Sony KDL26S5500U

...a cracking offer on a Sony television with built in freeview I jumped at the chance to replace my old faithful television in the bedroom, _(not a lot else happens in the bedroom these days anymore…)_

_The television in question is the Sony KDL- 26S5500 with Bravia 2 and much more…_

==** THE SPECIFICATIONS IN BRIEF…==

* HD ready
* 16 watt power output, 0.5 watts on standby
* 26 inch LCD viewable ...
...CONCLUSION…==

Well, Sony have created a masterpiece with this LCD digital television.
It is a good size, especially without the stand, as it more or less lies flat against the wall.
The picture quality is excellent, so crisp and clear, giving a cracking viewing experience as soon as you press the on button.
It is so simple to install, being a matter of plugging into the mains, slotting in the aerial pin and reading ... more

Televisions are something the majority of people have in there homes, (I mean, what else is all your furniture pointing at?) and with this digital switchover approaching faster than a whippet on steroids people are having to buy either a digital box for there old faithful television or a brand new television with built in digital.
Anyway, I have had the pleasure of having a dig box which was plugged into the bedroom television, but when I recently saw a cracking offer on a Sony television with built in freeview I jumped at the chance to replace my old faithful television in the bedroom, (not a lot else happens in the bedroom these days anymore…)

The television in question is the Sony KDL- 26S5500 with Bravia 2 and much more…

** THE SPECIFICATIONS IN BRIEF…

• HD ready
• 16 watt power output, 0.5 watts on standby
• 26 inch LCD viewable screen
• Picture mode selection, including Vivid, cinema and standard.
• 2 Internal speakers at 8 watts each (16 watts in total)
• Sound mode selection include dynamic, clear voice and surround sound.

** Other info…

• 2 scart input sockets plus USB connection
• Sleep timer
• Teletext
• EPG
• Size is 680 x 430 x 93 mm (although 680x485x222 with the table stand)
• Weight is 10kg with stand and 8.7 kg without stand.
• Parental lock
• Language selection

** Accessories…

• AC cable
• operating instructions
• Table top stand
• remote control

** NOTE:
There is just so much more that this television offers it would take up too much space to put everything into this review…

** IN CONCLUSION…

Well, Sony have created a masterpiece with this LCD digital television.
It is a good size, especially without the stand, as it more or less lies flat against the wall.
The picture quality is excellent, so crisp and clear, giving a cracking viewing experience as soon as you press the on button.
It is so simple to install, being a matter of plugging into the mains, slotting in the aerial pin and reading the easy to follow on screen instructions, and with in a matter of minutes you are up and running with all the freeview channels which are presently available.

The television looks very pleasant indeed, with a flat screen embedded in a rigid looking and rather smooth body. Weighing in at less than 9kg, allowing it to be hung on the wall without too much stress on the bracket which you are using, (although do show caution if hanging from a wall as a fallen television is no good to anyone).
The 26 inch screen gives a picture as clear crystal and with ‘Bravia 2’ technology you are guaranteed a fantastic viewing experience al round.

** What is this Bravia 2 then..? I hear you asking.
Well, I’m not really sure to be honest but the booklet that came with the television claims…

It is a massive advancement in the digital processing enhancement, improving the colours on the screen, giving a crisper picture and a much improved sound quality.
Apparently Bravia 2 gives four new image processing stages than the original.

So there you have it then…
If that makes any sense to you then great, but for me it means that I can enjoy the picture and sound better when I am watching one of my favourite movies or television shows, (although the Chuckle brothers do look a little frightening when viewed with this picture quality).

Anyway, back to the actual television…

All the connection points, ie the ’scarts’, the aerial connecter etc, are neatly out of sight, sitting around the back of the unit in the bottom left corner as you look at the screen, with everything being easily understood, so connecting your other equipment to it will be no problem at all. Connected to mine at the moment I have a dvd player and my play station 3, and believe me, the picture quality when playing games is seriously realistic.

I was so impressed with what this Sony was giving me, viewing wise, especially as I had become so used to my old faithful television which I had had for so long. In fact, my old faithful was also a 26 inch viewing screen but the picture coming from this Sony seemed remarkably better, almost like watching a much larger screen, and it is just so crystal clear I was so amazed.
Plus, with the Sony name branded to the casing, like on a prize heifers backside going to market, makes me feel very comfortable about how long this television should last, so when I first saw it I felt I couldn’t go wrong.

As for where to put it, well I have mine safely sat on the flimsy looking but actually very sturdy stand which came with it, basically as I don’t trust hanging a television from a wall for some reason, although if the bracket is anchored properly then there should be no problem.

The remote gives you full control of the television, with the usual channel hopping, volume control, text buttons and more. It also has a great one touch ‘scene selection’ to quickly change the sound/picture to suit the program you’re watching.
The built in freeview is something that all televisions will soon be needing, making the digital boxes obsolete in no time at all.

And for all those thinking about the planet then there is good news for you as this television has a good 16 watt output when in use and a mere ½ watt if you leave it on standby, (not that I ever leave my televisions on stand-by… not with the cost of electricity these days anyway).

So, what more can I say about this Sony LCD 26 inch television with something called Bravia 2 technology?

It is a brilliant television with a fantastically clear and fair sized screen, the one I have the pleasure of owning for a few weeks now has impressed me very much indeed and I am so glad that I managed to bag a bargain.
I managed to pick it up for £350 from Dixons, which, as I said, really was a bargain as it sells for around the £500 mark elsewhere. But, even for the full price of £500 I would still seriously contemplate buying this one.
 

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