Which one should I buy? Sony KV-32V16 or KV-32S20?
Louis C Lam
I'm deciding between the Sony KV-32V16 and KV-32S20.
The KV-32V16 is at $980, and the KV-32S20 is at $799.
Is the 32V16 worth the extra $280?
Thanks!
Louis Lam
loui...@iastate.edu
--
Louis Lam loui...@iastate.edu
Engineering Computing Support Services Tel: 515-294-3393
210 Marston Hall Fax: 515-294-9273
Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
Louis A. Carliner
loui...@iastate.edu (Louis C Lam) wrote:
>I'm deciding between the Sony KV-32V16 and KV-32S20.
>The KV-32V16 is at $980, and the KV-32S20 is at $799.
>Is the 32V16 worth the extra $280?
Yes, Yes, Yes. At the 32" size, any serious limitations in color
decoding will mar long term enjoyment.
If you can swing the extra dollars, try to go for the KV32XBR45.
However, The "S" series, like any models lacking a true digital comb
filter should be avoided. There is a post noting that Hitachi is
offering a 32" model with a true digital comb filter for $1000.
If you go for the "S" series and find the dot crawl to be intolerable,
especially on live sports events, an outboard comb filter from Audio
Alchemy will set you back $600, provided your set has the appropriate
loop thru hookup capabilities to be able to use it.
>Thanks!
>Louis Lam
>loui...@iastate.edu
>--
>Louis Lam loui...@iastate.edu
>Engineering Computing Support Services Tel: 515-294-3393
>210 Marston Hall Fax: 515-294-9273
>Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
Louis A. Carliner
Your source for video calibration expertise for the four-state
area by an ISF/Joe Kane trained specialist equipped with both
the Philips color analysr and ISF optical comparator.
email: lcar...@idsonline.com
Louis C Lam
>I'm deciding between the Sony KV-32V16 and KV-32S20.
>The KV-32V16 is at $980, and the KV-32S20 is at $799.
>Is the 32V16 worth the extra $280?
Oops, that should be a difference of $181...
Thomas Padfield
Is the $1000 Hitachi w/digital comb filter a good set, and does anyone
have a model number and store/catalog? Thanks.
Louis A. Carliner
(lcar...@ids2.idsonline.com)
wrote: : loui...@iastate.edu (Louis C Lam) wrote:
: >I'm deciding between the Sony KV-32V16 and KV-32S20.
: >The KV-32V16 is at $980, and the KV-32S20 is at $799.
: >Is the 32V16 worth the extra $280?
: Yes, Yes, Yes. At the 32" size, any serious limitations in color
: decoding will mar long term enjoyment.
: If you can swing the extra dollars, try to go for the KV32XBR45.
: However, The "S" series, like any models lacking a true digital comb
: filter should be avoided. There is a post noting that Hitachi is
: offering a 32" model with a true digital comb filter for $1000.
: If you go for the "S" series and find the dot crawl to be intolerable,
: especially on live sports events, an outboard comb filter from Audio
: Alchemy will set you back $600, provided your set has the appropriate
: loop thru hookup capabilities to be able to use it.
: >Thanks!
: >Louis Lam
: >loui...@iastate.edu
: >--
: >Louis Lam loui...@iastate.edu
: >Engineering Computing Support Services Tel: 515-294-3393
: >210 Marston Hall Fax: 515-294-9273
: >Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
: Louis A. Carliner
Jake Page
In article <4ng86s$6...@decaxp.HARVARD.EDU>,
Thomas Padfield <padf...@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
>Is the $1000 Hitachi w/digital comb filter a good set, and does anyone
>have a model number and store/catalog? Thanks.
>
The model number is 32UX8B. Specs (from Video Buyer's Guide):
3-line comb filter (they actually said 3-D... WRONG! so take the
rest of the info for what it's worth...)
Univ/illuminated remote, 700 lines res, 1 tuner PIP, UltraBlack tube,
decent sound (Surround, 10W) 3 audio & video RCA jacks, 1 S-video.
Unfortunately it doesn't say whether it has color temp. control, SVM
disabling/theater mode, etc.
I have only found it mail order, so I haven't been able to play around
with one yet. If anyone has tried one out, I'd be interested in your
opinions, too...
Jake
Jake Page
In article <4ni8vg$c...@news2.cais.com>,
Louis A. Carliner <lcar...@ids2.idsonline.com> wrote:
>padf...@fas.harvard.edu (Thomas Padfield) wrote:
>
>>Is the $1000 Hitachi w/digital comb filter a good set, and does anyone
>>have a model number and store/catalog? Thanks.
>
>one out or calibrated it.
>
>If you are able to obtain the SONY KV32XBR45 at very near that price
>point, I would go for it. I know how well these turn out after I get
>done with one, and they are truly AWESOME! If I can get hold of the
>Hitachi, I will glady report back. If that model, post calibration and
>SVM disabled turns out well, I will let the world know! Hitachi is
>putting its priorities in the right place by recognizing that anything
>less than a digital comb filter in that screen size is inappropriate.
I went to look at the Hitachi 32UX8B yesterday. Though I'm not an
expert on TV quality, I'll try to give my summary...
The remote is very similar to the XBR remote (flipping the button pad/
whatever it is on top for different modes). Pretty easy to use, but
it is not as solidly constructed as Sony's. I would have a little
concern of that pad getting stuck/breaking if used a lot (actually,
I'd have a little concern about the Sony's, too -- the less moving
parts, the better, if you ask me...)
After I played around with the settings (turning contrast & sharpness
pretty far down, brightness down a bit) as well as turning off the
"Ultravision AI" (ugh) and other "features" like Autocolor, Noise
Reducer, Notch Filter, setting white control to WARM (choice
between cool and warm), the picture was VERY clean & sharp. Comparing
it to the 32XBR45 next to it, I thought the Hitachi had a cleaner looking
picture in many ways. I couldn't watch anything that would really show
dot crawl, but I noticed in general it was better than any of the other
32" TVs except the XBRs. It didn't have any user-controlled disable for
SVM, but then again, it didn't advertise SVM... (would be too much to hope
for if they just left it out, I guess.)
Unfortunately, there was a major problem with it that I couldn't get around.
When I had it adjusted for this very clear picture, it didn't seem to
display pure white at all. Also, the colors just weren't very bright
(it bright red looked so much more vivid on most of the other sets...)
Jacking the contrast way up helped this a bit, but of course the pictures
looked like crap. Also, when I turned on the "Ultravision AI" it changed
all "white" on the screen form the off-grey I was seeing to bright white
(some sort of automatic "white enhancement"? As I said, I don't know the
technical terms, etc very well, so bear with me :)
Of course, I thought the XBR looked very good as well -- plus the whites
looked white, and the colors were very vivid (I'm sure I don't have to tell
people this...). And of course the 2-tuner PIP of the XBR is a lot of
fun :)
Does anyone know if this is a problem that can be fixed by professional
calibration (the lack of pure whites, I mean)? Or maybe it was a
problem specific to the set I saw? (seems hard to imagine Hitachi meant
to have it look like that, but I guess they may have assumed people
would actually WANT to use their "AI"...) Other than this I really
liked the Hitachi. Considering it lists for $700 less than the XBR45,
if this problem could be solved I would get it in a second. I'm
considering springing for the XBR, but if I do I HIGHLY doubt I'd
have anyone calibrate it... so if the post-calibration Hitachi is
significantly better, it seems like a good buy.
Now I'm dying to hear what Louis (or anyone else else who knows what he's
talking about...) has to say about it!
Jake
Louis A. Carliner
padf...@fas.harvard.edu (Thomas Padfield) wrote:
>Is the $1000 Hitachi w/digital comb filter a good set, and does anyone
>have a model number and store/catalog? Thanks.
It may very well be, but I have not had a chance to personally check
one out or calibrated it.
If you are able to obtain the SONY KV32XBR45 at very near that price
point, I would go for it. I know how well these turn out after I get
done with one, and they are truly AWESOME! If I can get hold of the
Hitachi, I will glady report back. If that model, post calibration and
SVM disabled turns out well, I will let the world know! Hitachi is
putting its priorities in the right place by recognizing that anything
less than a digital comb filter in that screen size is inappropriate.
Gary
In article <4nfjfa$k...@news2.cais.com>,
lcar...@ids2.idsonline.com says...
>loui...@iastate.edu (Louis C Lam) wrote:
>>I'm deciding between the Sony KV-32V16 and KV-32S20.
>>The KV-32V16 is at $980, and the KV-32S20 is at $799.
>>Is the 32V16 worth the extra $280?
>Yes, Yes, Yes. At the 32" size, any serious limitations in color
>decoding will mar long term enjoyment.
OK, I know I'm a dolt for still having long term enjoyment of my
two-year old Sony 32S15 TV, and I am sure that NOW I would go
through comb filter anxiety and buy something else, but, that having
been said, WHAT should I look for on my TV to make me feel
appropriately terrible about it? I DO watch sports events, from time
to time (OK, football season) and the only "dot crawl" I've seen is the
Houston Oilers trying to get beyond the 50 yard line. (What the hell IS
"dot crawl" anyway?) Please tell me, specifically, what awful things I
have, so I can look for them, find them, and start to fret about them!
I do see herringbone and other fine patterns on clothing break up
and shimmer in rainbow colors from time to time, but I've always
seen this on TV, so that hasn't impressed me very much. Not
enough to buy a new TV, that's for sure.
The video signal is fed into my TV via cable signal through my RCA
725 VHS (which I understand doesn't have a decent comb filter
either) and up into the Sony through an S-video cable.
Please enlighten me. Make me feel terrible.
thanks --
gary
Louis A. Carliner
>I went to look at the Hitachi 32UX8B yesterday. Though I'm not an
>expert on TV quality, I'll try to give my summary...
.........
>After I played around with the settings (turning contrast & sharpness
>pretty far down, brightness down a bit) as well as turning off the
>"Ultravision AI" (ugh) and other "features" like Autocolor, Noise
>Reducer, Notch Filter, setting white control to WARM (choice
>between cool and warm), the picture was VERY clean & sharp. Comparing
>it to the 32XBR45 next to it, I thought the Hitachi had a cleaner looking
>picture in many ways. I couldn't watch anything that would really show
>dot crawl, but I noticed in general it was better than any of the other
>32" TVs except the XBRs. It didn't have any user-controlled disable for
>SVM, but then again, it didn't advertise SVM... (would be too much to hope
>for if they just left it out, I guess.)
>Unfortunately, there was a major problem with it that I couldn't get around.
>When I had it adjusted for this very clear picture, it didn't seem to
>display pure white at all. Also, the colors just weren't very bright
>(it bright red looked so much more vivid on most of the other sets...)
>Jacking the contrast way up helped this a bit, but of course the pictures
>looked like crap. Also, when I turned on the "Ultravision AI" it changed
>all "white" on the screen form the off-grey I was seeing to bright white
>(some sort of automatic "white enhancement"? As I said, I don't know the
>technical terms, etc very well, so bear with me :)
The vivid red problem is a sign of an inaccurate color decoder AKA
RCA/GE/Proscan. Unless there is a service adjustments (like the this
year's SONY's) it is a killer defect. (:
The white balance problem characteristic you are experiencing is
likely the result of unwanted constrast stretch, even with the AI
turned off. However, perception of emitted white light is relative.
The level of illumination affects the perception of a neutral color
balance light source as white or gray. You really need to use the
pluge pattern with vertical grayscale to assess this. The way I assess
for presence of contrast stretch and/or poor background level
retention performance is to start with the IRE 100 window pattern on
AVS (frame 50820) and step down slowly to the darker windows watching
how the black border stays black. On poor sets like the
RCA/GE/Proscan, it will lighten up to a dirty charcoal gray or blue
serge or used car salesmen green! Another way is to put on a
letterboxed movie with a mixture of dark and light scenes and watch
how well the black boxing stays a constant black.
Since I cannot see the set personally, I cannot attest to whether the
faults are merely a calibration problem or not.
You should give Robert Busch, Busch Home Theater a call in Santa Rosa
at Phone: 707-573-9170. He may have done a calibration on a similiar
Hitachi recently. He one of the very best calibrators there is! Use
him as a resource for a second opinion on product selection.
>Of course, I thought the XBR looked very good as well -- plus the whites
>looked white, and the colors were very vivid (I'm sure I don't have to tell
>people this...). And of course the 2-tuner PIP of the XBR is a lot of
>fun :)
>Does anyone know if this is a problem that can be fixed by professional
>calibration (the lack of pure whites, I mean)? Or maybe it was a
>problem specific to the set I saw? (seems hard to imagine Hitachi meant
>to have it look like that, but I guess they may have assumed people
>would actually WANT to use their "AI"...) Other than this I really
>liked the Hitachi. Considering it lists for $700 less than the XBR45,
>if this problem could be solved I would get it in a second. I'm
>considering springing for the XBR, but if I do I HIGHLY doubt I'd
>have anyone calibrate it... so if the post-calibration Hitachi is
>significantly better, it seems like a good buy.
>Now I'm dying to hear what Louis (or anyone else else who knows what he's
>talking about...) has to say about it!
>Jake
Louis A. Carliner
Louis A. Carliner
gdm...@onr.com (Gary) wrote:
Sir:
You are not using the comb filter in the SONY, but the one in the
RCA. You may wish to experiment with SONY's. I just had a chance to
look at the RCA 725 last night. Compared to my Mitsubishi U-70, U71
and U-82 models, the RCA tuner is output is noticeably degraded in
terms of definition compared to my VCR's and SONY XBR tuner to the
point as to be less than fully suitable for line-doubled front
projector applications. Recording performance from non-tuner sources
appears to be quite fine, however.
J.P. Kelly
On 18 May 1996 15:03:05 GMT, gdm...@onr.com (Gary) wrote:
:been said, WHAT should I look for on my TV to make me feel
:appropriately terrible about it? I DO watch sports events, from time
:to time (OK, football season) and the only "dot crawl" I've seen is the
:Houston Oilers trying to get beyond the 50 yard line. (What the hell IS
:"dot crawl" anyway?) Please tell me, specifically, what awful things I
That's what happens when they ACTUALLY get to the 45 yard line. :)