0804wv15 Sony KLV-26HG2

6/15/04

12:51 pm

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Sony KLV-26HG2

Sony is back on the flatscreen warpath and has set its pictures to stun with its first Wega Engine LCD TV. John Archer looks on in awe
FEATURES 26in 16:9 pictures; Wega Engine picture processing; dynamic picture setting; noise reduction; Nicam, Dynamic and Virtual Dolby audio via 2 x 3W RMS; autotuning; Memory Stick picture/movie playback; teletext with subpage memory/navigation; pic and sound presets; backlight adjust; BBE sound processing; multiple aspect ratios; vertical/horizontal screen shift; sleep timer; freeze screen; Smartlink; dimensions: 630(w) x 461(h) x 242(d)mm; weight: 11.3kg SOCKETS 2 Scarts (1 RGB); component video jacks; S-video input; composite video input; 2 stereo audio inputs; stereo audio output; headphone jack; Memory Stick slot CONTACT 08705 111999; www.sony.co.uk TEST DATA Colour: excellent no bleed at all, good hard edges and no noise Geometry: perfect as can be Convergence: no nasty leaks to report here Frequency response: excellent immaculate, clean fine detail beyond 5.8MHz For a full explanation of test data, see page 128

26in LCD TV 2,300

sually a brand renowned for its innovation and groundbreaking technology, Sony has been curiously behind the game when it comes to LCD and plasma. However, that could all be about to change. The new 26in KLV-26HG2 is at the vanguard of a new Sony flat-panel assault an assault powered by a little something called the Wega Engine. This impressively hardcore-sounding development is the catchy umbrella name for a host of clever digital processing tricks Sony is confident will turn its flat-panel fortunes around.
native resolution, it is achieved with markedly less degradation than such processing usually throws up. Sony is applying the Wega Engine to a series of integrated digital TVs in its new range but the 26HG2 is not an IDTV. Its just got an ordinary analogue tuner. Whats more, it also doesnt boast the stunning floating design sported by some of its Sony siblings, which feature a glass surround that makes the picture look like its hanging in thin air.
high definition sources. The one omission is that theres no PC compatibility. Aside from the Wega Engine, there arent too many features to speak of. Its nice to find pictures helped out by a backlight-level adjustment, noise reduction and a Dynamic Picture contrast booster. Sonics can take advantage of Dolby Virtual processing provided the TVs speakers prove up to the job.

DESCRIPTION

Perhaps the most important facet of the Wega Engine is its total dedication to keeping pictures digital. With a normal LCD or plasma TV, the picture has to undergo endless digital/analogue conversions in order to map the incoming picture on to the panels native pixel array. With the Wega Engine, on the other hand, the picture scaling is kept purely within the digital domain, potentially doing away in one go with all the nasty image degradation those pesky digital to analogue conversions tend to create. Whats more, the Wega Engine doesnt only process the image just prior to putting it up on screen. It also processes the picture on its inward journey, boosting colour saturations, contrast, edge definition and fine detail levels along the way. Sony claims, too, that since the detail boost is accurately calculated specifically to suit each individual screens
Sometimes youd swear that a normal Sky Digital picture was actually being broadcast in high definition

The KLV-26HG2 sports a much more run of the mill metallic silver body. Its still attractive, though, and in return for doing without the digital tuner or fancy looks, the price is only 2,300. While its far from cheap, its considerably below what youd shell out for one of Sonys new flagship MRX1 digital offerings. Connections are reasonable in that they include two Scarts (one RGB), a Memory Stick slot for playing digital stills or MPEG movies from a Memory Stick card, and a set of component video inputs able to take progressive scan and

PERFORMANCE

So can the Wega Engine really turn round Sonys flat-panel fortunes? Damn right it can. Comparing Wega Engine pictures with Sonys previous offerings is like comparing chalk with cheese theres no comparison. For starters, lets bask in the glories of the extra fine detail. The picture looks quite stunningly textured, layered and sharp. Seriously, sometimes youd swear that a normal Sky Digital picture was actually being broadcast in high definition. Longer viewing reveals that this is actually not the most impressive talent of the Wega Engine. What really blows us away is the astounding lack of digital side effects. The picture looks wonderfully clean and direct, with none of the edge shimmering or grain/dot crawl weve seen with various other detail boosting systems. Theres not a trace of colour moiring over fine details either and peak whites are completely free of shimmer. Taken together these strengths make the KLV-26HG2 an

Sexy, slim and practical

The component inputs take progressive scan and hi-def signals
A side-mounted panel offers S-video and analogue audio inputs
A memory card slot is provided for viewing digital images
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absolutely gobsmackingly adept performer with high definition material. Remarkably, there arent even any serious issues with smearing over fastmoving objects a fact which points to impressive response times in the basic LCD panel, as well as the sophistication of the Wega Engine processing. Another big improvement is the colour resolution. Probably Sonys biggest LCD strength up to now has been the in-your-face vibrancy of its colours but the Wega Engine improves the naturalism of those colours. Gone completely are the greenish skin tones weve seen before now people look the very picture of health. Even full-on graphics-style colours appear more authentic than before. The Wega Engine also takes contrast to another level, providing one of the best black levels in the LCD world. This talent emphasises the extra detail too, by allowing the screen to show loads of background detail in dark areas.

FACT FILE

G 26in LCD TV G Wega Engine
technology G Two Scarts G High definition compatibility G Virtual Dolby
Its very difficult to find anything wrong with the KLV-26HG2s picture. You could say the contrast range, while good by LCD standards, is certainly no rival for CRT or even a good plasma screen. But then you cant get 26in plasmas and its hard to imagine any CRT set offering some of the picture strengths especially when it comes to HD that so define other aspects of the KLV-26HG2s performance. Inevitably, the sonics arent as cutting edge as the picture. However, theyre decent enough, throwing a surprisingly wide soundstage thats got enough frequency response and power to open up for raucous action scenes when required.

WHATS GOOD

Picture; design

WHATS BAD

No PC input; price
PICTURE SOUND FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.
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TOSHIBA 26WL36P A stunningly designed set that doesnt quite hit the Sonys heights Review: Dec 03 JVC LT-26C31 A superb DIST-equipped set with sexy looks and excellent pictures Review: Feb 04

CONCLUSION

Make no mistake about it, Sony has finally got its flat-panel game together. Big time. Wega Engine really does live up to the hype and makes the KLV-26HG2 a seriously hard act for the rest of the upcoming next generation LCD wannabes to follow

OVERALL VERDICT

If you can afford it, the KLV-26HG2 will reward you with possibly the finest LCD pictures seen to date
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