Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony KV-32XBR250 FD Trinitron WEGA XBR TV

The only thing that could make the Triniton Wega XBR television any better is if it were an HDTV model with a 16:9 aspect ratio. I'm sure that Sony will come out with such a model in a few years and I'm sure I'll buy it. Picture quality on the Wega is excellent, the quality of DVDs through the s-video and component video ports is excellent, from a normal viewing distance it is almost as if you are watching HDTV. The quality of VHS tapes through the composite video ports is also excellent, I watched some of my old tapes the other night and saw things in them that I had never seen before. The only two downsides to the Wega are the weight, this model weighs about 180 pounds, and the cheap stand that comes with it. Skip the stand and go for a decent TV stand from a third-party and you'll be very happy with this model, I know that I am.

I upgraded from a 24" Wega to a 27" Wega and finally to a 32" in a matter of two weeks because I wanted the vertical compression mode for anamorphically enhanced DVD's. I love mine! Only caveat is that one needs to watch it in a really dark room as the screen picks up all kinds of reflections in its environment. If you can live with that, it is a superb set. Upon limited viewing, I find that with some DVD's my set displayed a barely perceptible bowing-in of the upper left-hand and lower right-hand corners in the vertical compression mode. The frame of the image also seemed to be a little tilted with respect to the sides of the full-screen. I am quibbling but at this price I expect something close to perfect. Still, I enjoy mine immensely. I rate it four stars because I have seen the Sony 1250i DRC Wega sets in Asia and they are astonishing. Why can't Sony USA make these Wegas available Stateside in a 16:9 format (as they in the UK)? And why restrict the vertical compression mode only to 32" sets and larger (this mode is available in sets 27" and larger in Asia)? And not make all the sets multi-system so that one can play back NTSC, PAL, Secam media? This is a set to tide me over until High-Def gets here.

In short, highly recommended.

I just purchased this monster of a TV. If you are curious about the Flat Screen enhancement, don't believe a word that the salesman tells you. The glare from the flat screen will show you everything behind you. If anyone has ever told you "you need to grow eyes in the back of your head" condiser it done! The best viewing time is definately after sunset if your windows are behind the set. Next time you go into a store, notice how all the Sony flatscreens are faced away from the storefronts.

The picture is terrific, DVDs are amazing, and it has some pretty funky headphones. This television has everything I need, especially the right number of inputs. I have a Sony DVP-C650D 5-disc DVD player and a good Sony Hi-Fi VCR, and was sick of a lack of the right kind of inputs in my old set. This is not a problem with this XBR as it has 1 Component Video (awesome), 2 S-Video (great), and several Composite Video (required for any TV) inputs.

I have only noticed two downsides to this set:
The price and some discoloration while watching the Food Network. The bottom of Emiral's face looks yellow.

Just buy this set if you have the loot, and get some good composite video cables for your DVD player.
Also, make sure you set your DVD player to 16:9 aspect ratio. You'll notice the difference when watching widescreen content.

The Sony KV-32XBR250 is one ofthe best direct-view TV setsavailable.It is Sony's best 32inch television and employstheir highly-acclaimed Wega(pronounced :vega) picture tube.These are the flatest picture tubes available andyield the most natural imageI've ever seen.This set isloaded with every feature aTV junkie could possibly desire! There are four audio/video inputs,three on the back and one on the front behind aswing-down panel.The frontpanel input and one of the rear inputs have S-Video connectors and composite (RCAtype).Then there's the three-line component input for usewith DVD players.An additionalcomposite only input is on therear panel too,which I'm usingfor my Web TV internet device.You get two RF inputs in caseyou need an extra.Of course,the set has two-tuner picturein picture.The flexibility ofconnections will excite eventhe most ardent audio-videoenthusiast,like me! If youhave joined the DVD revolutionthis is the set for you.Itdisplays anamorphic DVD's atvery close to their full,glorious potential.Everybodywho has seen a DVD play on myset has been quite amazed.Morethan several people have saidthis was the best televisionthey had ever seen.The remoteis capable of operating,VCR's,DBS (satelite recievers),DVD's,and Laserdisc players.It's got codes to control manybrands,not just Sony,all youhave to do is pick off theon-screen menus! I comparedthis set to the German Lowe(pronounced: luva) sets thatcost over twice as much,andto my 20/20 eyes the Sony wonhands down! The only way toget a better picture than this,is to buy a high-def set!