The Official Sony 30XS955 Thread - Page 3

In response to your question:
To all the 30XS955 owners, does your tuner need to warm up before it can lock in on the HDTV channel ? I need to wait 90 sec, power down and then power up to get the HDTV channel.

Yes - I am having the cold tuner problem also. Living with it for now but I am considering getting a directv HD tivo. Then it will not be a problem.

Do you have to power off and then on, you can't just switch to another input and come back to the digital tuner in order to get HD? Just to be clear--this is happening whether you start the tv cold and use the HD tuner or whether you have been watching analog tv for awhile and swith to the digital tuner

I can not switch to another channel and expect the TV to pick up the HDTV channel.

The easiest way for me to lock in on the HDTV channel is to power up, watch some NTSC channels for 90 sec, hit the SYSTEM OFF or POWER OFF button, then the POWER ON button again.

Once it locks in on the HDTV channel, it will function until the TV is cold again (POWER OFF for 30 minutes or longer).

Once it warms up, I can turn it off for less than 30 minutes, when I turn it back on, the HDTV tuner still works.

Acwai, my TV doesn't need to warm up. It's like -10deg outside and whenever I turn on the TV after work, HDTV from OTA or Cable QAM comes up instantly (well after a couple seconds of red led blinking). Are you sure it's not the OTA signal? I noticed that my indoor antenna is quite sensitive and would unlock on a signal when I walk around a certain area of the room. Is your problem with both QAM and OTA HDTV?

On a side note, you said you have great picture quality... Out of curiosity what number do you have your TV's "TILT Setting" on?

Dear AVjam,

Can you unhook your Cable QAM and see if still works. I don't have Cable QAM, I only use the antenna. I can get almost 75-95% on the signal strength. I have to wait 15-30 minutes before it will lock on to a HDTV OTA channel if I don't do anything. If I power down and power up, it will take less time to warm up. The tuner behaves like it is missing a signal (may be from the Cable QAM).

There is one other person that seems to have the same problem with his tuner. He has antenna only.

I am using -5 on the tilt setting. When you go to the tilt menu, there is a horizontal reference line displayed along the bottom of the TV screen, I used that as a reference and adjusted the tilt setting.

As I previously posted, I ordered my 30xs955 from Sears on 12/31/04 and was promised to recieve it by 1/12/05. I still have not recieved it. About how long did it take to get yours? The only thing Sears is telling me is that they have no idea where my tv is at or when I will get it. Did any of you have to go through all this? Thanks

I bought mine from Sears on Dec 11, I had to go on a business trip so I requested to have it delivered on Jan 6. They did come and set it up on Jan 6.

Sears offered to replace my TV due to the tuner problem (when I called on Jan 14) and promised to deliver it on Jan 30.

They also gave me an option to have a new TV if I make the request within 90 days from Jan 6.

I ordered mine as well from a local store on 12/31/04 and just recieved it this past weekend. Where do you live and can you get this TV anywhere else? It must be annoying to have to waith this long but this TV does seem somewhat tough to get.

The TV however is excellent. HD is incredible and analog is good (for analog). The only issue I have is dark scenes/shadows seem a bit too dark or lack detail at times. Turning up brightness and contrast don't solve the issue completely.

I've read all the posts in this thread... I don't know if stepping up from a KV30HS420 to this TV is really worth it. I looked at the differences and the only thing that I'd look down in the future and realize I don't need at ALL is the cablecard option cause I'm not that big of a cable person. I'm buying an HDTV for movies and Xbox and future offsprings of xbox. I don't know if buying this would be worth it, especially leaving it behind for my parents when I go to college in Fall of 2006. I don't know if I should wait for its price to drop as I save for it or if I should get it ASAP or anything like that... can anyone help me? Thanks in advance.

Acwai, I don't want to unplug my cable TV. I assume you know what I'm talking about when I say QAM... Do you have basic cable? Maybe your cable provides local HD channels using QAM. See if HD channels come up instantly through cable.

One thing I've learned about OTA signal strength is that it can be picky sometimes. Even at 95%, sometimes in my room the signal would just drop if I start walking around a certain area in the room (and blocking the antenna).

I don't know if there is a problem. In the end, it's your decision if you want to exchange it.

I agree about the darkness. I find the "movie" and "pro" settings almost unwatchably dark on my 34XS955. Is this just a function of the fine-pitch tube, or could this be an actual problem?

It's a function of the super fine pitch tube. And actually compared to gen 1 of the SFPT (910 series), the tube in the 955 has improved brightness. If you look at the less expensive 30HS420 and compare it to the 30XS955, the 30HS420 has a brighter image. The 955 series is not as bright and looks like it has a grey cast to it. Some people, myself included, actually prefer the 420 series for its brightness, despite the fact that it has a lower resolution tube and older menu structure. Videophiles probably appreciate the resolution of the 955 and would say that the 420 is overly bright and not as accurate.

You can go to the menu and edit the settings in the "movie" and "pro" mode. In fact, you can modify all four settings including the "vivid" and "standard" mode.

Well I have not seen this thread before
but I got some help from some members here when considering the KD30

and I did buy it
I bought mine from Crutchfield
it was not dusty, and I paid no taxes, free shipping, and 10% off retail

I have mine connected via DVI to HDMI from PC (6800 standard), analogue cable to RF coax jack, DirecTV to svideo input, and Zenith antenna to UHF/VHF Coax input

I can get most channels well from the antenna and the picture looks excellent from antenna and HDMI input
the DirecTV looks pretty good via svideo
and analogue cable looks pretty bad but use to it since my service provider sucks

I do live in apartments and Southwestern Bell provides both DirecTV and analogue cable (where this is my bedroom TV)
Southwestern Bell monopolizes Apartment communities and when you call to ask them to adjust the cable because of picture issues
They make you set up an appointment and then send out the rudest individual they can find, and then do nothing about the picture (reception)

but anyways.....

I do have Avia but DVE and am in the process of using it to set up all the color calibration (I should have done it by now, had the TV since early Jan.)

my TV was produced in Nov of last year

I find the Zenith antenna is especially picky with two channels
Fox and CBS
it is great for Fox at one position and great for CBS at another
but I cannot find a spot where it likes both
yet the diagnosis is like a steady 70% for CBS and 80% for Fox in either position

I cannot tune ABC at all since the antenna is VHF, unless I am missing something

the picture from HDTV is truely gorgeous
and I did do some comparsion to it at Ultimate Electronics (and would have bought from them but Crutchfield made me an offer and Ultimate Electronics would not work with me on the price)

the Picture on the KD30 looked better than any of the other CRT HDTVs/HD monitors in area
and the image was identical to the XBR960

the XBR 960 was not directly beside it, but the 34XS was above it
and the XBR960 was off the shelf displayed on its own

the picture from all three was awesome and the exact same
I did walk back to look at the Projection TVs and Flat Panels

the Image on the XS and XBR CRTs was easily as good if not better than the high end Plasmas and definitely better than the Projection style sets (DLP/LCD)

all were taking an HD source although I am not sure what and I am guessing component input

I did have to adjust my tilt as well (I think it is +3)

and can someone please tell me how to access the service menu?

oh and vivid looks like crap with any source
Standard or Pro seems close for TV
and movie does look nice for DVDs from PC DVD player

setting up the HDMI input for PC was a breeze
the newest nvidia drivers allow 480p/576p (PAL) 720p and 1080i (also 1080p)
and can either overscan (display natively) or display the full image
apparently Sony got the EDID right
cause this was very easy

I purchased the majority of my cables from Ram electronics
and a few high end RCA brand cables for the extras I needed (from Fry's)
(refuse to monster after they sued a friend of mine)

using Wide Zoom for most 4x3 content
except the 480i material over the antenna
I do not have this option and not big on horizontal stretch so watch at default Full

if I try to set to horizontal stretch anyways as soon as I switch channels
it goes back to full

the TV is not still calibrated nor is the PC DVD player

yet I have messed with doing by eye every once in a while

need to use the DVE disc......

Crutchfield has about the same policies for return and no shipping as Sony but charges no taxes
making it an easy decision to buy from them

the antenna does definitely lose signal when I walk by it
but not sure where I got put it

Sound from speakers is nice and TruSurround seems to the best option

would be nice if there wa optical input added with the HDMI input since some devices are still DVI and not native HDMI

being able to skip inputs is very nice as well and the DTV and analogue cable channel scanning was only 10 minutes not the 50 that it says

I'm curious, how do you skip inputs on this TV?

you just go into the menu and choose skip rather than a label such as PVR or DVD

Ah, very cool, thanks.

but really anyone know how to get to the service menu????

guess a better question would be how do you navigate the service menus?

http://members.aol.com/philselectronics/servicemenu.htm

this does work for this sony TV

Yes I would like to know this, too (e.g. how do you adjust pincushion?).

Quick update...

On Sonystyle.com, price reduced to $1199. In addition, Sonystyle.com has free shipping AND free set up AND free financing with no payments for 18 months (need to phone in the order). Also, 4 year service plan is $129 - cheaper than Best Buy. No brainer on this one.

Only downer on this deal is they charge sales tax/disposal fee in CA (about $107).

look at Crutchfield then
they will match anything Sony does themselves and they do not charge taxes

Does that include financing? I can't seem to find anything on their site about financing. I like to put my money to work (put it into safe investments, earning interest)...I always take advantage of free financing/no payments, then pay it off at the end of the term.

JUST confirmed...Crutchfield cannot match the no payments/no finance charge financing.

yes
I got it when I bought my Sony Kd30xs955 from Crutchfield

well I got it
sorry you cannot for whatever reason

I got 18 months of no interest no payments

I bought from Crutchfield and signed up with Sony Financing

Alternative choice:
I just got got my 30xs955 from belmont tv. I bought it in the store but you can order online or by phone. They charge shipping but maybe not tax if you are outside VA and MD where they operate. Price is similar to BB. Their website is their name. (can't post url yet)

Has anyone had this issue. When i hit the power button, the set takes 13 seconds to come on. Otherwise I am extremely happy with this tv.

No problems with mine. Takes less than 5 seconds to power up.

did you actually count?
, cause I had to program the time into my Harmony remote so it knows when to switch inputs
and it was just over 10 seconds although it certainly does not seem that long

I plan to buy this TV in the next couple of days. I have a couple of questions and I'm new to this stuff (this will be my first HDTV), so bear with me:

1) Are monster cables really worth it? - $120 for HDMI monster cables is a lot to spend.

2) I have a progessive scan DVD plan - is it worth it to upgrade to a HD-DVD player (there's a Samsung out there for $150 that I was looking at if so)?

3) I already have a Motorola DVR from Comcast which I use for my SD television. It says it is HDTV ready. Do I need to upgrade or can I just use that one (I can already view the HDTV channels on my SD TV). How will non-HDTV channels look on this TV when running through this digital cable box?

4) What's a good calibration DVD to purchase and where can I purchase it?

5) Am I making the right television choice here?

Thanks for any help.

I would suggest buying an HDMI cable thru HDTVSupply.com. They are better and much cheaper than Monster. I have the samsung dvd player 941 which is an upscaling dvd player. The 1080i image thru HDMI is great all though the display on teh unti is a little bright. Also, when using an HDMI connection, the Samsung will display an error message when you put int eh dvd saying "HdMI audio not supported" for like 1 second. Other then that, for the price it's a great deal and supported dvd audio and sacd.

I assume your motorola will work as long as you call the cable company to upgrader your service plan.