High-Definition TV -- receives and decodes digital HDTV/SDTV signals from over-the-air broadcasts (antenna required) and cable TV service (CableCARD required) * widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio * 1365 x 768 pixels *
When a living room or office calls for cutting-edge technology, Sony's 50-inch KDE-50XS955 gas-plasma television is there to answer that call with its perfectly flat screen, sleek lines, and meticulous construction. The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio to match the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and it's compatible with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i signals, delivering full-fledged HDTV reception right out of the box via its integrated NTSC and ATSC (HDTV) tuners. It also offers digital cable readiness with a CableCARD slot and the latest digital-video interface, HDMI.
With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the KDE-50XS955 is a mere 6.25 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting (for wall positioning, use bracket SU-PW3M). Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems. You do, however, need to be wary of image burn-in (wherein long-held stationary images leave a permanent impression in the screen).
Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.
The set's WEGA Engine system maximizes picture performance from any video source by minimizing the number of digital-to-analog conversion processes. This full digital processing engine includes Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver), which maintains the integrity of a converted signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.
Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital II circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source.
Sony's BN Smoother scans the frequency of a given image (such as those from DVD players, off-air HDTV programming, or even analog cable and broadcasts) to calculate the edges of each MPEG block. It applies an algorithm to each block edge, smoothing the transition from one block to another for a seamless picture.
The set includes numerous other features.
- Single-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view 2 images simultaneously (such as 1 TV station and 1 video input).
- A Memory Stick media slot (compatible with Memory Stick Pro and Memory Stick Duo media) grants convenient viewing of JPEG and MPEG-1 files. It can also display customized slide shows using MP3 files for background music.
- Authorized CableCARD ability means the set will receive digital cable television systems services directly from the cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.
- Sony's exclusive S-Master 1-bit digital amplifier produces a powerful 25 watts per channel (x 2), pumping an additional 50 watts into a built-in subwoofer for rich, full-bodied sound from movies and music.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link the set with any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver). HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
What's in the Box
TV, removable stand, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, a quick-start guide, a cleaning cloth, and warranty/registration information.
1 Problems
I purchased a new Sony KDE-37XS955 37" Widescreen HDTV from Amazon, at full price, on 3/21/05. Amazon delivered the TV on 3/30/05 as promised in good packing condition. After unpacking and setting up the TV we turned the TV on. The sound was good but the picture was unrecognizable. Per Amazon policy I called Sony.
Day 1: Called Sony to report problem with TV.
Day 2: Sony repairman shows up to diagnose and make repairs. Repairman tells me
that Sony has instructed him get and replace 2 parts.
Day 3: Repairman calls to inform me that the parts are backordered and it could be
a week.
Day 7: Called repairman to check on part. Repairman says Sony tells him it could
be another week.
Day 14: Called repairman to check on part. Repairman says he still waiting on part
and just does not know when it will be in.
Day 15: Still no word on part. Call Sony and get representative that says he will
look into my problem and have someone call me in 24 hours.
Day 16: I do not receive a call so I call Sony. Representative says that they should
have informed me that a response could be 24 to 48 hours. They also
informed they did work weekends and would call me the next day.
Day 17: I do not receive a call so I again call Sony. Representative informs me that
my file has moved to "the next level" and that "those people" do not work
weekends and they would call me on Monday.
Day 19: Monday 5:00pm ET still no call. I call Sony again and demand to speak
with someone who can help me. Sony puts a supervisor on the phone who
takes my information and tells me they will call me back.
Day 20: Sony calls me back for the first time. They tell me the part is in and will
be out tomorrow to do the repair.
Day 21: Repairman comes out to do repair. Part does NOT fix problem. I call
Sony. They inform me they will call me back.
Day 22: Repairman calls to arrange pickup for TV. They want to take it in to the shop for testing and repairs. This is the 3rd time I have had to take off work to meet someone.
Day 23: Repairman picks up TV. I email Amazon for the forth time for help. They email back to say that they are unable to do anything. I exercise my right and dispute the charge on my credit card with Bank of America. I file a complaint with State of Florida Dept. of Consumer Services.
Day 29: No response from Sony or Amazon. If this were a new car, the State of Florida would have declared it a "Lemon" and made the seller refund the purchase price.
What I have is a real expensive paperweight, that I paid for a month ago, that neither Sony nor Amazon will fix or replace.
2 Sony KDE-50XS955 Review
I think this is a wonderful plasma television to buy. It's 50 inches which is very large and can fit mostly any where. It has an Integrated HDTV Tuner so you can watch High Definition television much faster than other HD-Ready TV's. The styling of this television is so nice. The floating glass design looks so high-tech and the color choices Sony did is perfect. The picture on this TV is perfect especially since it has High Definition the picture becomes even better. I think Plasma TV's are pretty cool and I like them better than LCD. I like LCD for a computer monitor but for TV viewing plasma is the way to go. These do last up to 10 years if you maintain them and don't watch them for like 10 hours a day! I think this is one of those TV's you should look at. It's a perfect choice for your next television.
3 Man........That Sure is Some High Definition!
PLASMA TV
Right off the bat, I would have to say that this piece of technology is definitely worth the price of it. Although I didn't get as good a price on my plasma TV as is being advertised here on Amazon, which makes me nervous for all you out there thinking of buying from here. A word the wise here folks: anything with a list price of nine thousand dollars, being sold for only 1,499 sounds a bit like a scam to me. All I'm trying to say here is to be careful! Anyway, now to the product itself, I would highly recommend to anybody who has the means, to purchase this TV. Not only is the picture and sound better, but it takes up less space than a normal TV. The only problem with it for me comes in the set up. It is a semi challenge in order to get the TV up onto a wall. You have to make sure the TV is centered on the wall, that it is straight, and whether or not you have enough support behind it to keep it up. However, other than that setup issue, I would have to give this TV 3.5 stars out of 5.
4 Scam Listings
If any of these "New & Used" prices sound suspicious. Don't pay any attention to them.
They are scams... I've been emailing many of these sellers and they are all looking for payment outside of the Amazon.com system. I don't even know why I'm even referring to these sellers in plural because I'm certain they are all the same individual. All the registered sellers are brand new accounts. Offering a $649 brand new item that is listed for $19,999.00 (Zenith 60 inch).
When you make payment outside of the Amazon.com payments system, the Amazon.com guarantee does not apply. It is so disappointing that Amazon.com allows these items to even be listed.
Amazon.com customer service inquiry quote...
"All Amazon Marketplace and most Amazon Merchants purchases are paid through Amazon Payments; to circumvent this system is a serious violation of our terms of use."
I know this is blatantly obvious to nearly every buyer that uses Amazon and I'm not posting this review to act like I'm the smart detective here...
I simply just want to speak up in hopes that Amazon can put some effort into eliminating this annoyance.
