Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-26S3000 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV

Other products by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 25.8 x 3.8 x 17.8 inches ; 23.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 34 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B000P6R6CO
• Item model number: KDL-26S3000
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,982 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 15, 2007

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Savor the rich colors and superb high definition picture quality of a digital LCD?and enjoy it at an incredible value. The KDL-26S3000 BRAVIA S-Series digital LCD television delivers improved color performance and several picture enhancements thanks to the BRAVIA Engine full digital processor. And the Xross Media Bar on-screen menu system makes is simple to quickly access setup functions and features. For the ultimate convenience, BRAVIA Theatre Sync allows you to control your specially-equipped Sony HDMI components with the touch of a button. Sit back and enjoy an unprecedented level of depth, color and clarity with this 32" Class (31.5" diagonal) BRAVIA S-Series digital LCD HDTV. Beautifully styled and built to the highest standards, this television adds class to any room while its picture makes watching your favorite movies and TV programs even more enjoyable. With the BRAVIA Engine full digital video processor, you immediately notice improved color and sharper details, no matter what you're watching. For uncompressed, all-digital audio and video integration, this HDTV features HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) and PC connectivity that lets you seamlessly hook up compatible PCs and components to the large display. An innovative light sensor also monitors ambient light in the room and automatically adjusts screen brightness, making it much more comfortable for viewing.

BRAVIA Engine Full Digital Video Processor
BRAVIA S-Series LCD televisions use Sony's BRAVIA Engine full digital video processor for crisp and clear images. Several special picture enhancement technologies are integrated into the processor to create better gradations with more detail, enhance contrast, and dynamically improve color performance. > Digital Noise Reduction Circuits: Reduces block noise and mosquito noise by using pixel-level filtering to reproduce a clean and clear picture. And Motion Vector Noise Reduction reduces just the noise in the video signal for video further reducing unwanted noise and blur artifacts. Digital Contrast Enhancer circuit: Improves contrast by enhancing all areas from dark to bright in parallel with texture control providing a three dimensional picture. > Color Reality signal processing enables the expression of all the colors of life in vivid detail for dark and bright scenes. Details in dark areas of the picture are there, just like they are supposed to be.

Live Color Creation (featuring WCG-CCFL)
Live Color Creation is a special Sony function that achieves precise, wide color reproduction using a combination of advanced chroma signal processing algorithms. A special wide color gamut backlight (WCG-CCFL) is coupled with Sony’s Live Color Creation circuitry. The benefit is clear blues, natural greens and overall vibrant colors in all scenes.

Xross Media Bar (XMB) On-Screen Menu System
Xross Media Bar is Sony’s Emmy Award2 winning on-screen navigation that provides quick access to various set up functions and features. For instance selecting different types of media is made fun and easy by scrolling horizontally across icons until you find the type of media you are looking for. After selecting the media type, a list of its content appears as vertical thumbnails. Key set up menus and features work the same way. The main benefit of the XMB is that users can navigate through on-screen menus without taking their eyes off of their TV.

DMe Compatibility
DMex compatibility allows the connection and operation of a whole new category of products that is being developed by Sony (sold separately). The first of these products is the optional BRAVIA Internet Video Link module.

BRAVIA Theatre Sync
BRAVIA Theatre Sync reduces the hassle and time consuming job of powering up, changing the signal routing, and adjusting other functions to the simple push of one button. All you need to do is to connect BRAVIA Theatre Sync capable products to each other via one HDMI cable. The rest is easy. For instance, the One Push Play function activates by touching the play button on the remote and BRAVIA Theatre Sync takes over from there. The BRAVIA Home Theatre System and TV turn on. The DVD input on the BRAVIA Theatre system and TV activates. The TV mutes. And finally the DVD plays. There are two other BRAVIA Theatre Sync functions - One-Push Theatre Settings, which provides optimal picture and sound settings for movies and One-Push System Shut Down for turning off the entire home entertainment system.

BRAVIA Internet Video Link
The first DMex product to be introduced to the market is the DMX-NV1 BRAVIA Internet Video Link module (sold separately). BIVL, as it is affectionately called, can stream available Internet video from select content providers directly to your TV with a broadband connection3 without the need for a PC.

S-Force Front Surround
S-Force Front Surround is a virtual surround sound experience made possible using just two front speakers in select BRAVIA models. To accomplish this, Sony spent several years studying how our ears work. By understanding exactly how we recognize the origin, direction, volume and timing differences in sound right and left ear, Sony was able to create complex audio processing that delivers dynamic virtual surround sound without the need to bounce sound off walls and back to the listener.

HDMI and PC Connectivity
Designed for maximum versatility, Sony’s BRAVIA S-Series Digital LCD TV line is equipped with a comprehensive range of input interfaces. The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI technology supports enhanced or High Definition video, together with multi-channel digital audio to provide matchless image and sound reproduction. The HDMI and PC inputs (HD-15-pin) offer easy connection to your PC, allowing you to use your high resolution BRAVIA S-Series Digital TV as a computer monitor.

Light Sensor-2
Intelligently adjusts the screen brightness to match the ambient light in a room, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience. In a dim room for example the screen automatically reduces brightness making it much more comfortable for viewing.
Freeze Function
Sony’s Freeze Function is a useful function that allows you to temporarily freeze the picture in a separate screen while the programming continues to display. This comes in handy when you want to copy a recipe, phone number, etc. that flashes too quickly across your screen. Simply touch the "Freeze" button on the remote control and copy the details down at your convenience.

Product Description
BRAVIA Engine� Full Digital Video Processor --- BRAVIA� S-Series LCD televisions use Sony's BRAVIA Engine� full digital video processor for crisp and clear images. Several special picture enhancement technologies are integrated into the processor to create better gradations and details, enhance contrast, and dynamically improve color. HDMI� and PC Connectivity --- Designed for maximum versatility, Sony's BRAVIA S-Series Digital LCD TV line is equipped with a comprehensive range of input interfaces. The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI technology supports enhanced or High Definition video, together with multi-channel digital audio to provide matchless image and sound reproduction. The PC input (HD-15-pin) offers easy connection to your PC, allowing you to use your high resolution BRAVIA S-Series Digital TV as a computer monitor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice TV, even if a bit pricey, July 16, 2007

By	T-Rev "V.A. China" (N.P.R. Florida) - See all my reviews

Never really concentrated to much on the sony products because of the prices of them. For the money, you can get a larger sized samsung like a 32", or for the same size TV you can save big bucks by going with a westinghouse or other bargain priced TV's sized at 26" which is ideal for a bedroom. After purchasing a 26" westinghouse and not being extremely happy I bought a 32" Vizio. Still not satisfied, I left the bargain TV basement and took the plunge and bought this TV. Wow, what a difference. At $300-$400 dollars more than the westy, I'm not sure if it's that much better if tied to a budget, but if you've got it (cash), get it (sony). As far as specs go, read the description, but rest assured this TV is really nice. Sound is better than expected for a 26", menus are nice, picture is B.A. On XBOX 360, the best and most graphically demanding game is by far Gears of War. This TV makes it look incredible. The darks are dark enough in the spooky parts unlike other TVs I've tried out which looked washed out and lame. This set really makes the whole thing look alot better. I have been switching between the 3 presets (vivid, cinema, standard) and haven't made any tweaks yet exept for turning on the dynamic lighting. I'm sure you could make the picture even better with some adjustments but it's unnecessary.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great LCD TV, October 3, 2007

By	ALKJ (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

I am very happy with the sony lcd tv. I narrowed down the 26" lcd tv's to a couple and checked them out at local stores. I liked the picture of the sony over samsung which was my 2nd choice. plus the sony did not have large speakers on the sides or bottom making it too large for the small opening in my entertainment center. the price was comparable and sony quality has always been good for me.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony remains the best, January 4, 2008

By	Robert McGuire (Middlesex, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I spent several months researching LCD HDTVs before ordering the 26" Bravia S-Series from Amazon. Replacing a 27" CRT, the new television needed to fit in my existing media armoire. My chief priorities were picture quality and build quality.

I looked at several brands sold by my local warehouse club. The Sharp models seemed to reveal many artifacts from HD sources, and the plastics used - plus the cheesy remotes - left much to be desired. Samsung's offerings had substantially better build quality and fairly good picture; however, nothing compared to the 32" Bravia S-Series on display. I then went to a local electronics store and checked out the 26" Bravia in person. Sure enough, it was just a smaller version of the 32" and retained its superior picture. For comparison, I also looked at the mass-merchant Sony model, the Bravia KDL-26M3000. Though better than almost every other brand on display, I was reluctant to forego the S-Series' 6000:1 contrast ratio for relatively little savings.

I was very happy to then find Amazon's price-no tax and no shipping-which beat every other quote I found. Within one week of ordering, the Sony arrived. As stated on the order page, these televisions ship in original packing, and there was a large hole on the box, directly in front of the screen. Fortunately, upon unpacking, everything looked perfect. I hooked the television up using the existing composite video cable that connected my stereo, the Bose® 3.2.1, previously my "input selector" between DVD and cable box. I completed the "quick set up" and was amazed by how good the SD signal looked. I then connected the television directly to the coaxial cable. I am Verizon FiOS subscriber, so I am able to watch unencrypted SD and HD content with the internal QAM tuner. The "Add digital channels" feature takes about half an hour, as the on-screen menu lets you know. It mapped about 100 offerings, including HDTV. I was blown away by "America's Test Kitchen" on PBS. The detail of the food being prepared made watching the program an entirely different experience. But to get all my channels, I reverted to the SD box, though using S-Video. Verizon does not compress their channels, so results might vary, but nearly every channel looks near-DVD quality. My DVD player, in progressive scan mode through the component inputs, looks even better. I've also used my HD camcorder, the Canon HV20, and purchased a Xtremehd 2M HDmi To Dvi Cable cable for my MacBook Pro. The Mac detected the "Sony TV" as a display and adjusted its resolution automatically. I"m now able to use FrontRow and watch Hulu with impressive quality. The many inputs - nine, to be exact - ensure that even this small set will be viable for years to come.

My only frustration is very minor. Sony WEGAs are able to "lock" on inputs so that you skip the internal tuner. Unfortunately, I am unable to remove "TV" from the input menu, resulting in static if I choose that by mistake. Considering the flawlessly polished user interface, I'm disappointed that Sony did not include this feature.

Bottom line, though I always research every option, Sony remains the first-choice for electronics. If you want HDTV in a modest size, this is the television for you.