Mar 26, 2004 02:29 PM
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(Updated Mar 26, 2004 02:29 PM)
This was 4 years ago. It was time for my dad to pick a a new television as our exisiting Philips was showing its age of not being able to decode S Band/Hyper Band broadcast from the cable broadcast. So we were out shoping for a new Television. We were looking at a Philips 25 inch but upon putting it next to the Sony 21 inch there was something missing with the picture. I felt the contrast levels on the Philips were not good on that particular model.
The picture setting showed that the Philips had to be set near maximum level to reveal the same amount of contrast to that of the Sony. This is not the right way to compare two different television sets but here is my experience/ownership experience with Sony. We picked up Sony KJ-J21MN1. There was nothing great or unique about this television. All Sonys are weak on frills and features; however they put forward fantastic Picture and Sound. There were just 2 features which are uncommon on other television sets and at the same time they are outdated even 4 years ago.
This television could decode NICAM Stereo/Stereo broadcast and also had a Tele Text feature. The regular features are Surround Sound, Stereo AV IN/OUT (Parallel Front AV Inputs), PAL/NTSC compatible, 80 Channel Program memory, Headphones Output, 3 Picture Presets, Near Full Function Remote Control.
The very day we took the television home there was one very weird problem we encountered. After tuning the tele I was browsing through all the channels on the set and out of the blue one particular channel was showing a Redish Blue tint in the picture. I went back and forth to the same channel and this time it was okay. I understand this a common problem with all Sony Televisions; Including WEGA and this was known from a Technician as we had called Sony Service right away. This is NOT a defect. Its the way in which Sony have worked out their Tuners to function. This television has fantastic picture and sound.
You don't need to use the sharpness control at all. Sometimes I wonder why it was ever there cause it did not make any difference in picture quality. Even at 0% the pciture was clear and sharp under television broadcast and DVD. The colors are very natural and the contrast is simply fantastic. Sound quality is just out of this world. You would mistake this television for a stereo system. This tele does not have any Subwoofer. There are just 2 speakers on either side of the television cabinet. Even at 100% volume the sound remains clear and near free of distortion. The bass is also very tight. This tele gives you Bass/Treble control and thats what I love about it.
Some Philips sets such as the Philips 21 PT240B (Review on this set coming up) only allow Bass/Treble ON/OFF option. The Surround Option that is effective only of the signal is in Stereo is simply mindblowing. Many will disagree on this but I guess it was the way in which the television was placed at home. This I discovered after a trial. On regular TV braodcast I found the Surround option lifeless. There was no difference in the sound upon enabling it. After refering the Users Manual it was mentioned that the Surround Option is meant to be effective only if the TV broadcast signal or the AV Input signal was in Stereo.
I connected my Sony walkman to the television and was simply amazed at the way the sound went around me upon switching on the Surround Mode. It felt as if there were speakers behind me. I was sitting 3 feet away from the Television. I tried this with my DVD player and got the same results. However; as I mentioned earlier I guess this really felt effective because of the placement of the television set. There was nothing unique about the placement too; just as nearly any house hold would have their televison set placed at a corner wall. The Remote Control is very user friendly.
In no time you can figure out where the keys are placed and need not even look at the remote to flip channel by direct number access or by scroling. Overall this is probably the best Television I have used. Picture and Sound Quality are the best attributes of this set. Features are as good as none.
I also stripped open the Television to check out what goes inside a Sony. I found parts from Philips, Sharp and Sanyo. There was one big Sony Chip hidden inside a steel cover which I managed open as well. The picture tube offcourse being a genuine Sony Trinitron.
