This review is now outdated. Since I'm now a hardware reviewer for DVD Times, a cleaned-up and revised version of this review is available at that site.

The following review is left here for completeness only.

Connectivity

Let's see what we have around the back.

Starting from the bottom left: 2 Eurotrash inputs (who cares?), both compatible with RGB and Composite video (ooh my!). Well, OK, I imagine one of these inputs will be useful for those of us connecting a standard-definition satellite or cable decoder to give nice RGB video (which this TV handles very nicely, by the way), but I'm not sure why we need two SCART inputs on a high-definition TV when we only get one of everything else. Moving on, only one set of Component inputs, to the right of those, the fixed audio outputs, above that, HDMI input with analogue audio (for connecting DVI devices), and the Sega Dreamcast input - uh, oops, I meant to say, the PC input - with 3.5mm audio input.

In what seems to be a baffling Sony tradition, the KDL-32V2000 isn't quite what I'd hope for when it comes to high quality inputs. It's a real pain that Sony would waste space by including not one but two SCART inputs (which don't support HD, and don't even support Progressive Scan for that matter) on a high-end HDTV - space that could have been occupied by, say, another set of Component video inputs or a second HDMI terminal. Surely that'll affect them sales-wise, seeing as rivals such as JVC and Panasonic are now releasing LCD TVs with two HDMI inputs.

Sony's entry-level S-Series has the exact same number of inputs as this higher-end offering, which doesn't seem to make sense at all. (But at least this time, Sony of Europe didn't screw up and release a high-end TV with LESS inputs than the lower-end offering like they did last Summer!)

Come on though Sony, this is embarassing. The American ENTRY-LEVEL Bravia LCD features 2 Component inputs compared to the 1 we get here - sure, it's a "different market", but the sad fact for you is that HD in Europe is now a reality. So enough with this multiple SCART nonsense - the only possible situation where SCART would be the best connection choice these days is when you're connecting a satellite or cable decoder to the TV, and I can't think why anyone would have more than one of these.

Unlike last years' European V-Series (which input wise was an unmitigated disaster), I'm happy to report that this display does contain at least one input of each useful type, so it's not a total input blunder. It's far from what we should have to put up with on a display this expensive, and it means you'll quite likely have to factor in the cost and annoyance of external switch-boxes (or get a good AV receiver), but all of the important functionality remains, and that's the main thing.

So, if you have an Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, or are expecting a nice new Nintendo Wii, as well as a Component-based DVD player, all three will be fighting over the measly 1 set of Component jacks. Those wanting to subscribe to Sky HD, as well as use an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player with the screen, will be similarly out of luck and will need to splash out on an HDMI switchbox. Given that switchers, especially ones of the HDMI type, can be pricey, you might want to look into Panasonic or Toshiba's new screens (both of which cost less than this one) if you're really concerned about connectivity.

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The next page has some example pictures of the KDL-32V2000 in action with various sources.

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