Amazon.com Product Description From its integrated NTSC and ATSC (HDTV) tuners to Sony's WEGA Engine system and the HDMI digital-video interface, the 42-inch KDF-42WE655 LCD projection television is loaded with features to make your eyes pop. The 64-pound LCD projection television is also easy to position, and its relatively modest chassis--standing just 15 inches deep--won't push you out of your house.
The set's liquid-crystal display frees you from having to make convergence adjustments or having to worry about image burn-in. Instead you get incredible detail (more than 3 million pixels), high contrast, and corner-to-corner brightness from the set's user-replaceable 100-watt UHP (ultra high pressure) lamp.
The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio to match the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and the KDF-42WE655 offers compatibility with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i signals. Sony's Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital 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 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; and a proprietary optical engine, which employs a trio of Sony's wide-XGA, high-resolution LCD panels, 1 for each of the RGB signals (resulting in a total of 3.28 million dots of resolution).
The optical engine also features a special 11-element lens system responsible for the lightweight, ultra-slim cabinet. The lens system bends the light path, creating an ultra-short focal point while maintaining high brightness. This proprietary system delivers vivid images from the center of the screen all the way to the edges.
The set includes numerous other features:
TwinView PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously, even at different image resolutions, while the built-in Memory Stick media slot offers ready display of both JPEG images and MPEG-1 video.
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.
Channel Fix lets you select a specific TV channel (3, for example) for cable box reception. Then you can control a compatible cable box via the TV remote without inadvertently changing the TV from Channel 3.
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 15 watts per channel (x 2), ensuring high power for superb, clear dialog.
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, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information.
Product Description The broad lineup of Grand WEGA televisions offers a wide choice in cosmetic styling. These televisions utilize a proprietary LCD Optical Engine with Sony's WEGA Engine system to deliver exceptional, detailed picture quality from any video source by minimizing the digital-to-analog conversion process.
good picture bad lamps systemOctober 22, 2008 this tv is great to watch movies on or games but the problem is the lamp keeps blowing out and every year this thing blows a bulb and the bulbs arnt cheap there about 200 each and i have replace the bulb 3 times already i wouldnt recomend this tv at all.
Great for about 18 months, then screen went blotchyJune 23, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
For about a year and a half this TV performed very well. It had a crisp, brilliant picture and more than justified the cost. Then blue blotches started to appear on the screen. I checked the Sony service website, which said that that there would be extended coverage for problems with a blotchy picture, but only certain *kinds* of blotches.
There are apparently two design defects with this unit. The first defect has something to do with a defect in the LCD array itself, which caused picture elements to bleed into each other, and the second defect is that the sealing fails on the image box, allowing dust into the unit where it bonds with the LCD and creates a blotchy effect.
The first defect (I'm told) is covered by Sony extended warranty. The second is not. After paying $100 for an "evaluation" which took less than a minute, we were told that the issue with our TV was not covered. We were then given an estimate to fix the unit that was slightly more than the cost to replace it with a better TV.
If I'm reading the Sony service notice correctly, the image box problems apply to all Sony Grand WEGA televisions, so I'd have to recommend that you avoid any of this line of TVs.
What's more upsetting is Sony's refusal to own up to what is clearly a design defect in these units. Anyone can make a mistake, but the real test of a company's ethics is how they deal with it, and Sony seems to have really dropped the ball on this one.
We were early adopters of many Sony products -- the Beta video format, the Sony Discman, (I still have a D7 and it still works) the 8mm format, memory stick devices, the Sony XBR line of televisions, and Sony stereo components. At $2,499, this TV was the biggest ticket item we have ever purchased from Sony, and they let us down. Perhaps Sony is not the company they used to be.
We are currently looking for a replacement TV, but we are not considering Sony, as it would be financially irresponsible to throw good money after bad.
The other thing that bothers me is that this 18-month-old TV, being junk, not worth fixing, is destined to become landfill, along with countless other Sony Grand WEGA televisions that died long before expected, are not covered and cost more to fix than to replace. That is very unfortunate.
Blue Dots after 2 years but there is help-READ on!June 11, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My tv just started getting those blue streaks on the tv. If you HAVE A 2004 model of several of these tv models they will fix the optical block and repair free of cost. I'm not sure if they'll cover the diagnosis but its on sony's website.
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Models: KDF-42WE655, KDF-50WE655, KDF-55WF655, KDF-60WF655, KDF-55XS955, KDF-60XS955, KF-42WE620, and KF-50WE620
As technology evolves, Sony continually looks to stand behind the reliability of its televisions. It has come to our attention that a limited number of Grand WEGA rear projection televisions (models listed above), after a period of time, exhibit blue dot or star pattern on the screen. In addition, for any customer who later experiences this issue on one of the affected models, Sony will cover the cost of the optical block repair (parts and labor) at no charge through December 31, 2008. All other terms of the Sony limited warranty continue to apply. Sony utilizes a network of hundreds of qualified independent third-party servicers to perform in-home television warranty service. Sony, through its authorized servicer network, will endeavor to repair your set within 30 days of your first contact. For diagnosis, warranty service, or if you are not provided a repair within 30 days, please contact Sony at (888) 649-7669.
Good for about 2 years, then blotches all over the screenJune 8, 2008 My last Sony TV was a 1985 XBR which lasted until just past 2005. Thus my expectations were set when we started shopping for a new TV.
The KDF-42WE655 had a beautiful picture for a little over 2 years, and then blotches began to appear. The screen is now unwatchable, and the cost to repair is about the same as buying a new TV. Avoid this TV.
I am astonished that Sony would not stand behind their product for what is clearly a design defect. Sony is apparently not the company they once were. We will be looking elsewhere for a replacement.
Unreliable - "Blue Haze" Strikes AgainMarch 22, 2008 This was the greatest TV for three years (which appears to be a long life for this TV [kdf42we655]). About 3 months ago, blue dots began to appear, followed by blue haze areas on the right hand side of the television. I almost bought a replacement bulb (thinking that was the problem), but evidently the problem is caused by an optical device that costs as "little" as $700 and as much as $1,200. The repair bill would another $300. If a recall was ever needed, it's on this TV and the other model that has the same problems. It really pains me, that Sony is taking their unhelpful approach, because this TV was incredible for the price for almost three years! Even though tube-tv's are bulky, they did last for twenty years. Reliability will always be better than thinness. Do not buy this TV.
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