Great looking set (picture and style), verticle compression for anamorphic DVDs

Picture has to be setup by an expert, Sony support sucks, high price

This is my third post of this product (see other "Little Dirty Johnny posts). Since my original problems I have not received *ANY* help from Sony. They have basically said live with it.

As for the review by Gary Lester, you need to realize that stores do not setup and configure televisions properly. On top of that, there are many other settings that must be tweaked in the confines of a *very* dark room.

The geometry problems are *very* hard to see if you are not looking at test patterns designed specifically for those settings. The uneven contrast cannot be seen unless you are in a nearly pitch black room.

The bottom line is that 9/10 of these sets have this problem. In fact, I have not seen *any* of these sets in the store that did not suffer from the same problem that I and countless others have seen.

The last time I spoke with Sony they hung up on me because I was attempting to speak with someone higher than the entry level person. This type of service is unacceptable and will lead me to *never* by another Sony home audio/video piece of equipment again. I have struggled to get these problems solved for over 7 months. In case you do not read my other posts, I have had repair men come to the house, had the television in a *Certified Sony Service Center* (I use that term loosely) for over 2 weeks, and have had the set replaced to still experience the same problems!

Luckily I purchased the full-blown service plan from Circuit City and I can exhange this TV for something else at any time because of this problem. The rumor is that the Sony Wega XBR300 will be out in a month or two and *should* correct these problems. I would suggest to anyone looking at these sets to wait until that model comes out or purchase something else. Better yet, save up and get a real HDTV widescreen if you have the money. Check out the Theater Wide from Toshiba.

BTW, I also have two friends that have the same set from the year before - they have no problems. It is a design flaw in this series.

You can email me at keith@clearcommerce.com if you have any questions. I answer about an email a week from people who are having the same problems I am.

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Hitachi 53", Sony 32" Trinitron

Great picture, especially with DVD

Velocity scan modulation

I was able to pick this unit up locally for about $1750. Upon getting my set, I hooked it up and expected visual bliss immediatly...WRONG! This set took quite a bit more attention to setup than I had initally given it to get top quality performance. First I gave this Custom A/V in Texas a call (830)625-6745 to speak to the famous Mike and get some pointers on set up and to give these Canare component cables a try. Mike told me several little known setup tips to get me on my way. I also ordered a set of the Canare cables. These cables are great! I was told what I would see diferent with these cables, and thats what I got. Better color transitions, Zero color shift, and higher color saturation to name a few. I'm highly impressed with these cables. I also had an ISF tech come do a calibration on this set as well. Let me say this, What I have now is a beautiful, I mean BEAUTIFUL! picture, especially on anamorphic DVD material. Initally this TV did not really knock my socks off, but now it looks so good, I have zero reservations about my purchase.

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Toshiba CN36z71

Picture quaility when works

everything

I have had nothing but problems from this TV and recently sony choose the wrong person to P*** off. My XBR has the shading problem that others have talked about and after 2 attempts to repair the unit SONY says that it is with in design spec to varing areas of grey and black across the screen. Needless to say that is not right and I am sure if anyone at sony had to watch this TV they would change the design spec B S. Well I am over it and will be buying from another vendor and brand !

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Panasonic Toshiba

Super Color and Definition.

Too big to take home in an SUV.

Just Bought today - but almost didn't.
Some joker screwed up all the settings. Seems the "Movie" mode works best for in store viewing. Because of all the splitting of the signal to so many TV's and RCA jack connection - it was hard to see this TV at it's best. I went ahead and learned how to tune the settings myself and got the regular broadcast reception to a point were I could compare it to other tv's. Also had the guy put in a DVD - then I was sold. ALWAYS CHECK WERE THE SETTINGS ON THE TV ARE BEFORE YOU JUDGE THE QUALITY. IT ARRIVES SUNDAY WILL FOLLOW UP.

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Sony Trinitron 27"

VERTICAL COMPRESSION,3D-YC COMB FILTER,BLACK LEVEL RETENTION,LOOKS IN THAT ORDER.

WEIGHT, MINOR ISSUE, IT BELONGS ON A STURDY STAND THAT LOOKS AS GOOD AS THE T.V.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT THIS IS THE BEST ANALOG T.V ON THE MARKET AND THAT ALL THE PROBLEMS LISTED IN PRIOR REVIEWS ARE TRUE AND ANYBODY WHO WRITES THAT THEIR T.V. DOES NOT DISPLAY THEM ARE JUST TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THEM. BUT THEY ALL CAN BE FIXED WITH LITTLE EFFORT ON YOU PART NAD NO ISF TECH EITHER. PROBLEM ONE IS THE COLOR BANDS ON DVD'S WHILE USING THE COMPONENT INPUT NUMBER FOUR. THE SOLUTION IS TO GET IN THE SERVICE MODE AND CHANGE THE FACTORY SETTING OF THE HOSC FROM 7 TO 12. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET INTO THE SERVICE MENU CALL AND ORDER A SERVICE MANUAL FROM SONY WHICH IS CHEAP MONEY AND A MUST FOR A T.V. OF THIS CALIBER. NEXT IS THE BLACK BAND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN OR UNEVEN BLACK LEVEL AS IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN OTHER REVIEWS. THIS CAN ALSO BE CORRECTED IN THE SERVICE MENU BY SETTING THE Y-DC TO ZERO FROM ONE. IF YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF JAGGED YARDLINES ON FOOTBALL GAMES IT CAN BE IMPROVED BY DISSABLING THE SCAN VELOCITY MODULATION. THESE CHANGES ALONE ALONG WITH CANARE COMPONENT CABLES WILL GIVE YOU AN OUTSTANDING PICTURE TO SAY THE LEAST NAD THESE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES I HAVE HAD TO MAKE AND I AM PICKY. THE 3D-YC COMB FILTER WILL DO MORE FOR YOUR CABLE SIGNAL ALONG WITH DISSABLING THE SVM THAN ANY ISF TECH COULD DO. THE VERTICAL COMPRESSION OF AMORPHIC DVD ENHANCED OF 16:9 FORMAT IS STUNNING AND REALLY LIKE LOOKING OUT A WINDOW. I HAD THE 36FV15 FOR THREE WEEKS AND FOUND THAT SETTING THE Y-DC TO ZERO DID IMPROVE THE UNEVEN BLACK LEVEL BUT NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS THE XBR250 AND ALONG WITH THE VERTICAL COMPRESSION AND 3D-YC FILTER MAKES THE XBR250 A STEAL FOR 200 MORE DOLLARS BELIEVE ME.

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KV-36FV15

Flat screen looks cool

PRICE

I love this TV. The picture does look a little wavy up close but from my couch looks great. The anamorphic option while playing DVD's is absolutely fantastic. When used in conjunction with movie mode it looks absolutely beautiful. I love the way it makes my Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 games look also. I will update my review as soon as I get my DSS put in and I will advide how that looks then.

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Panasonic 27 Superflat GAOO

Flat Screen, Great DVD picture, cool looking

Horrible "Regular TV" picture (Especially Sports), Price, The fact that the TV is not setup correctly out of the box.

Help!! I've spent $2000 on a DVD only TV!

I don't know what to say. I was one of the biggest fans of this TV but it has let me down in a big way. The only thing that looks good on this TV are DVDs. If you try to watch regular TV the picture is just horrible, especially sports. Unbelievably, my 10 year old 27 inch TV has a better regular TV picture then my Sony WEGA.

It looks like I'm going to return the WEGA but before I do, does anyone know how to actually work the service menu? Is there any documentation (on the web or anywhere) on using it? It has a lot of parameters that I have no idea as to what they do. I'd like to try using that before I send this TV back.

I don't understand why we have to pay an Imaging Science Foundation Technician to come to our houses and FIX (yes, fix) a brand new $2000 TV? Call me crazy but I think its insane.

I truly hope that others are having better luck with this TV then I am!

Take care!

Anamorphic DVD playback, comb filter

Sony quality control

BE PREPARED FOR DISAPPOINTMENT when your KV36XBR250 is delivered to your house. I work for a west coast retailer which sells these televisions. Despite all the negative comments found in this forum regarding this television, when I saw the set's comb filter at work and what it can do for anamorphic DVD's, I ordered one. This despite every Sony piece of equipment I ever owned failed prematurely. A couple days ago, before the delivery of my XBR250, I crossed paths with a delivery guy huffing and puffing an XBR out of the stock room. I made mention of my recent order for the unit. He looked at me and asked, "You've heard of all the problems we've been having recently with the 36's, haven't you?". Crap, I thought. He told me that four of the last five he delivered would power up, but display no picture. This morning when my television arrived, the delivery man told me he has gotten into the habit recently of saying a few XBR prayers before he plugs the television in and powers it up. Well, God must have been on strike, because my television was DOA. He said that over 20% of KV36XBR250's as of late are DOA in this fashion. Apparently, Sony has finally admitted to them there is a problem (as if they needed affirmation as they wheeze and grunt 20% of the sets back into the delivery trucks!). Second hand info is coming out that the sheer weight of the sets, combined with insufficient circuitboard bracing, is causing a circuit board to crack during freight handling. The delivery guy told me that he delivered five sets to one customer before one worked. So be warned, Sony has a reputation for substandard workmanship, which traditionally gets a bit worse around the Christmas rush, and this years disaster is shaping up to be the KV36XBR250. But in the end, hey, I still want that XBR picture, so once I get a unit that actually works, my five-year in-home extended guarantee hopefully will pick up where Sony faithfully leaves off. For one to buy a large Sony television without an extended in-home guarantee is either very foolish or ignorant indeed.

Vertical compression ... Awesome picture ... Best non-HDTV picture ...

Sony's quality control ... White bars ... Geometry problems ...

Problem number 1 ... The first set delivered me had no picture ... Now I don't mean the picture was bad ... There was no picture ... I had audio but something was wrong w/ the picture ... So right off the bat I'm not happy w/ Sony's quality control ...

Problem number 2 ... Geometry ... Tough to notice this one but while watching football I notice the yardlines on the field look curved ... I also notice the picture looks skewed
... While watching any t.v. program that presents a horizontal bar on the bottom of the screen I notice the left side is about half an inch lower than the right side ...

Problem number 3 ... White bars ... On a totally black screen ther is a lighter (grey) bar that covers 8" on the right side of the screen ...

Those things being said I feel the rest of the t.v. is great ... I could do w/ out the speakers as they sound very boxy ... I used Video Essentials to get my color in order and this thing tuned right in ... Great colors ... I also am ordering the Canare Comp cables so I'll let you know how that works out ... I'm going to have an ISF tech calibrate my machine and I'm sure the Geometry problems will be history ...

After all that I'm still somewhat pleased ... Don't really mind having an ISF tech calibrate it but it stings a little considering the cost of this machine ... I paid $1875.00 ...
This price reflects a reduction for the first t.v. not working ...

Picture, sound and features

Picture... when it fades to black showing its uneven black bars, and when its totaly white showing discoloration in the lower left hand corner.

I am Going to call sony later today and see if I can get a tech out to do some work on my set. From what I have read on this site the minor problems CAN be fixed. The picture detail in video games is very good. The picture on Dvd movies using the component jacks is excellent. Watching football though is CRAP.. seems almost TO sharp... hopefully this can be fixed by sony... if it does get fixed the TV is a 5 cause I can put up with the blackness problems... these problems cant be fixed the tv is only a 3 there for im giving it a 4 with the verdict still being out... if anybody knows how to use the service menu to adjust these problems please post it here. Ill post back after I get in contact with sony... so do I recommend this tv? buying it for video games or dvd.. yes, buying it to watch tv... hell no!!!

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Own two other Sony Tvs including a 32" Xbr from three years ago, that seems the have a better picture then this 36"