Questions about Sony KV30HS420

ksdp · 11-30-2005, 06:16 PM

Just discovered this forum today and it is very helpful. I am ready to buy the Sony at Best Buy for $799 but there are a couple of questions:

1. It would replace a 10+ year old Sanyo which still works great, but I am assuming even SD programming will look much better on the new Sony. Correct?

2. One Best Buy employee told me the Sony will receive local HD programming even with no built-in tuner as some feature in the set will "seek" the signal with the proper antenna, while at a different BB store I was told that is not correct. Which is true?

3. For the time being, I will not have any non-local channel HD programming as I am getting this set with an eye towards the future. Virtually everything I watch is still via a VCR. Am I wasting my $$ on an HD-ready set when I watch all shows via a VCR, and would be wiser to just get a new analog set to replace the Sanyo?

I know, a VCR is antique, but that is what I want to continue using for now. Thanks for your opinions.

KSDP

**rbinck** · 11-30-2005, 06:29 PM

For someone who is not ready to commit to HDTV totally, this could be a good set. Things that I would caution you on are the picture on the SD material will be about the size of a 20" SDTV and if that is acceptable, you are good to go. Also you probably should know about streching the picture and bars that will plague you until you get used to widescreen.

Check out:
HDTV Pictures
Bars, Bars and More Bars
Poor SD On HDTVs <- Mostly about large screens
HDTV Artifacts <------ Mostly about large screens

Now since you are talking about a 30" widescreen, the SD picture will be pretty good, so don't let the bad news disuade you. I have a 4:3 HDTV and the SD picture is actually better than my 27" Mitts SDTV because of the number of scan lines. I can see scan lines on the Mitts, but not on the 27" HDTV.

Emsurfer · 11-30-2005, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksdp

2. One Best Buy employee told me the Sony will receive local HD programming even with no built-in tuner as some feature in the set will "seek" the signal with the proper antenna, while at a different BB store I was told that is not correct. Which is true?

KSDP

The second guy is correct. The HS420 does not have a built-in HD tuner and requires a separate. You could install an antenna and get a HD tuner to receive over-the-air HD programs or get Cable or Satellite.

RSawdey · 12-01-2005, 12:40 AM

Conversion from widescreen diag to inset narrowscreen is 0.82 SuperMod... a 30" set has a 24.6" narrowscreen image. I crunched a lot of trig to get that magic number, please use it!

No ATSC tuner, no digital TV signals... if not built in then external required.

**rbinck** · 12-01-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSawdey

I crunched a lot of trig to get that magic number, please use it!

Additude?

RSawdey · 12-01-2005, 02:43 PM

...mostly multiplyitude...

mahidarkhak · 12-02-2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

For someone who is not ready to commit to HDTV totally, this could be a good set. Things that I would caution you on are the picture on the SD material will be about the size of a 20" SDTV and if that is acceptable, you are good to go. Also you probably should know about streching the picture and bars that will plague you until you get used to widescreen.

Check out:
HDTV Pictures
Bars, Bars and More Bars
Poor SD On HDTVs <- Mostly about large screens
HDTV Artifacts <------ Mostly about large screens

Now since you are talking about a 30" widescreen, the SD picture will be pretty good, so don't let the bad news disuade you. I have a 4:3 HDTV and the SD picture is actually better than my 27" Mitts SDTV because of the number of scan lines. I can see scan lines on the Mitts, but not on the 27" HDTV.

Boy
Now I am more confused.

I have posted my delimma on another article
I bought a KV34HS420 (no widescreen) but now every one tells me i was fooled and had to buy the KV30HS420 one which is wide screen.

then I read here --another article-- and as it is also posted here the wide bands dont go away even with 30" widescreen ones.

like the original poster here, I am thinking more on the future. Frankly before buying this I had an old RCA with a broken antena and was happy with it, But when i wanted to buy a new TV I said why not buying the best (as far as I can afford though) and keep it for a long time.

with 32" box screen , the top and bottom black bands could only go away if i press to zoom? does it make the pictures strange? lowers the resoloution?

Would the 30 widescreen improves it? howq asbout regular channels then? would the widescreen shows smaller screen (for not HD programs from regular channels or if i just wanna use regular antena) and quality would be worse than what i could get with the BOX 32" one?

Please advice.
I f you guys would prefer you can even email me at mahidarkhak@yahoo.com.

Thanks

Becker · 12-04-2005, 10:06 PM

I just bought this Tv and I havent hooked it up yet! But it looks amazing. I am so happy I purchased this set. I was going to get a tv similar to this and it was a Philips. But you cant go wrong with sony, you really cant!

I have heard it looks nice and has good picture w/ standard and HD tv!

As well as how good it performs with the xbox360 giving you a vivid crystal clear picture of what your playing!

Now all i need is my xbox360!!

puck71 · 12-05-2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahidarkhak

like the original poster here, I am thinking more on the future.

If you're buying for the future, get a widescreen set. Period. Non-HD programming will show up with black bars on the left and right, which you can easily remove by using one of the zoom modes. HD programming will completely fill the screen (on a non-widescreen set there are black bars on top and bottom). Widescreen DVDs won't fit the screen exactly, but they fit better on widescreen than non-widescreen sets.

11-30-2005, 06:16 PM	#1
ksdp What is HD? Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3	Questions about Sony KV30HS420 Just discovered this forum today and it is very helpful. I am ready to buy the Sony at Best Buy for $799 but there are a couple of questions: 1. It would replace a 10+ year old Sanyo which still works great, but I am assuming even SD programming will look much better on the new Sony. Correct? 2. One Best Buy employee told me the Sony will receive local HD programming even with no built-in tuner as some feature in the set will "seek" the signal with the proper antenna, while at a different BB store I was told that is not correct. Which is true? 3. For the time being, I will not have any non-local channel HD programming as I am getting this set with an eye towards the future. Virtually everything I watch is still via a VCR. Am I wasting my $$ on an HD-ready set when I watch all shows via a VCR, and would be wiser to just get a new analog set to replace the Sanyo? I know, a VCR is antique, but that is what I want to continue using for now. Thanks for your opinions. KSDP

11-30-2005, 06:29 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,978	For someone who is not ready to commit to HDTV totally, this could be a good set. Things that I would caution you on are the picture on the SD material will be about the size of a 20" SDTV and if that is acceptable, you are good to go. Also you probably should know about streching the picture and bars that will plague you until you get used to widescreen. Check out: HDTV Pictures Bars, Bars and More Bars Poor SD On HDTVs <- Mostly about large screens HDTV Artifacts <------ Mostly about large screens Now since you are talking about a 30" widescreen, the SD picture will be pretty good, so don't let the bad news disuade you. I have a 4:3 HDTV and the SD picture is actually better than my 27" Mitts SDTV because of the number of scan lines. I can see scan lines on the Mitts, but not on the 27" HDTV. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com Last edited by rbinck; 11-30-2005 at 06:32 PM.

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12-01-2005, 12:40 AM	#4
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 62 Posts: 5,981	Conversion from widescreen diag to inset narrowscreen is 0.82 SuperMod... a 30" set has a 24.6" narrowscreen image. I crunched a lot of trig to get that magic number, please use it! No ATSC tuner, no digital TV signals... if not built in then external required.

12-01-2005, 02:43 PM	#6
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 62 Posts: 5,981	...mostly multiplyitude...

12-04-2005, 10:06 PM	#8
Becker High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 68	I just bought this Tv and I havent hooked it up yet! But it looks amazing. I am so happy I purchased this set. I was going to get a tv similar to this and it was a Philips. But you cant go wrong with sony, you really cant! I have heard it looks nice and has good picture w/ standard and HD tv! As well as how good it performs with the xbox360 giving you a vivid crystal clear picture of what your playing! Now all i need is my xbox360!!