Customer Reviews

Sony KD32FS170 32-Inch Trinitron WEGA Hi-Scan Digital Television

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Have you been shopping lately? Standard 4:3 screen aspect ratio CRT Television sets are becoming a thing of the past. One major audio/video retailer in my area no longer carries standard CRT TV sets. They only carry 16:9 (screen aspect ratio) LCD and Plasma sets! I find this sudden transition unbelievable. I prefer a large 4:3 CRT screen. For me they are much brighter and more vivid. The Sony KD32FS170 32" Trinitron WEGA Hi-Scan Digital Television is an excellent 4:3 set. It has a Digital 3-line comb filter that increases picture resolution and reduces noticeable dot-crawl, which is visible on less expensive 32-inch brands. It has Rear audio and composite video inputs as well as an S-video input for DVD, Laser Disc players and Super-VHS recorders for higher picture resolution. The picture on this TV set is excellent.

This was such a great purchase. I could not muscle up the funds for a Plasma as much as I wanted one but this ranks a close second. I tested the TV on a number of inputs - From my camera, from the cable box, from a DVD. (Lord of the Rings) The DVD quality was spectacular and made me wonder why I was so gung ho about a plasma in the first place. The TV is not small and it is heavy but it is simply and plainly all round good value for money, an excellent buy.

While the KD FS170 and KD FS130 (available in a wide range of sizes for both model types) may LOOK exactly the same on the outside... don't be fooled and buy the FS170 unless all you care about is a nice looking screen and very little else.

For very little extra money the KD32FS130 gives you:
- Better sound... the 130 has two 10w speakers, the 170 has two 5w speakers
- More menu options... the 170 has NO menu page for the sound settings AT ALL... the 130 has sound settings such as bass, treble, balance, also a simulated surround sound setting, and auto volume control to keep the volume down when the annoyingly loud commercials come on
- More inputs... one additional component and one additional composite output. Also, the 130 has audio outputs for running to an external sound system, the 170 has NO audio outs


Curiously, even the 130 is short on features compared to the first Wega I bought a few years ago... unfortunately I dont' know the model number. That TV had an S-video connection on the front panel whereas the 130 and 170 just have composite, also my Wega had picture in picture which I see no mention of for the 130 or 170.

Still, if you're going to get a Wega CRT the 130 is the one to get IF you can even still find one. They seem to still be readily available online... however, local stores such as Circuit City and Best Buy only list the 170 anymore. I bought one and only realized after I got it home that it was missing all these extra features.

Sony must be really focusing more on HDTV's now and does seem to be 'cheaping out' on their CRT's. The Wega is still great as far as having a really nice picture, but right about now I REALLY wish I still had the one I bought a few years back which was so much better in so many ways. I hope I can find a 130 still at a store as I can't afford to buy the TV outright and had to finance this one.

I actually purchased a new mid-line LCD and promptly returned it due to poor picture quality on any source other than HD. To me, LCDs and Plasmas are still many years away from perfection. I don't understand why all of the manufacturers have discontinued their CRT models as this is a proven technology. Sure this is a heavy TV and doesn't have that slick flat panel look, but what this sets lacks in design it quickly makes up in other areas. The picture quality beats plasma and LCD hands down for digital TV channels, standard DVDs, video games, and video cameras. You can find one of these at one of the b-m stores for dirt cheap. That's where I saw mine sitting on the shelf upon returning the LCD. Bottom line - if you're looking for a quality set with excellent picture, look no further than this Sony Wega.

The *picture* is the most important thing a television produces. By that measure, this television has a wonderful picture w/plenty of options for fine-tuning it to your visual tastes. I think this tv has excellent neutrality of color. It excels at blacks, skin tones, reds, etc. This model also has the hi-def tv tuner built-in, which makes it future compatible.

Please don't be discouraged by some reviewers who think features equal quality or value. Yes, it's true that there may be a few less features than previous models, but audio controls for a tv are void if you connect the television to a receiver/speakers (which can be done inexpensively if you know how to shop). Most receivers also provide multiple component connections for the best video transfer, (s-video & composite connections are inferior to component). The only feature of significance missing from this model is the P-I-P (picture-in-picture) when channel surfing.

This is an excellent television set.

I have a really good 40" CRT TV. When the time comes for me to buy a new TV, all that will be available is these flat screen TV's and I will have to buy a whole new piece of furniture to put it in, since I don't want my TV up on the wall, and these new TV's are too wide to fit into standard-sized entertainment centers or armoires. I really don't like these flat screen TV's and I don't care for the designs of the furniture now being manufactured to house them. If some customers prefer cathode ray tube televisions, then why are they being almost completely phased out? It seems there is still a market for them. In addition, why should I have to incur the expensive of buying new furniture just to accomodate a new TV? Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

YOUR GONNA NEED DIGITAL CABLE TO USE ALL THE FEATURES THIS TV HAS TO OFFER! NO AUDIO CONTROLS, REMOTE IS 1/2 THE SIZE AS THE ORIGINAL, NO PIP FEATURE, I BOUGHT THIS TV FOR $600+ AND WISH I WOULD HAVE READ REVIEWS BEFORE. BETTER OFF WITH THE 32 FS120 MODEL BETTER FEATURES