Sony KDL "S" Series misleading specs

On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 02:42:03 GMT, JXStern <JXSternChangeX2R@xxxxxxx> wrote:

These contrast specs drive me nuts, the new cheaper one claims either
1300 or 2500, the old one either 1600 or 8000, depending on I don't
know what.

The contrast ratio specifications are misleading. Sony lists 1 or 2 values
for the contrast ratio, "On-Screen" and "Dynamic."

Costco sells a KDL-32SL130. It's not listed at the Sony website in the
current lineup of 32" LCD's, but they had a manual and marketing brochure
for the thing online. The contrast ratio is given as 1600:1.

Sony does list an S-series LCD, KDL-32S3000. The contrast ratio for this
model is listed at 8000:1 (Dynamic).

Finally, Sony lists a KDL-32XBR4. The contrast ratios given are:

1600:1 (On-screen)
8000:1 (Dynamic)

The marketing *** explains as footnotes:

On-screen is defined as "Black-white range seen on the screen at once"
Dynamic is defined as "Black-white range seen over a period of time"

Do you see why the contrast ratio specification is misleading? Depending
on what is listed or omitted, a consumer would be led to believe that one
panel is superior to another (and pay more $$$). Why isn't the dynamic
range given for all the panels?

Finally, do any of the Sony LCD's work with NTSC? The specification sheets
all say the tuner is ATSC. There is absolutely no mention of there being
an NTSC tuner. The manual says:

"This TV is capable of receiving unscrambled digital programming for both
cable (QAM and 8VSB) and external VHF/UHF antenna (ATSC)."

Only at the very end of the manual in the specifications area does it say
that the KDL series supports the NTSC American TV standard system, along
with ATSC and QAM. But there's nothing in the manual that mentions
switching some setting from NTSC to ATSC. Does it do it automatically? Do
the Sony LCD's support NTSC? I can't receive ATSC OTA (too far from
transmitter) and my Comcast cable is analog, works quite well and is still
cheaper than digital cable. I do though look forward to watching DVD's in
full widescreen and maybe someday getting true HD reception.
.

Quantcast