Sony Grand WEGA 42" LCD Projection TV

Blue & Green Clouds

Posted Jan 3, 2006 - I Bought this TV and I am not satisfied as I see Blue and Green CLouds in the corners during very dark scenes and Widescreen Mode. It is a big Hassle for me. I returned the TV Twice found the same problem. Don Sch from TX and J Elliot from OR were having the same issue but that post has dissapeared from here without trace. Sony had offered to send a technician to take a look but I declined as I see many people are having the same issue. This TV has great colors compared to DLP TV but sometimes the reds can be very bright and is easy to watch even in bright light. You can even pick from the 3 different preset color modes. The Remote is universal but not too user friendly and the size is too Long. There is No PIP but that is not much of an hassle for me.If you are looking for an HDTV this could just be the TV for you. This TV Does have excellent Picture quality if you are watching a DVD with progressive scan or High Defination programming.The other negative thing is the fan noice, but I have gotten used to it. Initially this TV takes about 30 Seconds to start as the lamp warms up. Eventually I also see an expense in the Future where I will have to change the lamp. But then I already knew this before I bought this TV So I am okay with it. So in my opinion I am stuck with this TV but If you are interested in this TV better do your homework before you empty your pocket because those clouds really bug me. From the forums I have red, experts say that it is the lamp issue rather than the TV itself. If I did not have this Cloud issue I think I would be satisfied because the price is affordable and this set is light wieght and esay to move.

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Excellent HDTV

Posted Dec 28, 2005 - This is my first personal jump into the HDTV realm, while I have had access to other brands/models of HDTVs. I chose this particular unit due to its quality picture, the built in ATSC tuner, number of high quality inputs and the Sony reputation. And I've not been disapointed thus far. The picture itself is beautiful on all true HD content, including 720p DVD content. When I looked at the TV at stores, its picture stood out among all others. There are lots of options to tweak and customize the picture to your own personal tastes. I found that once I had customized it to my living space it was spot on. The unit has a huge assortment of inputs for getting content onto the TV itself. These include a convenient set of component inputs on the side, 2 more sets on the back, a VGA input for your computer, HDMI input, and legacy inputs for S-Video and RCA video. You'd be hard pressed to find a TV like this with this many useful inputs. The built-in ATSC and NTSC tuners are very nice for those of us who want HD content now and don't want to pay a service fee to providers for them (cable, satellite). Once I had an antenna connected, I was able to scan for and create a list of all HD and SD content in my area, then remove any channels I did not want, all with ease. For me this functionality was important, as I do not plan on having any other source for HD channels for a while. Once you've tuned into the locals in HD during the week's primetime lineup you will not want to go back to SD channels. My only real complaint is the poor quality of the standard defintion programming. This includes NTSC channels and 3rd party input from, in my case, DirecTV. The same picture quality that was perfect on my old SD 4:3 TV through a S-Video input looks horrid and blocky on this tv. I guess this shows how much of an improvement one can see between the 2 kinds of TVs. But, since most of the content I watch is from this source, it was somewhat disapointing to see how bad it could actually look. But, considering the fact that SD is going away slowly, I think this is a small price to pay to be able to watch HD content, watch DVDs in the quality they were meant to be seen in, and generally be part of the next generation of TV viewing. Sure, you can get a similar sized or bigger HDTV for the money, maybe even get one with a similar picture quality. But this HDTV was an easy choice for me and once I got it home and setup I did not regret my purchase one bit.

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Excellent TV!!!

Posted Sep 12, 2005 - I've only had this TV for a couple of days, so this may be a bit premature, but I absolutely love it! I had purchased a Sony KD-34SX955 CRT television in May and it developed problems after a month. It could not be repaired, even after changing the picture tube, so I received a return allowance. I did not want to get the same TV, or the next model up, for fear of it developing the same problem. I really wanted to get a CRT because my research had told me that it gives the best picture (even though they're heavy), but none met my criteria. I couldn't bring myself to spend the extra funds for a plasma, so I decided on this LCD (after doing some further research and reading reviews). I am so pleased that I did. The picture is bright and clear and I did not need to tweak it much; just switched to Standard picture mode rather then Vivid and made a few minor personal preference adjustments. Some on-line reviews said that it has a “red push” out of the box, but I don't notice it and all looks great to me. The picture straight from TW analog cable is better then the 34SX955, not grainy; HD is wonderful! Also, the wide zoom feature that converts 4:3 signals to 16:9 is much better (no clipping). There are many nice features on this TV, especially the ability to customize each input to your liking. There are two caveats that I should mention. Off axis viewing is not good and this TV should be watched according to the recommendations in the manual; at least six feet back, within 30 degrees of eye level vertically and 65 degrees horizontally. It works perfectly in the room we have it in, but may not be right for everyone. The other item is the sound. It doesn't have the theater like sound that is popular, but that was never of a concern for me anyway, so I'm happy with the sound. The 34SX955 had too much bass for me, even after making adjustments; it is in a small room. You could probably play with the sound settings to suit your taste or run it through an AV system; this guy has tons of inputs. The remote is OK, but could be better, but I use a programmable one for all my units, so it is not a concern for me. Also, I purchased the 4-year warranty; the salesmen told me that the projection bulbs are included in this warranty. I would have purchased it anyway on a TV of this size.

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Works for me

Posted Aug 24, 2005 - This set was the first available option that fit all of my acceptance criterea at this price point. Unlike 42" plasma, it displays true 720p image resolution It fits inside an existing 36" CRT entertainment center It has a wealth of inputs available: Composite, Component, S-Video, over the air digital TV ATSC, digital cable ready Cable Card, HDMI, VGA computer input No burn-in like plasma or CRT No DLP "rainbow effects" The ATSC tuner is better than my old AccessDTV HDTV capture card and it pulls in some weak stations that I could not receive before. It does a better job of viewing old analog standard def TV broadcasts than most other sets. Make sure that you use a good quality RG-6 coax cable, though. The main disadvantages are: Because it is a projection microdisplay, the bulb needs replacement every few years. You should consider getting a surge protector/UPS combination if you wish to extend your bulb life. Off-angle viewing is not perfect, but is good enough for me. Warning: If you visit a store to check the off-angle viewing effect, please change the TV over from VIVID mode over to STANDARD mode to get a true feel for the limits. The viewing angle dimming effect is worse when you are not using VIVID mode. The other night, I did see some "lipsync" audio / video synchronization problems on a broadcast of the Tonight Shot on my local NBC affiliate WVIT-DT. I am not sure if this problem is caused by the TV station or by the TV set. I will need to investigate further.

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It's Great!

Posted Nov 6, 2005 - My previous TV was an old Sony 27" standard definition CRT which I had for many years. When I decided it was time to go HD I looked at the different technologies and prices out there and decided on this one. So far it has performed above my expectations. I'm still amazed that this Sony is one of the cheapest 42" HDTVs available. When comparing TVs don't be fooled by cheaper EDTVs (lower resolution), and HD-Ready TVs (no tuner). The picture quality is clear and sharp, and the colors are good. I do think that a CRT gives a better picture though, but you can't get a 42" CRT HDTV. I'd choose the larger size anyday. The viewing angles are not so good, but that's to be expected of all projection TVs. It's pretty decent side to side, but the up and down angles are very small. This TV definately needs to be at the height of the viewer. One huge bonus I found out about after getting this TV was the ATSC Tuner. All I needed was a little UHF antenna and now I get to see all the major networks in HD quality. This is great for people who don't pay for cable. HDTV reception is always crystal clear, unlike standard definition where you get all that static. There are plenty of inputs on the TV. HDMI, VGA, 3 component. There's also an optical audio output on the TV, so if you have a Dolby Digital receiver you can get 5.1 sound from over the air broadcasts. The TV is only 60 lbs, which is very nice. It still requires 2 people to carry though, because it's so big you can't put your arms around it. :) Lastly, this TV handles all the different picture formats out there perfectly. There's a crazy amount of different screen ratios and resolutions out there today. 16:9, 4:3, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, black bars on top, black bars on the sides, etc etc. This TV can do all the stretching and squashing necessary to get the correct picture.

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Worth the wait - timing is everything.

Posted Aug 16, 2005 - I think I am one of the first to get this TV in the US from a major retailer. The most awesome part: paid only $1489 from the local 'red' superstore + tax + $40 for delivery! I challenge anyone to get that kind of deal on this set without buying online. Once I got past the euphoria of the deal, the TV did not let me down. I've waited for almost 5 years to get the right combination of features, quality and price. This set delivers on all counts. Highly recomended. I run an OTA Zenith GEMDTV1 terrestrial antenna raised 10' above my suburban Florida roofline and ATSC digital channels are breaktaking, especially PBS-HD. Last night, a HD travel show to Switzerland almost took me 'there'. You can almost smell the food on the cooking shows on HD, and NASCAR showed no signs of pixilation during fast-moving scenes. DVD's on component progressive scan are stunning: The Moulin Rouge had me swimming in Kidman's eyes. Sinply Awesome. Light and very stylish cabinet - not as sleek as the gloss finish plasma's or Hitachi RPTV's, but duh? Scroll back up to the price! Weaknesses are noted above - no TV gets it perfect unless your conditions are theatre-based. In the real world, perfection seekers will at least appreciate the ease of use of the remote - that not only allows you to skip unused inputs - but easily change picture and brightness settings through the WEGA Gate funtion. If you need PIP - this set is not for you. If you 'watch' shows: movies, sports, and HD content, then this set 'is' for you. Overall 9/10: from a very demanding videophile. Now go get 'your' deal. Great job, Sony. Your 20" 17 year old CRT brother in the bedroom looks up to you!

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A GRAND TV

Posted Oct 6, 2005 - I looked around for months, and read reviews here and elsewhere, and everytime I thought I had picked the right TV for my first large screen, there was always something that held me back. I was going to buy the LG/Zenith 50", but the reviews were all scathing, so I canceled it. Then I saw this new SONY 42" (I think they make a 50" but this was in my price range) in the showroom, and with a price of only $1498.88, I could not resist it. Bought it last Friday. It is their newest version; and the TV looks really posh -black-framed screen floats above the thin speakers; hidden side-inputs, and a host of rear inputs/outputs for every conceivable toy...And that's without even turning it on. Right out of the box, without any special tuning, the Picture was GRAND -the brightness, sharpness, and clarity are all superb (for even regular, i.e., standard cable broadcasts). With my progressive scan DVD player, the picture is almost palpable! It's almost like watching in 3-D. (I do not yet have an HD source, but can only imagine how great that will be.) The sound quality of regular cable TV is exceptional. (But I am running the DVD sound through my surround-sound system.)Very easy to use remote, and set-up instructions. And now that I am a little more comfortable with it, I'm busily customizing, and even that it easy to do. I did buy a 5 year extended warranty with a replacement bulb guarantee for only $245.88 -as I had read that even the best LCD/DLP sets needed bulb replacement over time, and I would rather be safe than sorry. (I had read a review that said this was SONY's base model -but all I can say is unless you are a "techie" this set will more than meet expectations.) Note: it is PC and cable-card ready, and does have an integrated HD-tuner, and does offer split-screen with an amazingly clear "freeze-frame" feature -but it does not have Picture-in-Picture -so if that is important to you (it's not to me), then that may make a difference.

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Very nice TV

Posted Jun 8, 2006 - after reading the reviews of this tv, i decided that it was the tv for me, price-wise, but i was concerned that i might not end up with something that i was really "thrilled" with overall. viewing angles, glare, remote, all seemed to be issues to folks. after i bought it and set it up, however, i am THRILLED with this tv. on a dvd movie, the picture is perfect, the interface to make minor adjustments is easy to use. on games, it is crisp and clear. i have found that sitting anywhere but directly parallel to the tv, the picture is nicely viewable. the remote control isnt flashy, but in my mind thats good...going crazy with buttons can be more confusing than its worth. overall, i couldnt be happier with this tv. go buy one!

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A Grand LCD Projection TV

Posted Dec 20, 2005 - We purchased this television because the LCD and Plasma TV's had a lot of things that could go wrong and if you didn't purchase a service contract to cover the many things that could happen, then you would be out a lot of money. Not having a huge bank account we decided on the Sony Grand Wega for it had many good features: such as it is light weight easy to handle, picture is great, setup is a breeze no screen burn-in, you can hook up your computer to it, and insert a cable card into the set and not have a set top box to bother with. All in all, this is one nice television for the money.

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Great TV, Highly recommended!!

Posted Feb 17, 2006 - After researching and researching for about 8 months I finally decided on this TV. I didn't want to spend more than $2000 or so. I compared low end plasmas, EDTV and rear projection. I really didn't care about size except I knew I didn't want one of those monster old school rear projections. Based on the combo of features and price, it came down to the Samsung Rear Projection HLR4266W and this Sony KDFE42A10. After all the research and debating it came down to simple basics...picture quality and brand loyalty. The picture quality is awesome in HD and pretty good on standard broadcasts depending on which channel it is. When I used the basic setup to search for channels it found a lot of extras including local HD channels. That saves me $5 a month from Comcast cable or buying a bulky antenna. FREE local HD is worth it right there!! It also found several digital channels and I only have basic cable. One weird thing is I seem to pick up some video on demand programming. I believe it is from others in my area because it is very random and never the same station twice. Nonetheless, pretty cool if you catch a movie or program you like. The sound is pretty good for TV speakers, no problems here. There are several ways to adjust the sound, which is good. I love the menu because there are many many ways to change the picture and sound. It is easy to navigate. The remote is kind awkward because it is so long but no big deal. The screen door effect is very minimal as long as you sit back 6 ft or so. I think the picture quality is very good. The viewing angle is much better than I anticipated. I have had no problems with this TV. Overall I love it. Great picture, features and best of all a great buy for the money. You cannot go wrong with this TV. Highly recommended!!

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Awsome Tv

Posted Dec 18, 2005 - I got this tv to watch dvd's on and i must say there awsome to watch then i hooked my computer up to this badboy and o boy im in gamer heaven. Call of duty2 for the pc looks so awsome i just cant hold my laughter when i think of how crisp and clear games are on this big ol thing, far cry is just so pretty its puts you in the game big time and counter strike source wow awsome as well smooth gameplay no laging at all have a decent pc to run it on athlon xp 3800+, 1Gig ram, ati X1800XT video card. Now you can customize how well the screen looks in games id recommend you customize for games and leave in vivid for dvds.

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A GRAND REVIEW!

Posted Dec 30, 2005 - Spent much time researching projection televisions. Due to space limitations and my budget I settled on the Sony 42" Gand WEGA LCD Projection TV. From the moment I turned on the unit, I noticed the ease of use and the simple navigation through the Sony Interface. Simple and easy! The picture was the biggest draw for me. Although I bought the unit online through a Price Grabber vendor I did see the 50" variation in a lineup at Sam's Club. The Grand WEGA has better picture quality, brightness and generous viewing angles. This TV has it all and at a superb price. The connectivity of the unit is great. It has a CableCARD port, numerous connection options and side access ports for my gaming system. I RECOMMEND THIS TV TO ALL!

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Great TV

Posted Dec 31, 2005 - I purchased this TV about 2 months ago and I have been very pleased with every aspect. It is a great looking TV.We are using it in our bedroom and it goes well there. The picture quality is tremedous on HD but the definition, color and contrast are also excellent on all channels. I would highly reccomend this TV.

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Awesome Viewing Experience!!!

Posted Dec 29, 2005 - I absolutely love this tv. I upgraded from a 27" tube set. I did a lot of research with hdtv's and ended up with this one. I purchased the mitsubishi 52" because it was an open box at best buy, got it home and was none too impressed. Very dull picture, way too heavy (120 pounds) and it had a scratch on it so it had to go back. Besides the wife was none too happy that it was 52 inches. We decided to go smaller and she liked the looks of this one much better anyway. I got it for 1599 at the local geek store. This one is only about 60 pounds so right away it was a step above. It looks much better than the mits. (I understand that the mit is a 52 and the sony is a 42 so they aren't really in the same league but that is all I have to compare it to) I have read posts about the clouds in the corners, having to adjust the blacks between night and day, that the picture is bad when viewing from the sides. None of that is true in this tv. I love the colors, I love the look of the cabinet. It is very easy to switch video inputs using the wega gate option on the remote. Hd is stunning as are dvd's. The negatives are somewhat small in number. Granted only having the set for two weeks is minimal time for negatives when upgrading from a 27 inch but here they are. The remote could have been smaller and more user friendly. Not sure who dreams up these things but it is very long and skinny. Good luck finding the mute button in a hurry on this thing. If you plan to use another remote, disregard this part. Also when using the ant. feature the guide does not show what programs are on and you can't get to station down the dial without going up or down one by one. With the mitusbishi you could page up or down then click down the channels to hit return. This one is a pain. All in all I would highly recommend this tv. I am so happy I went with this set.

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lamp question

Posted Jan 19, 2006 - Dose Anyone know how long the lamp lasts fro on the KDF-E42A10 because im looking to buy one and if it only lasts for 1 year how much are they Thanks

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