Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-32S5100 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I AM UNABLE TO EDIT MY STAR RATING OR I WOULD DOWNGRADE IT TO TWO, MAYBE THREE STARS!!!
I bought this for my bedroom last week and am pretty happy with it. I have a 40" XBR2 in the family room and this model's picture is surprisingly comparable. I bought it through Amazon for MUCH less than BB or Sears. I do have a couple issues that prevent me from giving it five stars: first, it takes quite a long time for the picture to appear when you turn it on and switching inputs takes even longer than my XBR2. The other peave I have is setting the sleep timer; on most TV's there's a dedicated 'Sleep' button on the remote. On the S5100 you have to hit the 'Tools' button on the remote, select 'Clock/Timers', select your sleep time, then press the 'Menu' button to clear the on-screen menu. Wow! All-in-all, neither of those are that big of a deal, but the next issue is the one that's provoking me to call Sony Customer Service. There is a significant amount of noise in the TV's audio output -- especially at low volume. It sounds like the signal is over-modulated, but at higher volume levels it's not as noticable. I haven't tried a set of external speakers to see if the noise is still there, but I have tried component, composite, and HDMI inputs all with the same results. Perhaps I'll update this review with the results of my call to Sony.
UPDATE 5/1: I called Sony about the audio issue; they wanted to send out a technician. I opted to have J&R swap out the TV but the same exact problem exists on the replacement. I guess I'm going to take Sony up on their offer to send someone out. I can't tolerate this problem considering it is our bedroom TV and is often used at low volume levels.
UPDATE 5/19: I just finished packing up the unit to return to J&R, who have been great BTW! The Sony tech acknowledged the problem and said that Sony tech support would probably tell him to replace the digital audio board, but unless the board has been redesigned he didn't think it would resolve the problem. Sony Customer Service refused to help in any way; I asked for a refurbished XBR6 (last year's only 32" 1080p model) to replace this unit, and they said no. I asked for a discount on a new XBR9, and they said no. As the owner of several Sony products, including a 40" XBR2 and a 36" Wega, I am really quite surprised by Sony's unwillingness to help resolve this issue. My brand loyalty has been shaken, and I will think twice before I buy another Sony product. BTW, I'm looking at the Panasonic and Samsung 1080 32" models as a replacement.

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Sony’s S-series TVs put amazing picture quality and stunning dynamic contrast in reach for value-oriented consumers who want to step up into the Sony Full HD 1080p experience. These TVs represent the entry-level models in Sony’s large screen offerings in 2009 and offer the superior resolution and contrast, advanced image processing features, and variety of HD input options available on high-end BRAVIA HDTVs -- all in an affordable package. With three HDMI connections, you can hook up a Sony PlayStation3 entertainment system, Blu-ray Disc player, or any other HDMI-capable equipment and get uncompressed digital video and multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. You also have numerous other HD connection options, including YPbPr Component inputs as well as a PC input for using your laptop or desktop PC with your big-screen HDTV. No matter which HD source you use, the exclusive Sony BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor ensures that images look sharp and brilliant. With BRAVIA Link compatibility, you can easily expand your high-resolution home theater set-up with optional BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA DVD Link, or BRAVIA Input Link Modules. And BRAVIA Sync makes controlling everything a snap. Additionally, BRAVIA S-Series HDTVs exceed Energy Star 3.0 requirements by incorporating advanced power saving features, such as Light Sensor technology that adjusts backlight intensity based on ambient room lighting conditions and Dynamic Backlight Control that adjusts backlight intensity based on the brightness of the image on the screen. Utilizing these features can reduce power consumption by up to 60% in a typical home theater environment.

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Sharp Aquos LC46D65U 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)Shazaaam! We went from a 15 year old, 28-inch Hitachi CRT to this puppy and couldn't be happier. Granted, the cheap thrill is less than a week old (Boxing Day special) but the screen speaks for itself. Why didn't we jump at the better rated Samsung or Sony 46 inchers? Price! I honestly can't see that big of a difference -- if any -- in picture quality over the others and they normally cost hundreds more. To calibrate your 46D65U, start with the online CNET review of the LC52D65U and use the recommended settings given in the blog link. Then fine tune the levels as you get better acquainted with the big screen. The banding issue of the older models? Gone. Or at least I haven't seen any bands so far and neither have recent reviewers. I find the remote control very easy to use once you know where everything is and can't believe the reviewers who whine about the remote's size etc. If you don't like the color in a particular show or movie, it's extremely easy to pull the menu down on the screen and quickly adjust things to improve the picture quality.
We set this black beauty up in less than an hour (getting it safely out of the box and onto the stand took most of that time) and have been watching our old DVDs and VHS tapes as a test before purchasing a newfangled Blu-ray player. Sure the old stuff isn't as sharp as a 1080p hi-def source but it was still more than acceptable to our old eyes -- surprisingly so. In fact, I've decided to go with the Toshiba DVR7 DVD/VCR combo player with the upconvert feature so I don't have to abandon my huge pile of old VHS tapes and DVDs. If the DVDs upconvert to a better quality image that's even half close to hi-def we'll be more than happy. The VHS tapes will have to play as they are since they can't be upconverted. Hopefully, Blu-ray players will be significantly improved in the coming year or two and tempt us out of our old ways. [UPDATE: See my review of the Sharp BDHP21U blu-ray player...we went that route instead and are happy we did.]
Bottom line: With this TV you get a nice big screen and full HD capability. If you're traditionalists like us, you may be delighted to find that the LC46D65U also brings new life to old technology!
UPDATE UPDATE (early February): New firmware available online for the companion BDHP21U Sharp blu-ray player which will fix any current play issues with the latest blu-ray DVDs. What I LOVE about the Aquos Advantage is that they phoned me and personally alerted me to that new update after I lodged a complaint about not being able to view my WALL-E blu-ray several weeks ago. Tip to Sharp: Keep those firmware updates rolling in on a weekly basis, not every few months!!
Also note that if you are wavering between the Sharp LC46D65U and the similar 85U (the more expensive 120Hz model), CNET noticed no discernible real life difference in blurring between the two. Verdict? Save your money and go with the 65U. I watched the Superbowl with it and saw no blur. My family is loving it! UPDATE on blur comparison late March: Went into Best Buy yesterday for the latest Bond DVD and had a critical look at the 65U and 85U which were conveniently wall-mounted side by side. Quite frankly, I couldn't see any difference between the two in terms of color, saturation or blur during sports sequences including twirling snowboarders midair (and the 85U has 10-bit color and 120Hz). I did think the top-end 800 series Samsung beat them both hands down, but then it's more than double the retail price (and three times what I paid for my 65U on sale). Does that Samsung provide triple the viewing pleasure? Not in my (pocket)book!
I also note a recent reviewer handing the 65U a pitiful 1-star rating because it was "Very contrasty, lots of digital noise". Huh?? I suggest learning how to properly calibrate your set before low-balling this beauty with a trash score. See above for info on CNET link.
Along the same whining "1 star" lines comes a reviewer who says the unit is contrasty and pumps out heat. Well, again, I'd use the CNET review to tweak your settings. If that didn't turn your crank then go spend double or triple on another make. Pumping heat? I live in a cold climate and if the unit actually did produce heat, I'd be more than happy to report it! Holding my hand a few inches from the set, I felt virtually nothing. I should point out that all recent Sharps are Energy Star compliant and are produced in a solar powered "green" factory to boot. That's one of the reasons I bought a Sharp. Although plasmas are known to have better darks and contrast, they're also bulky, suck energy and pump out heat. Last week, the 65U was going out the Amazon doors for under a thousand bucks with free shipping for cripes sake. It may not be perfect, but you can't beat that for value.

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The AQUOS LC46D65U sets a new standard for large-screen flat panel TVs. With Full HD 1080p resolution and an elegant new design, it produces a breathtaking picture quality that is second to none. The LC46D65U utilizes Sharp's proprietary Advanced Super View/Black TFT Panel with Spectral Contrast Engine, providing high Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 6ms response time and wide viewing angles (176¿H x 176¿V). The LC46D65U is HDTV with built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC tuners and include 5 HDMI¿ inputs, compatible with 1080p signals, and 2 HD 1080p component video inputs. The LC46D65U features a sleek piano black cabinet with subtle recessed bottom-mounted speakers. The included table stand easily removes for wall mounting applications.

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Sony Bravia EX700 Series 60-Inch LCD with LED back-lighting HDTV (KDL-60EX700) Review

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(More customer reviews)I got my 60ex700 yesterday and I am really happy with it. It is a great TV. There was a little flashlighting and uniformity is not perfect but it seems you can tune it quite a bit. There are an amazing amount of settings and I have it set to be more than acceptable for me. Great price on a great TV. Contrast is great with deep blacks and white whites. The motionflow is great also.
Furthermore, the sound is acceptable for normal viewing and much better than I expected due to all the people dissing it. I have a nice theater 5.1 setup but I don't want to use that for everything and the sony sound is just fine.
Netflix and internet stuff is great, the remote is fine. This technology is getting so good we are really picking nits at this point. I just hope it is engineered to be reliable and long lasting because I intend on having this in my living room for the next 6-10 years.
I am sure you can spend a lot more and buy a better TV with better picture quality but for this price... killer TV.
The only downside is the TV is so damn thin and light that I feel nervous holding the bezel when I have to put in the inputs. It is solidly built but it just looks so fragile.

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Enjoy Full HD 1080p, incredible contrast and smooth motion performance with the slim Edge LED backlit Sony BRAVIA EX700-Series LCD HDTV. Connect to the internet and instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV shows, videos and music using apps from Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, Slacker and more.

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Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-L26X1 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews) We replaced an 18 year old 27" CRT set with this one and it's a beauty. I am a TV news cameraman with thirty years in the business so I look at a lot of high end monitors at work.
When I went to the store I didn't expect to get a great set in this size and frankly 720P didn't excite me much either.
After looking at top tier sets from Sony, LG, Samsung, Toshiba and Mitsubishi I ended up on the Panasonic.
I was shocked at how good all the upper tier sets looked but the Panasonic seemed to have a little better detail down in the blacks and seemed to track highly detailed scenes with less digital noise than the others, but it was close accross the board.
The off air ATSC tuner is excellent and the set has all the inputs you could reasonably need. I do not intend to plug in an iPod so that wasn't a factor in my choice.
My DVD player is older and does not pass audio through the HDMI output so I connected it to the set via the component outs and I feel no need at all to upgrade to a BlueRay player. At this size this is a wonderful combination.
My general feeling is that if you watch a lot of HDTV that is live or tape such as sports then Panasonic flat screens just seem to pull a little more quality out of the signal. For movies it is more of a level playing field.
This is pretty subjective but it's how I see it.
It's amazing how far your money goes in this stuff anymore.

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26" LCD,720p, PC input, 2 HDMI, Contrast ratio 8,000:1, Game Mode, iPod Entertainment Kit

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Samsung LN19A330 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros: A fairly decent set. Easy to set up and get going. Very sensitive analog and digital tuners. Good picture.
Cons: Don't buy this set if you use an outdoor antenna with rotator. The set does an "autoscan" to acquire and memorize all analog and digital channels with the antenna pointed in one direction. If you rotate the antenna to another position, you can manually enter analog channels into memory from the remote's keypad, but NOT the digital channels. In order to view the digital channels at the new antenna heading, you must perform the "autoscan" again... takes about 2 minutes... and the "autoscan" erases and replaces the channels memorized from the original antenna heading. Verified this performance issue with Samsung Tech support. Verified this flaw with sets in two dealer showrooms with Samsung HDTVs. No solution available. Sony and other sets worked fine for manual digital channel entry. This is a serious drawback for an otherwise good set.

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The LN-19A330 720p 19" LCD HDTV (Black) from Samsung is ideal wherever space is tight. This slim stylish screen has an integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner which receives digital terrestrial and cable signals. The HDMI input allows for a one-cable digital connection with your HD gear. The LN-19A330 has a 19" display which features sharp realistic imagery combined with SRS TruSurround XT to bring your movies and HD programming to life. The PC input allows this display to double as a computer monitor when space saving is essential.

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LG 42LD450 42-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)It took me about three days to decide to pull the trigger on this TV after looking at written reviews on Amazon and even some video demos online. About four hours after receiving it and I haven't left my room.
This TV is simply lovely so far. The setup was a bit confusing at first and the stand is not the best I've ever seen but the instructions for setting up the stand were adequate and I was able to get the TV up and running in about ten minutes (the first five of which I sat confused).
Really, the negatives on this purchase stopped after the setup and the stand. Besides the stand, this TV is just pretty. One of the first things that stood out to me was the fact that the screen is so sleek and does not reflect any glares at all. Also, I had read about a terrible viewing angle and I honestly watched this TV from the side with no difference in the picture at all. It's so big that it's practically impossible to have a bad seat in the room that you watch this TV.
If you plan on playing video games on this TV, you will not be disappointed in the least. The only issues I've had with the TV is getting my colors juuuust right, although the "Game" picture setting has sufficed very nicely.
The sound on the TV is great. It is centered and doesn't feel empty in the least. It is a very full and rich sound that will work just fine if you don't have an expensive surround sound system.
After paying [...] and receiving free two day shipping, I am literally ecstatic that I was able to nab such a nice TV. After spending the last three years with a 24" Insignia LCD that was 720p, I am ready to lock myself in my room.
If you are like me and can't shell out more than 500 dollars for an HD TV, this is the TV you want to pick up right away. I simply cannot find anything that I dislike beyond the stand itself that makes me rate this any less than 5 stars.
Don't be alarmed by the 60hz refresh rate, I honestly can't see how 60hz is so inferior to 120. Especially when 120hz is almost 500 dollars more expensive.
Trust me, if you are on the fence about this TV -- take the leap. This coming from a 21 year old college student who is now going to be the most popular person on his floor.

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A great way to get into high-definition entertainment, the affordable 42-inch LG 42LD450 LCD HDTV offers 1080p Full HD resolution for crystal-clear detail, multiple AV Modes to optimize the picture depending on what you're watching (Cinema, Sports, or Games), and an amazing 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for more stunning colors and deeper blacks. Other features include a 4ms (millisecond) response time, capability to play MP3 audio files and JPEG photo slideshows from a USB drive, stereo speakers with 20 watts of power and Dolby Digital decoding, and three HDMI inputs.


Key Features
Key Specifications


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Toshiba 19CV100U 19-Inch 720p LCD/DVD Combo TV (Black Gloss) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have numerous LCD TVs but they are all larger than this one. I wanted a 19 inch for ease of portability and the ability to take it on trips and to be used in different rooms as needed. Without getting technical, this unit seems to have a very sharp picture, great contrast and brightness, and a easy to use remote right out of the box. The DVD player seems to be high quality and is worth the $80 extra over a non-DVD model. I'm sure you will be glad you chose this TV...it's a jewel.

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Attractively designed and offering 720p high-definition viewing, the feature-packed, affordable 19-inch Toshiba 19CV100U LCD HDTV (18.5-inch diagonal screen size) is an all-in-one entertainment package that's great for any room in your house thanks to its integrated, side-loading standard DVD player.
Perfect for use as your main television, the CV100U Series features Toshiba's DynaLight dynamic backlight control for deeper black levels, and two HDMI digital inputs for simple high quality connection to cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and more. It's also a great choice for kids and family rooms with the CV100U's Gaming Mode, which offers reduced game control delay and improved reaction time. And the Photo Frame capability with Auto Slide Show is especially useful in bedrooms, dens, and kitchens.
Boasting a slimming tapered bezel and attractive front panel gradation, the new Horizon design creates a more modern, elegant appearance that also matches Toshiba's black glossy Horizon-designed laptops. Other features include MP3 playback via the integrated USB port, a PC input, and a removable stand.

Key Features
720p HD resolution (1366 x 768 pixels)
60Hz screen refresh rate
CineSpeed LCD panel with a fast response speed necessary for cleaner high-action home theater images. A wide viewing angle ensures that you'll have the best seat in the house.
Integrated slot-loading DVD player on the side (compatible with standard DVD discs as well as content burned onto DVD-R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW, and VCD media--including both MP3 and WMA digital audio files)
DVD playback controls include digital picture zoom, fast scan, slow motion, and multi-camera angle selection.
DynaLight Backlight Control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.
Photo Frame capability allows this HDTV to act as both a TV and a digital photo frame. You can showcase your favorite memories as a clear, crisp slide show on the high-resolution television screen--all controlled with just the TV remote.
Gaming Mode takes the gaming experience to a new level by reducing game control delay, thus giving the player improved reaction time and a more realistic playing experience. This is great when used with popular gaming consoles, or with PC games using the TVs PC Input.
Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning allows for tuning of standard cable channels as well as off-air digital broadcasts, in addition to digital "cable-in-the-clear" broadcasts.
Native Mode restores the size of the picture by the 3-5 percent that is generally lost during the normal over-scanning that occurs on traditional sets.
Cinema Mode 24 fps (3:2 Pulldown): This HDTV performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
Color Temperature Control enables you to adjust white balance to achieve the best television picture possible in any viewing environment, or simply adjust the picture to suit your personal tastes. The "Warm" setting delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room, while "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.
Three TheaterWide modes are ideal for displaying HDTV signals as well as enhanced for widescreen television DVDs.

TheaterWide 1: Letterboxed image is digitally expanded 33 percent horizontally and vertically. Useful for reproducing Academy Standard (1.85:1) formatted software.
TheaterWide 2: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 42 percent vertically. Particularly of use when viewing narrow letterboxed images originally filmed in Panavision or CinemaScope.
TheaterWide 3: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 24 percent vertically. Can be utilized when displaying letterboxed images that incorporate narrow bands at the top and bottom of the picture.


MP3 audio and JPEG image playback via USB port on the side.
REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC) allows peripheral AV devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by the remote control.
Bottom-mounted invisible speakers integrated into stylish Horizon bezel design (6 Watts total power; 3W + 3W).
Channel Browser allows you to easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.
Channel Labeling allows you to put station call letters on the screen along with the station numbers, so you always know what channel you're watching
Input labeling enables you to name the individual inputs to denote usage, such as "DVD Player" (instead of having them display as just "HDMI 1" and "HDMI 2").
Removable stand for wall mounting (100mm x 100mm VESA mounting pattern)
Tri-lingual onscreen menu (English, French, Spanish)
Energy Star qualified
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor


Toshiba 2010 REGZA HDTV Comparison
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Toshiba 22LV610U 22-Inch 720p LCD TV with Built in DVD Player, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this unit for our RV for over air HDTV and DVD/DivX, Netflix downloaded Movies. We have it ceiling mounted so it takes up no valuable counter space. Firstly, it arrived 2 weeks earlier than promised (supposed to be released May 1, arrived April 14th), so that was great!
Fired it up, attached it to our RCA, powered, rabbit ears antenna and it picked up 31 Digital or HD channels (we live in the East Bay, between San Francisco and San Jose)some as far away as Sacramento. I'd only been getting 12 channels, using the same antenna set up, on my HP PC with a Hauppage tv tuner.
So far, so good, but it was the picture quality that blew us away!! Now, we have a 42", 1080p Panasonic Plasma with BluRay at home, so are used to high quality, crisp images. This little tv's picture quality is superior to the 42" plasma and the color is 'true'. We've had it hooked up and running for 4 days now, and each evening there are a several bursts of "Wow, can you believe how sharp this picture is?" and "I am so impressed with the picture quality of this little tv!"
Can't speak to the sound quality, as we immediately hooked it up to a small sound system, but it plays DVD's and downloaded Netflix movies like a champ. Channel changing is not sloth like as in the previous model we tried.
We purchased a 19inch Toshiba TV/DVD combo a year ago and returned it because we were not happy with the picture quality or the sluggish response when changing channels - it also cost around $700! We went back to watching TV and Movies on the PC, but decided to try again with this 22inch model. We are absolutely thrilled with the purchase and for almost half of what we paid for a lesser unit last year.

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22" LCD TV with Built in DVD Player

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