Sony KF-E42A10 (42-inch rear projection LCD)

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By Randolph Ramsay, CNET.com.au
Feb 13, 2006

Eyeing a sexy flat-panel TV but unwilling to part with the dough associated with pricey electronics? End your dilemma with the Sony 3LCD Grand Wega rear projection TVs: They look cunningly similar to the famed Bravia "V"s and have a fine reputation set forth by their 60-inch predecessor for putting out stunning pictures. That said, there is only one small problem to tackle for these fine displays--you will need a 350 to 400mm deep TV console to house one of these giants.

Editor's note:

The KF-E42A10 is not available in Singapore but can be found in other part of Asia such as the Philippines and Australia. Please consult your local Sony authorized dealers for availability and recommended pricing.

Upside: Sony has added two new models to its Grand Wega range of rear projection televisions-- the 42-inch KF-E42A10 (E42) and the 50-inch KF-E50A10 (E50). When we reviewed the behemoth in the Wega range last year--the 60-inch KFWS60S1--we were impressed by its slimness and impressive picture quality. With the new 42-inch and 50-inch utilizing much of the same technology and boasting similar specs as the 60-inch version, it's natural to expect the same good performance from the two newcomers.

Both the E42 and the E50 have Sony's 3LCD projection technology and proprietary Wega image engine. The new televisions have a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels and feature a dynamic contrast technology which automatically lowers the sets' light output in darker scenes. The televisions come with two tuners built-in (analog only, unfortunately), as well as an impressive set of inputs which include HDMI (something the 60-inch model doesn't have), two component-videos, S-video, and more.

Downside: Having no digital tuner is always a downer, but perhaps the biggest axe hanging over the E42 and E50 is price. At S$5,048 (Philippines' pricing) for the E42 and S$5,999 for the E50, the sets are in the same price range as similarly sized plasmas. Sony's Wegas are certainly slim rear projection sets, but they're still nowhere near as thin as a plasma TV.

Outlook: With the same technology behind them as the well-reviewed 60-inch KFWS60S1, the Grand Wega E42 and E50 look likely to continue Sony's winning form in rear projection sets.