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REVIEW
SONY KV-G2515 £750 (Dish £70)
Putting a satellite
receiver inside a television seems like a fairly smart move but why do so few
manufacturers bother? Part of the reason is that TVs are designed for global
markets and making one model, specifically for the UK, is deemed uneconomic, or
at least, it used to be. Satellite TV is rapidly becoming a world-wide
phenomenon and now receiver and decoder technology has begun to settle down we
can expect to see quite a few more sets like the Sony KV-G2515.
It’s a good looking NICAM
stereo TV, sporting one of Sony’s finest Super Trinitron tubes, which by any
measure has one of the flattest screens and produces one of the sharpest
pictures in the business. Features? It’s got the lot, including a 100-channel memory,
menu-driven on-screen display, advanced fastext decoder, three SCART
connectors, sleep and event timers (for STV time-shifting), widescreen display
option, Astra 1D ready and Sony’s Spectrum sound system. The satellite receiver
slots in seamlessly with the UHF tuner, so it’s possible to channel hop between
terrestrial and satellite transmissions as easily as flipping from BBC1 to C4,
once you’ve jiggled the cumbersome factory presets into some semblance of
order. The STV receiver has a built-in Videocrypt decoder, to unscramble SKY
and other encrypted channels, the smart card slips into a discreet slot behind
a flip-down panel below the screen.
It’s VCR friendly with
time-shift recordings of satellite channels possible with the TV in the standby
mode; alternatively the STV receiver can be switched on using the sets event
timer. The front mounted AV terminal (with S-Video input) is good news for
camcorder users, and the fastext decoder is particularly impressive with a
100-page memory.
Picture quality from terrestrial
broadcasts is excellent, satellite reception rates only as average; it appears
that the receiver is not especially sensitive, compared with many stand-alone
receivers. In Northerly locations this could result in a higher than normal
number of picture ‘sparklies’ on casually aligned dishes, or during very heavy
downpours. Nevertheless, on BBC and ITC channels colours are bright and crisp
and there’s plenty of contrast with very little noise, even in heavily
saturated colours. Factory alignment and picture geometry was right on the nail
on our sample and there was no need to deviate from any of the pre-set picture
defaults. Sound is very reasonable, given the size and positioning of the
speakers, though bass is on the thin side and the stereo image rather narrow.
Overall, though, a very competent design from a company who know a thing or two
about top-class TVs; it’s good value, on-screen performance is very
respectable and the built-in satellite
receiver is very convenient if you’re trying to keep the box-count down.
Plus: One of Sony’s best, an excellent picture from BBC and
ITV channels with a bright, crisp, picture and fair to middling stereo sound.
Well thought out controls with effortless transition between satellite and
terrestrial reception, as far as the user is concerned they’ve just got fifty
or more channels to watch.
Minus: The satellite receiver could do with being a little
more sensitive and the sound output lacks punch. The menu driven on-screen
control can be awkward to use, and the display is on the small side, making it
difficult to read. It’s a real lump, and although it’s not meant to be
portable, it really could do with something to get hold of when moving it
around.
Picture quality ****
Sound quality ***
Build quality ****
Features *****
Ease of use ****
Value for money 90%
Features: NICAM stereo, 2 x 12 watt output, reversible
remote control handset, advanced fastext decoder, 100 channel memory,
menu-driven on-screen displays, S-Video inputs, front AV terminal, 16:9 display
Sockets: 3 x SCART, front AV terminal (line audio, composite
video and S-Video), headphone, line audio out (phono).
Dimensions: 593 x 502 x 512mm
Weight: 34kg
The opposition
Nokia SFN 5515 £800 HE Score 85%
A very workmanlike design, and a top performer, with NICAM, fastext, twin SCARTs, on-screen
display and 2 x 10 watts audio but lacking the glitz and refinement of the Sony
set
SONY UK LTD Sony House, South Street, Staines, Middlesex
TW15 4AT.
Telephone (0784) 467000
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1994 1006
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