Picture (when it works).

V*E*R*Y low quality. Sound is not all that great. Non-existant customer service from Sony. Very heavy.

Beware of this TV!!

Don't get me wrong, the picture is great and flat screen is great too. I really liked the way DVDs looked on this TV. Menus are rich, you can tweak a lot. Sound quality is not all that great, but is OK.

HOWEVER, this TV is of V*E*R*Y poor quality. Sony evidently does not care about quality any more. I mean - I go through 4 TVs in total within 30 days???

Within a month, I went through 3 Sony Wegas, as I had to take them back because of pink stripes and then lastly (just today) because the right bottom corner turned green. I have no speakers around my TV, and they tried to degauss it, and it was still green. This happened on the 29th day since I bought the TV - so I replaced it with a JVC.

Calling Sony customer service? Good luck... after endless navigation through phone menus, you get a busy signal. And I tried more than once too...

No more Sony - no thanks. Dragging this thing to the store for 3 times, exchanging it every time... I did not need this any more. It might be just flat screen models that have problems, but I am not willing to try...

Clarity

blurry and pinkish on the side of the screen

Does anybody notice the pinkish spots on the side of the screen and the blurry edge on the both side of the screen. These are apparent with the white back ground. Is it cable a problem or the way Wega is? Beside these annoying flaws, the picture is fantastic.

16:9 Enhanced mode, component video in, vivid colors, clear picture, semi-affordable price (for a WEGA), flat screen

weak sound, black level

This television is phenomenal. When I went to my local SONY store, they didn't have this model, and the older 27" WEGA they did have cost way too much and came with far too little--the price was upwards of $800, it only had one S-video input and no component video, no 16:9 enhanced widescreen mode to play anamorphic DVD's on like the XBR WEGAs have. Then I went to Best Buy to check out the Toshiba models, and I ran into this model. It was like a dream come true--this TV was far better than the 27" WEGA I saw at the SONY store, and it cost $200 less!!

This TV comes with component video, which I used to connect my Toshiba SD-2200. The image quality was fantastic--I'm not sure how it compares to S-video because I've never used a DVD player through S-video, but it was far better than composite (obviously). Then I hooked up my Dreamcast through the single S-video input on the back, and that looked great too. There were 2 more composite video inputs left, so I used the back inputs to connect my VCR and the front inputs to hook up my Playstation; so, this TV has tons of video inputs, unlike most other 27" TV's out there.

The picture quality is great. From reading other reviews of WEGA sets on this site, I was kind of worried that I might get a lemon, but this set is great--as another reviewer mentioned, it seems like the people who get lemons are a lot more likely to voice their opinion than those who get sets without any problems.

When I first turned the set on there was a teal-tinted spot on the right side of the screen, but after about half an hour or so it disappeared (I guess the tube just had to warm up). The very top of the screen is also a tiny bit brighter than the rest of the screen, but I think this might only come from the DVD player; regardless, it's not very distracting, and it's really the only imperfect thing about the TV so far.

As expected, the TV came with the contrast turned WAY up, but I ran through the Video Essentials DVD and got the picture looking great in darkness, although it looks a bit dim when there's a lot of ambient light in the room (I had to set the contrast pretty low to avoid blooming and geometric distortions, though the image still looks pretty nice when the contrast is turned up). I'm not utterly amazed with the level of black on this TV--it changes when the picture level changes, and unless the rest of the room is totally dark, it's hard to get really deep blacks. Regardless, the picture is clear and even mouth-watering, particularly when the room is totally dark. There also don't seem to be any noticeable geometry problems, though I didn't actually run the set through any test patterns on Video Essentials to find out.

Also, there are 4 different picture presets that you can modify: Standard, Movie, Vivid, and Sports, so you can have separate picture settings for each input source if you want. You can also turn off Velocity Modulation Scanning or even set it to a low or high position. I actually like VM for my Dreamcast and PSX games because it makes them look more "digital" (although it really does introduce some noise into the picture), so I set the VM to low when I play console games and I turn it off completely when watching movies for a softer and more film-like image. For those who don't like the WEGA's characteristic "digital" picture, turning off VM and lowering the sharpness a bit really makes the picture look a lot more like a traditional television set, I think.

The speakers are nothing to write home about; I hooked up the $150 Altec-Lansing computer speakers I got a few years back and they sounded much better. The "virtual surround" mode the TV comes with actually sounds pretty nice, though of course it's no replacement for a real surround system.

I don't watch regular TV much (I only use a set for watching films and playing console games), so I can't say anything about cable or broadcast image quality, as I haven't even hooked up an antenna to the set yet.

The surprise feature that came with this TV was the 16:9 enhanced mode. I didn't even know about it when I bought the TV because it wasn't advertised, and I ran into the option when I was looking through the setup menu (the menu interface looks beautiful, by the way). This allows me to play anamorphic DVD's at full resolution, instead of having my DVD player scale them down and add the matte to fit my screen (which is what normally happens with 4:3 TV's). This causes a phenomenal increase in picture quality, and I just can't get over how much better my anamorphic DVD's look with it turned on.

So, all in all, this TV is the best 27" I have ever seen, and it's surprisingly a great value for the money. It cost me $599, about $100-200 more than the other non-Sony sets I was looking at (mostly Toshiba and Panasonic), and that extra money was well worth it. I'm really glad Sony lowered the prices on their smaller WEGA sets while adding more features at the same time.

Similar Products Used:

Sony WEGA KV-27FV15, similar Toshiba products

incredible picture, sturdy build, INCREDIBLE features for this price!!!

some issues when the screen is totally black, some "smearing" with high contrast text onscreen

quite simply, i love this TV! for the price i paid ($599), this is a STEAL. You get s-video AND component inputs, 16:9 squeeze mode (which looks beautiful with anamorphic dvd's!!), the ability to disable Velocity Scan Modulation from the main menu(!), tilt correction, and a variety of viewing modes if you like multiple "situtations" to watch different types of programs. I leave those alone and just watch it in normal mode after calibrating it with video essentials. the picture is AMAZING, better than any other TV i've ever seen. Dreamcast, DVD, and DBS look especially good on it. Geometry is as good as i've seen on any TV before this one.

after calibration, there were still some very minor issues with the black level that just couldn't be corrected for some reason. There is a slight rise in brightness towards the top of the frame when the screen is TOTALLY black, but this doesn't seem to affect the brightness in any way when anything's on screen. Also, when the screen it totally black, there is a small vertical strip on the very left of the TV. These only show up when there is nothing onscreen and if you are relatively close to the screen. This doesn't effect 99% of viewing situations. They are small prices to pay for the amazing picture otherwise, and the incredible features you get on this very cool TV. Not to mention it's a very cool looking set visually.

i'm using both the s-video and component inputs. Both look amazing, i can't quite distinguish any differences yet though between the 2 (probably because this is only a 27").

sean

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba 27", Sony Trinitron 27"

Everything possible, except (see weaknesses)

Sound

I upgraded from a 1980s 19-inch GE. I love this TV. The picture is great, plenty of inputs, and it looks sweet. The only problem I have with the TV is the sound. When I watch movies, the voices are low, and the score is extremely high and tinny. It makes listening to the TV through the supplied speakers painful. I didn't listen to the other reviewers when they went on about how bad the sound is because I thought "How bad could it be?". It can be pretty bad. I don't know that the sound factor would convince me not to buy this TV, but I am VERY disappointed by it. I got a great deal through sears. They price matched an internet site, no questions asked. Pretty sweet. Haven't tried DVD yet, this review is based on VHS (VHS that sounds just fine through the receiver/speakers of my stereo)

Picture, Style, Ability to turn of VSM

VCR picture sux. Other than that...none.

I have only used Sony Televisions in the past. I prefer the 27 inch televisions overall as they seem to me to show the best picture. So I was amazed when I saw this television at Best Buy sitting next to the regular Sony's and the Pansonics and Toshibas. It stood out from the others. Not only in Picture Quality, but in design. Very modern looking. I shopped around and got this same TV for a lower price at Ultimate Electronics for $567.00. I had always wanted a WEGA set, but was hesitant due to all the reported problems, but so far out of the box I have no complaints. No geometry probs. Nothing to complain about. I know people complain about the sound quality, but anyone who would buy such a high quality television surely wouldn't listen to the sound from the internal speakers anyway. I don't have dolby anything, but listen to the sound from my trusty Kenwood Stereo. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting a high quality 27 inch television. You won't be disappointed!! I only have it hooked up by S video to my DVD player, but the picture on that is still astonishing. But the picture on my VCR leaves a lot to be desired, but that's probably due to the fact that VHS sux anyway.

Similar Products Used:

Only Sony Televisions

Wide viewing angle, good color saturation, on-screen menu, component video in, good looks/compact design, low glare

average sound/poor stereo separation

Amazing television with tons of asthetic appeal to go along with the fantastic picture. I use a Toshiba 1200 DVD with component video output which produces a nearly perfect picture with fantastic, bright/saturated colors without the geometry problems of earlier models. I haven't noticed any problems with blacks or whites but I don't pretend to be an expert. I don't think you could go wrong with this set. The on screen menu allows for tons of tweakin' but the standard settings are right-on.
BTW I purchased it on outpost.com for retail but with free shipping/no tax; the set arrived repacked in perfect working order.

Similar Products Used:

none

Great picture, flat screen, cool looking

none you get what you are paying for

I shopped around for a very long time, wanted a Wega screen but with the prices they had I did not think it was worth forking out $300-400 more. But when I found this model for $569 at Bestbuy I had to get it the picture is awsome it makes DVD movies look beautiful as well as my dreamcast. This TV is worth every penny, the screen actually looks bigger than it is.

Similar Products Used:

None

crystal clear video quality when hooked up to dvd via. s-video connects. it's almost 3d! Great price at supreme. allegedly world's best wega prices!

slight geometric distortion of horizontal lines.

For the price & quality (did i mention CLEAR?) there is no better to be had short of HDTV. Take it home and fondle it now!

Similar Products Used:

(Old) sony triniton, Zenith 19"

I can't believe that I can have this set without being a millionaire. It blows away any other TV. Every time I go to a store and see it next to other TVs I say "I have one of those".

Picture is great with digital cable, and a knockout on DVD.

If you're thinking about buying a TV for about $300 - have a garage sale, raise some money, and get this one instead.

No weaknesses whatsoever - This is top of the line stuff for only $600 - unbelievable. I ended up paying $566 after getting my "difference plus 10%" price match when Circuit City put it on sale for $569 - but it's worth $800. Awesome.

None - are you kidding me? Not one shred of buyers remorse.

Get it. If you're middle class you can afford this and you won't be sorry. I don't know why Sony is retailing this so cheap. 24" costs only about $50 less, and 32" costs about $300 more. The 27" is an awesome value.

Similar Products Used:

Just normal old 25-27 inch TVs, crooked round dull ones.