Customer Reviews

Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-40S2010 40-Inch LCD HDTV

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

**Updated again 9-27-08 - this TV is still just as great as on day one. The only thing I notice after nearly 2 years, is a bit of hesitation and "green screen" for just a second or two when changing channels. Still our FAVORITE TV. I just got the same model in the 32" for our bedroom - price has really gone down!

**Update - over 3 months later and we still love it! I think i like this tv even more now than i did when i first bought it. We have Comcast cable and the hi def sports are great and hi def for Lost and CSI is GREAT! Even standard tv is really nice, but most channels we watch are hi def.

Like everyone else, I've been resarching HD widescreen TVs for a while and finally bought this model yesterday. It was a great value price - it's not top of the line but it's affordable for a quality picture. It only has 1 HDMI and is not 1080i and I really wanted a 46" tv, but I just couldn't fork over that much more money. I was leary of how standard tv would look on the larger 46" - afraid it would be too grainy as many reviews say. Most standard tv does look fine on this tv - bu there is much variation in quality from standard channel to standard channel and even from program to program. Be sure to play around with the display options and color settings on a show-by-show basis. The nice thing about this tv is you have the option to view standard tv in the full widescreen if you want. I LOVE the simple, very very user friendly remote. Just because there aren't a lot of tiny tiny buttons doesn't mean there aren't a lot of menu choice features. NOT AT ALL. The menus are easy to scroll through and easy to understand.

I haven't experienced any on/off issues when switching from standard to hd channels as many reviews on the 40S2000 and 46S2000 proclaim, but I bought the 4yr warranty from BB just in case. I woudn't consider buying such a high dollar electronic without an extended warranty and would only buy from a brick and mortar store since Amazon won't take returns for any reason.

On many of the models in stores, I would try to notice flaws with the sets. On the Toshiba 42", there were flickers on the very top row of the screen on the display models and the standard tv did not look very good at all. Samsung consistently had flickers and lines through the display models and standard tv looked even worse than Toshiba. Now granted, the displays are on 24/7, but still, i think it's an indication of future problems. I wish there were more 42" choices, but I guess the difference between 40" and 42" would not be too noticable. Also the Samsung models consistently seemed "wobbly" on the their pedestals. I guess I figured that Sony would be a reliable and good choice.

All in all, I love this Sonytv - it was relatively easy to set up although if you have Comcast cable and a hi def/dvr box, the set up wasn't exactly according to directions. We can't apply the "digital" choice on the menu - we finally had to page through to "video 6" by pressing the TV/Video button 6 times to get the picture to work, but it's fine now.

Our next hd tv will be a 46" but only after a lot more channels are hi def and a lot more programs within the hi def channels actually are hi def. I'll update this review if I experience any problems, but other than a somewhat frustrating 20-minute setup and the fact that I could only afford the 40", this tv is a great tv with quality "feel" to it and nice nice picture.

I bought this TV in a BF sale. So price was not a factor. Basically I got it for cost or what the current 42" plasma are selling for. I wanted an LCD over a plasma since I have little kids and the burn-in issue was a major fear. The kids will pause the DVR and leave the room 20 times a day. So even with the current low cost of 42" plasmas, I knew I would need a LCD instead of the plasma.

I am a Sony TV fan. I currently have a Sony 32" tube & 43" big screen and have been very happy with the picture and life of these TVs. So for now, Sony is still held in high regards with respect to brand loyalty for their TVs. Sony DVD players, that would be a whole other negative review.

As stated, the remote on this TV is shoddy. I to have issues with using it since I have to press the buttons numerous times to have it switch video options. I would place the remote quality below a all-in-one remote. But, since we will all have cable/sat, this should not be a big issue since we will rarely use this remote other then to switch from TV to games/DVD.

The TV itself is fantastic. Picture quality using component cables from DVR to TV was much better on analog/digital and HD channels then in the store. I found very little jaggedness around the edge of the things being shown as I noticed when looking at them in the store. Analog pictures come in very good using a cable DVR. Digital is very clear. HD is WoW. Remember, I have the 43" 1080i big screen, but this TV gives the HD a whole new life. Even TNT/HD looks great!

780 vs. 1080. The average person will not see the difference. If you have the extra $1000, buy the 1080I version of this TV. The difference is a slight clarity in the picture which you probably will not notice at 8-10 ft away.

These are my issues with the TV. There are a lot of +s, but we all just want to read to see if there are any problems or issues we can not live with before we buy it. Well I recommend this TV and would buy it again, but here's what I had issues with.

Issue one is that this TV only has one HDMI port. Bascially it gives you a better picture and sound using one cable instead of 4-5 cables (3 component and 2 RCA /or/ 1 optical cable for sound) My DVR has a DVI port so I bought a cable to allow me to use this instead of the component cables. Since it only has a DVI on the cable box, I will still need a RCA or optical cable for sound. I bought an upconverting DVD player, have a PS3 and the cable box all have HDMI connections. I purchased an HDMI switch from Monoprice.com ($112)which allows me to hook up to 5 HDMI devices into the TVs one HDMI port. So it is the same as having a TV with 5 HDMI ports! The picture is slightly crisper and the wiring in the back of the TV has gone from about 15 wires(components/optical) down to only four HDMI wires.

My biggest issue with this TV is the DVD playback quality being played on it using my progressive scan DVD player. I was a little disappointed because the picture is a lower quality then if I played the DVD using my big screen. It's still good, eqivalent to the digital cable channel picture quality, but it lacked that crisp perfect picture I was expecting and looking forward to. UPDATE-I bought a Panasonic S52 upconverting DVD player ($50 Buy.com)and it has improved the picture quality from my prior progressive player significantly. Plan on buying one if you get this or any other TV. Blu Ray from the PS3 plays very clear and nice.

Issue three is the factory settings. When you first turn on the TV, you almost have a tear come down and want to return the TV back to the store before the wife says I told you so. Go to the AVS forum and get the settings they recommend for the TV and then you'll be in heaven. This is not rocket science, just changing the color, hue, backlight etc in the main menu to get the TV to look just right! Once done, It makes a big difference in the overall look of the picture quality.

Overall, you will love this TV. Buy it, and enjoy, you've made the right decision.

I was eyeing on s2400 model, but couldn't pass really good sale price of s2010. (Got one during last Black Friday Sale from Circuit City.)
Amazon's current price ($1599) is still pretty good with free shipping (and tax).

On paper (sony's own web page), s2400 has better dinamic range (5000:1 using ACE) and it comes with different casing design (which I prefer). Also, it was mentioned that s2400 has ATSC tuner with QAM and s2010 was just written as ATSC tuner only. I only have basic cable and wanted to get QAM clear-channels.
Well, after all, I found that 2010 does come with ATSC tuner with QAM and I was able to get many free digital channels which includes some HD channels.

Factory setting of picture was too contrasty for my taste. Each video input you can have Vivid, Standard or Custom settings and you can fine tuen each settings again. All initial settings, however, were set to very dark and rich color with max. contrast. HD was ok, but SD look bad- Too much sharpenning.
After spending some time tweeking display settings, I was able to make very smooth, natural looking color. Now, everything looks great (even SD broadcasting). I increased brightness (from 50 to 65) and reduce color (from 50 to 35).

One disappointing thing is the remote control. Remote control does looked cheaper than usual Sony remote controls and it was very directional - I had to aim well to the TV set, otherwise it won't respond. Most of old Sony remote use to have good range and wide angle coverage - I could even face backwards and it was ok.

I also tried connecting my notebook using a VGA cable came with the TV. It showed PC screen with 1280x768 and later I was able to use full screen with 1366x768 setting. The screen looked very sharp.

I am not sure what is the change from old S2000 model other than casing color (silver to black). Personally, I like the black color especially with no glossy finish. Other than color they looked identical. Of course, I can not tell what's been changed inside - I doubt any changes, though.

After a week use, I really like it and now I think it even look better than s2400 I wanted to buy.

Overall, I am very happy with the purchase.

We got the same deal as another reviewer (Circuit City). We were looking for a 32" for the bedroom but walked out with a 40". Why? Well the price was the clincher, but what a great TV.

Our first Sony is a 60" that we love and the 40" is just as good. Over the past couple of years LCD TV's have emerged as the trend of the future. The biggest difference is that the 60" has a bulb that can be replaced after burning out or getting dim over time. This television does not have that feature. It's said to last about 7 years on average so we'll find out.

If you're looking at TV's and deciding on one, my advise is this: The technology is getting high fast. 1080p is the future (can you really see s difference? If you can, by all means, buy it!) 1980X1080 is true high definition, but if you're sitting far enough it's hardly noticeable. You'll want HDMI inputs, the more the better.

Now all those options will cost you more, but these are what to remember.

Finally, I would say, so to the store, look at Samsung and Sony. Everything else is trying to be them.

We love this TV and it's easy too see why. That must be why you're here.

Colors are amazingly vivid, wow! I especially recommend watching the programming on Discovery HD, amazing!

Eagle shippers were professional - called ahead to schedule a time for deliver, and even unpacked from the box and setup on the entertainment center.

Only regret is that there is only 1 HDMI connector, but that's pretty minor in the grand scheme of things.

All in all a great product.

I purchased this TV the day before Black Friday. Now it is February, and still I have nothing really bad to say about the TV. Well, the slight curve and gloss part on the bottom slightly irks me, but that's just me. Anyway, as other reviews have said, there are no problems switching from regular to high-def channels as there were in the 40S2000.

I sit about 10-12 feet away from the TV (big room), and the picture quality is great. However, if I get less than 5 feet away, the quality gets noticeably worse (I should really say less great), even on HD channels, but it's all relative.

A little hint involving contrast: If you are placing this TV somewhere where there is nothing blocking it, I *highly* recommend setting the backlight to "light sensitive". Basically, the IR sensor on the TV automatically adjusts the backlight on the TV to the light in the room. I find this gives the TV optimal black levels, ones better than some plasmas, in my opinion.

Anyway, this TV is awesome. I have gone to stores recently, and still think this is the TV to get in this price and feature range. Sure, you pay a bit more (it is a Sony, after all) but I have found no problems at all. Picture quality is great, there are plenty of inputs for people who don't need HDMI (it's just a cable, people). Some people complain about motion blurring, I have seen no motion blurring on this TV.

Being a developing audiophile, the speakers on the TV should suit the needs of the non-picky average consumer. I found that a volume of 30-40 (out of 100) was a good volume. I hooked up my own external speakers, but that's just personal preference.

Buying this TV is a large leap of faith (you are spending over $1500), especially for me, who doesn't watch copious amounts of TV. Buying this, however, has led me to watch more TV then I ever have. For a TV buyer on an under $2000 budget, this is the TV to get.

I live in a rural area, and could not get any store to deliver a television to me. Even delivery companies would not deliver a television in particular. Amazon came through with shining colors. The delivery was prompt - understand that the delivery company will CALL by telephone for an appointment. I waited for an email for longer than I had to prior to checking my phone messages, whereupon I found the Television waiting to be delivered. The service was very good, if not "white glove." The delivery man offered to help me take the television inside, which was nice - but he's certainly wasn't familiar with the television set, and so I didn't want him to hook it up.

The television arrived in in perfect shape, and performs spectacularly.

Why this set is special:

- Picture quality is superior coming from this television's image processing software.

- Exterior of the television is matte black, not reflective lacquer like Samsung and Sharp. That reflection is distracting from the picture.


Looking at this sony as well as a Sharp and Samsung that had better specs on paper (higher resolution), this television's picture quality was superior. The Sony has better image processing software/hardware built in so that it "cleans up" standard input signals AND cleans up compressed mpeg image quality (from less-than-perfect DVD's). That really made the difference in my purchasing decision. The numbers alone don't tell the whole story. When researching HD Televisions, be sure you check the type of input and ensure that the settings on the television are calibrated to that input. This is where Sony really excels.

Another commenter mentioned that standard DVD's looked better after purchasing an "upconverting" DVD player. This is very key. The one that I have found to be close to perfect is made by Oppo :
OPPO DV-970HD Up-Converting Universal DVD Player

The connection by HDMI is also key. A lovely signal transmitting through a mediocre line is wasted.

Still, as with any HD television, the connection between the two machines must be made carefully. When I changed the output of the DVD player from 480p (standard DVD) to 720p, the image quality improved RADICALLY. - Then I looked to ensure that "noise filtering" was off (default setting is "low" ) - and once turned off (no need to filter a gorgeous signal)... the picture is flawless - well as close to that as I need. The good news is that one can save settings for a particular input. So that once you set your settings for the DVD player, you aren't required to adjust them again. Though, DVD's vary and changing settings accordingly may do some good.

The control menus are easy to navigate, and after a few minutes of figuring, one will be very comfortable trying this setting or that.

Overall, the television and the delivery were both superlative.

I couldn't be happier.

After considerable research and visits to local stores, I bought the Sony 40" at Amazon (after initially considering a Sharp Aquos). The comments of reviewers here at the Amazon site were most helpful. Ordered the unit on a Wednesday, got a call from Eagle(the shippers) on Friday afternoon and it was delivered on Saturday. Eagle was great. Plugged the unit in and I have been enjoying my Sony Bravia tremendously for a week now.

Had one morning when the digital channels disappeared. But a call to Sony pointed me to Cablevision who corrected the problem. Sony Customer Service was patient and complete.

Most helpful were the reviewer comments regarding other stuff. I went with the Monoprice HDMI Switcher to expand the HDMI ports and went with the Sony CD/DVD Player (DVP-NS75H). The result is truly GREAT!!! Add on Cablevision Triple Play services and I have a simple array of excellent technology products, with fine customer service and at affordable prices. Did I mention the competitive Amazon pricing?

Thank you to all reviewers.

I researched LCDs for a few days before heading to Best Buy with my Dad. (BTW, this is an early Christmas present my parents are giving to each other) When we got there, we looked at all the LCDs and agreed with the reviews on the Bravia. It had the brightest, most consistant picture out of all the LCDs.

I was expecting this thing to be heavy, but it's les than 100 lbs. Much better than my 300 lb CRT HDTV.

I was a little worried about the digitizing all the LCDs were showing on quick movement, but decided that's just one of the flaws with LCDs and they would have to get over it. Once we got it home and I hooked my XBox 360 up to it and had it set to 1080i (yes, 1080i. Even showed it on the tv display as 1080i) the picture was beautiful. It had none of the digitizing it was showing in the store. Setup consisted of hooking the wires up, hitting the TV/Video button till it got to Video4, and that was it. Setup and navigation is a breeze. This TV is very easy to use.

Comcast is coming today at lunch, so I'll be able to update how the HDTV looks with cable service.

We are very happy with this TV. There has never been an issue, from delivery to installation to picture quality and remote control functioning. As compared with other similar products we think we made a good decision in purchasing this TV.