 Oh yeah!! Sock it to me with this! |
| Review Date: June 20, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Twiddles42, MN, USA |
No stupid "Dynamic contrast ratio: 8000:1" gimmicks that merely flicker the backlight when the set's AI decides it ought to be, which is disconcerting and not to mention misleading in terms of real display quality...
Just a true, real contrast ratio that allows numerous shadow and hue detail that you're not going to see so clearly in any competitor's 32" set.
No washed out or dull colors, either - this Sony is a worthy replacement for dead-end, electricity guzzling, heat generating CRT technology.
And I looked at 6 brands, looking at every nuance, black level, color saturation, sharpness, detail, features, menu functions, et cetera, noting all TVs were at out-of-box conditions. I'd love to namedrop the worst ones, but that's a no-no... Here's a hint - those models are "inexpensive for their size". :)
Sony costs more, yes, but the difference in visual quality is formidable - worth every penny. Detail is exceptional, and sharp. Other models may not be as bright, may give edges jagged lines, colors may be flat, and so on...
If you are a videophile, this is THE set to get. Every setting under the sun can be changed (brightness, 'picture' (contrast), tint, et cetera). And this monitor also, much to my surprise and delight, includes filters to make DVDs (MPEG2) and broadcast signals look less grainy/noisy and sharper. You bet I'm a happy couch potato.
Casual viewers would probably be satisfied with any competing model, but why? As with lower quality screen technology, the hardware quality is bound to be lower as well. You do get what you pay for. If you read up on competing models where people say "it broke after 1.5 years", you'll see a pattern forming...
And if you looked at the competing model next to the Sony, you'd be tempted to buy the Sony anyway. Even if the cost difference was a mere $150.
I also apologizing for sounding like a shill for Sony. I'm not.
One small addendum (06/30/07): The stores' labels say it's 1600:1, the sticker on the left side of the monitor claims 8000:1. This TV set does alter the backlight's brightness - solely on the level of ambient light in the room, not the incoming signal. Either way, I've still had no negative issues with visual quality on DVD playback, NTSC TV, HD broadcast, or PC display (if your computer cannot handle 1366x768, try 1280x720 if possible.)
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Simply the Best in Every Way!
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| Review Date: October 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mighty Mac, El Dorado, AR United States |
| We're in the "senior citizen" class and were looking to replace our 27" Panasonic tube TV (which did serve us well for more than 10 years.) Being in our 70s did not mean I didn't THOROUGHLY check out and compare EVERY high-rated 32" LCD HDTV on the market--at Sears, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and other brick&mortar stores. I searched on-line, read technical reviews, and paid particular attention to what buyers said about the products. The hands-down winner for us (and apparently all accompanying buyer-reviews) is this awesome Sony product. It is in our opinion simply the best in every way. Period. ("Consumers Report" magazine recently also ranked this product best in its category.) [...]Now we enjoy a superb television picture with startling sound clarity. I like it when a plan comes together. |
fantastic television!
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| Review Date: July 25, 2007 |
| Reviewer: soulelement, CA United States |
I am a first-time buyer of a HD-LCD and just picked this television set up yesterday. Overall I am very pleased with the performance I am seeing. I went through two Samsung television sets: the first being the Samsung LN-S4095D 40" 1080p LCD and the second being the Samsung LNT3253H 32" LCD HDTV (after realizing I needed something smaller). Both models are full of video-tearing and audio-muting issues that Samsung has failed to resolve, so I decided that before any of these problems severely affected me, I would return them before the 30-day return policy expired. The sales person even mentioned that the LNT3242 model by Samsung was returned to his store over 7 times by the same customer (possibly in hopes of finding a non-defective set).
I ended up purchasing the Sony KDL-32S3000 and am very satsified with the purchase. I was initially hesitant to purchase a Sony, especially after hearing about the issues of clouding on XBR2 & XBR3 models.. but it seems now that most issues have been resolved for both the S-Series set & the new XBR4 model. I can certainly say it out performed the two Samsungs I purchased, especially in terms of picture quality. While both manufacturers have good television sets, the Samsung, while maintaining softer imagery, did not have as sharp and vibrant of picture-quality. From what I understand, the new Bravias (2007) are equipped with a 10-bit video processor, unlike the previous Bravia Models equipped with 8-bit processors (BR2-3 Models); thus creating more vibrant colors & making previous models look inferior. Sound-wise, this TV also does better than the Samsungs. The Sammys had a less than mediocre output from the speakers (no deep lows whatsoever & mostly high-ends).
In terms of the User Interface, the Sony sports a menu similar to that of PSP and PS3 interfaces. It can be confusing for the first time user, but I find the system to be rather easy to navigate through. The set itself is loaded with many options for tweaking video output, but does not have enough options to flexibly tweak color temperature (I.E. cool, warm, etc). It also comes with an Internet Link option, mainly for streaming HD to your television from the Internet using a proprietary Sony device. I am not sure if I would take advantage of this, but the option of having it is nice. The built-in tuner was also able to pick up a variety of HD 1080i and SD 420i channels. They look fantastic on screen.
If you are a gamer looking to use your PS3 on this, you will be pleased to know that games do output on this set at 1080p resolution. DVDs also display (according to the television information) at 1080p. Mpeg2-noise reduction is also available, in case you would like to reduce the amount of noise on DVD output. There is a PC-input on this television, which also displays very nicely, but only displays at a max resolution of 1360x768.
From my understanding, the only major difference between this set and the XBR4 set (the higher end consumer model) is the option of having "motion-flow" 120-hz display; however, according to other users who have purchased the XBR4 set, motion-flow is still not fully developed. Apparently, the system creates artifical frames in between frames in order to create a much more fluid and realistic picture (which I hear is quite amazing), but this also creates artifacts and other miscellaneous noise in the process. All in all, the picture quality is improved with this system, but whether you want to take a 200-300 dollar gamble on this is purely up to you.
I am usually not inclined to give products a 5-star rating and I do believe that there are products that are far-superior.. but this television is definitley worth its bang for the couple extra bucks. |
Best In It's Class Period
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| Review Date: July 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Dubbs, Colorado, USA |
| I have owned this TV for a month now and I am nothing but happy. Without getting into spec's and all that just put this TV up to any of the competitors and you will see the 200.00 difference. I highly agree with the other reviewer in all regards, you pay a little more than the others, but you get a lot more. This is a high quality set that will last you for long enough until new technology makes it obsolete. I have put this set up to the competition, both owned and viewed in store, more than once and the difference is clear. In an unrelated note I asked a salesman at a high end electronics store what XBR meant and he said, "it looks better." (BTW this TV is nicer than the old 32" XBR) My point is you can talk all day about contrast and backlight etc. etc., but in the end how does it look and how well is it made. Well after owning many a Sony in the past and in addition to this one, they have the BEST picture and are built to last, end of story. So, you could buy that cheaper model but in a year or two you may regret it! And in case you are wondering I DO NOT work for Sony or any of its affiliates. |
Good looks, great picture, Sony reliability!,
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| Review Date: October 16, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jim Green, Dallas, TX |
I went over to Best Buy yesterday and took a look at all 3 of Sony's 32" LCD TVs. The KDL-32S3000 looks better than the 32M3000 becuase they have put a black stand on it instead of silver. The XBR does not look as good becuase they changed the speaker to a shiny black rectangle at the bottom that looks cheap. For looks I would go with the 32S3000. The XBR is supposed to be technically better though. The 32M3000 is their base model being phased out now. The picture on all 3 is great and I could not tell the difference.
I am very happy with this purchase. The TV has very good looks, sleek and discreet. The equivalent Samsung and Sharp had frames too shiny and looked cheap. The picture is great. SD cable looks very good, better than on my earlier Samsung 30" Slimfit. Audio is very good. Best of all is Sony reliability. My previous experience was the Samsung 30" SlimFit. That had bending issues at first and was replaced. Then it refused to turn on, and customer service was rude and unhelpful. The Slimfit has major reliability problems. I am very happy with this Sony that replaced it.
Adding to this review after 2 weeks of extensive use. I compared this TV to Sony's 37" KDF-37H1000 LCD projection TV. This 32" LCD TV won out because:
1. Sharper picture on HD signal - the KDF-37H1000 is a little more blurry. (Note the KDF-37H1000 picture is better than no-name brand LCDs). The Sony LCDs had better focus.
1a. LCD TVs have a brighter picture. The Sony TVs have 3 picture settings: i) Vivid (very bright, what you see in Best Buy, ii) Standard (less bright, what looks better at home), and iii) Cinema (softer, more reds and earth shades). On the KDF-37H1000, you have to set it to vivid to watch even at home. On LCDs, you have to reduce brightness becuase they're brighter pictures.
2. SD cable on LCD TV is much much better than on KDF-37H1000.
2a. Motion was much cleaner on the LCD TVs. Sports blurred on the KDF-37H1000. I watched a bit of "8 below" Disney's Alaskan adventure with lots of white dogs and snow, and it looked bad, blurry and soft on the KDF-37H1000.
3. LCD TV has much less depth. Looks sleeker. I also tapped my fingers and felt around the frames on the 2 TVs. The LCDs were firmer and fit better. The KDF-37H1000 frame was looser and cheaper materials like a toy.
4. Maintainence costs - the KDF-37H1000 will require $200-400 bulb replacement in 1.5 years. The sales people said this could even happen in less than a year due to bulb malfunctions, just like in a floor lamp or any lamp. Note, Sony is phasing out LCD projection TVs in favor of SXRD, Hence, parts for the KDF-37H1000 will become harder to find. The KDF-37H1000 lamps are already $400 (Sony parts are always costlier - look at their digital camera memories, compared to Canon's).
4a. The complex combination of chips, mirrors, projectors, lamps on a projection TV is more prone to break than the simpler LCD technology. I am an electrical engineer and design integrated circuits for a living.
5. The KDF-37H1000 generates more heat than LCD, but much less than plasma.
6. The KDF-37H1000 has moving parts, such as the cooling fan, etc., All of these are more prone to malfunction.
7. Consumer reports rates the LCD TV reliability higher than projection TVs after looking at consumer repair data. Projection TVs had higher rates of return and repair.
7a. The folks at Best Buy told me they saw higher rates of returns due to reliability on the KDF-37H1000 than on Sony's LCDs.
8. The LCD TV has higher pixel count 1368 X 768, compared to the KDF-37H1000's 1200 X 720. This leads to sharper picture and better focus.
9. Screen door effect on KDF-37H1000. When objects on screen moved, their individual pixels did not move as a group. The picture was constantly dissolving and reforming. Faces had spots that appeared and dissappeared.
10. 2-3 years from now, I can put the LCD TV on a dresser in my bedroom as a 2nd TV, or put it in my study as a computer monitor. Cannot do this with the KDF-37H1000.
11. Moving - when we move houses, the LCD TV will ride easily in the seat in my Honda Civic. Cannot do this with the KDF-37H1000, which will have to go in the back of the truck with my wife.
The KDF-37H1000 was better than the Sony LCD TV in terms of:
1. Sound was much better becuase larger speakers and probably more pwerful amp.
2. A few more features and options that I will not use.
3. Larger screen. However, you must sit further back to avoid seeing spots and motion blurs.
Note the KDF-37H1000 is an excellent TV and very reliable compared to no-name brands. Definitely more reliable than the Samsung Slimfit TVs. We just came out of a bruising warranty battle with Samsung, and their reliability and customer service is pretty bad. The KDF-37H1000 does look very good compared to Samsung or Westinghouse LCD TVs, which had cheap and shiny frames. However, the KDF-37H1000 is just not as good as Sony's 32" LCD TVs. If you want a bigger screen than Sony's LCDs, go 46" or 55" projection. The SXRD projection TVs had better motion. If you're thinking of 37", get an LCD.
One thing Sony's have going for them is Sony reliability. I work for IBM and we design integrated circuits for Sony's products. They require a 100 defective parts per million quality level from us. This is very good in the industry.
One other note: We only have standard SD cable channels 2 to 99. Yesterday we found that if we disconnect the cable box, connect the cable directly to the TV, go to Channel 2 and hit the channel down button on the remote, we get the 4 HD networks in HD for free! ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS, plus a local HD PBS channel. Try it at home kids and don't tell Comcast! The HD picture is amazing. |
Shocking performance
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| Review Date: November 30, 2007 |
| Reviewer: David M, Zionsville, IN USA |
No, I was not electrocuted, but I am ecstatic. I just acquired this HDTV from Costco (different model number, KDL-32SL130, but apparently same as 3000 but with different trim). The manual has both model numbers on the cover.
We purchased another LCD HDTV (Sharp Aquos 32" over two years ago). I thought it was good, but this tv far exceeds that earlier technology. The picture has well saturated colors, exceptional blacks, and a level of detail that appears to exceed its real resolution (sometimes it's not the specs, but the actual apparent performance). I get my signal from cable although I wonder what the reception would be for air hdtv signals.
Besides the extreme satisfaction with picture quality, the sound is also good. It is tough to be more complimentary since the best sound still comes from auxiliary sources, and I am relying totally at this point on the tv's internal speakers.
A problem I have observed in some LCD tvs is their inability to accommodate image speed or fast-moving images. The real test is probably sports viewing, but I have insufficient evidence to a concrete assessment. However there have been NO lags in responding to motion so far in a variety of programming. There is a lag in channel changes. It takes about 3 sec for the picture to compose after a change. A little slow for fast grazing... perhaps my settings are not yet optimal. I need to explore this further.
I will also add that hdtv satisfaction is dependent on signal sources. For example, CNN Am show uses awesome cameras and their reception is impressive. On the other hand, TNT is broadcasting older shows which are not as impressive. Some of the dedicated high definition networks such as Universal HD, many Discovery channel shows, etc. have frequent outstanding content.
Finally, what about regular definition, but digital signal television? Most are acceptable, not breathtaking. Mainly again limitations with content. Graininess is apparent in most older shows. Certainly better than regular definition even though not hd. This is clearly a function of the imaging capabilities of the Sony Bravia.
I am not taking it back. It's my first Sony. Oh, and my wife, who doesn't typically care about high definition signals... says, now that's a sharp, rich picture. So go for it. Geez, at Costco it was $750. The Amazon price is higher. What an inexpensive way to get HDTV. |
A beautiful 32" HDTV
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| Review Date: August 25, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Art, New York, NY USA |
| I'm not an HDTV guru by any means, but subjectively, this is a great TV set. The price premium for this Sony model (compared to some other brands I checked out at various warehouse stores, such as Westinghouse, Samsung, LG) provides you with an on-screen setup menu that's easier to use than most other's I've seen (similar to the PS3 user interface), a timeless and classy black cabinet design that won't look dated in a few years, and very clear and crisp video quality, whether it be from lower resolution composite/s-video sources, or 1080i over-the-air HD reception or from the PS3's HDMI output. I would not hesitate to recommend this model. One note- there does appear to be quite a bit of on-screen glare when watching it from extreme angles, but that could be due to the way I have it positioned close by my windows in the living room. |
Don't hesitate, get this TV
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| Review Date: December 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jocaju, Massachusetts, USA |
I couldn't be happier. I and my PS3 are very happy with this HDTV. Before I decide to buy this TV, I was thinking in buying a cheap 32" 720p, but after reading in some forums and reviews that you really should go for a better TV and not for the price, they are right, this TV has 8000:1 contrast ratio compared to 850 to 1000 on cheap models and also with this set you can rely on Sony, an well known brand. My sister bought a Westinghouse 32" 720p back in October and now 2 months later the TV keep turning off by itself very often, so go with Sony. I still have analog cable, so I was doing a search for channels and besides my 71 channels from Comcast, this TV also found 52 digital hidden channels that my other TV couldn't get it, inclusive some HD channels, like on my area Discovery is 44 and TLC is 45, but between Discovery and TLC there were 3 more channels like 44.1, 44.3 & 44.4, this was awesome, and one of the HD channels is ABC, now I'll be able to watch Lost in HD. YEAH.
Also I would like to thank for all of these reviews, they were realy helpfull. I did order this TV last week from circuit city, was on sale for $850 and only $10 3 day-shipping, but now this week the TV is on regular price for $1,100, so amazon has the best deal now. |
Without a doubt, best 32" LCD money can buy!!
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| Review Date: December 15, 2007 |
| Reviewer: D. Reed, Colorado Springs, CO USA |
"You get what you paid for" is a common saying these days, especially with electronics, and when it's about TVs, it speaks the truth. I've had two prior HDTVs before settling down with this Sony BRAVIA KDL-32S3000, a Vizio and a Sharp. Granted they provide a nice HD picture, it just seemed they could be better. I bought this Sony from all the reviews I've read, and from the fact that I constantly look at it when I go to a major electronics store, comparing it between other companies and other Sony TVs as well.
Once I got it home, properly calibrated it, the picture quality was stunning to say the least. The colors really do pop on this TV set, more so than the other TVs that I have own. Contrast ratio really does make a difference when it comes to LCD TVs, and I'm not talking about that Dynamic contrast ratio with crazy numbers like 7000:1 to 15,000:1, I'm talking about the "true" on-screen contrast ratio. This 32S3000 Sony provides up to 1600:1 on-screen contrast ratio, which for an LCD is very good. The other two TVs I owned had 1000:1 and 1200:1, and yes I can notice the difference.
Typical of any big name company, Sony in this case, TV build quality is top notch. Built like a tank, this TV speaks quality. I like especially the matte black look bordering the TV, as I'm not a fan on the piano black trim some TVs have. No worries of backlight bleeding or hot spots on the LCD screen, everything is uniformity, much improvement over Sony's last generation of BRAVIA sets.
2 HDMI inputs, 2 Component inputs...all which that can accept a 1080p signal. Now this is not a 1080p TV, but it can accept the signal and down converts it to 720p, or the 1366x768 native resolution. This is cool, as I can send a 1080p signal from Playstation 3 and it will accept it with no problem.
HD content is quite amazing, from cable to Blu-ray movies, they all look good on this Sony set. You will be amazed.
Simply put, if your even thinking of getting this TV, do it! You will not be disappointed. |
Best $900 I ever spent.
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| Review Date: October 1, 2007 |
| Reviewer: V. Krasteva, |
| I was immediately blown away after hooking up this TV. It comes with three picture presets (Standard, Vivid, Cinema) that make calibration virtually pointless. They're just that good. Whether I'm playing the PS3, watching movies, or just browsing pictures, I'm seeing details I've never noticed before on my previous HDTV (51" rear-projection). If you're looking for a TV of this size with the best possible picture, look no further. |
hdtv
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| Review Date: September 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Robert H. Ostrow, tahoe |
| a clear winner, from appearence,clarity of picture and sound. Also amazon price was better by $200 then "best buy" |
Greatest Home Office TV
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| Review Date: December 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Annette Winston, Knoxville, TN USA |
| First, I cannot say enough good things about how easy it was to order this TV, and to set it up. I basically took it out of the box, hooked up the cable, plugged it in, and told it to go search for channels. It was fantastic. I even decided NOT to rent a cable box, figuring when I want to watch HBO and SHO, I can go to the living room and send the guys back here to watch a football game! The picture is so much clearer and crisp than any TV I have ever owned. The sound is great. What a great buy. Delivery took about 5 days, and was worth the wait. Great job, Sony and Amazon. |
Excellent TV
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| Review Date: September 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Thomas Richard Kennedy, Spring Hill, FL |
In my opinion, Sony offers the best picture in LCD tvs.
They do cost a bit more than other tvs, but they are
worth it. Special deals such as free shipping and no
tax help offset the extra cost. |
Excellent Picture
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| Review Date: December 28, 2007 |
| Reviewer: G Squared, Carlsbad, CA |
After much research we decided to pay more for this Sony than we otherwise would have paid for other 32" flat screens. The picture is outstanding and the sound quality more than adequate. We invited some friends over who recently purchased a different brand flat screen and have HD reception. They couldn't believe the difference in picture quality. Although she isn't a sports fan, she wouldn't allow us to turn off the football game; she was mesmorized by the beautiful picture.
The set was delivered ahead of schedule by a courteous driver. |
George Plesa
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| Review Date: January 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: George W. Plesa, Pine Mountain Club, Ca United States |
| We have its 40" big brother in the front room and it has performed flawlessly. The color is superb and HD is out of this world. Even SD is excellent using Dish TV. This Xmas my wife wanted a TV for her quilting room which doubles as my weight/treadmill room so I went shopping. I almost went with the 32' Regza but the Amazon reviews indicated a potential problem with the set failing to power up. Every manufacturer has duds but the comments regarding timely service were disturbing. I opted to spend a little more on the Sony 32" and not have to worry about problems. The biggest complaint about Sony is always the price but I don't care to buy things twice. I get to the top of the line and I don't look back. The 32" has the same excellent picture as the 40". The TV needs to run for a few days for the color and the screen to break in. A two year old could set up the TV and run the remote control. |
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