Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-32S3000 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
by Sony
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List Price: Buy Used: from $292.00 (click here) Category: Home Theater See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-32S3000 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Customer Review: Fantastic!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have now owned this television (Sony Bravia KDL-32S3000) for about two months and feel I have used it enough to write an adequate review. So here it goes:
Picture:
I have the set hooked up to a HD satellite receiver via a HDMI cable. I must say that HD picture is absolutely amazing. Detail is crisp, and colors are vibrant right out of the box. (I have made minimal setting changes and have found the factory settings to be quite right for me). Sports on the set are fantastic. Even when watching a fast paced hockey game there is no blurring from the quick motion.
For non-HD signals, the picture is quite good. I do not yet have a HD or up-conversion player for my DVDs, so I watch all of them in standard def hooked through basic red, yellow, and white AV cables. The picture (like any HD TV playing a non-HD signal) can be grainy when looked at closely, but from my couch it does not look bad at all. Next purchase is the PS3!
Sound:
Very nice compared to other sets of the similar size. The sound created by the speakers is full and not "tinny" like cheaper sets. For movies and sports I prefer to turn on my stereo system and get much deeper bass and even crisper sound, but I find the sound from the TV very good in most situations.
Features:
The on screen menus are extremely easy to use and well thought out. Only complaint here is the two HDMI ports. Most comparable sets in this size and price have three
I bought this set to replace a Samsung LNT3253H that I had for about a week. (The set had multiple known audio and video problems right from the box - My fault for not doing enough research before the purchase.) I am very glad to have purchased this set. The extra cost was justified to get a well reviewed set from a reputable brand. Another side note for those doing research: This set along with the Sony Bravia XBR KDL-32XBR4 were the two highest rated 32" sets by Consumers Reports for 2008. I will never go with anything other than Sony again.
Customer Review: Without a doubt, best 32" LCD money can buy!!
Summary: 5 Stars
"You get what you paid for" is a common saying these days, especially with electronics, and when it's about TVs, it speaks the truth. I've had two prior HDTVs before settling down with this Sony BRAVIA KDL-32S3000, a Vizio and a Sharp. Granted they provide a nice HD picture, it just seemed they could be better. I bought this Sony from all the reviews I've read, and from the fact that I constantly look at it when I go to a major electronics store, comparing it between other companies and other Sony TVs as well.
Once I got it home, properly calibrated it, the picture quality was stunning to say the least. The colors really do pop on this TV set, more so than the other TVs that I have own. Contrast ratio really does make a difference when it comes to LCD TVs, and I'm not talking about that Dynamic contrast ratio with crazy numbers like 7000:1 to 15,000:1, I'm talking about the "true" on-screen contrast ratio. This 32S3000 Sony provides up to 1600:1 on-screen contrast ratio, which for an LCD is very good. The other two TVs I owned had 1000:1 and 1200:1, and yes I can notice the difference.
Typical of any big name company, Sony in this case, TV build quality is top notch. Built like a tank, this TV speaks quality. I like especially the matte black look bordering the TV, as I'm not a fan on the piano black trim some TVs have. No worries of backlight bleeding or hot spots on the LCD screen, everything is uniformity, much improvement over Sony's last generation of BRAVIA sets.
2 HDMI inputs, 2 Component inputs...all which that can accept a 1080p signal. Now this is not a 1080p TV, but it can accept the signal and down converts it to 720p, or the 1366x768 native resolution. This is cool, as I can send a 1080p signal from Playstation 3 and it will accept it with no problem.
HD content is quite amazing, from cable to Blu-ray movies, they all look good on this Sony set. You will be amazed.
Simply put, if your even thinking of getting this TV, do it! You will not be disappointed.
Customer Review: Great value for price
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a videophile.
If I am going to pay over a thousand dollars for a TV then it better look really, really good. I've been through two other brands looking for the perfect 32" TV, and neither looked as good, were as quiet, or functioned as well for high-def movies and video games as this KDL Sony model. I don't write reviews often but I feel compelled to share my complete and utter satisfaction. And no, I don't work for Sony... I am just a frustrated consumer that went through two other brands of LCD TVs and was wholly dissatisfied until the Sony. I was having many problems with the other sets, such as blurry picture quality, lag with video games (especially problematic with Guitar Hero), freezing issues during movies, lighting problems in the corner of the sets, and probably the most annoying of all... the low, constant buzzing sound of crummy electronic components in other brands. Good lord that drove me crazy.
So, like I said, this Sony model was the third 32" TV that I tried after unsuccessful attempts with Olevia and LG. I chose it because I experienced none of the problems that I have previously listed that were apparent in the other sets. Yes, the cost is fairly high for this set, relatively speaking. But my philosophy is that if you are going to be paying a lot to get an HDTV over an SDTV then you really owe it yourself to not skimp on the quality and make sure your purchase is going to bring you value in the long run. I have had the TV for about 7 months now and I cannot begin to describe my satisfaction over a product that works as it should and produces brilliant picture quality.
There are plenty of hook ups in the back (2 HDMI and 2 component, among others). The body is sleek and minimal, though rather spartan. It's just a great buy all around. Never had an issue. Never had to worry about anything. Just a great TV.
Customer Review: A great TV, but Hell to set up
Summary: 5 Stars
The picture on this television is sharper than any other I have ever seen on any make or model of TV. The colors are bright, never bleed, and the remote is a marvel of simplicity. I can't wait to watch my first Red Sox game on it! But listen to this: the delivery man offered to set it up for me (no charge) when it arrived from Amazon and, like a fool, I declined the offer. My old TV was still set up, waiting for a friend to come and take it away. A few days latter, my pal relieved me of the old clunker and I connected all the cables etc to my new Sony - no sweat. But when I turned the set on, it couldn't find any of the million or so channels that I get from my satellite TV vendor. I looked in the Sony manual and sure enough there was a tech support number. When I dialed the number, I thought I had gotten the local New Delhi Curry House by mistake. Not so, the pleasant, sing-songy voice on the very distant other end of the line informed me. She asked me what Model I had purchased and thus began our nearly 2 hour journey into the mysteries of the totally unintuitive and labyrinthine menu system of the Sony Bravia KDL-32S3000 32" 720p LDH HDTV. By the end of it, she and I like all survivors of brutal combat, cared much more about each other than about India, America, or Sony. Together, we had brought my new TV into contact with DishNetWork. We still email occasionally. I am sure our friends and children find it strange that we never talk about our experiences in that inhuman struggle - but Set-up is Hell - so we change the subject when ever it comes up. Was it worth it? Damn right it was! But still, you would think that the brains that created such a wonderful TV could have worked out a simpler, more sensible way to get it to speak to a satellite.Customer Review: Great TV! Found it as a bargain!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Got this TV as a bargain from Circuit City--its an open box item. The rep said it was returned by the customer not so long ago. I was hunting for an LCD tv since I figured it was now time to upgrade to digital. Found this on the open-item section. Price was reduced to more than 35% of the brand new retail value. I was VERY interested.
I quickly scanned the TV for any superficial flaws I could find i.e. nicks on the body, scratches on the screen, I didnt find any. I quickly realized I had a bargain and quickly bought it.
Everything that came with the TV was still intact except for the box. Hook up wasnt that hard. This TV is just plain amazing! Everything was extremely sharp. If you have digital service with your cable provider, you will see a very sharp image on your TV, although its only a 720p.
The location of the connection ports is placed just exactly where I need them. The controls were very user-friendly, not a lot of pacing to do when you get to the menu, everything was simple. Colors are sharp and solid, no washing outs here. The speaker output is quite loud and no distortion. This is one of the features that drew me to Sony. We have another HDTV at home which is a Sharp AQUOS and the sound output doesnt even compare with Sony. There are times when you just need the TV plainly without using the theater systems and the Sony delivers with just its own sound.
Although an open-box item, Circuit City still offered the same return policy and manufacturer warranty. So I basically didnt lose anything except for a steep discount from its brand new price. One of the best purchases I made in my lifetime!