Sony Grand WEGA KDF-50WE655 50-Inch LCD Projection TV with Integrated HDTV Tuner Editorial Review: Sony's new KDF-50WE655 Grand WEGA Integrated LCD Rear Projection High Definition Television delivers outstanding detail and clarity that will change the way you view television. Featuring a beautiful 16: 9 aspect ratio and high definition television display, the KDF-50WE655 produces picture resolution that is sure to impress. In addition to its ATSC Tuner, if features MID -X Multi Image Driver Circuitry for beautiful picture in picture and CineMotion Reverse 3-2 Pulldown Technology allowing for enhanced customization. Its slim tabletop design is sure to compliment any decor. You can even listen to MP3 audio and view your photos with the built-in Enhanced Memory Stick Media slot. Its TruSurround SRS audio sound system complements its widescreen display, ensuring that picture and sound are equally pleasing.
Customer Reviews: Optical Block Problem After about 4 years now I have replaced the most expensive bulb in the world twice now. Not what I expected. Now this TV has an Optical Block probelm which means that I see a Blue Splat on the bottom right hand corner and also many tiny blue dots all over the screen. Sony acknowledges this defect and has offered to fix it or have me pick from a select list of TV's for a large discount. So be sure to call them if you have this problem.
BEST PICTURE COMES WITH MEDIA CARD SLOT, LARGE SCREEN, SPEAKERS ON SIDE. PICTURE QUALITY IS AMAZING!! I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
High Class TV deserves a high end signal Let's be honest. This is one very high class television with all the bells and whistles. The picture it produces is incredible with either Digital Cable or HDTV signal, and is just as amazing when used with Optical, S-Video, or Progressive Scan component cables from a DVD/VCR. The clarity, brilliance, and color rendition is A+ through and through. You'd be hard pressed to find folks to disagree with that. The area where this TV gets dinged in the same for any large screen LCD, DLP, or Plasma unit - no one likes the low resolution analog delivery when a large widescreen is hooked up to a poor analog cable or worse still VHF or UHF non-digital signal. So make a commitment now that you are shopping for a big screen HDTV set-up. If you are willing to spend a couple of grand on a large screen high-end television, you should really give consideration to providing that television with a high-end signal. That means getting digital cable, satellite (digital signal), a house antenna for free over-the-air HDTV, and investing in a DVD/VCR that has the modern outputs. Do that and you are going to be in awe each night you settle in front of this television. Don't do it and you are going to settle for less than this television can provide.
I've owned this television for about one year now. I can tell you that it is highly impressive. The clarity and depth of the picture are astonishing and the brilliance is fantastic. Style-wise, okay, the newer model of this same system is more "modern" than this. Sound-wise, this system produces clear tones and great surround. I utilize this set with a home theatre set-up using Optical out from the TV and am immersed with sound. And I can say that playing Xbox on this set-up with the MS HD component cables is astoundingly realistic.
The really great features too are that this does have its own integrated ATSC tuner to decode the HD free over-the-air signals. And better still the no need for picture-in-picture when you can split the screen and watch them side-by-side (though you can't do that with two ATSC tuned stations - one has to be analog).
But probably the best perspective I can give you is that I treat the guests to my home who haven't yet seen such a high-end widescreen television to a bit of a test. I display for them the analog every day picture first in full 16:9 view and then in 4:3 standard. They instantly agree that analog in 16:9 is not sharp, and less appealing. Then I switch it over to a digital connection and they are back to being awed. Finally, I tune in an HDTV broadcast and everyone is absolutely mesmorized. During the Superbowl this year one of my party guests exclaimed, "Wow! I can see individual faces in the stadium seats when the cameras are watching the action on the field." Yes, I know. I get that enjoyment every single day when I power up the Sony 50". If you are seriously looking to get a big screen, this one is the absolute way to go! I'll leave the rest to argue over which is better, an LCD Projection, DLP, LCD flat panel, or Plasma. I already know. It's sitting in my entertainment center.
A great deal of quality for the dollar I purchased the 50" Sony, two weeks ago, and after having my electronically inclined son tune up the colors, and make a few picture adjustments are observing a wonderful picture. Sound is good, not great, but will be putting in surround sound soon. As prices fall this set is now nearing the$2,000 price point, which is a lot of set in terms of features and size for the money. I would advise a service agreemnet as projection bulbs do in fact burn out after 2-3,000 hours and can be very expensive. The set up was flawless, and the picture quality is superb.
Excellent Picture and Sound I got this TV about a month ago. Fantastic color and sound quality. Black is not absolute, which is typical for an LCD TV. Black is dark enough however that it really is not a factor.
When you get used to HDTV you really notice how low quality a standard broadcast is. I am using a DirecTV HD receiver for all channels including local. I do not get cable or HD good local reception where I am. I can not comment about off air TV quality.
I chose an LCD based product because I could see the rainbow on some DLP based products. There is also a squeal audible (color wheel?) with some DLP products. I chose the Sony because it does not give much of a "screen door" appearance as some other LCD projectors do.
If using a home theatre or surround sound receiver for your audio be sure to get a "fast" TV like this one. On some TVs the video processor is slow enough that you get sound and video out of sync. This TV does not suffer from such a video delay.
Closer Look
