Customer Reviews

Sony KV-20FV12 20" Trinitron Wega Flat-Screen TV

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

 

 

I was tired of having a little 13-inch TV in my dorm so I went after this one. If you have never had a flat screen, then you don't know what you're missing. Most TV screens are bulbous, as if you took a razor and sliced the top of an orange. The flat screen on this TV does not distort the image at the corners like regular TVs do. Colors are true and definition is superb. Movie companies, television studios, and the scientific community use Sony televisions and monitors because they tend to have a higher degree or accuracy than other companies. The fact that it's flat reduces the amount of light that bounces off the glass (which means almost no glare). Two of my favorite features are the Favorites and the timer. The favorites button brings up a menu with the last five channels you viewed (or you can preset your favorites so they don't change) so you can surf your favorite channels faster. Sony Vegas with Picture-in-Picture bring up a preview window when you press "favorites." Even if you have digital cable or satellite, you probably never watch more than five or six channels on a daily basis. This is statistically true for most people. The timer feature is a blessing. Since I am a lazy college student, my alarm clock is not always going to get the job done. This TV gives you two events that you can program independently. For instance, I have it set to go the Fox News Channel for one hour at 8:30am Monday through Friday (it lets you specify each day, everyday, weekdays, and weekends) as the first event and have it set for Comedy Central at 10:00am on the weekends as the second event. The difference between this model and the KV-20FS12 is that the FS12 has speakers on the bottom instead of the sides and it does not have S-Video. I got the S-Video cable for my Playstation 2 and it does look better than composite. The only thing that concerned me is that the depth of the cabinet is a little on the large side but it wasn't a problem. The footprint of the unit may only be about a foot deep, but the extension for the end of the CRT tube goes out about six more inches. One final thing, don't worry about losing TV functionality if you lose the remote, there are menu buttons next to the composite inputs on the front panel.

I have had the KV-20FV12 for 18 months and it has broken 4 times. Each time the problem has been the same: TV suddenly goes off without warning 15 minutes after being turned on.

This is obviously a LEMON as I have had good experiences with Sony products in the past and have never had ANY electronic product break so often.

Unfortunately, the idiots at Sony Customer Service are robots and have been totally unsympathetic. Basically they have said, "too bad, it's not our problem." And while they are legally correct insofar as this unit is out of the warranty period (and BTW, the first time it broke it was IN the warranty period), the lack of support of a chronically broken TV makes me want to tell everybody who is thinking of buying a Sony that they should hope and pray they never have to deal with these people.

As for me, as much as I love the Sony picture on this set, if I can't SEE it, it doesn't exist!. I will not buy another Sony in the near future. Not that Sony cares one iota (and that's kind of the point), but it is the only way a consumer can "get thru" and be heard.

Flat-Screen TV is a great 4:3 aspect ratio CRT set. These will not be around much longer. The picture looks great, but the picture for this type of TV's future looks dim. LCD flat screen sets and Plasma sets are taking over the market. LCD and Plasma sets are priced out of range for the average person so I don't get the overnight transition and logic to force you to buy them. A basic Tube TV with a 4:3 aspect ratio like this Sony 34 inch set is clearly a much better choice.

This set may cost a bit more than other 20 inch televisions, but it's the best. I use thid set for viewing DVD's in my bedroom, which it excels at. The picture is simply amazing. Once the color and brightness are properly adjusted the image seems to float in mid air, as if created through magic.

Definately an execlent choice for bedrooms or dorm rooms; if your looking for a 20 inch television and want the best, this set is for you.

It doesn't get any better for the price range on this television. Crystal clear video with S-Video inputs allow for improvements on an already outstanding picture. 3 line digital comb filter does a great job removing noise on my way too weak cable connection, making otherwise fuzzy channels look amazing. I recommend this set to anyone.

Okay. I'm prejudiced. I'm a Sony collector.

This is absolutely perfect for my limited office space, without the expense of a flat panel. And the picture - even standard def I use here - is extraordinary. There's really no need, as I've often done, to up the sharpness setting. I've been particularly impressed that I can actually read those tiny disclaimers in attorney commercials...and this isn't high def! On a 20" screen? Incredible. Never been able to do that before.

My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that the second video input is on the front. I'd have preferred it on the back. Big deal, right? Heck, it even has a headphone out.

I also use a 21" CRT graphics monitor a few feet away. Both screens are therefore flat, virtually the same size and at the same eye level. From an eyestrain point of view, it really minimizes the need for my eyes to adjust.

You can pick 'em up for a song on Craiglist...mine was 50 bucks. I don't even think the previous owner knew what a gem she had.