Sony FWD50PX2

Sony FWD50PX2 Plasma TV Review

Designed with the home theater buff in mind the Sony FWD50PX2 plasma TV offers an impressive 50" screen with a full 160 degree viewing angle. Available in either a black or silver finish, this set looks great even when it's turned off.

The monitor is ready for HD signals right out of the box. Once you add an HDTV tuner (either through DIRECTV, DISH Network or from your digital cable service provider) you'll be able to enjoy special high definition broadcasts. The display can output HDTV at an impressive 1080i and the built in tuner supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM formats.

The actual plasma screen that comes with the Sony FWD50PX2 uses a thin, compact chassis. The ultra-large screen provides exceptional brightness and a 1280 X 768 pixel resolution. Adding to the image quality the set is capable of reproducing over one billion colors accurately and smoothly. Unlike some plasma television on the market you have your choice of aspect ratios with the FWD50PX2. You can watch shows in 16:9, wide zoom, letterbox zoom and standard TV ratio of 4:3. In addition, this set can be used as a computer monitor (albeit a very big one).

Another thing that sets the Sony FWD50PX2 apart from the competition is the screen brightness, which is rated at 450cd/m2. This gives viewers sharp, life-like images regardless of ambient lighting conditions. In addition the color temperature is adjustable to ensure that accurate colors come through when watching movies, high-def programs or standard broadcast shows. Viewers are also able to watch two programs simultaneously with the set's picture in picture feature.

This 50" display is just as comfortable in the living room as it is in a corporate boardroom thanks to the analog and digital inputs that accommodate both video and PC devices. Making presentations while using the Sony FWD50PX2 are made easier with the Picture Zoom feature that enables users to zoom in on any part of the screen for a close-up look.
Sound quality is just as important as picture quality and the Sony FWD50PX2 uses a built-in 7W + 7W digital amplifier that produces a surround sound effect from the two speakers without having a true surround system. The inclusion of Dolby Sound also helps to augment the audio features of this set.

One thing that makes the Sony FWD50PX2 stand apart from the competition is its life cycle. Many older model plasma televisions burned out rather quickly, but this set has an expected life cycle of around 60,000 hours. When you�re paying as much as you will for this display, it�s nice to know you�ll be getting your money�s worth for a long time.

An area in which many plasma televisions are judged is the connection options. The Sony FWD50PX2 offers 1 S-Video, 1 Composite, 1 Audio (RCA) and 1 RS-232C front input connectors as well as 1 S-Video front output connector. This isn�t quite as many as offered by some other maker�s sets, but they�re more than adequate for most user�s needs.

Conclusion

There are few names in the electronics industry that command the kind of respect that Sony does. Their attention to quality and detail are virtually unparalleled and it shows in the FWD50PX2 plasma display. While it may lack some of the connection options that come with competitor�s sets and some of the niceties like an illuminated remote, the stunning picture quality and versatility of this monitor more than make up for its shortcomings.

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

9/10

Sony FWD50PX2 Plasma TV Review
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