Customer Reviews

Sony Grand WEGA KDF-42WE655 42-Inch LCD Projection Television with Integrated HDTV Tuner

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

After completing a basement renovation, we were ready for a big screen to watch New Years and January football games. The shopping and selection process for this was long and hard, and the high end of our budget range certainly included some plasmas and flat panel LCDs near (but mostly above) the price of this TV.

If you are a technology consumer, you know the deal: early adopters of LCD and plasmas are going to take a beating as prices for these fall. These technologies are not yet mature, and there are lingering issues, such as burn-in with plasma, and the sheer expense of LCDs. This set offers an excellent value for the size while the super thin formats settle in the marketplace.

The picture is astonishing, and even more if you are lucky enough to live in an area served by HDTV. Even though not a true flat panel, it is only 15 inches deep and weighs less than 60 pounds. Getting it where you want to sit will probably take two people, but once there, it can be moved for cabling access easily by one person.It has more input options than most of us could ever afford to populate.

Its user guide is complete and clearly written. I give only a B+ to some of the on-screen menu options; not all of them are immediately intuitive. This is a minor complaint for a TV that delivers every bit of the picture quality that the Sony enjoys a reputation for (going back to the days of "a Sony of my owny..."

Terrific TV, Makes me never want to leave home:-)

I had been shopping for a new television for the better part of three months, and had gone from plasma to LCD and back, before finally settling on the Sony 42" Grand WEGA™ HDTV projection LCD television. It is, hands down, the absolute best value for the money I could find.

PICTURE CLARITY
The HDTV quality is simply amazing, even breathtaking. I have found myself watching 2-hour documentaries about the now defunct whaling industry in Croatia just for the fact that is was broadcast in HDTV. DVD quality is also quite good, and regular digital cable is also rather sharp (and while analog signals will be tolerable, they pale in comparison to the others). Video games are as crisp as they could be, and the television also works great as a secondary monitor (invest in a TV-out video card and a wireless keyboard/mouse, and your couch is now your new home office).

LCD TVs still have some minor issues with either incredibly rapid movement and/or bright flashes of light. There is a small distortion; a pixilation that will briefly flash across the screen but it is at best a minor annoyance. Also, the blacks are not as black as they could/should be, so if you are watching a movie or program where the setting is very dark, there will be a slight glow around the black areas that can be a little annoying.

The short of it is this; if you are in any way normal, you will be blown away by the clarity and intensity of the images this set can produce. If you are a TV snob (and you know who you are), and could rant for ten minutes about the red push, or how optical audio out only passes digital signals via the tuner, then you may have a few complaints. The rest of us will be quite happy.

PICTURE CLAIRITY RUNDOWN:
HDTV: Aside from the above mentioned black levels, flawless, crisp and shockingly bright.

DVD: Good picture, though not quite as good as I expected. Animated/Digitally generated DVD (think Shrek) are nearly as good as HDTV. I suspect this has to do with the set being an LCD projector.

Digital Cable: Average to good, depending on channel, but most fall within the good range (Note: This is based on Comcast digital cable service in Washington DC).

Regular Cable: N/A (I don't have it, so I don't know)

Video Games: Sharp, crisp, and oh-so big. Very Good. (Note: Based on a first gen Sony PS2)

Computer Monitor: Another task that I suspected would be a major hassle that actually went off with little incident was adding a TV out video card to my PC and hooking it directly to my Sony. The picture and resolution are flawless, and with a wireless mouse and keyboard, my sofa has become an extension of my home office.

SOUND
Its...well, its actually not too bad, to be honest. I expected it to be crap, and compared to any decent surround-sound system it does seem rather anemic, but all in all they are quite good, and the audio options are numerous. I sill suggest a decent surround sound system, but you can live without it.

EASE OF USE
I think out of everything, this surprised me the most. I had purchased a new all-in-one Sony surround sound/DVD player with the television, and had my digital/HDTV cable box delivered a day before. I now had the daunting task of trying to coble all of this together.

I won't lie about this; I was scared. The TV I had before this one was a 27" GE that I first purchased when I joined the Navy, and the only input it had was a singular hookup for coaxial cable.

To my surprise (and everlasting gratitude) It was amazingly easy. Three cables is all that it took (four if you count the Playstation), and it worked like a charm the first time around. Also here are 8 video input channels for this television, so I can't imagine I would ever run out of room for more devices.

One note on this: With a set this good, and assuming you plan to hook it up to a 5.1 surround sound system, it is going to cost you about 300 bucks for new wires and a decent surge protector. Factor that into your final cost for this big-ticket item.

Considering the price, this tv is a great value. I've been waiting for prices to come down and made the purchase soon after this model came out. There are multiple connections of all types including the cable card slot, which lets you get HDTV from your cable company without a set top box. The only drawback to this is that you don't get the program guide or any interactive features (program guide, PPV) with this feature. Hooked up to a HDTV signal, the picture is incredible. Football is super clear, and movies from HBO etc in HD also look great. Hook up a progressive scan DVD player and the picture is fantastic. The speakers are very good. Only drawback is that like any projection TV, there is an optimal viewing angle. You will notice a dimming of the picture as you move around. When you see this TV, it's best to view it at an angle that you will be seeing it at home, even if that means looking silly in the showroom by crouching down when you look at it. Also be aware that you will have to replace the bulb on this type of tv as it ages.

Added 2/08 To clarify my point about the picture dimming as you move, I really meant that you need to look at the TV at the correct height. The picture is much different if you stand higher than it rather that look at it direct on. I have not noticed a problem in the side to side viewing angle. Sorry for any confusion. After 3 months, I still love this set.

After dedicating a room in my basement for a home theater, I subsequently spent many, many weeks laboring over what TV was best for my application. I looked at every RPTV & Plasma that was carried by both Big-Chain & Custom A/V stores. You just can't find Plasma in this price range that is comparable in size, resolution and picture quality. That left DLP & LCD RPTVs. The Sony LCD RPTV line definitely was superior to any other brand out there, (thanks to Sony's WEGA engine). The price was fair at $2200. The picture quality is breathtaking on HD, excellent with DVD, and surprisingly acceptable on standard cable-TV.

The TV is used primarily for watching DVDs.
A word of caution to those with smaller rooms who are particular about picture quality...don't over buy (size). The downfall of fixed-resolution TVs (LCD, DLP) is the inability to adapt lower res. sources like DVD...not too noticeable unless you're seated close to the TV...like in my room. The viewing distance was only going to be 7-8 ft. at best with a 10ft. wide room. After standing the same distance away from the showroom TVs as my room affords me, I decided Sony delivered far and above the most impressive picture, despite the Professional Reviews I had read online. I also down graded from a 50in. to a 42in. This gave a slightly better viewing experience for the aforementioned reasons. I highly recommend taking advantage of the HDMI capabilities and purchasing an up-scaling HDMI DVD player. Both Sony & Panasonic have decent models for under $300. I went with the Sony DVP-NS975V. Once again, not great reviews, but astounding difference in the DVD picture quality. Combining this set with the right DVD player & sound system will give you a truly satisfying HT experience, without leaving you wondering where all your hard earned money went. The TV is bright, so you get a great picture with the lights on & off. Black level is acceptable; only notice the typical LCD/Black-level issues when the room is completely dark. I am not bothered by this.

Bottom Line:
Menu interface is intuitive.
Picture presets are great and easy to customize, if needed.
Sound is good, but if you're serious about the experience, you'll have an SS system.
Picture quality is very impressive.
Set dimensions are small, light and affordable compared to other LCD/DLP sets.
Compared to other LCD/DLP sets, this is a 10. I gave it a nine overall because current fixed resolution TVs have inherent issues, (screen door/black-level,DLP-rainbow effect,etc.), that stop them from being perfect. But this one is pretty close.

I just can't imagine anyone regretting the purchase of this set.

I looked at *many* televisions before buying this one. While I was initially attracted to DLP projections (I am not impressed with the plasmas on the market), this Sony LCD projection caught my eye from all the way across the store. It converts all signals to 720p, so you will see improvement even from standard (480i) signals. With its built-in tuner, you'll be able to pull in HD signals as soon as you get home with only an antenna (the Zenith/Gemini ZHDTV1 is what I would recommend). Having this television for the college bowl season was one of the happiest parts of my holiday, as I get all the local networks' digital broadcasts with my antenna (here's where 720p beats 1080i). If you are a sports fan, you *need* an HDTV.

There are numerous connections, including HDMI, and so far everything I have hooked up to this set looks amazing. The settings menus are very easy to use, which is important since a little tweeking with the controls will ensure that each input performs at top quality. One of the other reviewers suggested that the viewing angle is restrictive. I could not disagree more: you basically have to be standing beside it or directly above for the picture to go dark. I'd say the viewing angle is probably more than 150 degrees.

In short, buy this set. It is very affordable (less than half the price of a plasma the same size, with much better picture), has all of the bells and whistles (including a built-in HD tuner), and will look great in your living room.

This TV has excellent picture and sound. An ideal choice if you want to watch HDTV & non-HDTV regular channels. The 42" screen is small enough to retain clarity for regular channels and big enough for a regular sized living room. Make sure you have enough distance from TV, at least 10 feet. Some of the downsides are:
1. The intensity of the rear projection lamp cannot be changed. It is sufficiently bright for any room but if you are very close to TV in a dark room it is uncomfortable.
2. The TV has a fan inside that is noticeable occassionally at low volumes.
Some Tips: The DVI-HDMI connection somehow did not work with my HDTV cable box. Avoid paying the high price for this cable and go with regular component video cables (RGB). The picture is still crystal clear for HDTV channels. Also avoid expensive Gold tipped thick cables they are not necessary.

Let's just say I was ready for a new TV. The television in my living room was a 17 year old 36" console televsion that had the tendancy to keep turning itself on and off after it had been on for over an hour. I finally decided to break down and invest in a new quality television. I first considered getting a plasma screen, but the based on the research I had done, I was not convinced that any added value a plasma screen may give you is worth the extremely higher price. But this Sony WEGA LCD television is most definitely worth its price.

Although not as narrow as a plasma screen television, at a mere 15" in depth, even if space is a consideration, this television will not fail you.

But it is the absolutely beautiful picture and incredibly crisp sound that are the true selling points for this TV. The quality of the picture, even on the non-HDTV channels, is amazing. I am still in awe of how much better the picture is now. The quality of the HD channels absolutely blows me away. While many shows on television aren't necessarily enhanced with HD programming (for instance, do you really need to see "Judging Amy" in pure digital, picture perfect quality?), but on certain programming such as sports or shows that have scenic backgrounds such as "Lost," it is so amazing to see how beautiful they look on this television, I am probably too spoiled now to see them on any other television!

I am also blown away with the stunning performance the television gives when playing DVDs. I recommend getting the upgraded cables to connect your DVD player to the television. But in any event, digital is what this TV was made for, and it is clear when playing DVDs. Given the size of the screen and the quality of the picture, it is akin to actually being in the theater.

The quality of the sound is also up to the standard you expect from Sony. I do not yet have the television hooked up to any external speakers or any surround sound system, but instead rely only on the internal speakers. Nonetheless, the sound is still perfect. I am not a fan of watching of channels such as MTV, VH1, or the like, so cannot really speak as to how the sound system is on channels that are more sound reliant. But you will not be disappointed with the sound on all the other channels.

The added functions and features with the television are also quite impressive. The picture-in-picture function is great, particularly if you like watching sports and can have a game on the smaller screen and watch regular programming on the main screen and click back and forth when something big happens in the game. (I recently switched from cable to satellite -- a switch a highly recommend for everyone -- and have not figured out how, if at all, the picture-in-picture feature will work with satellite.)

In short, I LOVE this television. I am confident you will too.

I did alot of research and spent hours at many different stores in my area before purchasing this TV.

This is the best tv I ever owned. I have had it now for 6 months. The picture is amazing. Many of my friends after viewing my TV have gone out and bought this TV. My only wish is, I wish I had bought the larger one. We are seriously considering putting this one down in the basement for playstation fun and buying the next size up for the great room. Also I would highly recommend buying a warantee because this tv has to be replaced if broken. (according to what I've read)

I bought a broyhill console table to put the tv on and it looks amazing. I didn't like the high tech tv table options. My friend has the sofa table from Pottery Barn and it fits on that as well. Buy a table that has a height of about 33 inches. You wont be sorry.

I bought this TV in January from the local GoodGuys store. I needed a bigscreen without a lot of weight, and did not want to go with a plasma given the burnout concerns. LCD rear projection fit my budget and my apartment, and I am happy with my purchase. I did get the store warranty, just in case!

I have limited basic comcast BUT was shocked to see the TV picking up HD channels right out of the cable! I do not have a comcast cable box but the built in digital tuner did the magic. So I am enjoying about 10 HD channels with no cable box to add to the clutter. Picture quality is amazing! There are lots of inputs. I have connected its audio to Onkyo HT770 home theater via an optical cable. I have also managed to connect my computer to the TV via S-Video, since the HDMi input didnt work great for me - I had to get a DVi-HDMi cable ($120) but still I could not get resolutions more than 640x480. I have given up on that. Other than that, DVDs are rendered in progressive @480p with my Sony DVD player. The quality is good enough for me, to not think about going with an upconverter.

The only thing I do not like about it is the lag between turning it on and picture showing up (about 10 seconds). There were some postings on the internet about the lamp life, but I believe those were earlier models. Also, the remote does not allow switching to an input directly (It has 7 video inputs). If I have to reach Video IN #5, I have to browse all the way from Video1. Maybe I need to read the manual real closely.

Overall, good bang for your buck and an excellent candidate for a Home Theater hookup. However, I never had good luck making an HTPC out of it. SD channels do look a bit strange but acceptable. With the right set up, this TV can really turn your living room into a personal movie theater..for me it did!

After 23 years with a conventional NTSC t.v. we decided to jump to HD digital. We started reviewing sets about three years ago and found the technology immature, outlandishly priced and dealer information usually wrong. While DLP works well for video presentation projectors, you need a two or three chip set to do away with picture lag, and pictures look pixellated. Hitachi has already announced they are dropping DLP technology. Plasmas STILL suffer problems with burn-in even with picture-shift technology, they often die in 3 or 4 years, can be noisy especially above 4,000' altitude, and are fragile. Gas is gas and it leaks, degrades, has a half-life and despite urban legend gas in plasma tvs cannot be replaced. Dealers lie constantly--one told us that Plasmas now last 16 years!

On to the Sony 42we655. Settling on Sony was a leap of faith. Our last experience with Sony equipment, an amp, was not a good one; quality control dropped since the 1970s when Sony was king and we had been buying Panasonic. However, the built in featurs on this LCD TV especially the integrated NTSC and ATSC tuners and cable card slot cinched it. Prices vary wildly on the Net, but once you factor in shipping they all come out to about $2,100 to $2,500. The competing units are cheaper, but have no tuners,so add $300.

We elected to buy it from Circuit City to avoid shipping costs and drop-kicks by shippers. CC is having financial difficulties, so we declined the extended CC-backed warranty in case they crater in competition with Best Buy.

The unit took all of 20 mnutes to set up with no technical knowledge necessary. Don't let the CC delivery crew cable it to amps and DVDs because they don't know your equipment. Reading the manual first is a must because the unit is technologically advanced, but well worth it. Plan to spend several nights learning how to operate it and refining the adjustments. If you don't want to do this, turn it over to a spouse, geek friend or teenager.

The picture quality is outstanding, and we get amazing HD signals with a set of rabbit ears in a rural area! Don't fret about the bulb, changing it is about 5 minutes work --no harder than an LCD projector bulb. A word about DVD connections, don't try to run a one-cable composite video feed from a DVD---spend the $40 and get component cables which give a much better picture. DVD quality differs wildly, so don't judge the set until you look at several different DVDs. Some writers have remarked about blacks. Yes, high CGI (computer graphic) special effects movies are dark, even in the theaters. CGI looks bad in sunlight which is why the movis are set at night. Video tape signals are amazingly bad because of the quality, so don't blame the set---just get rid of or transfer your old tapes and go to DVD.

A great tv that you will enjoy exploring.