Please Support our Sponsors:

Sony Plasma TV Specifications

Sony KDE-42XBR950 Plasma TV Display

  using our recommended reseller finder.

• Please start by reading our review of the Sony KDE42XBR950.

Sony has continued with their uniquely elegant "floating glass" design, which gave their 1st-generation XBR plasmas that strikingly different look. The black stripe framing the screen gives images extra pop. In fact, this plasma displays HDTV images with such clarity and depth that you'd swear you're looking out a window!

Plasma Display Specifications
Screen Size	42" diagonal
Screen Aspect	16:9
Contrast Ratio	[not published]
Brightness	[not published]
Pixel Pitch	[not published]
hSync	[not published]
vSync	[not published]
Color System	NTSC
Data Signals	(N/A)
TV Scan Lines	480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
Input Terminals
Composite Video	3 (RCA)
S-Video	3 (4-pin mini DIN)
Component Video	2 (RCA x 3)
DVI Digital Input	1
Stereo Audio In	6 (RCA L/R)
Output Terminals
Composite Video	1 (RCA)
S-Video	1 (4-pin mini DIN)
Digital Audio	1 (Optical)
Plasma Monitor Accessories
Audio Amplifier	15W x 2
Speakers	Built In Speakers
Mounting Options	Optional Mount Required
Also Included: Instruction Manual Preprogrammable Remote Control RM-Y1000 AAA Batteries (2) AC Power Cord (2) Cleaning Cloth
Dimensions and General Specs.
Power Supply	100-120V @ 50-60Hz
Power Consumption	430 Watts
Dimensions	53.23" x 28.35" x 4.02"
Weight	85.98 lbs.
FCC Class	FCC Class B, Home Use

Key Features of the Sony KDE-42XBR950 42" Plasma Monitor

• Built-in Stereo Speakers with Simulated Surround Sound
• Built-in ATSC Tuner and Dual NTSC TV Tuners (PIP)
• Elegant, floating glass panel design enhances any living space
• Stunning picture enhancement with Sony WEGA Engine™ System
• Direct Digital Circuitry for natural, rich image from any source
• Enjoy amazing picture resolution with Digital Reality Creation®
• Scale the size of side-by-side P&P windows with MID®X circuitry.
• Movies will always look their best with CineMotion® technology
• i.LINK® input provides access of hi-def content from D-VHS
• Get deeper blacks and better depth with Sony’s Plasma Panel Driver LSI
• View high def digital images with Advanced Memory Stick® media
• Installation flexibility with Sony’s 2-piece plasma design
• Built-in ATSC tuner/QAM brings you all the glory of Hi-Def broadcast
• Digital Reality Creation™ Multi-Function V1 CineMotion™ Reverse 3-2 Pulldown Technology
• Includes DVI-HDTV Interface, MemoryStick® Media Playback, JPEG Still Image capability

Sony KDE-42XBR950 Plasma TV

Sony has continued with their uniquely elegant "floating glass" design, which gave their 1st-generation XBR plasmas that strikingly different look. The black stripe framing the screen gives images extra pop. In fact, this plasma displays HDTV images with such clarity and depth that you'd swear you're looking out a window!

The KDE-42XBR950 boasts a wide assortment of inputs on the back panel of the Media Receiver Unit. You'll find two HD-compatible component video inputs, plus a pure digital DVI input for use with a satellite HDTV tuner, or one of the small but growing number of DVI-equipped DVD players. You'll also find plenty of composite and S-video connections for your other video gear. A single "umbilical cord" connects the Media Receiver Unit to the plasma panel, keeping the look of your installation simple and clean.

An Enhanced Memory Stick® slot gives you a convenient way to enjoy not only digital photos, but now MP3 music files, too.

Sony Plasma Technology

Sony's Proprietary WEGA Engine consists of 4 key technologies engineered and developed by Sony:

• Composite Component Processor: The Composite Component Processor converts the incoming analog signal into a digital signal so it can be processed. This new circuit has improved signal to noise ratio.
• Digital Reality Creation Multifunction V1: Unlike conventional line doublers, the DRC Multifunction feature replaces the signal's NTSC waveform with the near-HD equivalent, while doubling the number of vertical and horizontal lines. This results in four times the density for quality sources, such as DVD, satellite, and digital camcorders. The Video Menu allows you to select high-density, progressive, or CineMotion output. The DRC Palette option lets you customize the level of detail (Reality) and smoothness (Clarity) to create up to three custom palettes.
• Multi-Image Driver (MID-XU): This Multi-Image Driver is designed for fixed pixel devices. MID-XU is utilized in two ways. First, its primary job is to scale all incoming signals, SD or HD, to the configuration of the panel without degradation of signal quality. Second, the Multi-Image Driver provides unique picture-and-picture features once impossible for fixed pixel devices. Features like Twin View Picture-and-Picture with scalable windows and Favorite Channel Preview are possible.
• CineMotion 3/2 Pulldown Processing: This function provides an optimized display by automatically detecting film content and applying a reverse 3/2 pulldown process. Moving pictures will appear clearer and more natural-looking.

Digital Component Processor: The Digital Component Processor makes the necessary adjustments to improve overall contrast and sharpness. It calculates these improvements by analyzing the signal and parameter of the plasma panel.

PDP Driver IC: The newly-developed PDP driver IC achieves high-precision gamma characteristics using Sony's unique digital technology. Fine gradation of dark scenes is realized by greatly enhancing resolution in the low brightness range.

HD Detailer Wideband Video Amplifier: All televisions have a video amplifier, the device that takes the original video source and "amplifies" it to deliver a useable signal to your television screen. The bandwidth rating of a video amplifier determines the amount of detail that can be displayed on a television. Sony's HD Detailer wideband video amplifier delivers great detail on even the finest images by getting the most out of high-bandwidth sources, such as the 1080i signal available from some set-top boxes and satellite feeds.

Native Resolution: The DVI-HDTV input will accept 1080i, 720p, and 480p, and will display them as 1024 x 768. The component video inputs will accept 1080i, 720p, 480i and 480p, and will display them as 1024 x 768. All other input signals will also be display as 1024 x 768.

Twin View: Using the Multi-Image Driver, Twin View allows you to watch two programs side-by-side with the ability to zoom in on one picture and listen to the program in the selected window. You can watch pictures from two different sources (1080i, 720p, 480p, or 480i) simultaneously. 

Picture Modes: You can select one of the following Picture modes:

• Vivid: enhances picture contrast and sharpness
• Standard: displays a standard picture for normal viewing environments
• Pro: displays a picture with minimum enhancements
• Mild: displays a natural, soft picture

Wide Screen Modes: You can select a default screen mode to use for 4:3 sources. While watching a channel, you can use the Wide Mode button to cycle through the wide screen modes. If the 4:3 Default is set to anything but Off, the wide screen mode setting changes only for the current channel. When you change channels, the wide mode is automatically replaced with the 4:3 Default setting. You can choose from the following screen wide screen mode options:

• Wide Zoom: select to enlarge the 4:3 size picture, while the upper and lower parts of the picture are condensed to fit the 16:9 screen
• Normal: returns the 4:3 picture to normal mode
• Full: enlarges the 4:3 picture horizontally only to fill the wide screen
• Zoom: enlarges the 4:3 picture horizontally and vertically to an equal aspect ratio that fills the 16:9 screen

Convenience Features

Favorite Channel Preview: This feature allows you to preview up to 8 favorite channels without leaving the current channel.

Freeze Function: This function allows you to temporarily capture a program's picture. The display switches to Twin View mode and displays the "frozen" picture on the right, while the current program continues on the left. This function only works in normal view mode; if you are in Twin View mode already, it will not work.

Screen Saver: You can select one of the following screen savers:

• Orbit: moves the picture position to reduce image retention. This does not prevent image retention completely if the same picture is displayed for an extended period of time.
• All White: displays a white screen to reduce image retention

Vertical Center: This feature allows you to move the position of the picture up and down in the window.

Vertical Size: This feature allows you to adjust the vertical size of the picture.

Steady Sound: This feature stabilizes the volume level, preventing unwanted blasts of sound during commercials.

Sleep Timer: The sleep timer switches the television off after a specified amount of time. The sleep timer can be set to 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes.

Timers: This unit has two timers that can be set by day, time, duration, and channel.

Memory Stick Playback (JPEG): The media receiver has a front-panel Memory Stick slot to let you easily view your JPEG images. You can choose from an index of the images stored on the Memory Stick, or you can run a slideshow of those images. You can also customize the features of the slideshow by selecting the length of time that each image is displayed, toggling the display of file information, and rotating each image.

Multibrand Remote: The supplied remote is pre-programmed to operate this unit and a number of functions on other brands of A/V components, including VCRs, laserdisc players, DVD players, cable boxes, and satellite receivers.

Audio System Features

Audio Effect Modes: You can select one of the following audio Effect modes:

• TruSurround: adds a three-dimensional sound to stereo programs
• Simulated: adds a surround-like effect to mono-channel programs

Digital Optical Audio Output for Dolby Digital Surround output

Terminals and Connections

System Connections: The display has a white DVI-D input and black proprietary 26-pin input and the media receiver has a white DVI-D output and black proprietary 26-pin output. The components are connected using the supplied display interface cable. 

DVI-HDTV In: This input consists of stereo RCA jacks and a DVI-D terminal. The DVI-D terminal can accommodate a copy-protected digital connection (HDCP) to other devices (such as digital set-top boxes) that have compatible interfaces. The DVI-D terminal is compliant with the EIA-861 standard and is not intended for use with personal computers.

Component Video Inputs: The component video inputs will accept 1080i, 720p, 480i and 480p video signals.

Monitor Out: The monitor output consists of stereo RCA jacks, an RCA composite video jack and an S-video jack. This output lets you record the program you are watching to a VCR.

Subwoofer Output: The subwoofer RCA jack allows you to add a powered subwoofer to this display.

  using our recommended reseller finder.

  Return to the Plasma TV model index page

Plasma TV Buying Guide Home How To Buy A Plasma TV in 10 Easy Steps How To Buy A LCD Television in 8 easy steps

Visit other Premier Sites from the Buying Guide Network
Plasma TV Buying Guide	DLP TV Review	LCD TV Buying Guide