Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

No stupid "Dynamic contrast ratio: 8000:1" gimmicks that merely flicker the backlight when the set's AI decides it ought to be, which is disconcerting and not to mention misleading in terms of real display quality... Just a true, real contrast ratio that allows numerous shadow and hue detail that you're not going to see so clearly in any competitor's 32" set. No washed out or dull colors, either - this Sony is a worthy replacement for dead-end, electricity guzzling, heat generating CRT technology. And I looked at 6 brands, looking at every nuance, black level, color saturation, sharpness, detail, features, menu functions, et cetera, noting all TVs were at out-of-box conditions. I'd love to namedrop the worst ones, but that's a no-no... Here's a hint - those models are "inexpensive for their size". :) Sony costs more, yes, but the difference in visual quality is formidable - worth every penny. Detail is exceptional, and sharp. Other models may not be as bright, may give edges jagged lines, colors may be flat, and so on... If you are a videophile, this is THE set to get. Every setting under the sun can be changed (brightness, 'picture' (contrast), tint, et cetera). And this monitor also, much to my surprise and delight, includes filters to make DVDs (MPEG2) and broadcast signals look less grainy/noisy and sharper. You bet I'm a happy couch potato. Casual viewers would probably be satisfied with any competing model, but why? As with lower quality screen technology, the hardware quality is bound to be lower as well. You do get what you pay for. If you read up on competing models where people say "it broke after 1.5 years", you'll see a pattern forming... And if you looked at the competing model next to the Sony, you'd be tempted to buy the Sony anyway. Even if the cost difference was a mere $150. I also apologizing for sounding like a shill for Sony. I'm not. One small addendum (06/30/07): The stores' labels say it's 1600:1, the sticker on the left side of the monitor claims 8000:1. This TV set does alter the backlight's brightness - solely on the level of ambient light in the room, not the incoming signal. Either way, I've still had no negative issues with visual quality on DVD playback, NTSC TV, HD broadcast, or PC display (if your computer cannot handle 1366x768, try 1280x720 if possible.)