Sony KD-30XS955 30-Inch FD Trinitron WEGA CRT HDTV

by Sony

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 158 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: B0006435AM
• Item model number: KD30XS955
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,188 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Dive headlong into the 21st century with Sony's Hi-Scan KD-30XS955 FD (flat display) Trinitron WEGA television, which features a built-in HDTV tuner for high-quality, off-air reception of high-definition broadcasts, right out of the box. The 30-inch widescreen set also offers analog and digital high-definition inputs, great audio features, and a suite of picture-enhancing technologies. Whether you're watching VHS tapes, DVDs, or off-air high-definition (480p, 720p, 1080i) broadcasts, your programs will look breathtakingly good. A Memory Stick media slot with JPEG/MPEG-1/MP3 compatibility simplifies playback of video clips, MP3 music files, and still pictures from compatible cameras and music players.

DRC--Digital Reality Creation MultiFunction circuitry--upconverts standard interlaced (480i) video sources to 960i or progressive-scan 480p, while inputs as high-quality as 720p (720 lines, progressively scanned) are upsampled to full 1080i. Because DRC processes video signals in real time, it creates an image with 4 times the density of the original signal.

Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p and 720p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The set's auto 16:9 enhanced mode detects anamorphically encoded widescreen program sources and offers full picture resolution on the video program, wasting none of its usable lines of resolution on the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

The KD-30XS955's high-voltage regulator maintains consistent image size, despite variations in b rightness during scene changes and channel changes.

ClearEdge VM wideband velocity modulation improves the definition at picture edges, creating sharper images by slowing the CRT (cathode-ray tube) beam's horizontal scanning during demanding work--say, when rendering transitions from light to dark parts of an image--and speeding it up when scanning easily rendered sections, like broad dark areas. The set's 3D digital comb filter compares each horizontal scanning line with the lines above and below it, as well as with the corresponding lines on previous and subsequent video frames. This results in higher horizontal resolution, higher vertical resolution, and reduced video noise.

The KD-30XS955 also employs CineMotion Reverse 3-2 PullDown technology (often called 3:2 pulldown), a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movies in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

Finally, Dynamic Focus circuitry automatically adjusts the picture during each scanning line for consistent corner-to-corner sharpness. Authorized CableCARD ability means the set will receive digital cable television systems services directly from a cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.

Two high-definition component-video inputs grant optimum connection with a DTV receiver and progressive-scan DVD player, while standard composite- and S-video inputs accommodate all DVD players. The set's HDMI interface provides a digital connection with your DTV receiver. HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable.

Choose between rear AV inputs and a set of front AV inputs for extra convenience. A rear AV output offers a switchable fixed- and variable-level analog audio output for hookup with a surround receiver or integrated amplifier.

The set features stereo speakers with BBE sound enhancement, 7.55 watts per channel, and a separate, 15-watt subwoofer for full bass sound right from the television. If you don't have Dolby Pro Logic processing or a surround speaker system, the TV's SRS TruSurround will simulate surround sound through any 2 speakers.

Other video technologies include Dynamic Picture Processor circuitry, Trinitone color temperature control, and vertical aperture compensation.

What's in the Box
TV, remote control (RM-Y1999), 2 AA batteries, a user's manual, warranty information.

Product Description

You don't need to spend lots of money to enjoy widescreen HDTV capable TV. You also don't have to wonder which technology is better or more reliable. This 30-inch widescreen TV features a Super Fine Pitch(TM) CRT, Hi-Scan(TM) 1080i( Display, and Cinemotion Reverse 3-2 Pulldown Technology, the KD-30XS955 brings you a visual that is brighter and more vivid than ever before. The KD-30XS955 also features an ATSC Integrated Tuner and is Digital Cable Ready with a CableCARD Slot. You can even view your photos onscreen with its built-in Enhanced Memory Stick(R) Media slot. An ATSC tuner lets you receive widescreen HDTV broadcasts for FREE using an optional antenna. The CableCARD slot enables quick hookup with your local cableTV carrier's Digital TV service (subscription required). ATSC - QAM - NTSC TV tuners V-Chip parental TV control TruSurround SRS Audio (7.5 Watt x 2 With 15W Sub) through internal speakers with Steady Sound(TM) Automatic Volume Control With BBE Audio Effect Includes Remote Control (supplied with batteries) Size (WxHxD) - 35.8 x 23.8 x 22.3

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In My Opinion, Best Value in Price-Range, September 11, 2005

By 

Jacob Hantla "hantla.com" (Chandler, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony KD-30XS955 30-Inch FD Trinitron WEGA CRT HDTV (Electronics)

I spent quite some time comparing comparable sets in this price range and size range and there was no question in my mind that both quality- and value-wise this Sony KD-30XS955 set is the best out there. And after purchasing it and owning it for just over two weeks, I am only more certain that my initial assessment was accurate.

First off, picture quality: There is no comparison between this set and comparable HD sets in this price-range. To get anything sharper or brighter you will need to at least triple your price range. Because this is a tube rather than one of the thin-screen technologies, you will definitely get more of a workout putting the extremely heavy television in its place (I almost killed myself), but the flat screen image is viewable from almost any angle and is extremely bright and dynamic.

When you buy this set you are basically future-proofing yourself. There are so many different inputs and outputs that you will have no problem connecting each and every one of your peripherals. There are a total of 8 video inputs and the cable input is digital cable ready, which is very nice. You will not have to purchase a separate digital cable box to receive digital cable from your provider. There is a cable card slot. Two sets of HD-ins. There is even a memory stick slot.

And finally, the tv is easy to use. The WEGA Gate menu is intuitive and very user-friendly allowing the user to control the sound, the video, the channels, and just about anything else you could want.

Besides the weight of this set which makes the backside very difficult to access once it is in its place in my entertainment center, I have no complaints with this set. I am very satisfied with my purchase.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best HDTV, bar none! Here's my story..., April 29, 2005

By 

O Dawson (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony KD-30XS955 30-Inch FD Trinitron WEGA CRT HDTV (Electronics)

I recently went shopping for HDTV sets on the internet. After researching as much as I could about the different types, LCD, Plasma, Directview, and many makes, models, and sizes, I was still undecided. Before paying more than $600 for a direct-view or more than $1000 for a 27" and higher size set, I had to be sure. So I went into a Best Buy, looking at the different HDTVs they had on display. After looking at every LCD, Plasma, (with and without projection) and directview TV they had and speaking candidly with various store personnel, I came to the same conclusion: LCDs (and certainly Plasma's) are not worth the cost, due to their limited life, burn-in problems, and their overall good but not great picture quality. TVs having the greatest contrast, best color, and most vivid pictures were the Directview (or picture tube, CRT) TVs. Furthermore Directview TVs cost a lot less and would be likely to last a lot more because the technology is very robust (picture tubes can last ten to twenty years or more without a problem). The only downside for me was the extraordinary bulkiness and weight of these behemoths (140 to 150 pounds for a 32 inch standard 4:3 aspect TV, or a 30 inch widescreen). Also, for very large screens (40 inches and more), you need to go with LCD (with back projection) or a Plasma, costing many thousands of dollars. Since I was looking for something around 30 to 32 inches, this was not a problem. I found that most directview TVs had very good definition (certainly much better than my eight year old 27" RCA CRT), and I could not decide between the different brands, Sony and Samsung were the best, but Panasonic and Philips were good as well. The price differences between the different models ranged from 50 to $100 (Panasonic and Philips being the cheapest and Samsung and Sony the most expensive).

After racking my brain, I was just about to leave the store when I stumbled upon this baby (Sony KD-30XS955). I was immediately struck by the incredibly high definition of the TV, showing regular (not HDTV) cable broadcasts over a simple cable connection (not even composite or s-video, let alone component video input). This TV was very different from all the other ones I looked at. I asked the personnel and they said the TV had super-fine pitch (four times the resolution of a normal TV) and a HD-detailer which can clean up and improve even a standard TV signal and make it look almost like HD.

I was blown away! Even though this TV was outside of my budget (about $1399 + tax), I decided to get it (but not at Best Buy). I shopped around and got it on uBid for $600 (manufacturer refurbished with warranty of 1 year parts and labor and 2 year on the tube). Home delivery cost $349 which was expensive I thought, but you get the TV itself for less than half of the Best Buy price. I also paid $180 for two years extended on-site warranty service. The total price for all of this was $1129. Not a bad deal considering the Best Buy price would have been close to $2000 (including tax, home delivery and extended on-site warranty service).

In short, I would recommend this TV to anyone on the market for a new TV and with a little bit of extra cash. The TV also has a HD tuner so you can pick up HD signals over the air without renting a receiver from your cable or satellite company (if they have them in your area). This TV is definitely not perfect, as CRTs tend to have geometry problems (straight lines appear crooked on a contrasting background), but unless you watch news tickers all day, you won't notice this. Besides, the picture quality is unmatched by anything else out there right now. Go out and buy it today, but shop around to get the best deal!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big, bold and beautiful!, February 2, 2006

By 

C. K. Heng "avaker" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony KD-30XS955 30-Inch FD Trinitron WEGA CRT HDTV (Electronics)

I am not a videophile, but I did research purchasing a TV for about 5 months. After considering most of the important options (CRT [no ghosting], 30"-34", under $1000, HDTV) I decided on this model. I am VERY happy with the purchase.

First of all, the image is incredible. Being a newbie to HD, after I first plugged it in and found the channels, we ended up watching half of "24" in regular broadcast on channel 9. My wife commented how she didn't see any difference from our regular 27" Panasonic. Commercials popped on and she started channel surfing, and I realized that HD channels are actually different numbers altogether. We switched to channel 9.1 and enjoyed the rest of Jack and the team taking on the president's men in HD. Needless to say, my wife took her words back. Total night and day between regular broadcast and HD. "They" say that HD is to regular broadcast as the switch to color was from black and white. No kidding!

The set up was so easy. It took about 10 minutes for the TV to search for regular and HD channels before we were mesmerized. There is a cool option to preset your channels and the translucent display is great. Its great that I now can read the name of the show, short descriptions of the content, and the resolution that it is broadcast in. This is all over-the-air, not cable! I definitely like the over the air option, as we are not interested dishing out $70 a month for TV we probably won't watch. However, if it's snowing outside, the picture can sometimes cut out, the screen will turn black and "no signal" will pop up. We feared it was the TV set, but soon realized it was the snowstorm outside.

Sound is fantastic. It's a bit of a mute point however, since I have a simple surround sound system. If I didn't, though, I may not have felt justified in getting one, since the sound is so good on this TV. I cannot yet comment on DVDs as I am waiting for a Monster component cable to arrive via e-bay. I watched a bit of the Matrix using an S-video cable and was not impressed. It didn't look bad, just not up to potential. You will definitely need to upgrade to HDMI or component cables to take full advantage of DVDs or game consoles.

Finally, the option of viewing photos via the Sony memory stick slot is a great bonus. The pictures are clear and colorful. You have the option of zooming, flipping, playing a slideshow and using piano music set into the TV or MP3s your memory stick. Cool. Well, I am still playing around with the options and feel very lucky to have this set. On top of that, I paid $835.99 including shipping. If you look around, you might find that deal too!