Sony EX320 series: UK v IE models...

Wertz

Didn't want to post this in the sticky thread as it's model specfic and I'm trying to clear up some ambiguity in the specs for this TV, but if mods feel it should be in there then so be it...

Been looking at the 24" (22" - 26" available)...the model range are listed as saorview approved on the official site; so far, so good.
Now where it gets awkward...priced this model here and it's coming in at about 25-30% more expensive in RoI v UK, so obviously want to go for the cheaper option...that is until I start reading reviews of the set on various UK sites which list it as having no FreeviewHD tuner (after Sony initially claiming it did and later withdrawing that from the spec sheet).

Now if the one available in the UK only has a freeview tuner, it won't work with saorview ...it needs freeviewHD (right?)...but yet the model lists as saorview approved and this is backed up on sony.ie: BUT the specs and model numbers are identical on the Irish and UK sites (KDL-24ex320BU or KDL-24ex320WU) BU/WU specifying model colour (black/white), so what gives?
Sony UK
Sony Ireland

Is the difference in price indicating the lack of an mpeg4 tuner in the UK model or is any included tuner circuitry simply region restricted by specific Irish firmware or by setting the region to Ireland at initial set up? Or can this TV work with saorview without being freeviewHD? Wouldn't any hardware difference need something extra in the model number to avoid confusion?

Any help on this would be much appreciated, or any thoughts from anyone that has any set from this range, either UK or Irish bought. Sorry about the long post...

MrSneeg

http://www.saorview.ie/products-retailers/saorview-approved-product-listings/sony/

the list

fat-tony

HD in UK is broadcast on different multiplexes to SD and requires a DVB-T2 tuner to receive, which, presumably this model hasn't got. This reduces its value to the UK consumer, however - Saorview only requires a DVB-T tuner. The video processing side after the tuner section should be the same. It's not the tuner which determines MPEG2/4 capability - it's the decoding hardware/firmware.

The Cush

I think most if not all new Sony TV models launched since 2008 have an MPEG-4 decoder be they Saorview/Freeview/FreeviewHD and the new 2011 range are all Saorview approved.

The Saorview list posted by MrSneeg above guarantees the product is MPEG-4.

I believe all Sony TVs are pan-european so if an Irish model has MPEG-4 the same model purchased elsewhere is Europe will be the same spec. Certain features may be disabled depending on the country selected but not MPEG-4 in DTT mode. My 2008 freeview Sony V4500 displays the Saorview channels without problem but digital text feature is not available in the Ireland setting (corrected in later non-Saorview Sony models).

Wertz

fat-tony wrote: »

HD in UK is broadcast on different multiplexes to SD and requires a DVB-T2 tuner to receive, which, presumably this model hasn't got. This reduces its value to the UK consumer, however - Saorview only requires a DVB-T tuner. The video processing side after the tuner section should be the same. It's not the tuner which determines MPEG2/4 capability - it's the decoding hardware/firmware.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. Thought we needed specific tuner too, since freeview only UK TVs not working over here.
Am I correct in saying that when RTÉ2 broadcasts in HD via saorview/mp4 system that it will be shown in HD? Or will it be downscaled in some way before being sent to the display?

The Cush wrote: »

I think most if not all new Sony TV models launched since 2008 have an MPEG-4 decoder be they Saorview/Freeview/FreeviewHD and the new 2011 range are all Saorview approved.

The Saorview list posted by MrSneeg above guarantees the product is MPEG-4.

I believe all Sony TVs are pan-european so if an Irish model has MPEG-4 the same model purchased elsewhere is Europe will be the same spec. Certain features may be disabled depending on the country selected but not MPEG-4 in DTT mode. My 2008 freeview Sony V4500 displays the Saorview channels without problem but digital text feature is not available in the Ireland setting (corrected in later non-Saorview Sony models).

So buying from the UK, in this instance won't net me a model that only works with the UK freeview system? ...and as above anything coming in HD from RTÉ2 will display in HD rather than downscale and upscaled in SD to the screen again?

Incidentally whilst researching this model, I discovered that there is a continental variant of it, the EX325 which boasts a DVB-S tuner and T-2 as well, unusual in a screen of this size. Handy for those who want no extra boxes, but about 20% more expensive...

The Cush

Wertz wrote: »

Thought we needed specific tuner too, since freeview only UK TVs not working over here.
Am I correct in saying that when RTÉ2 broadcasts in HD via saorview/mp4 system that it will be shown in HD? Or will it be downscaled in some way before being sent to the display?

RTÉ2 broadcasts in 1080i/25Hz HD. Almost all the material to date is upscaled from SD with some live matches in true HD.

Some freeview (DVB-T/MPEG-2) TVs also have an MPEG-4 video decoder but are not advertised as such in the UK so that it doesn't cause confusion with the new FreeviewHD standard i.e. DVB-T2/MPEG-4. The Saorview standard is DVB-T/MPEG-4.

If buying a non-Saorview approved receiver always check the specs for MPEG-4(L4) video decoding.

Wertz wrote: »

So buying from the UK, in this instance won't net me a model that only works with the UK freeview system? ...and as above anything coming in HD from RTÉ2 will display in HD rather than downscale and upscaled in SD to the screen again?

Incidentally whilst researching this model, I discovered that there is a continental variant of it, the EX325 which boasts a DVB-S tuner and T-2 as well, unusual in a screen of this size. Handy for those who want no extra boxes, but about 20% more expensive...

An MPEG-4 TV will display true HD content when it is transmitted by the broadcaster. As I said above RTÉ2 is mostly transmitting upscaled 1080i SD material atm which does look better than the 576i SD material on the other channels.

Sony UK did have a few models with DVB-S/S2 tuners, no longer available, but nothing smaller than 32".

Wertz

Thanks for clearing all that up.
I thought I had my head around the formats thing but seemingly not. Might see if I can get an Irish retailer to pricematch or come close...difference of £271 (€315) v €380.

Would also like to hear from anyone that's got one of this range of sets, and what they think.

fat-tony

Wertz wrote: »

Thanks for clearing all that up.
I thought I had my head around the formats thing but seemingly not. Might see if I can get an Irish retailer to pricematch or come close...difference of £271 (€315) v €380.

Would also like to hear from anyone that's got one of this range of sets, and what they think.

You can buy the model from the UK - will work fine here, providing you're not trying to get Freeview HD as well as Saorview.
Both Cush and I have older Sony models with DVB-S2 and DVB-T tuners which handle Freesat HD and Saorview HD just fine! But they're not really available any more (unless Power City have some left!). Mine is the KDL32-V5810

by the way - HD on a 26" TV is really a waste of time, unless you're sitting about a foot away from the telly! A 26" widescreen TV is probably smaller than an old 22" 4:3 ratio CRT TV. You'll always wish you bought a bigger one!

implausible

I'm looking at this tv too. I was originally trying to get a Freeview HD one so I could get Saorview and Freeview HD when Strabane switches over next year. Alas, it seems to be impossible to get in a tv less that 32" and in a reliable brand, so I think I'm going to go with this one.

I'm consoling myself with the fact that it has built-in wifi, at some stage we may get RTE and TV3 widgets, I can connect my portable hard drive to it and sure oul' SD Freeview will have to do me;) €380 is what I was quoted too, that's why I'm still dithering..... Where did you see it for £315?

Wertz

fat-tony wrote: »

by the way - HD on a 26" TV is really a waste of time, unless you're sitting about a foot away from the telly! A 26" widescreen TV is probably smaller than an old 22" 4:3 ratio CRT TV. You'll always wish you bought a bigger one!

It's for a kitchen, so I don't even want the 26" (want the 24"). Already have a big set in the living room for main viewing. It'll be getting used as a monitor from time to time and streaming x264 rips...I just want to make sure that it'll work with saorview, if only for RTÉ sport and news. Besides every TV now is HD resolution regardless of size...

Deemark: amazon have it (the black 24") at £271stg.... If you must have freeview HD then the german model 24ex325 is going for €500 on technik-direct but no stock just yet...the wireless dlna is swinging it for me too.

The Cush

Wertz wrote: »

Deemark: amazon have it (the black 24") at £271stg.... If you must have freeview HD then the german model 24ex325 is going for €500 on technik-direct but no stock just yet...the wireless dlna is swinging it for me too.

Had a look at the spec of that range in the manual, no DVB-T2 tuner so no FreeviewHD.

What they were probably referring to was MPEG-4 @L4 (HD) i.e. the standard Saorview uses for terrestrail HD also France and Spain for example.

It would be a good bedroom/kitchen TV here, it would eliminate the need for a separate FTA satellite receiver. As the product is aimed at the continental market it doesn't appear to have a freesat receiver.

TV system
Analogue: Depending on your country/area selection: B/G/H, D/K, L, I, M
Digital: DVB-T/DVB-C
Satellite: DVB-S/DVB-S2

Colour/video system
Analogue: PAL, PAL60 (only video input), SECAM, NTSC3.58, NTSC4.43 (only video input)
Digital: MPEG-2 MP@ML/HL, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC MP/HP@L4

http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/4269996E51.pdf

fat-tony

Wertz wrote: »

It's for a kitchen, so I don't even want the 26" (want the 24"). Already have a big set in the living room for main viewing. It'll be getting used as a monitor from time to time and streaming x264 rips...I just want to make sure that it'll work with saorview, if only for RTÉ sport and news. Besides every TV now is HD resolution regardless of size...

Deemark: amazon have it (the black 24") at £271stg.... If you must have freeview HD then the german model 24ex325 is going for €500 on technik-direct but no stock just yet...the wireless dlna is swinging it for me too.

You won't stream HD reliably over wireless - you need a wired connection. Ok, I'll qualify that - you might get reliable HD over wireless-N on a dedicated link, but it's an expensive solution. SD over wireless might be ok providing you don't have too many demands on the link from other devices. Been there, done that with Sony DLNA... found it heartbreaking to get video files to work with the W5810, but the newer models may accept a wider range of video formats.:)

Wertz

Well spotted. Edited other post.
Someone should tell technik-direkt since they're listing all the 325 series as having it ; or else I'm falling into the same trap I did earlier when I see DVB-T HDTV.
http://www.technikdirekt.de/main/en/fernseher/lcd-ab-19zoll/500801/-/article-sony-kdl-24-ex-325-baep-61cm.html?#njb
The ambiguity is that it lists the sat tuner as DVB-S HDTV when it does have an S2 tuner...

Sony.de have it down as DVB S2 but no T2.

Seems the UK models with FreeviewHD have a '3' at the end of the model number rather than a '5'
Confusing business this...and I'm no technophobe.

fat-tony

I think you're missing the point - T2 is not required for HD, except in the UK, so it's quite ok to describe the sets as HD models in those markets. The point I'd make is that they are very expensive for small screen sets. You can pick up small screen HD TVs with a Saorview logo in Power City for small money. If DLNA compliance is a must-have feature, then do your homework carefully as DLNA is a mess as regards interoperability of different brands.

Wertz

Thanks for that fat-tony, been reading similar on some reviews on av forums. Still fairly sold on this set though for the most part. If I can find a wireless N router for a decnet price I might try that or else get the drill out and run an ethernet cable back to the NAS if HD is a problem over wireless.

Sorry for any confusion on the german stats above too. There is a degree of ambiguity that is obvious to only those who are very clued in on this subject. Sony thmeslves originally listed the model I'm interested in as being freeviewHD on their commercial site.