Turn on this Idiot Box! Sony Wega KV-27FS12
Written: Mar 06 '01 (Updated Mar 06 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent picture, S-video, Component video, Affordable.
Cons: Only a 90-day warranty
The Bottom Line: An affordable 27” flat screen that leaves little more to be desired in a TV.
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| rodeo7's Full Review: Sony KV-27FS12 27 inch TV |
When my roommate and I parted ways, he took his 20” television with him and left me with an old 13” that I used to use in my teeny dorm room during my freshman year of college. I actually used that thing in my living room for the first five months that I lived in my new apartment. In January, I was finally able to go TV shopping. There were many color TVs to choose from out there, but I chose the Sony KV-27FS12 27” FD Triniton Wega.
Some things I had to take into consideration when shopping were the size of my living room, the size of possible future apartments (all will most likely be small the next few years), budget, and features of the TV. Knowing I had a small living room and a budget of about $500, the 24” (KV-24FV12) and the 27” Sony Wegas caught my eye. And yes, it was literally my eyes that enjoyed what they saw. The flat screens of the Wegas looked beautiful in the showroom. The only real benefit from a flat screen is reduced glare and a larger viewing angle, but it was a big difference to me. The picture seemed clearer and larger without any glare, and a great picture was what I was looking for.
After doing a little more research into the Wega’s features and debating over the cost I decided on the 27” KV-27FS12. It was only $50 more than the 24” and as it turned, out my couch is eight feet away from the entertainment center, which is the suggested viewing distance for a 27” TV. Sony’s suggested retail price for the tv is $700, but a local retail store was selling them for $600. After kidnapping a friend of mine to help me lug the 99lb idiot box into my living room, I was able to enjoy my new toy.
Features
27 inches of flat screen viewing pleasure: As I’ve said, the flat screen provides for a great picture. Large, crisp and clear, a good picture is the main thing I wanted out of this tv and I sure got it.
A 3-line Digital Comb Filter decreases extra color at objects’ edges and increases picture detail. Comb filters, in general, are common in 27” and larger televisions. A 3-line filter in this tv gave me more bang for my buck and exceptional pictures to boot.
Color Temperature Adjustment allows adjustment of white balance from cooler blues to warmer reds.
More Video Features which basically add to a better picture: Dynamic Picture Processor, Dynamic Focus Circuitry, Magnetic Quadra Pole, Vertical Aperture Compensation, Velocity Modulation Scanning, Auto Pedestal Clamp and Tilt Correction.
Matrix Surround Sound creates a virtual surround sound coming from the bottom cabinet speakers.
A 181 Channel Tuner allows basic cable channels to be viewed without a cable box. Of course, if you want premium channels like HBO and Cinemax, you would still have to use a cable box.
An On-Screen Menu makes setting some up the TV’s features a breeze, such as video (picture, bright, color, hue, etc...), audio (treble, bass, balance, etc...), channel, parental controls, timer and others.
And lastly, I love the Inputs and Outputs.
There are basically four types of video inputs on modern televisions. Every TV has an RF jack to accept a coaxial cable from an antenna, cable box, or VCR. Next up in quality is Composite-video (usually those cables with the Yellow ends). These are very common on modern TVs. S-video cables allow for an even better connection and are usually only found on larger TVs. Lastly, Component-video cables (that bundle of cable with Green, Red, and Blue ends that you may have seen) are usually only found on large TV’s to accept output from digital devices like DVD players. The KV-27FS12 has one rear RF input, one rear S-video input, two rear Composite inputs, one front Composite input, and one rear Component input. Each input group has left and right (white and red) audio inputs as well as a set of fixed variable audio outputs.
So now I own it... Here’s what I think
I love it! The picture is great. Now and then, the picture is a bit fuzzy when I watch cable, but I’m sure it’s due to the cable reception and the low quality of the coaxial cables running into the RF output. I have the cable running into my VCR and the VCR running into the TV via coaxial cable. The picture with the DVD player is amazing. I bought a Monster S-video cable (and set aside the S-video cable that the TV came with) to run from the DVD player to the TV. One of these days I’ll get the DVD hooked up with Component cables. The picture is so perfect with S-video, I can’t imagine how amazing it must look with Component cables. I also connected my PlayStation to the back with Composite video and the picture is excellent. It is a bit better than when I used to have it connected with coaxial. From eight feet away and the lights dimmed, I almost feel like I’m sitting in a movie theater... but better, since the picture is clearer than a movie in the theater.
Unfortunately, I cannot review the audio quality of the cabinet speakers. When I set up the TV, I did test the speakers to make sure they worked, but then bi-passed the TV for audio and went directly to the receiver of my surround-sound system. From what I have heard, they have excellent quality and are better than most stereo TV’s cabinet speakers, but the Matrix simulated surround sound is a little over rated.
The instructions are easy to follow, and the remote and on-screen programming are very easy to use. The remote is a bit large, but once I had the TV programmed, I didn’t have to use the remote anymore. Since I have a cable box, I use the remote that accompanies the box more than the remote for the TV. Parental controls are easily used, though I never have to use them. I just messed around with it one day to see if it worked. The front A/V (audio/video) inputs make temporarily hooking up a cam corder a snap. I can’t imagine having to try and get behind the huge thing just to hook something up temporarily.
Another good thing about this TV that I’d like to mention is that it is $100 less expensive than the KV-27FS16 which is exactly the same as the KV-27FS12 plus Picture-In-Picture (PIP). PIP displays two programs simultaneously. Most TVs show the second program in a smaller window in the corner of the screen, while others split the screen in half. I personally would never use PIP. In fact, I know I don’t. When I lived at home, and when I visit, I never use the PIP of my parents’ TV. It just doesn’t interest me to try and watch two shows at the same time. It may come in handy on rare occasions like if you’re watching a movie but want to keep tabs on a football game, or something like that. I’d rather save my money though, and I’m glad Sony made two models with one lacking PIP to allow for a cheaper price.
There is only one thing about the TV that I don’t like. It only comes with a 90-day warranty. Since $600 is quite expensive for me, I purchased a three-year warranty from the store where I bought the TV. I’d hate for something to happen to it soon after the 90-day warranty runs out. So far I haven’t had a single problem and with Sony’s track record, I probably won’t. I’d rather be safe than sorry though, so if you can, get an extended warranty.
Conclusion
The great 27” flat screen picture and the many video inputs are enough to justify the price of the Sony KV-27FS12 for me. The many other features highly sweeten the deal. If a 27” is what you’re looking for, simply compare the picture quality of the Wegas to other TVs in the showroom. I bet you’ll choose a Wega like I did, whether it’s a 24”, 27” or 32”. It may be an idiot box, but it’s a darn good one.
As much as I love my TV, DVDs and video games, I just wanted to say to all the couch potatoes... GET OUTSIDE! :) Tear up a trail. Carve up a hill. Smell the fresh air~
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 600
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Epinions.com ID:
rodeo7
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Member: Eddie
Location: Virginia, USA
Reviews written: 29
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