No comments about Sony Bravia Z-Series KDL-40Z4100/S 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV (Silver) + TV Stand Accessory Kit w/ 3 Year Extended Warranty.

5 comments about Sony VPL-AW15 3LCD Home Theater Projector.

1. Product Overview
   
   As you open the box and pull it out for the first time, the BRAVIA VPL-AW15 gives the immediate impression of a solid, well-built projector. It weighs almost 13 pounds and there is nothing flimsy about it at all. The dark gray case has simple, clean, rectangular lines and is designed to be placed discretely on a rear shelf. The connection panel is on the rear of the unit, so you need to allow a few inches of clearance between the projector and a rear wall. The exhaust is to the front and side, well away from the light path, so shelf mounting is a particularly good option for this unit.
   
   Access to the air filter and lamp is on the underside of the projector. So if you ceiling mount it, you will need to take it down from the mount to clean or change the filter. That makes this periodic maintenance task more of a nuisance, which is a good reason to avoid ceiling mounting if you can. Practically speaking, since this is an entry level projector priced at $1,299, most users will not want to incur the added expense of a ceiling mount and long run video cables if they can avoid it. So when thinking about deploying the AW15 in your home theater space, look for a shelf mounted option if you can--the easy access to the projector will be well worth it in the long run.
   
   Our test unit, acquired at random through retail and not supplied by Sony product management, was as perfectly aligned as an LCD projector can be. Often LCD projectors have subtle misalignments of the LCD panels. Slight misalignments can contribute to a subtle softening of the picture, but they also reduce the visible pixel structure and minimize the screendoor effect. The net effect of a slight misalignment, overall, can be positive since pixel grids are quite noticeable, whereas small differences in picture sharpness are apparent only in side by side comparisons.(Significant misaligments are always a bad thing since they not only soften the picture but can produce undesirable color shifts.)
   
   We currently have four different 720p resolution LCD projectors on hand, and the AW15 is clearly the most perfectly aligned of the four. However, that means that the pixel structure is more distinctly visible in the AW15's image than any of the others. For this reason we recommend a minimum seating distance of 1.8x the screen width. For example, you should be sitting at least 13 feet from the screen if the image size is 100" diagonal. At this viewing distance, pixel structure becomes invisible, and the eye comfortably resolves the image to an integrated whole.
   
   That in turn means if you want to set the projector behind the seats, you will need to use the telephoto end of the zoom range. Why? Because the projector produces a 100" diagonal image from a distance of between 9.6 to 15.7 feet, and if you want to sit at least 13 feet from the screen, you only have a couple of feet to play with. In essence, the projector must be placed on a shelf immediately above and behind the seating area, or conversely, on a table between the seats, or on a coffee table in front of the seats.
   
   (By the way, we should note that there is no way for us to judge the degree to which the samples we have are representative of the production runs in general for each of these models. Most LCD projectors that are perfectly aligned will have the same pixelation issues we are discussing here in regard to the AW15, unless they happen to have some type of pixel suppression filter as is the case on some Panasonic models.)
   
   A fairly extensive range of vertical and horizontal lens shift makes it easy to put the projector where you want it. Vertically the image can be moved up or down within a range of about 2.3 screen heights, so the image can be placed entirely above or below the centerline of the lens with some room to spare. The shift range allows for placement on a rear shelf, a coffee table, or ceiling mount if desired, all without having to tilt the projector to hit the screen except in the most unusual of circumstances. Horizontal shift lets you move the image to the left or right about 25% of the screen width from the neutral position.
   
   
   
   
   Connectivity is minimal but functional for a home theater projector. There is one HDMI input, one VGA port, one component video, and one each of S-video and composite. This configuration is typical of entry level home theater projectors, although a number of them also offer a 12-volt trigger which is not available on the AW15.
   
   
   Performance
   As a general rule, manufacturer's specifications regarding brightness and contrast are not particularly reliable guides for consumers to use when trying to select a projector. Theoretical ANSI lumen output is usually irrelevant since actual picture quality suffers dramatically when brightness, contrast, and color temperature are pushed to the limits to maximize light output. And with contrast ratings being based on the action of a variable iris in different scenes rather than the actual maximum contrast in a given frame, the buyer should expect contrast specifications to bear no resemblance to actual contrast as perceived when viewing the projector. With a few exceptions, the brightness and contrast specifications published by home theater projector manufacturers are, by and large, meaningless.
   
   There are no exceptions to that general rule when it comes to the AW15. The official brightness specification is 1100 ANSI lumens. However, when we push all relevant settings to the maximum, with lamp on full power, iris wide open, and all controls pushed to squeeze out the most light possible, we measured our test unit at 634 lumens, far short of the stated specification.
   
   Though the AW15 does not come close to meeting its published lumen rating, the interesting thing is that once you begin to arrange calibrations for better picture quality, the AW15 falls more closely in line with the actual light output of competing models. With picture mode set to the precalibrated "Standard" mode, lamp on full power, the lens set to wide angle and color temperature set to "middle," we measured a very respectable 536 ANSI lumens.
   
   
   
   Furthermore, regular readers of this website know that a long zoom lens can have a dramatic impact on light output depending on where you set it. All projectors are at their brightest when the zoom lens is set to its maximum wide angle position, and lumen output diminishes as the lens is moved toward its telephoto end. For a zoom lens with a range of 1.6x, as is the case on the AW15, it is not unusual to find a light loss of one-third or more when moving from wide angle to telephoto. But on the AW15, the loss was a trivial 16%. So in the calibration setting just noted above, moving from the extreme wide angle setting to the extreme telephoto reduced lumen output from 536 to 450--relatively speaking, an inconsequential sacrifice. This is good news for those who want to sit back a ways from the screen and use the telephoto end of the lens as suggested above.
   
   A more costly sacrifice of light output occurs when putting the lamp into low power mode. Though this apparently extends the life of the lamp up to a potential 3000 hours according to one Sony representative, it reduces light output by 34%. Unless the projector is being used in a dark room, this is not a trade-off most users are expected to find acceptable.
   
   The precalibrated Cinema mode causes the projector to default to low lamp mode, and it drives lumen output down into the mid-200's depending on where the zoom lens is set. In a dark theater space this is still plenty of light to successfully illuminate a 120" screen because the contrast on the projector is sufficient to pull it off. Last night I watched the American Ballet Theater's presentation of Swan Lake on DVD, using the Sony AW15 in low lamp Cinema mode on a 120" Stewart Grayhawk RS screen. The image was rich and satisfying, with solid blacks, excellent color saturation, no muddiness in the shadows, and no sense that the picture was not bright enough. And this despite the fact that the projector was putting out only 240 ANSI lumens. The reason - contrast on this projector was adequate to pull it off.
   
   As far as contrast is concerned, the rated specification of 12,000:1 is based on the activity of the variable iris. This means that the real potential contrast in any given frame is much lower. In actual viewing, the picture as perceived does not appear to be higher in contrast than competing units with lower contrast ratings. And if you have any ambient light in the viewing space, the advantages of the AW15's contrast capability get thrown out the window. Brighter projectors with lower contrast ratings will always appear to be higher in contrast than the AW15 if you routinely have ambient light in the viewing space.
   
   On-board video processing is first rate, with the deinterlacing and jaggy test patterns we use being presented as cleanly as anyone could possibly expect. There was surprisingly little digital noise in the picture. So the only noticeable artifacts that can intrude to distract you from the viewing experience are related to visible pixel structure.
   
   In theory, one competitive advantage of the AW15 over other entry level 720p resolution projectors is that it will accept 1080p/24 signals--the format native to HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. However, this is more of a marketing/spec advantage than anything else. In practice there is virtually no discernable difference in image quality between HD disc material being transmitted in 1080p/24, 1080p/60 or even 1080i/60. Almost any other performance characteristic of a digital projector will have much more impact on the final image quality than which variation of 1080 signal you are using.
   
   Fan noise is very quiet when the lamp is on full power, and the projector is virtually silent in low lamp mode. But there is no need to drop the projector into low lamp mode to alleviate fan noise, so you are free to exercise the lamp options based strictly on desired lumen output.
   
   The replacement lamp is $349. Sony does not quote official lamp life on this model. The unit is programmed to display a message after some number of hours that says, "Please replace the lamp," but Sony will not indicate how many hours that is. Nevertheless, regardless of the lack of an official lamp life spec, if we were buying the AW15 for our own use, we would plan to replace the lamp every 1000 hours. The reason is that lumen output on high pressure lamps drops significantly over the life of the lamp. Since this projector is not overly bright to begin with, a lamp that is putting out only 50% of its original energy will result in an image that is too dim. To keep this projector running at peak performance, the lamp will probably need to be changed more frequently than the internal "Please replace the lamp" indicator might suggest. (This is true of all projectors using high pressure lamps, but it is more critical on projectors that have less lumen output to begin with.)
   
   
   Conclusion
   Overall, I like the Sony AW15 and would recommend it subject to two important caveats: (1) it must be used in a dark viewing space to get the true contrast benefit from it, and (2) the viewer must sit at a distance of at least 1.8x the screen width in order to eliminate the intrusion of pixelation and screendoor effects. However, if you have a theater room that can accommodate these requirements, the AW15 is capable of producing a beautiful picture for the money.
   
   credit
   projectorcentralcom



2. Me funciona de Maravilla, lo utilizo como televisor a diario y me trabaja muy bien, de verdad que lo recomiendo.
   No le doy 5 estrellas porque le falta solamente que se pudiese ver con la luz encendida de mi cuarto, pero cuando apago la luz se ve espectacular.



3. Great Projector. But don't buy it here. List is $1299 and SONY style gave a $100 discount!



4. I bought Sony Bravia VPL-AW15 3LCD projector recently and installed it myself. I was earlier using Epson Home 10+ for over a year and wanted to move to a better one. I found the Sony unit very impressive. Picture quality in terms of sharpness, colors and contrast is simply superb. On my 106" screen, the image quality is absolutely pleasing.
   
   I have installed my projector with a universal ceiling mount. The only little problem was that the mounting bolt holes on this projector are metric (M5)! - rather uncommon in North America. Searching for the right length of M5 screws/bolts was a little difficult; but once done, the effort was well worth. Picture adjustment to fit the screen is very easy even for a novice.
   
   This projector has a HDMI connection plus component inputs. The manual mentions that the unit accepts 1080P input as well. I have not tested this yet, but projection from my current DVD player (non-Blu-ray) itself - via HDMI, of course - looks so impressive with the new Sony projector, that many of my friends actually believed that I was playing a Blu-ray disc.
   
   I had done much research before selecting this projector and had high expectations when I opened the box and installed my projector. The picture I saw on the screen was truly stunning - way above my already high expectations.
   
   This was easily the most rewarding purchases in my recent memory.



5. 
   
   -GREAT COLOR!!!(Its LCD!)
   -Unless watching within 3 feet, I can not tell the Screen door effect. (IMO people are bit sensitive about this)
   -Lens shift feature is great.(Almost no limit where you place)
   -Remote is good.(Well build)
   -NO RAINBOW EFFECT!! Very fast response for a LCD projector. (I play action games. If its DLP projector, my eyes will get tired real quick. Also for DLP, when I track a fast motion, I will see a Rainbow effect really bad. You know its a projector, very big screen we are talking about...imagine how fast your eye moves.)
   -Very quiet.
   -Accepts 1080p/24fps,50fps,60fps
   
   
   -Too dark to watch during the day. If you are thinking to use as a big screen during the day, I do not recommend. Bigger the screen, Darker the screen. Well... just close the blind or curtain. No problem.
   -You might feel bit expensive for a 720p projector.
   
   1080p projector is still expensive and blue-ray is just getting started. If you really want to buy a Home theater projector now, consider buying a 720p projector. Like Sony AW15, Mitsubishi HC1500, Optoma HD65 or Epson PowerLite 720. Wait for a year or so. 1080p projector prices are dropping really fast these days. I am pretty sure 1080p will be the standard in the future but not ready yet for few years.

No comments about Sony Bravia M-Series KDL-37M4000 37-Inch 720p LCD HDTV + Sony SUFL300M TV Stand Accessory Kit w/ 3 Year Extended Warranty.

5 comments about Sony Grand WEGA KF-42WE610 42-Inch HDTV-Ready LCD Rear Projection TV.

1. Breathtaking is the only way to describe watching at a nature documentary on this television. I'd admired this model long before it came out on the Sony website, but I became somewhat concerned as I heard reports of initial problems. Finally, after I had several friends who had this tv who hadn't experienced problems, I decided to bite the bullet and get my own. (No, I didn't become friends with them just because they owned my coveted television.) I've been immensely pleased with my purchase. It's just beautiful.
   
   The only thing strange about it is that it (the case?) makes this strange noise on occasion that sounds as if something is expanding or contracting inside.



2. I bought this kind LCD projection TV back oct. 2003. Less than 2 hours per day watching by average. It's lamp burned out last week and cost $200 to replace it by yourself. It is hard to open panel to reach the lamp box. Too expensive to maintain.



3. How can someone say great value for a $2500 television? Well, compared to comparably sized plasma and DLP sets, the 42WE610 is inexpensive.
   
   Cutting to the chase - This set will appeal to you if:
   -You desire a very bright screen (this set is BRIGHT!) which can perform even in daylight
   -You would like a slim TV (much smaller than CRT, about a foot deep)
   -You see rainbows on DLP sets
   -You don't have $4000 or more for an HDTV plasma (not EDTV panels which are cheaper)
   
   This set's cons are:
   - a somewhat lackluster black level (which can be tweaked very effectively by either professional calibration or online research)
   - sporadic reports of problems, which all seem to be resolved as of mid-2004.
   
   Subjectively, I feel this set outperforms plasma screens, as the pixel structure is not as easy to see, and for the brightness levels achievable (wouldn't want to burn in that plasma!).
   
   I also feel it outperforms DLP, because the picture is less noisy and there are no rainbow effects (trails of color on high contrast images caused by the viewer's perception of the color wheel which separates 1-chip DLP white light into colors). DLP has slightly better blacks, but they're very close. In my opinion, the Grand Wega generally produces a picture which is less noisy and more "film-like."
   
   In summary, anyone would be pleased with this set's overall performance. I haven't regretted the purchase once in over a year.



4. My husband anounced one day, we were going shopping for a new TV. (Although I was not aware there was a problem with the one we owned) After an hour of drooling in the plasma section we rounded the corner & both of us said, LOVE IT!! it had the best picture there. Now, a year and a half later, I am still amazed at the piture quality. It seems like you right there with the photograher! Every once in a while it powers on with a crazy screen but turn it off & wait 10 minutes or so & it is fine. (service stated it is like your computer-sometimes it mis-loads upon firing up) I would cetainly buy it again!! I have been happy with Sony products in the past but they out did themselves this time.



5. I have this tv. Apparently the optical engine on this thing goes at the 2 year point. Sony is very aware of the problem. Lucky for me I spent 340 bucks for an extended warantee. I would suggest you do the same. The optical engine costs $1100 to fix. Depending on your timing of when the thing breaks you could be out a tv for a while since this part gets backordered all the time.
   
   I do love the picture on this tv but BUY THE WARANTEE...

1 comments about Akai 42" Widescreen Plasma EDTV Monitor (PDP4247).

1. I bought the first 42" monitor that came to my local electronic store. It happened to be an AKAI. All my friends said "PLASMA" will not last. It's only EDHD or enhanced HD. Well friends can be wrong. Mine has out lived all of thier choices and it supports 1080I and was cheaper than what they bought. I'll match my AKAI PDP4247 Plasma aginst anything on the market, the image is outstanding. It has every connection you'll need including VGA & HDMI and has seperate inputs for sound for what ever video input you use. The manuel is not the best but the monitor is every thing I hoped it would be and more. The lowest price. Outstanding image, can be hooked up to anything. For 3 years now it has done nothing but amaze me. I now use a HD satilite reciever to feed it and I can't stop staring at the screen. I know AKAI may sound like an off brand but I recommend it. This product delivers the best bang for the buck.

No comments about Zebra RW-420 RW 420 Portable Printer, Black/Gray With 4 Inch Printhead, LCD, 8MB DRAM, 4MB Flash, St.

No comments about LG Opus 42" 1080p LCD 120Hz HDTV w/ $100 Rebate.

5 comments about Sony KV-32XBR450 32" XBR Wega Flat-Screen HDTV Monitor with PIP.

1. We've had our 32" XBR450 for about three months, and the whole family loves it. Coupled with a progressive scan DVD player (we have the Sony DVP-NS700P, also a great product), the picture is nothing short of amazing. Even VHS tapes look better with this TV, thanks to the line-doubling up-conversion process the signal goes through. The sound quality is also excellent--even has treble/bass adjustments--and has surprising bass output for a TV set. The picture-and-picture feature (scalable side-by-side twin views) is really cool; however, be aware that you won't be able to view two channels at once if you get satellite service. (You can still view different sources simultaneously, though.) The unit also has plenty of inputs, including two component video inputs (for high-definition sources) so you can hook up a DVD player as well as an HDTV receiver. While the price is high, for the quality, features and flexibility, you can't beat this Sony for 32" models. I would recommend this TV to anyone who can afford it.



2. This set is surprisingly good in the following ways:

   After owning this set for four months, I am astonished at how BAD other televisions look. When my friend bought a 32 inch WEGA (non XBR) and had us over to take a look, I was appalled by the overdriven picture, extensive red push and large gap between scan lines. It was like watching television through a set of venetian blinds. The same with another friend's Toshiba flat tube set.

   Further, if you're a gadget-type person. you'll appreciate the fantastically in-depth service menu. Every conceivable internal setting of the television can be accessed through the remote. We have dropped the red push altogether and the picture is considerably more pleasing than when the set was new.

   Finally, the resolution of the picture tube is so much better than standard televisions that flaws, edits, and manipulations in NTSC sources can easily be detected with the naked eye. This could be a turn-off for some casual owners; other television sets are too blurry and inaccurate to reveal the flaws in a broadcast. Not the XBR! With this set, the difference between high quality and inferior broadcasts is as plain as day.

   To sum up, this television is superior in every way. In fact, its superiority makes some common NTSC programming look pretty bad. Some owners won't like it, preferring to hide the flaws in the signal by watching through an inferior set.




3. I bought this TV last year and I love it. I have an elliptical satellite dish
   and a Toshiba HDTV receiver.
   The picture quality is what sold me on this model, whether you are watching the news or a DVD on a
   progressive scan player (with component video cables)
   Sony gives you the option of four different screen modes, from vivid to
   'pro'...that is all picture adjustments in the default position.
   The control over every aspect of the picture is daunting at first but in no
   time you'll have the four picture modes perfectly tailored to your tastes.
   The "split screen" is very cool, you can watch a DVD and monitor a program, minimize or maximize the two screens and have the sound
   from whichever source you want Even the built in speaker system is sufficient for my taste, to me the picture quality is of utmost importance.
   I could go on and on raving about this TV.
   I only have one regret, the price keeps going down!
   j.nomograms



4. This TV is the best we ever purchased. Of course going from a 19 inch model to the 32 inch is a change, the clarity of televsion, video and DVD's is incredible. We read many reviews of Sony WEGA from many sources. Though we spent some bucks, it was well worth it!



5. I cannot review the product (originally listed for $1,000.00 dollars more), because Crates Direct pulled a switcheroo and sent an inferior, cheaper model whose true price IS $1,199.99 and not the $2,999.99 they charged me but refuse to alter.

   If you order this one, don't expect to get it.

5 comments about Sony KV-27S46 27" Trinitron TV.

1. The TV is great, I've just had a few minor problems. First of all, after receiving it from Amazon, it didn't work out of the box. I had to drive it out of town to have a connection on the picture tube repaired before I could watch it. Now that I have it back, there are three lines of what I would describe as dim pixels on the screen. Not a big deal, annoying at best. Otherwise, I'm happy with the Sony as always.



2. If you want a long lasting TV buy this one. MY last Sony Trinitron lasted 15 years.



3. OK, I bought this TV right when it come out, and granted I was doing all of my TV viewing through a 13" TV/VCR combo. I have to say though that the picture is awesome, the screen really is glare resistant (I watch it with the sun directly on it sometimes). I love to watch NASCAR races on this thing, the sound is excellent and it feels like being there. Buy it if you can!



4. I bought a Sony KV-27 18 months ago, I admit the quality of the picture is good and this is why I want to pay more to own it.
   But it stop working today after some strange flash when I powered it on. One of my friends has the similar problem with her Sony 27'' WEGA just after 2 month use, she has to pay >$200 to repair it.
   I must say the quality of sony products is bad!



5. I have had this TV for about 2 years now and serveral months ago I noticed a problem with the cable we had connected to the TV. After several hours of use the picture would develop wavy lines of static that would eventually make the TV unwhatchable. I've tried switching out the cable box the VCR even the coaxial cable the picture still deteriorates after no more than 5 hours of use. The use of the VCR tends to speed the occurence of the problem and can obliterate the picture in roughly 4 hours. Also when whatching cable TV I have noticed ghosts in the picture. I have tried switching cable boxes with the TV in the other room but the problem persits. I would like to belive that the problem is with the cable but after discussing the matter with several of my chums who were pleased with the cable on the next street I ruled that out.

   I am disapointed with this TV.

No comments about Sony Bravia M-Series KDL-19M4000/L 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (White & Blue) + Accessory Kit w/ 3 Year Extended Warranty Plan.