racewalk

Just got a sony 34 inch xbr 800. Got it at circuit city yesterday.
Didn't want to wait for delivery- despite it being free, got a buddy to help me get it out of the truck yesterday and put it on its stand.

The picture is great! I have time warner digital cable, they
upgraded my box for HDTV today for HBO and SHOTIME- haven't checked it out yet. I think the picture is pretty good. We watched Behind Enemy Lines on DVD last night- couldn't tell the difference between interlaced and progressive scan with my APEX brand DVD player. Overall the picture was fantastic

The x-box games look great! Bought NFL Madness 2003 because it is listed as HDTV capable. THat looks great!

I'll let you all know how theHBO looks soon.

The stand I got was for the 34xbr2- it fits perfectlly, the colors don't match, but it doesn't look bad (the color mismatch- the sony stand is not the most attractive thing in the world)

I must say I am a real SONY fan so far- I've relenquised to the basement our 20" (1987) which still has a great picture to the kids, and in our bedroom we have a 15" that my dad bought the day after Nixon resigned in 1974!- still with a respectable picture. I know I won't get that kind of life out of the 34xbr800, but we've had a good track record.

racewalk

The cable guy from TW came to 'install' the hd box for the digital cable this morning when I was at work- he couldn't get the hdtv channels to work hbo and shotime- problem was the component wires weren't hooked up right.

Have Seen two movies so far on both HDTV channels-
stunning!

The other regular digital chanels look very good too, much better then yesterday with our old digital cable box!

I am thourghly pleased with this set!
Can hardly wait for the sopranos in hdtv!

greggae

What's the latest on this set? I am looking at the same one and the KD-34XBR2 also. Would appreciate hearing how you feel about your purchase. Thanks.

__________________
If a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass on the ground.

Marty

I love my Sony 34XBR800. DVDs look great using my PS dvd player. Analog cable images are as expected, not so great but acceptable (definitely the signal, not the tv). I'll be able to post more in another two weeks when I get my HDTV receiver. I'm currently waiting on the Samsung TS160 combo Directv/OTA HDTV receiver. Its suppose to ship Oct.1 then by the time someone comes to install it, it will probably be two weeks. Until then, I'll reserve my full judgement on the tv but I definitely like what I see so far. I bought the Bush tv stand CC sells for $200. It looks similar to the Sony custom stand but is $100 less and offers an extra shelf. TV looks very sharp on the stand!

hnaito

I too like Marty love my KV34XBR800. Currently, I have a non-PS DVD player and the quality is good, but I believe it can be better. Going with my fellow XBR owners recommendation, I'm going to look into getting the Onkyo PS 5-Disc DVD player.

As for HD receivers, I'm thinking about getting the Samsung with DirecTV. I'm currently in the midst of doing a bit more research into this. Because the KV34XBR800 has DVI input, I'll definitely get a HD receiver with DVI output.

I would highly recommend this set! I've been very pleased with the output.

HDnoob

I recently purchased this TV and I'm very pleased with the performance. I have analog cable and the awesome TV allowed me to see exactly how bad the cable is. Unfortunatley, where I live Digital cable isn't any better and they offer no HD content.
My only options for HD are OTA and satellite. I ahve a roof top antenna and I'm looking for a SD receiver that has DVI... I've narrowed it to two... the Sony SAT-HD200 and the Samsung SIR-TS160. Anyone with this TV have either of these receivers? Comments.
I'm wondering if it would be better to wait a few more months and see what is coming down the pipe from other companies.

-Jeff

__________________
34" Sony XBR-800 (16:9)
Pioneer Elite VSX-27
Pioneer DV-444
Pioneer Elite F17
Paradigm Studio 60
[looking for HDTV STB]

Marty

I have the Sony SAT HD200 (coupled with the 34XBR800) and am very pleased with it. You should do a search of this forum for more information on this and the Samsung STB, quite a few comments about them.

HDnoob

Thanks Marty. I've searched around a little.... but I'm still looking. It seems there are complaints w/ the Sony about the format of the picture... but with my (our) TV I can change the ratio by using the "WIDE MODE" button on the remote, so I don't think I should be concerned with that (part of the reason I asked the question).
The other complaint is the remote having to be pointed at the unit... but again I (think) I can plug the sat receiver into my TV and the TV will relay the remote functions... or I can just use the remote that came with the TV.
The kicker is I received a lot of Gift Certificates to Best Buy for Christmas (like $600 worth) and Best Buy does not carry the SAT-200. They do have the SIR-TS160. My intial thoughts are I'd rather have a Sony receiver for compatiblity with the remote, etc. The SAT-HD200 is realtively new... so they might start selling it.
It would be nice to see these two (TS160 &HD200) units side-by-side on a 34XBR800 to compare features, picture quality, etc.

__________________
34" Sony XBR-800 (16:9)
Pioneer Elite VSX-27
Pioneer DV-444
Pioneer Elite F17
Paradigm Studio 60
[looking for HDTV STB]

Marty

I have no complaints concerning the picture format. Not quite sure I understand what the complaint is but HD images fill the screen perfectly every time and SD 4:3 programming I just stretch it using the wide zoom feature of the 34XBR800 and it looks fine. The remote does have to be pointed in the general direction of the STB but there is some room for error (not that much room though I do believe the issue is somewhat overblown). Personally, I like that the 200 uses Ir so that devices like tivos/replatvs and vcrs that come with the cable eyes/Ir blasters can control the 200. I use the remote that came with the 200 to control both the 34xbr800 and the 200. It is nearly identical to the one for the 800 but offers a bit more functionality in controlling the two devices. Finally, when you connect the tv and STB via the DVI connection and set the STB to "auto dvi, " all 480i programming is upconverted to 480p. I've heard the Samsung does something similar to this as well but that the Sony does a much better job of this. You may wish to check out the boards at www.avsforum.com , they have one for HD hardware and there is quite a bit of discussion on the 200 and 160 there. Overall though, I am very pleased with both the tv and STB, they integrate very well together, both in appearance and function.

HDnoob

Thanks again. I'm reading all the posts at the AVSforum.... lots of info.
-Jeff

__________________
34" Sony XBR-800 (16:9)
Pioneer Elite VSX-27
Pioneer DV-444
Pioneer Elite F17
Paradigm Studio 60
[looking for HDTV STB]

btink

I purchased my 34xbr800 last week and like others could not wait to have it delivered. Thank God Sony was thinking when they designed in those nice hand slots because that is one heavy sucker! I did not buy the Sony stand because it only had one shelf. I bought a Bello stand from Goodguys that while just a few inches shorter than the 34 works very good and gives me enough room for all of my componets.
The picture is great! But like the rest of you I want the 1080i and I now am thinking of going to Directv with a Sony HDTV/Sat box.
Anyone have any experience with the Sony?
I really like the Memory Stick slot. I have a Sony Digital video camera. The pictures are outstanding when shown on the 34.

____________________________
Sony 34XBR800
Denon AVR-2802
Sony DVD670C
Panasonic VCR
Mortorola DCT2000 Cable
ADS 810 front speakers
Boise VC-10 center
Boise cubes rear
M&K 12" sub

Marty

I have the Sony SAT-HD200 HD Directv box and am very pleased with it. It integrates very well with the 34XBR800. You may wish to check out the STB forum on this site as there are quite a few posts on the box in that forum. The box is also discussed extensively in the "HD Hardware" forum over at www.avsforum.com .

btink

Are you using the DVI plug between your set and the TV? I believe you can use this instead of the componet video cables. They don't have the manual at Sony.com yet so I can't look this up.

Marty

Yes, I am using the DVI connection, works fine.

rdiflippo

I also own this fabulous tv. This is the best picture ive seen , with my dish 6000 receiver. I have channels nbc,abc,fox,wb,upn,hbo,showtime,and discovery hd all have beautifull pictures.

racewalk

After 47 months the picture tube on my 34xb4800 died. I was very sad.
Fortunently I had gotten the circuit city 3 year protection plan, which kicked in after the 2 year sony warrenty. From what I hear about sony service I should be pleased!
The circuit city process was a little slow, but not painfull. It took 4-5 weeks to figure out it was the tube. Then 2 weeks to authorize and replace the TV.
I now have a kv34xbr970. That was the best $200+ I've ever spent !
I love the 970. It doesn't have a split screen.
I was disappointed the dvi on the 800 would not talk to my scientific atlanta
time warner digital dvr cable box - the box refused to recognize the tv.
I loved this TV till the day it died. For what I paid I would have thought it would
have made it to the end of the 5 years of coverage I had. If I hadn't gotten the
extra coverage I would have been p.o.