumes).

The model I bought is actually a 2001 model. I really like it overall. The picture is very nice, once it's calibrated . The Panasonic 20SX10 is from their flat screen Tau series. In terms of connectability, the panasonic wins hands down (S-video in front!!), but I returned it because the velocity modulation was so high and it couldn't be adjusted or turned down (the picture doesn't look too good with the edge enhancement) and the speaker hiss/buzz was worse than the sony's. This Sony is very solid. No problems with geometry on my set and it's very easy to use. S-video looks great too. The price is a bit steep and it does lack in the connections department, but it still is a great TV. I sure do wish Sony would add an s-video input up front and an extra composite in the rear too (like the panasonic).

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic CT20SX10 flat screen

Picture quality, ease of options

Sound, no caption on mute feature

I have used this WEGA for about one month, it is a set in the bedroom. The size is perfect and the picture quality is outstanding. I have none of the geometry problems mentioned in some of the earlier reviews. My Panasonic flat-screen has all sorts of problems with straight lines, esp.
in the corners, the Sony has no apparent deflection.
The sound is fairly weak and the stereo not audible except
on headphones. My model is the 20FS12 which is 50$ cheaper than the 20KV12 which features an s-cable and surround sound. I can find no option that lets you have captions when the set is muted, which is great for phone interruptions.
I love this set, but beware of Sears. The first set I purchased was cracked on the front left side, Sears was easy to deal with to get a new set BUT I believe the first set had been a prior return since the menu was set to Spanish and other strange options had been pre-set.
Overall, I recommend the SONY at 20", but look at a flat screen Panasonic for larger televisions.

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Panasonic flat screen 27" television

S-Video, picture very clear...maybe a little bright, but I haven't tooled around with it yet.

Can't keep it on! Might get a Panasonic if this trouble continues.

SUMMARY:
The first KV-20FV12 which Crutchfield sent me wouldn't even turn on. So I sent it back free and they were very nice and sent me a replacement. This one works but does indeed turn itself off for unknown reasons. I had it on tonight and within 45 minutes it turned itself off twice! What the heck is going on? I called Crutchfield and they said that they had never heard of it. I said I think I've read some reviews of the Wega's where this happens. He says, well, you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. I said, first I read it and know it happens so I believe it! It's within the 30 days (actually within the 15 days of the 2nd set), so I might return this one (!) instead of trying to get it repaid. Please email me at onedogwoof@earthlink.net if

Very sharp, clear picture.

left side of the screen there's geometric problems when looking at vertical images. Looks like this (

Video is excellent except for vertical images on the left side seem to bow to the center and goes to the right both top and bottom. Like this -> (
Audio is tinny. Has bass and treble with noooo midrange. OK when listening through an receiver and good speakers.
Could use more Video/Audio inputs. When you use a DVD, VCR and satellite receiver you have to buy a video and audio switch box. I watched A Bugs Life on the TV's in the showroom and nothing came close to this set for clarity and detail. The movie doesn't show much in straight vertical structures to see problems like mentioned above. If only we could see a grid to judge sets for geometric problems. I've called for service but so far no schematics so they don't know what to do.

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NEC 20" I'd buy another if they still made them.

GREAT picture
Useful options (timer, 2 inputs, etc...)
GREAT remote for a 20" TV
S-video input

No component video input

Amazing 20" TV. It is totally worth the money, even though you can buy a good 27" for the same price. I paid $530CAN = $350US not including taxes. I love the look, and the construction of the TV. I output my computer's video to the TV and play games, and it looks awesome. Good sound, although I output it to my receiver as well. No problems as previously indicated in other reviews.

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Panasonic 20"
RCA 20"

Picture

Had Geometry problems stated in my report 6/27/2000

I had Geometry problems on an earlier report but just want to state that it was fixed onsite. Fixed without tearing apart. Digital adjustment done by technician and test equipment. I am now very pleased with the picture, it is the best 20" on the market. Still need more inputs and outputs for a set in this price range, other than that perfect!

Similar Products Used:

Nec 2020 Monitor/TV