Sony KDE-50XS955 50-Inch Widescreen WEGA Plasma Flat-Panel TV with Integrated HDTV Tuner

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Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 183 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: B00067AXZE
• Item model number: KDE50XS955
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

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  Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories > TV Accessories > HDTV Accessories > HDTV Receivers & Tuners

• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
When a living room or office calls for cutting-edge technology, Sony's 50-inch KDE-50XS955 gas-plasma television is there to answer that call with its perfectly flat screen, sleek lines, and meticulous construction. The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio to match the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and it's compatible with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i signals, delivering full-fledged HDTV reception right out of the box via its integrated NTSC and ATSC (HDTV) tuners. It also offers digital cable readiness with a CableCARD slot and the latest digital-video interface, HDMI.

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the KDE-50XS955 is a mere 6.25 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting (for wall positioning, use bracket SU-PW3M). Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems. You do, however, need to be wary of image burn-in (wherein long-held stationary images leave a permanent impression in the screen).

Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs 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.

The set's WEGA Engine system maximizes picture performance from any video source by minimizing the number of digital-to-analog conversion processes. This full digital processing engine includes Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver), which maintains the integrity of a converted signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.

Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital II circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source.

Sony's BN Smoother scans the frequency of a given image (such as those from DVD players, off-air HDTV programming, or even analog cable and broadcasts) to calculate the edges of each MPEG block. It applies an algorithm to each block edge, smoothing the transition from one block to another for a seamless picture.

The set includes numerous other features.

• Single-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view 2 images simultaneously (such as 1 TV station and 1 video input).
• A Memory Stick media slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Duo media) grants convenient viewing of JPEG and MPEG-1 files. It can also display customized slide shows using MP3 files for background music.
• Authorized CableCARD ability means the set will receive digital cable television systems services directly from the cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.
• Sony's exclusive S-Master 1-bit digital amplifier produces a powerful 25 watts per channel (x 2), pumping an additional 50 watts into a built-in subwoofer for rich, full-bodied sound from movies and music.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link the set with any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver). HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.

What's in the Box
TV, removable stand, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, a quick-start guide, a cleaning cloth, and warranty/registration information.

Product Description
Experience extraordinary entertainment with Sony's KDE-50XS955 Plasma WEGA High Definition Television. The KDE-50XS955 features the third generation fully digital WEGA Engine system, which maximizes picture performance from virtually any video source. The KDE-50XS955 also features a beautiful 16: 9 aspect ratio, HDMI Interface and Sony's re-engineered Plasma Panel Driver LSI, producing a picture resolution that is sure to impress. Its semi-floating glass panel design will compliment any home decor. You can even listen to MP3 audio and view your photos with the built-in Enhanced Memory Stick Media slot.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

169 of 180 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Problems, April 20, 2005

By	Christopher P. Smith - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased a new Sony KDE-37XS955 37" Widescreen HDTV from Amazon, at full price, on 3/21/05. Amazon delivered the TV on 3/30/05 as promised in good packing condition. After unpacking and setting up the TV we turned the TV on. The sound was good but the picture was unrecognizable. Per Amazon policy I called Sony.

Day 1: Called Sony to report problem with TV.

Day 2: Sony repairman shows up to diagnose and make repairs. Repairman tells me
that Sony has instructed him get and replace 2 parts.

Day 3: Repairman calls to inform me that the parts are backordered and it could be
a week.

Day 7: Called repairman to check on part. Repairman says Sony tells him it could
be another week.

Day 14: Called repairman to check on part. Repairman says he still waiting on part
and just does not know when it will be in.

Day 15: Still no word on part. Call Sony and get representative that says he will
look into my problem and have someone call me in 24 hours.

Day 16: I do not receive a call so I call Sony. Representative says that they should
have informed me that a response could be 24 to 48 hours. They also
informed they did work weekends and would call me the next day.

Day 17: I do not receive a call so I again call Sony. Representative informs me that
my file has moved to "the next level" and that "those people" do not work
weekends and they would call me on Monday.

Day 19: Monday 5:00pm ET still no call. I call Sony again and demand to speak
with someone who can help me. Sony puts a supervisor on the phone who
takes my information and tells me they will call me back.

Day 20: Sony calls me back for the first time. They tell me the part is in and will
be out tomorrow to do the repair.

Day 21: Repairman comes out to do repair. Part does NOT fix problem. I call
Sony. They inform me they will call me back.

Day 22: Repairman calls to arrange pickup for TV. They want to take it in to the shop for testing and repairs. This is the 3rd time I have had to take off work to meet someone.

Day 23: Repairman picks up TV. I email Amazon for the forth time for help. They email back to say that they are unable to do anything. I exercise my right and dispute the charge on my credit card with Bank of America. I file a complaint with State of Florida Dept. of Consumer Services.

Day 29: No response from Sony or Amazon. If this were a new car, the State of Florida would have declared it a "Lemon" and made the seller refund the purchase price.

What I have is a real expensive paperweight, that I paid for a month ago, that neither Sony nor Amazon will fix or replace.

224 of 247 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Scam Listings, January 18, 2005

By	M. Gary - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If any of these "New & Used" prices sound suspicious. Don't pay any attention to them.

They are scams... I've been emailing many of these sellers and they are all looking for payment outside of the Amazon.com system. I don't even know why I'm even referring to these sellers in plural because I'm certain they are all the same individual. All the registered sellers are brand new accounts. Offering a $649 brand new item that is listed for $19,999.00 (Zenith 60 inch).

When you make payment outside of the Amazon.com payments system, the Amazon.com guarantee does not apply. It is so disappointing that Amazon.com allows these items to even be listed.

Amazon.com customer service inquiry quote...
"All Amazon Marketplace and most Amazon Merchants purchases are paid through Amazon Payments; to circumvent this system is a serious violation of our terms of use."

I know this is blatantly obvious to nearly every buyer that uses Amazon and I'm not posting this review to act like I'm the smart detective here...
I simply just want to speak up in hopes that Amazon can put some effort into eliminating this annoyance.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Great Picture!, June 2, 2005

By	K. Palmer (Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I remember the first time I saw a large plasma screen TV. It was love at first sight for my eyes, but not my wallet. However, as prices came down, I decided to finally take the plunge and I bought this 50" plasma TV from Sony a couple of months ago. What a tremendous purchase! The picture on high definition channels is just tremendous. I find myself watching a lot more nature and travel shows than before because it seems a lot of these are presented in hi-def now and they just look terrific. DVD movies look very good as well, although hi-def presentations of these movies on my digital cable system look even better than on DVD. Regular digital channels (non-hi def) look pretty good as well.

I have my TV hooked up to a 5.1 surround system, so I can't vouch for the sound of the speakers that are integrated with the plasma set, but I am sure that they more than fine, but if you are willing to fork over the kind of money it takes to buy this set, not coordinating it with a good surround system seems like a waste to me. There are plenty of connections on the TV to create a nice setup.

After two months, I have absolutely zero complaints. I empathize with the folks who have posted here regarding troubles they have had with the TV and buying it online, but I went to a local home theater store for my purchase and although I probably paid a bit more, they answered my questions, set my system up, tested it thoroughly and have answered the questions I've had since the installation. For a purchase of this magnitude, that may be the way to go.

All in all, I'm very happy with my Sony and I think you will be as well.