Sony KDL-32S5500 and KDL-32W5500

[the record spot]

While attending a friend's 50th birthday at the weekend, the hotel we stayed at had the Sony KDL-32S5500 in the room which just happened to have a pretty decent picture. I've seen it for £280, but wondered what the difference is between it and the W5500? More functions, etc? Quite happy with what we saw, but just wondering. Can't see anything for the S5500, but the 5500 series seems to get good reviews.

 

[Anonymous]

afaik standard definition will be better on the w5500 as it uses sonys bravia 3 picture processing as opposed to the previous years bravia 2 on the s5500..

also the w5500 has 100hz motionflow , which can help to give smoother motion, although many leave this off anyway, the s5500 doesnt have motionflow..

i think the w5500 also has some limited internet functionality, but thats just a gimmick and isnt worth paying more for imo..

to be honest at 32in, i doubt not having bravia 3 will make that much difference, the 100hz is nice to have, but if you're not gonna use it it makes no odds, how much is the w5500?

 

[the record spot]

Roughly around £399 in most places, or more (up to £500 I think). Nice set - liked the matt black finish (as opposed to shiny shiny plastic!).

 

[Anonymous]

well its a better tv, if it was me id get the w5500, because i think sonys motionflow is very good, and to me it would be worth the extra money, especially when watching the footie.

btw your nemesis "alienrik" will probably tell you motionflow is best left off

.. its a personal thing really..

 

[aliEnRIK]

maxflinn:

btw your nemesis "alienrik" will probably tell you motionflow is best left off

.. its a personal thing really..

I used to because it originally had a horrible 'smear' effect going on. After leaving it off for 6 months I went back to it and the smearing effect had gone (As in completely gone). Why this is I cannot say (Really weird though, I can only put it down to being 'run in' as I dont think anything else had changed to my setup at the time)) but I have it on all the time now when watching films or tv

The W series also allows greyscale calibration which the S doesnt, and its closer to greyscale calibration using 'cinema' settings than the S range.

The bravia 3 engine helps with strange colour problems that affects all tvs. I agree that on a 32" it wont be as much of a problem mind.

IIRC its upscaler is better too

 

[the record spot]

maxflinn:
well its a better tv, if it was me id get the w5500, because i think sonys motionflow is very good, and to me it would be worth the extra money, especially when watching the footie.

btw your nemesis "alienrik" will probably tell you motionflow is best left off

.. its a personal thing really..

LOL, well, not really my nemesis I think, more just different views and more likely a greater / lesser willingness (depending on whose view your dealing with) to investigate differences in cable accessories. I think Rik works in that field so that might account for the additional interest.

TV-wise, I'd be happy with the "S" type I think. Good picture on freeview, and this was in a pretty remote area just north of the Grampians; crisp, clear, no smearing on broadcast TV pictures (hugely important for me).

 

[Anonymous]

if no smearing is important then id go for the w5500, turning on motionflow may help in that regard, especially when watching low bitrate channels...