Sony KV32HS510 32" Flat-Screen HDTV

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [2.99mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 125 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009NR16
• Item model number: KV-32HS510
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,442 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 12, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Step into the world of high-definition television with Sony's KV-32HS510 HD-ready, flat-screen, Hi-Scan TV. Finished in stylish silver, this award-winning 32-inch WEGA set (it was a CNET Editor's Choice in November 2003) features an FD Trinitron picture tube, a DVI connection for an HDTV tuner, a 10-bit 3D digital comb filter, and a Memory Stick slot.

The TV has a built-in 181-chanel NTSC tuner, and Sony's Digital Reality Creation MultiFunction feature upconverts the analog NTSC signals to near-HD quality, though you'll need a separate HDTV tuner to receive high-definition broadcasts. The KV-32HS510 set is compatible with the 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i formats.

The KV-32HS510 includes a strong selection of Sony video enhancements. The HD Detailer Wideband Video Amplifier offers a high-bandwidth frequency rating that results in finer picture quality from HD sources. The 10-bit 3D comb filter renders superb gray-scale gradation for amazing picture detail. The 3:2 pulldown cinema video processing detects and converts film--which is shot at 24 frames per second (fps) compared with video's 30 fps rate--to video for a smooth, theaterlike experience at home.

Other Sony enhancements include the Twin View function, which enables you to watch programs side by side from two different HD sources, and a scrolling channel index, which provides a preview window of other channels along the right side of the screen.

You can view JPEG images captured from Sony digital cameras and camcorders using the built-in Memory Stick slot. Choose from an index of the images stored on the Memory Stick, or you can run a slideshow of those images.

The KV32HS510 has a built-in 15-watt subwoofer and two 7.5-watt speakers that produce TruSurround SRS audio. Two component-video inputs (both at the rear) allow you to connect an optional HDTV receiver or a source with component-video outputs. It also has a DVI input (rear), analog audio output (rear), 4 A/V inputs (3 front, 1 rear), 3 S-video inputs (2 front, 1 rear), and 1 each of S-Link output and input (for connecting other Sony components).

Tech Talk

• Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio refers to the shape of the video image. Today's standard television has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is almost square in appearance. Digital television will have either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. A 16:9 aspect ratio is widescreen and appears rectangular--it looks more like a movie screen, filling more of the viewer's field of vision to yield a lifelike viewing experience.
• Scanning method: Frames of video are made up of many lines that are scanned onto a television screen so closely they appear to be a solid picture. The scanning method can be either interlaced or progressive. Interlaced scanning (also used in today's analog TV), indicated by an "i" in the video format, fills in the odd number lines (1,3,5,7...) and then fills in the even number lines (2,4,6,8...) until the frame is complete. Progressive scanning, "p," fills in each line consecutively until the frame is complete, creating a seamless image.

What's in the Box
Sony KV-32HS510 32-inch TV, remote control (RM-Y190), 2 AA batteries, and printed operating instructions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We love it, except for the analog cable channels, September 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony KV32HS510 32" Flat-Screen HDTV (Electronics)

My wife and I had to buy a new TV to fit our living room cabinet after the big power blackout: Our 13 year old 27" Panasonic set finally failed (The picture was beginning to buzz out prior to the black out). We guess the set was over-taxed during the brown-out we had here in CT. I was glad the rest of my hardware was well-isolated behind surge protectors.

My wife and I were content to buy a simpler 27" or 32" inch set, but when we saw this set in the showroom, we both agreed we ought to buy it. We both enjoy DVDs, and we believed we would come to enjoy the set's extra quality. The set seemed to outperform all the other 32" flatscreens (CRT-based) we looked at. The price was good for the features supplied too.

Well. The set just fits our cabinet (the TV has wing-like speaker panel projections), and the image quality with our CD player and VCR is stunning. We have digital cable, and for the high-number channels (those >100), we get terrific picture quality. The sound from the extra-wide cabinet's wings is also quite respectable. This is convenient as my wife gets frustrated turning on all my assorted audio gear to produce TV sound.

However, for the lower-number CATV channels, the incresed screen size makes cable signal imperfections more obvious. I bought an exotic power conditioner for all my components to offset noise, but the CATV signal is still lousy. Apparently, with some digital CATV services, the lower-number channels are delivered in analog format and are subject to a lot of distortion. All this makes a good case for satellite service(or a better capital improvement program by the local CATV supplier to make the system digital end-to-end...{Hope some product manager from Cox reads this some day}).

The TV set also accepts memory sticks. I have a new Sony DSCV1 digital camera, and it's fun to plug in the memory sticks and watch slide shows.

The set has lots of programmable features, an easy to read manual, and a high-tech remote. Regrettably, my CATV remote does not talk to this TV.

We've had this set for a month now, and we're delighted.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pircey, but wow!, April 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony KV32HS510 32" Flat-Screen HDTV (Electronics)

This is by far the most I have ever spent on a TV. But I was ready to upgrade my old set, and wanted to buy something that would allow me to eventually go HD. This set has everything and the picture is simply amazing - HD or no HD.

I orginally bought an "HD-ready" TV from another brand. But I returned it because I was not sold on the quality of manufacturing (I had what apparantley is a common defect in that set). I paid several hundred dollars more for this Sony set because I am 100% sold on the quality of Sony electronics. So - while I wasnt happy to pay more than I needed to, all I want is to plug in the set and forget about it. Given what these sets cost, I am fine to pay more for that peace of mind.

In searching around the web, I found one review that mentioned that this set does not show non-HD tv signals well, and specifically that satellite tv signals (which is what I have) look awful. When I first set up the tv, I had the picture mode set to "vivid" and did find the picture to appear quite pixelated. I fixed this problem by connecting the satellite signal through the Monster Home Theater "power conditioner" and set the picture display to "standard" instead of "vivid." The picture is now simply amazing. It's so good, in fact, I feel no need to hurry to upgrade to HD.

Bottom-line: a bit pricey, but worth it. You can probably get a good HD-ready set for less, but if you're going to spend in the ballpark of this set, I suggest you consider manufacturing quality along with picture quality and features. I've never gone wrong with Sony electronics and am happy even though I paid a bit more for it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best video gaming TV there is. Period., April 27, 2004

By 

"electrofunkchild" (chi-town) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony KV32HS510 32" Flat-Screen HDTV (Electronics)

HDTVs come in many forms these days, and they can get quite confusing. LCD, CRT, Plasma, Projection... you have many options to go with if you're planning on making the HD jump. But if you're like me, and are an avid video game player (past systems to the new crop), you owe it to yourself to scoop up this TV. I have many friends that have different brands of HDTVs and I also work at an electronics refurbishing place that sees its share of TVs through its doors, I can fully attest to Sony's quality. No other brand comes close to the sheer perfection of the colors and picture on this set.

First of all, please have at least 2 friends handy whenever you pick this TV up from whatever store you're buying it from because its the heaviest TV ever made. No joke. It almost gave me an instant hernia. This baby has 7 inputs of all varieties, 2 components and 1 DVI input. Being that this is a 4:3 TV, and not a 16:9 widescreen model, let it be known that your black bars will not being dissapearing from your favorite DVDs. If you're strictly a DVD buff, this TV is probably not for you. Likewise, if your into watching TV, more specifically an HDTV signal being transmitted in 720p or 1080i, this TV is ALSO not for you. Your picture will be letterboxed, not only on the tops and bottoms, but also on the sides in some cases. This is because 720p and 1080i signals are meant for 16:9 TVs and take advantage of that aspect ratio. Don't get me wrong, DVDs actually do look GREAT on this set, its just this TV is so high quality it brings out ALL the imperfections when viewing movies in progressive mode. Plasmas and the like do a better job of hiding these imperfections and smoothing out artifacts. Movies in 2.35:1 aspect ratio look especially nice on this TV, the TV itself has a great built in 16:9 enhanced mode. I tend to find movies that have lots of action and people on the screen at once, look reall good. The Lord of the Rings series and LEGEND look awesome on this TV, some of the best ones I've seen in my library of over 150 DVDs.

NOW.... what this TV does do the best is the displaying of VIDEO GAMES! If you're like me and don't give a flying fudge about watching an HDTV signal, or any TV period, this is THE TV for you. Ninja Gaiden in 480p mode is quite possibly the best looking, most fluid video game that will ever grace your eyeballs. The textures used in that game in 480p JUMP off the screen and it's almost as if you can touch them. This TV feels like it has the most insane refresh rate ever, I run my computer games in 1600 x 1200 w/ a refresh rate of near 90 Hz, and this TV seems to be at least that if not higher. Everything just moves so freakin' SMOOTH. Gamecube games run w/ the component cable also look incredible (Check out Metroid Prime). Thanks to the DRC chip inside this baby, now all your older video games can also look greater than ever. The DRC claims to upconvert all 480i signals to 480p -- now I don't know if my Sega CD and Playstation are running in progressive mode, but regardless they look better than they have ever looked on a traditional CRT TV.

Couple this TV with a top notch surround system, and you got yourself a killer home theater for under 2000, that would make even your friend with a 60 inch plasma drool his pants. Don't be fooled in thinking just because a 60 inch plasma is 6000 dollars that it's a superior set, because they simply are NOT, they have their uses and advantages, but most of that price tag is for the convenient thin size. Regardless of the HDTV you decide to buy, go with Sony, there is simply no substitute.