Sony KP-43HT20 43" Rear Projection HDTV Monitor

Product Review

You don't need a ticket to feel like you're in the middle of the action with this 43" HDTV Monitor. Hook up a digital TV receiver for high-definition programming, or use 2-tuner picture-in-picture to see 2 shows at once without using your VCRs tuner. The 3:2 film correction gives films a smooth, fluid look and the 3D Y/C digital comb filter delivers a sharp, crisp picture. Plus, Digital Reality Creation(TM) "upconverts" lower resolution video to make cable TV and VHS tapes look their best.

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Bring the multiplex into your home with the 43-inch Sony KP-43HT20 rear-projection HDTV monitor. This extra-large flat widescreen hi-scan set accepts the full 1080 interlaced scanning lines (1080i) from an external high-definition receiver or high-definition DIRECTV receiver. Other features include a 16:9 (enhanced) aspect ratio, 3D digital comb filter, TruSurround sound, MicroFocus lens system, picture-in-picture capability, and 2 component inputs.

The KP-43HT20's Multi-Image Driver enables you to watch two programs side-by-side from two different sources (1080i, 720p, 480p, or 480i) simultaneously. It has four widescreen modes, including wide zoom (enlarges 4:3 aspect ratio while the upper and lower parts of the picture are condensed to fit 16:9 aspect ratio), normal (4:3 aspect ratio), full (enlarges the 4:3 picture horizontally only to fill the wide screen), and zoom (enlarges the 4:3 picture horizontally and vertically to an equal aspect ratio that fills the 16:9 screen).

It has a built-in 181-chanel NTSC tuner, and Sony's Digital Reality Creation (DRC) mode, which doubles vertical and horizontal lines, resulting in four times the density for such high-quality video sources as DVDs, satellite broadcast, and digital camcorders. You do need a separate HDTV tuner to receive high-definition broadcasts.

The KP-43HT20 offers a good range of Sony video technology. The Cinemotion 3:2 pulldown cinema video processing detects and compensates film--which is shot at 24 frames per second (fps) compared with video's 30 fps rate--to video for a smooth theaterlike experience at home. The 3D digital comb filter offers 10-bit signal processing that renders superb gradation of grays, resulting in superior picture detail. Unlike conventional line doublers, the DRC Multi-Function feature doubles vertical and horizontal lines, resulting in four times the density for sources such as DVD, satellite, and digital camcorders.

You'll get booming surround sound with the 20-watt dyanamic acoustic chamber (DAC) speaker system. It produces TruSurround Sound with SRS (Sound Retrieval System) 3D audio effect. Two HD-capable (Y/Pb/Pr--1080i, 480p, and 480i) component-video inputs (both at the rear) allow you to connect an optional HDTV receiver or a source with component-video outputs. It also has 2 A/V inputs (1 front, 1 rear), 3 S-video inputs (1 front, 2 rear), 2 RF inputs, 1 center speaker input, and 1 monitor (rear).

Tech Talk
Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio refers to the shape of the video image. Standard television has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is almost square in appearance. Digital television will have either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, which is widescreen and appears rectangular, looking more like a movie screen and filling more of the viewer's field of vision for a more lifelike viewing experience.

Scanning method: Frames of video are made up of many lines of video that are scanned onto a television screen so closely they appear to be a solid picture. The scanning method can be either interlaced or progressive. Interlaced scanning (also used in today's analog TV), indicated by an "i" in the video format, fills in the odd number lines (1,3,5,7...) and then fills in the even number lines (2,4,6,8...) until the frame is complete. Progressive scanning, "p," fills in each line consecutively until the frame is complete, like a computer display.

What's in the Box Sony KP-43HT20 43-inch HDTV monitor, remote control (RM-Y902), 2 AA batteries, and printed operating instructions.

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