The KDS-55A2000 is a Grand WEGA HDTV that employs Sony's proprietary SXRD technology (a variant of LCoS) to produce a vivid picture that is hard to beat. SXRD televisions are generally more expensive than comparably sized and featured DLP sets, but few other projection televisions can match their performance.

Unlike DLP sets that use a pixel-sharing technique called wobulation to achieve 1,080p resolution, the 55-inch KDS-55A2000 has a native resolution of 1,920X1,080, so it can discreetly display every pixel of 1,080i HDTV broadcasts. This and all other formats are then upscaled to display at 1,080p for an extremely crisp and solid image. The SXRD technology excels at producing deep blacks with oodles of shadow detail, something with which many other projection sets struggle. Reverse 3:2 pulldown conversion ensures movie content is smooth and hesitation-free.

The KDS-55A2000 uses three SXRD chips (one each for red, blue and green), and it does not suffer from DLP's inherent rainbow effects. The color performance is only average at the factory default settings, but there are a plethora of color and other adjustment options to configure the picture to your personal preferences. These include three color temperature settings, an adjustable iris (light output), black and white enhancement, multiple digital processing modes and gamma correction. Conveniently, the settings can be saved for each input, so you don't need to adjust the picture each time you switch from HD content to a DVD or video game console.

Sony includes a QAM tuner for basic digital cable reception, but the KDS-55A2000 lacks a CableCARD slot. Thus, for premium and interactive cable services, you'll still need your cable box. As with its other TVs, Sony also omits picture-in-picture and split-screen viewing, although the KDS-55A2000 does have a freeze function that captures a screen image and displays it on one half of the screen, with live TV continuing on the other half. A handy game mode bypasses all digital processing for a vivid, delay-free experience, and there are multiple aspect ratio settings for standard and high-definition content.

The KDS-55A2000 is attractive and stylish without appearing gaudy. A slim dark-gray frame surrounds the wide-format screen, and stereo speakers are placed in a silver section below the screen. Control buttons and a set of composite video and component video inputs are located behind a small door, so they stay out of sight when not needed. Although it lacks illumination, the included universal remote is intuitive and easy to use, and it has controls for three associated components, as well as dedicated Blu-ray player controls. The KDS-55A2000's onscreen menu is rather complicated, but handy shortcut buttons on the remote make it relatively easy to access picture, audio and other oft-adjusted settings.

This projection HDTV has a broad range of connectivity options. In addition to the front-panel inputs, the KDS-55A2000 sports an RF input, two HDMI inputs that are compatible with most (but not all) 1,080p sources, a PC input and the usual composite, S-video and component video inputs, as well as an optical digital audio output.

While it may cost a bit more than similar-size DLP projection televisions, you get what you pay for, as the Sony KDS-55A2000 makes up the difference with fine performance and an attractive design.


Pros:  Sharp 1,080p picture with excellent black levels, huge number of adjustment options, good connectivity
Cons:  No PIP functions or CableCARD slot, color performance is average, more expensive than comparable DLP sets

Warranty
1 year parts and labor, 2 years optical block