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Sony KDL-V32XBR1 32" LCD TV (16:9, 1366x768, 1300:1, HDTV)

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Ratings

3 / 5 - PCWorld, Sep 8, 2006

5 User Reviews Add your own »

Pricing

Latest Price: $1,299.99

Spec Navigator
Screen Specs
Broadcast Standards & Resolutions
Dimensions and Weight
Interface Connections
Other Features
Adjustments
Aesthetics
Included Hardware

Screen Specs

Diagonal screen size	32 inches
Display type	LCD
Maximum resolution	1366 x 768
Contrast ratio	1300:1
Brightness	480 cd/m^2
Horizontal viewing angle	178 °
Vertical viewing angle	178 °
Response time	16 ms

Broadcast Standards & Resolutions

Broadcast format supported

1080i
720p

Dimensions and Weight

Width	31.87 inches
Depth	12.25 inches
Height	23.25 inches
Weight	43.19 pounds
Wall-Mountable	Yes

Interface Connections

Input	Component Input (x3) Composite Input (x3) HDMI Input RCA Audio Input (x3) RF Coaxial Input (x2) S-Video Input
Output	RCA Audio Output Optical Output

Other Features

General features	Primary Color Controls Reset to Factory Settings Antiglare
Picture in picture	None
Remote control	IR
Slots	cableCARD

Adjustments

Height-Adjustable Base	No
Panel Pivot	No
Panel Tilt	Yes
Swivel	Yes

Aesthetics

Cabinet Colors

Black, silver

Included Hardware

75-ohm Coaxial cable
AC Power Cord
ATSC Tuner
Cable Clamp
D15 cable
NTSC Tuner
Operating instructions
Power Cable
Remote Control
Speakers
Warranty Card
on-line registration card
quick setup guide

3 / 5 - PCWorld, Sep 8, 2006

5 User Reviews Add your own »

Latest Price: $1,299.99

Lab Tested
How We Test HDTVs »

Pros

Prominent, well-labeled inputs

CableCard slot

Cons

So-so image quality on HDTV content

Pricey

Bottom Line

Rich sound, easy-to-understand menus, and a sturdy remote are this premium model's best points.

Sony Bravia KDL-V32XBR1

KDL-V32XBR1 32" LCD TV (16:9, 1366x768, 1300:1, HDTV) Review, by Laura Blackwell April 18, 2006

Sony Bravia KDL-V32XBR1

Artwork: Rick Rizner, Chris Manners

The Sony Bravia KDL-V32XBR1 offers some interesting, high-end features that help explain its high price ($2700 on 3/24/06). However, its image quality, though generally good, falls short of what you see on some less expensive LCD TVs.

In our image-quality tests, the KDL-V32XBR1 generally performed well. Compared to its competitive set at time of testing, it received a score of Good in most image quality categories. Vivid color in our standard-definition TV tests earned it a rating of Very Good in that category. It also did well in the bright lights test, though not as well as the Samsung LN-S3251D did. However, the Sony also showed some weaknesses when tested at defaults. Jurors complained of dark screens and orange or yellow tints on the Sony high-definition TV tests; in that HDTV category, it barely eked out a rating of Good. The KDL-V32XBR1 trailed most other recently tested TVs in our HDTV, DVD, color quality, and detail categories. However, its built-in speakers produced full, rich sound--especially on its TruSurround XT setting--from our DVD of Seabiscuit.

The KDL-V32XBR1's many inputs are well labeled, and thanks to a smoothly swiveling base, even the ones on the back are easy to reach. It's one of the few recently reviewed LCD TVs that includes a CableCard slot, which means you won't need to mess with a set-top box from your TV provider. One particularly nifty feature for owners of Sony cameras: You can browse or slide-show Memory Stick contents on the TV. There's even a button on the remote for it.

The remote is an attractive, long, pleasantly metallic device. Its battery compartment closes with a thumbscrew, so it's unlikely to pop open if dropped. You won't have to crawl under the furniture in pursuit of runaway AA batteries.

A nice touch is the way the Freeze button works: It splits the screen into two smaller windows against a black background, freezing the picture in one window while letting the video continue in another.

I found the screen controls a little hard to activate, due to cryptic markings on the remote, but the actual screens made sense. The menus look very TV-like, as opposed to those of the Vizio L32HDTV, which resemble a desktop monitor's on-screen display menu. The Sony's three screen modes are Vivid, Standard, and the configurable Custom; to lessen the color issues detailed above, Custom settings will probably be the most comfortable. Vivid lives up to its name, and although it makes natural flesh tones look harsh, it could be useful for watching animation or playing games.

The chief attraction of the Sony Bravia KDL-V32XBR1 is its well-conceived physical design. Details like the CableCard slot and the neatly secured remote battery compartment make this a TV that would be easy to live with. And if you have use for the more unusual features, such as the Memory Stick input, the Sony Bravia KDL-V32XBR1 may be well worth your money. However, other recently tested TVs, such as the Samsung LN-S3251D and the Vizio L32HDTV mentioned above, delivered better image quality for a lower financial outlay.

Upshot: Physical design and high-end features, including rich sound, recommend this Sony Bravia, but for the price (at time of review), its image quality could be better.

Laura Blackwell

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PCWorld Lab Results

Rating Breakdown
Performance
74
Features
88
Design
88
See Complete Lab Results »

Performance Comparison with Similar HDTVs

74
Sony KDL-V32XBR1 32" LCD TV (16:9, 1366x768, 1300:1, HDTV)
83
Samsung LN46B750
79
LG Electronics 42LH50
86
Samsung LN40B650

See a full Comparison Chart of These HDTVs »

Performance

Brightness and Contrast	Good
Color Quality	Good
Detail	Good
DVD Image Quality	Good
High-Definition Image Quality	Good
Image Quality Under Bright Lighting	Good
Interface Tested	HDMI
Overall Quality	Good
Standard-TV Image Quality	Very Good

User Reviews

Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think

User Reviews From Around the Web

Reviewed by: lburrowes

Strengths: Separate settgins for each input...

Weaknesses: Remote and Expensive

Overall: This TV will amaze you if you have a XBMC or XBOX360. The TV really shines when these compenents are hooked to it. Make sure when you get an antenna, to get a quality one. I had to design my own since the ones I purchased from BB/CC did not give me the channels I needed.
Reviewed by: sh398697

Overall: I was wary because it was so much cheaper, but it is the exact same TV being sold at Best Buy for about $600 more. So far I love it and have no complaints; great picture, good sound, nice controls, just a beautiful TV all around.As I said, I was wary about the place but they were great and I would order from them again for sure.
Reviewed by: jtrousdale

Strengths: Best picture on the market! Built-in HD Tuner,7 source inputs, built in Mexico; other reviewers claimed TV was built in Japan-Sony must be opening new plants-hopefully not w/ slave labor.

Weaknesses: I agree... Hoochie mamma expensive! That IS what the "X" in XBR means... X-pensive. 1080i res + HD Tuner makes it worth it.

Overall: Go ahead and pay for the HD tuner - you will be glad you did. One major advantage to consider, the HD Tuner allows you to get rid of your cable box in favor of a simple card; this means less clutter and less per mo on the darn cable bill. Also, if you live in a major metro area, you can buy a $40 HD antenna and get your HD for free! Take that cable monopoly!! Can't do that with a "monitor" that relies on an HD source like a expensive cable / satellite box where the cable "man" can continue to overcharge you for a zillion useless cable channels that you will never watch anyway. Am I crazy or does anyone remember when we did not have to PAY for a TV signal? (Come on IPTV!) Now, it's commonplace to waste $100+ per month for just TV. [Off soapbox] Don't get me wrong, I was not about to buy an HD set without a clear source to see the big beautiful HD programming that is available - gotta have it (the Olympics are amazing), but the tuner gives you options that save you $$ per month on the cable bill. Wait for the new BlueRay/HD-DVD players and your entertainment world will be complete. At least until they make all this stuff obsolete next year...
Reviewed by: jorobuyer

Strengths: Picture is great, sound is great. I would buy it again, without hesitation.

Weaknesses: Pricey, but worth it. Remote is not great-just buy a Harmony remote. 2 HDMI inputs would be nice.

Overall: You pay extra for features this set has. If you don't want them, then don't buy a set with these features. e.g., you can put in a CableCard.
Reviewed by: gwpeete

Strengths: Versatility; Design; Quality; Functionality

Weaknesses: A little grainer up close......

Overall: This is the finest Sony television I have ever owned. From the design, weight and versatility of this TV, Sony has crafted the perfect combination for serious movie and television viewers.

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