[Will_86]

Hi guys im after some advice. Im looking to buy a high quality hd ready tv for my brothers room. Im ideally looking for about a 20 inch size but maybe a little bigger. Im looking for something that works great with a PS3 and is the best quality set around. Ideally i want to spend about £300 but can stretch to about £400 if its really good.

So far I have found some Sony's that look good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-KDL-20S.../dp/B000VYYTS4

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Elec...V/Product.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-KDL-20S...6000289&sr=1-1

So are these the best around I would get for my money of are there better non-Sony ones I should buy?

Also out of those 3 Sony ones which 1 is the best? and what is the difference between them?

Thanks for any help guys!

[AlanO]

A Sony will nearly always cost you more than any of the other brands - whether it's worth paying the extra is personal opinion.

My opinion - not usually. With the old CRT televisions, Panasonic's tended to have pictures which were as good, and usually offered better sound quality.

With the new LCDs, Panasonic still get an excellent review, and Samsung seem to get very well rated - take a look at HomeCinemaChoice.com or Whathifi and you'll see Samsung regularly get awards. They've got some very good 19", 22" and 23" sets which are around £ 50 less than the cheapest Sony you've listed.

[streekie]

yeah i've been looking at this one too. the specs suggest it is very good for its size as do the reviews and mags. the link from my post on this covers the model numbers you quote

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=699561

i've looked at the screen against the other ones mentioned and prefer this. also think it has slightly better sound which is a consideration as unlikely to be plugging into ext amp or active spkrs in a bedroom scenario. p.s. acording to another thread sony dont make tvs for anyone else so it isnt someone elses unreliable tat rebranded.
on the balance of my research i am going for the 4000 for the bedroom £375 @ costco c/w 3yrs warranty

[amaninspired]

I've actually just ordered the KDL20S2030 for the bedroom.

I know it's an older model than the other two, but it has a PCMCIA slot, which neither of them do...and I'd like to pop my cam in it and watch Setanta from time to time!

Anyone comparing all three with the specification listings on the Sony website should bear in mind that (according to the manual for the 2030, which I have checked) the specification listed for the 2030 is inaccurate.

According to the manual, the 2030 supports automatic aspect ratio switching and both SCART sockets are RGB enabled, with one of them also featuring Smartlink (apparently, neither the 3000 nor the 4000 have this feature, but I haven't confirmed this by reading the manuals).

Will confirm matters once I receive the TV!

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaninspired

According to the manual, the 2030 supports automatic aspect ratio switching and both SCART sockets are RGB enabled, with one of them also featuring Smartlink (apparently, neither the 3000 nor the 4000 have this feature, but I haven't confirmed this by reading the manuals).

They will all have SmartLink - but is it something you want?, personally I've always found it nothing but a P.I.T.A.

[amaninspired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

They will all have SmartLink - but is it something you want?, personally I've always found it nothing but a P.I.T.A.

Surprisingly, yes. I wouldn't want to use SmartLink with a DVD recorder if it had integrated DTT (I would agree that there's little point). However, I still occasionally record things onto VHS to pass to my dad...and I have a spare Q-Link enabled Panasonic VCR that will do the job here (it's handy only to have to program the TV and allow it to deal with the VCR).

The plan is to obtain an RDR-HXD870 to go with the TV and VCR, although I am slightly wary of putting an HDD device in a bedroom (I sleep badly enough as it is!).

Unfortunately, however, I'm going to have to wait a while to put the plans into action as I'm presently stuck in a temporary flat until the builders that my insurer has appointed get to the bottom of the leak (or leaks) that have ruined half of my flat and rebuild my bathroom and main bedroom!

Do you know if there is much difference between the screen on the three TVs?

I must admit that the deciding factor for me was the PCMCIA slot. I haven't seen a 4000 in a shop, but the ridge around the edge of the front casing on the 3000 also put me off it (it didn't look good and I thought it would trap dust).

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaninspired

The plan is to obtain an RDR-HXD870 to go with the TV and VCR, although I am slightly wary of putting an HDD device in a bedroom (I sleep badly enough as it is!).

You should be aware that the HDD powers up in the middle of the night (3:00/4:00?) to download the EPG information.

Quote:

Do you know if there is much difference between the screen on the three TVs?

I've never had occasion to look inside one (never had a faulty one yet), but they all look pretty similar.

Quote:

I must admit that the deciding factor for me was the PCMCIA slot. I haven't seen a 4000 in a shop, but the ridge around the edge of the front casing on the 3000 also put me off it (it didn't look good and I thought it would trap dust).

I'm not sure if the others have it or not?, I'll see if I can find out tomorrow.

[amaninspired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

You should be aware that the HDD powers up in the middle of the night (3:00/4:00?) to download the EPG information.



I've never had occasion to look inside one (never had a faulty one yet), but they all look pretty similar.



I'm not sure if the others have it or not?, I'll see if I can find out tomorrow.

Thanks for the reply. I saw a 3000 in John Lewis on Saturday and there definitely wasn't a PCMCIA slot on it. It isn't listed as being a feature on the 4000 either.

Sounds like the 870 runs in a similar way to my RDR-HXD710 that's in the living room. Having said that, I'm almost always asleep between 3 and 4am...and once I'm in a deep sleep, there isn't much that will wake me (I can sleep through the alarm clock quite easily at the weekend if I forget to switch it off!). It's getting to sleep in the first place that's the problem.

Sounds promising that you haven't come across any faulty units. Are the Bravias generally more reliable than most?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaninspired

Sounds like the 870 runs in a similar way to my RDR-HXD710 that's in the living room. Having said that, I'm almost always asleep between 3 and 4am...and once I'm in a deep sleep, there isn't much that will wake me (I can sleep through the alarm clock quite easily at the weekend if I forget to switch it off!). It's getting to sleep in the first place that's the problem.

They all do the same, as they use the same EPG.

Quote:

Sounds promising that you haven't come across any faulty units. Are the Bravias generally more reliable than most?

Certainly we've found them very reliable, and we sell a LOT of Sony TV's.

[amaninspired]

It arrived and I'm thrilled with it!

I'm presently stuck out of my own house whilst some less than efficient builders that my insurers are paying for try to piece the place back together following the damage caused by a leak.

However, I've tested the TV using a set-top aerial with signal booster in my old bedroom at my parents' house. It's fantastic.

I got a perfect picture on all Freeview channels and the analogue reception was pretty good - better than the old 21" Sony Trinitron that has lived in that room since before I left home.

Aspect ratio switching works without a hitch. I haven't tested the connections yet, but I was more concerned with ensuring that the TV worked properly.

Colours are very bright and vivid. There's very little noticeable blurring - certainly less than I've seen on other LCD or plasma TVs. Obviously, there is some digital blocking, but that will be the case with any Freeview picture - even on a CRT TV.

You'll have noticed that I'm thrilled with the TV's performance and just looking forward to the day that my bathroom and bedroom are rebuilt and I can get back into my own flat to start enjoying it properly!

The plan now is hopefully to get the RDR-HXD870 to go with this and start watching whatever I want for an hour or so before sleep.

Does anyone (probably Nigel) know how well the 870's upscaler works when using HDMI and whether or not this makes much different to the digital blocking on a standard Freeview picture or a DVD?

Thanks for any information.

[Cylinder]

I've got a KDL20S2030 - and I can't fault it regards sound or picture quality.
Also, it's a great looking telly.

The only thing I don't like is the EPG.
Which makes getting information about what is on and when, too complicated.

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaninspired

Does anyone (probably Nigel) know how well the 870's upscaler works when using HDMI and whether or not this makes much different to the digital blocking on a standard Freeview picture or a DVD?

As Sony TV's already have good upscalers, using the 870 one seems to make very little (or none at all) difference. If you've got blocking because of a weak freeView signal, the upscaler in the 870 will upscale it just like your TV one does.

[amaninspired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

As Sony TV's already have good upscalers, using the 870 one seems to make very little (or none at all) difference. If you've got blocking because of a weak freeView signal, the upscaler in the 870 will upscale it just like your TV one does.

Perhaps I'm using slightly the wrong term. I wasn't meaning to suggest that there was a problem with the signal strength, merely that the picture information that was available wasn't quite able to fill out the HD screen without some distortion.

I was trying more to enquire about creating a virtual HD picture from SD sources through the 870's HDMI output. Having said that, I'm guessing that the upscaler in the TV will be about as good at compensating for this as the upscaler in the 870?

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaninspired

I was trying more to enquire about creating a virtual HD picture from SD sources through the 870's HDMI output. Having said that, I'm guessing that the upscaler in the TV will be about as good at compensating for this as the upscaler in the 870?

I've connected various ones via both SCART, Composite, and HDMI - and people often complain that the picture isn't any better via HDMI even though it's upscaled. If you have a really cheap, poor quality TV, then using the upscaler in the 870 will substantially improve your pictures, but for any decent quality one it makes sod all difference (as you would expect).

[amaninspired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

I've connected various ones via both SCART, Composite, and HDMI - and people often complain that the picture isn't any better via HDMI even though it's upscaled. If you have a really cheap, poor quality TV, then using the upscaler in the 870 will substantially improve your pictures, but for any decent quality one it makes sod all difference (as you would expect).

Thanks again Nigel.

If there's barely any difference in using the HDMI and RGB-enabled SCART lead, given the now negligable cost difference between the two, I suppose the key question is whether the HDMI supports auto format detection (or aspect ratio switching, whichever you want to call it).

I find it incredibly irritating to switch manually and I like to watch programmes in the original aspect ratio. Do you know if the HDMI on the TV and the 870 will support auto switching? If not, it's a half-decent gold-plated SCART for me!

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amaninspired

I find it incredibly irritating to switch manually and I like to watch programmes in the original aspect ratio. Do you know if the HDMI on the TV and the 870 will support auto switching? If not, it's a half-decent gold-plated SCART for me!

I'm not sure, but generally HDMI doesn't support it, as it's all supposed to be widescreen HD - but I wouldn't waste your money on a gold plated SCART lead!.

BTW, there are a number of HDMI setup adjustments on the 870, some of which are to do with widescreen!.

[amaninspired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

I'm not sure, but generally HDMI doesn't support it, as it's all supposed to be widescreen HD - but I wouldn't waste your money on a gold plated SCART lead!.

BTW, there are a number of HDMI setup adjustments on the 870, some of which are to do with widescreen!.

Thanks again Nigel. I might wait and see how things look with a standard RGB SCART if / when I get the 870!