 |
| Date Reviewed: 02/27/2007 |
|
Strengths: Great Picture and decent sound.
Sony Warrantee.
Weaknesses: 200 pounds of weight.
Summary: I have had this TV for about 3 months and am overall pretty happy with it. Picture and sound were exactly what I expected and there are plenty of inputs to plug in all my toys.
After about 30 days in service, the picture went out. This was unexpected and I was not happy at the time, but I realize that electronic items will fail from time to time. I had no issues with Sony covering the repair in full (tube had blown) but I did have problems with the repair facility they instructed me to use. I was supposed to get in home service (only one facility in the area) but to make a long story short after about a two week wait I ended up loading the TV up and taking it to another repair facility an hour away from my home. Dealing with the first repair facility put a bad taste in my mouth but this was a problem with the facility not the TV itself.
Overall I would recommend this TV to anyone who is not afraid of the size (depth and weight). It is comforting knowing that Sony stands behind there products.
 100% of People (7/7) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
 There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 01/17/2007 |
|
Strengths: Perfect Blacks, easy menu, great HD picture. Some HDTV's have very poor non-HD performance. This Sony makes other digital and analog programming look almost as good as HD. Remarkable Tuner quality.
Weaknesses: Just the 190 pound weight and depth. If you have a good corner or a place to build it in as I did, it's wonderfully styled
Summary: I compared all LCD, projection and plasma TV's on the market. I'd been burned by burn-in on a projection and am concerned about the same on plasma's. Overall this model had the best picture. While smaller the quality picture outweighs the size. I would recommend this to others who have burn-in concerns, want a great picture and don't believe LCD's and Plasma's are quite ready for prime time at current prices. CRT is proven technology with long life and in this case an exceptional picture. For $1000 you can't beat the picture. Over the air HD is superb.
100% of People (2/2) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are 1 comment for this review. Read all comments.
Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 07/04/2007 |
|
Strengths: Value (price:performance). Many others ...
Weaknesses: Using the "favorites" channels, audible popping like sounds when changing channels, slow tune-in when changing stations, to much cabinet size around tube, no flat surface on top
Summary: 2007-07-04 19:14:57 Purchased at one of the Rex stores in central Florida for advertised $589. I took their offer of $109 for the matching Sony stand (down from the $150 price they had it marked at). I thought that was competitive with other options (TV stands) I was considering.
I'd say strengths far outweigh weaknesses, even though I don't list strengths here. My experience echoes most or all reported strengths I've read about this TV elsewhere. I see no point repeating what so many other people have written over and over again.
I'll instead describe the few weaknesses that I've observed (and don't recall reading about elsewhere). Again, they are small in comparison to the strengths, so the number of words I devote to weaknesses is not in proportion to their weight/quantity.
Sony could have made the "favorites" channels easier to use, and it would help a lot if they were. My old Zenith had a concept of "surfing" (a mode you could chose) to easily manage which stations you cycled through with the normal channel changing buttons. On this Sony TV, it's annoying to have to press several buttons and use an on screen menu every time you want to switch among your favorites. With so many channels available these days, I think there must be a high demand for an easy-to-use favorite channels capability.
There is a noticeable (but not loud) sound made when changing stations (kind of like a "pop"). It really seems like something Sony could have eliminated without much design cost/complexity. Annoying. I don't notice it as much as I did at first.
When the TV powers on, it goes through some prolonged process before displaying anything, definitely not instant start-up.
The H and W dimensions should be smaller. I think tube TV owners are more likely (than panel TV owners) to use an entertainment center and thus are more likely to want to minimize these dimensions.
Given that I chose a large tube TV, I can live with the depth and weight. Duh, large tube TVs are DEEP and HEAVY. Why should this TV be much different? Too much has been written about this.
The service menu provides the ability to make some highly desirable changes to settings that are not normally accessible. That is both good and bad. Good that I can make desired tweaks. Bad that some of the settings need changing in the first place. For example, out-of-the-box, overscan is way too large. Being able to change it allowed me to view some content that was previously off screen (e.g. "ABC HD" logo, lower right corner).
Addressing again the weight my comments should carry in an overall score. I have little experience with other newer model TVs, so I don't know how what I've observed compares to other TVs. I can only comment on what I think the manufacturers should reasonably be expected to provide.
100% of People (1/1) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 04/25/2006 |
|
Strengths: Beautiful contrast and color. Elegant casing. Supports both 720p and 1080i (as well as 480i/480p). CRT doesn't get dark when viewed at an angle like most LCDs or burn in near as fast as Plasmas.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have a Super Fine Pitch screen, but unless it was next to one that did, you won't care.
Summary: I just purchased the 970, as the 960 was no longer offered by Sony. I really wanted the super fine pitch feature of the 960, but the 970 still looks/performs awesome. I love that i can choose 720p for my xbox360 games. Every time I purchase electronic devices other than Sony, I wish I would have just bought the Sony. Solid performer... great looks... super hdtv for the price.
95% of People (21/22) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 06/27/2006 |
|
Strengths: Outstanding picture on all broadcasts (analog, HD and DVD)
Weaknesses: None that I know of
Summary: I purchased the KD34 xbr970 from Sony Style and had it delivered on March 23,2006. Had it connected to Dish Network at first and then changed to Comcast HD service. To quote some unnamed sage,"you aint seen nothing yet" unless you view a HD program on the Sony KD34xbr970 TV. I might not be a so-called golden eye expert but I know what I like and I love my Sony TV. The set-up menu was easy to understand and if I can do it anyone can. The picture quality in HD is so sharp and clear that it has a 3-D effect on outdoor scenes.
90% of People (19/21) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 12/15/2006 |
|
Strengths: Nice color and blacks, SD looks good, great sound
Weaknesses: No Super Fine Pitch Tube, very bulky and heavy, doesn't truly display a 1080i picture ( But the same is true of ALL other CRT HDTVs. )
Summary: 2006-12-15 23:59:30 The picture of this set is as good as what you're going to find in a CRT tube HDTV these days. If a CRT is what you want this is the one to buy as it is superior to all others. However, the XBR960 was actually a better HDTV due in large part to that model's Super Fine Pitch Tube technology which is absent in this downgrade. Keep in mind that no CRT HDTV out there actually displays the full 1920 X 1080 resolution of a 1080i signal. This model's actual resolution is 853 X 1080. The resolution of the XBR960 was app. 1400 X 1080 which was higher than any CRT HDTV made by anyone else. I know that sites like this one tend to claim that the resolution of these sets are 1920 X 1080 but they are wrong. For further information about CRTs not truly displaying a 1080i resolution check out the CRT section of avsforum.com.
89% of People (8/9) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 06/09/2006 |
|
Strengths: Display. Viewing angle. All inputs needed including HDMI. Overall, a beautiful, high-quality tv.
Weaknesses: Weight. At over 150 lbs it takes a handful of people to un-box and set up. Some display settings take a lot of work to fine tune.
Summary: I just purchased the 970 about two weeks ago and I am really pleased. I started my new tv purchase journey because my old 32" Magnavox died. (back when they still made higher quality tvs)
I initially was going to go the Walmart route because I wasn't in a position to purchase the tv I really wanted. Because I wanted a slightly larger screen and they only offered it in LCD and Rear-Projection I went to a local appliance store.
I actually tried two tvs from them, a 32" Toshiba Flatscreen, and a 34" Toshiba Widescreen. Both paled in comparison to the Sony I found elsewhere because the store no longer stocked the 34" version. For a couple hundred dollars more, it was well worth the price.
Like the previous reviewer, I wasn't satisfied until I purchased the high quality Sony. Great picture, deep feature set, and an excellent HDTV for the price.
Price paid - $1200
88% of People (15/17) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 10/05/2006 |
|
Strengths: Picture quality and audio are excellent- both for normal cable or HD. 4 picture modes. Wide to full screen without distortion. In wide screen you can zoom the entire screen
in & out. Easy remote.
Weaknesses: This TV is very heavy & bulky at 200 lbs and is difficult for even 2 men to handle. Make sure the stand you buy to place it
on, can hold the weight.
Summary: I do appreciate that this TV is not bordered in silver trim as many of the other models, as I find that very distracting while watching. Do not be concerned if you only have regular cable, as this TV is designed to work with both. Although, HD movies or HD cable on this TV are breath taking. Truly amazing quality. I wish I would have bought this sooner. Bonus: Sony backs this one with a long warranty compared to all the other sets.
86% of People (6/7) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 12/23/2006 |
|
Strengths: Brilliant picture and in my opinion very stylish.
Weaknesses: Sound could be better but if you are spending this much than you probably are going to run it through your surround sound.
Summary: I have had my kd34xbr970 hdtv for about a week now and I am simply loving it. It has outstanding color on all my channel's and watching my dvd's is breath taking. This is my first Sony purchase and it has been a pleasurable one. It has the integrated hd tuner and on it's own through the live cable line without box I was able to pick up most of the local channel's broadcasted through it. The set is very heavy, at 190 pound's but through this account and other review's, I was already aware of that and that was not an issue. It is very big and deep, please be sure to check measurement's at home before purchase and make sure it can hold a set at size and weight.
I purchased mine at hhgregg for 799.99 last week. At that price compared to the other's at 999.99, I definately got it at a steal. Of course the down side of that was, only 3 year warranty at 159.99 which is 60.00 dollar's more and one year less than at best buy.
Overall, I am very pleased and I went out and bought the hdmi dvd player that Sony makes and I have never been happier. Picture look's better at home than it does at store, I will say that. I do have to thank all of you, the consumer's, for there excellent review's, you have made this whole ordeal well worth the money.
80% of People (4/5) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 10/29/2006 |
|
Strengths: Awesome Picture Quality!
Weaknesses: Heavy!
Summary: Sure it's not as thin and lightweight as the new Flat Panel LCD and Plasma TVs, but don't let that scare you away. This is a quality brand product with an awesome picture. HDTV is incredible! I would highly recommend this TV and would purchase again!
80% of People (4/5) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 11/13/2006 |
|
Strengths: Great contrast and vivid color, built-in HDTV tuner, a lot of inputs, stylish look, individual picture and sound setting for each source, etc.
Weaknesses: Bulky and heavy, typical CRT TV weakness like misconvergence near corners, certain functions like closed caption do not have button on the remote.
Summary: Overall, a great CRT HDTV and possibly one of the last few available models before flat panels totally take over the TV market. Before buying this model, I had purchased a Philips 30" HDTV but ended up returning it because of severe ghosting problem. My Sony set has some misconvergence problem around top left corner, but unless you are displaying straight lines or text, for normal viewing you won't notice it.
Another issue I found is, for the QAM tuner inside the TV, for certain standard definition cable digital channels, you can see the picture but there is no sound. I don't know the real reason but it seems the Philips one didn't have such a problem.
My suggestion is, if you could live with the weight and size, buy it and enjoy it. For the price paid for the TV, you can get 2" larger than a similarly priced name brand 32" LCD TV.
60% of People (3/5) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 09/21/2006 |
- zack95
- Member Since:
Sep 2006
View Member's:
Reviews
|
Strengths: Choose from pre-set sounds and picture. Incredible color in HD, Great sound when listening to Tru-Sound. Works great with my HD DVR by Time Warner. Was delivered and ready to start watching right away
Weaknesses: Can't move it very easily. I live alone so will have to ask someone to help me move to a new area. But once I have it where I want then I'm set with it for a long time.
Summary: I researched for about 2 weeks before I knew this was the TV for me. Not only for price $939 at Circut City but for the quality of a Sony Product. I saw this in the store right after looking at several LCD 32" and just kept saying what a great TV that Sony is. To hear it has 2 years full labor/parts was a real sell too. Has so many features on the remote and once you find what you like from so many combinations of going from Vivid Picture to Pro Picture, or from TruSound to Normal you will just put down the remote and then just watch. Has incredible picture for DVD also. They talk me in to a Monster HDMI cable but I'm returning that because I can't imagine this TV getting any better than it is now for an extra $100 the cable cost me.
54% of People (7/13) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
| Date Reviewed: 04/29/2007 |
|
Strengths: Outstanding picture clarity, great reliability, XBR technology.
Weaknesses: Size, and WEIGHT.
Summary: My dad purchased one of these almost three years ago and has never had a problem and the HD quality is fantastic. He paid $1299 for the set and I purchased one today for $599 from Circuit City. At less than half the price,it is an amazing deal. I have read many reviews and talked with several sales reps and they all said hands down, this Sony will outperform any LCD TV in the same price range. I had purchased a Viewsonic N3752W, 37in LCD, today as well from Office Depot at $699.00 and will be returning it tomorrow after comparing it to the Sony. As long as size and weight isn't an issue, as the Circuit City rep said, "Buying the Sony at this price is a no brainer with its proven technolgy".
50% of People (1/2) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
|
|
|
Report this as 