This review is now outdated.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.

The good

• Excellent picture quality
• Surprisingly good Digital TV performance once tweaked
• Deep reds and greens
• Very good image scaling
• Per-input settings
• Adjustable backlight that can drop to VERY low levels - excellent black levels
• Incredible Comb filtering (for Composite video material)
• Clean OSD
• 1:1 input over VGA

The bad

• Horizontal undefeatable edge enhancement on standard definition video over Component (stay tuned for info from Sony regarding this)
• Stingy number of inputs sours the deal
• ...at a premium price
• Usual European "cobbled in" digital tuner implementation - good, but room for improvement
• Like almost all consumer LCDs, apparently there's no 1:1 input over the HDMI jack

Closing thoughts

11 months behind schedule, I finally have a replacement for my aging LCD WEGA - the TV that nobody else but me seemed to buy because of its poor connectivity and lack of true HD-Readyness. So long old buddy! It was the best buying mistake I ever made because without it, I would still view Sony products as overpriced and overstyled and I would probably never have bought this new BRAVIA - which would be a huge mistake.

It's not perfect functionality wise, but everything that's important is here (even if I will need to spend even more money on a switch box). Yes, it's ridiculous that on a TV this expensive, I still need to make use of a Component video switch, but the picture quality and black levels make up for it so I'm very happy. I can't wait to see what Sony have in store for next year - 2x Component and 2x HDMI would be nice - but I don't think I'll be upgrading for another few years yet!

The big question though, is "is it really better than the S-Series?" Again, I wish I had a new S2000 model to sit on my desk and compare this with, because I imagine the deep reds and greens won't be present there. I recommend that people wanting to save cash give both models a REALLY good look over side by side. If Sony had come through on their promise of including 2 Component inputs (as originally planned) on the V models, I would instantly recommend them over the S. But because the connectivity on this higher-end model is still a bit limited, I'm going to have to leave that up to you. It's another puzzling case of Sony shooting themselves in the feet with a baffling decision.

Before I got this new TV, I was honestly terrified because my last experience with a 32" LCD wasn't pleasant at all. To my utter amazement, I don't find myself having to sit too far back to watch standard definition video on this. Maybe it's just because I mess around with video so much and can forgive shortcomings in digital TV broadcasts, or maybe the TV is really that good at getting the picture right. I'd definitely recommend the KDL-32V2000. This one's a keeper!

Buy it!

If you're convinced, head on over to CheapElectricals.co.uk and buy your KDL-32V2000 now! I can thoroughly recommend CheapElectricals for their great service (the TV arrived a day after they sent it) and their price is as far as I know, the lowest on the web (the price they show includeds postage costs).

Feedback

So, did this help? Is there anything I missed out, or anything I could make simpler? Any sort of feedback you have, or questions about the KDL32V2000 you want answered, I'd love to hear. You can tell me what you think however you like:

• E-mail: I'm lyris1@gmail.com.
• PM me on the AV Forums: I go by Lyris on there, so if you want to send me a PM, just click here. You may be asked to sign in.

Back to Start

Unreadably small print: Design © 2005 by Lyris (me). I make no claim to any other properties or trademarks mentioned. NOT AFFILIATED with Lyris Technologies, an e-mail marketing software provider.