Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), the sponsor of the bill, issued the following statement:

"I'm pleased by the Subcommittee's overwhelming support and its recognition of this problem and I'm gratified by the bill's passage. The problem of loud commercials is not new. It has bothered consumers and endangered their hearing for decades. Under the CALM Act, consumers will control the sound and no one else will be able to take that control from them. As the chief sponsor and as a consumer, I look forward to the day this bill becomes law."

During the mark-up Rep. Eshoo also submitted an amendment to the CALM Act which directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt technology standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee to solve the volume issue. It also provides a one year grace period for providers to comply once the law passes and allows the FCC to grant hardship waivers for up to two years.

Rep. Eshoo said, "These changes strengthen the bill and allow small stations and operators ample time to comply with the law. There will not be an open-ended waiver process that drags on for several years. Consumers have waited long enough for this simple but critical change to take place."

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The new G10 Series boast cinema-quality movie reproduction, clear, smooth sports and gaming action--even Web entertainment. It is all made possible by Panasonic's Neo PDP technology, which delivers sharp, detailed images, deep blacks and remarkable brightness, all with lower power consumption.
Stunning Picture Quality
Time spent with family and friends can be even more exciting when you gather around the 50-inch TC-P50G10. 1080p resolution combines with a 480 Hz processor to bring you exceptional clarity and smooth, fluid motion--even during high-speed action. VIERA HDTVs offer incredible black reproduction, with a rated dynamic contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000:1, so you'll get warm, accurate skin tones, gorgeous greens, breathtaking blues and vivid reds. And now, all of your friends and family can get in on the action thanks to an extra-wide viewing angle that provides an excellent view from almost anywhere in the room.

600Hz technology lets you view superb full-HD motion and still images with 1,080 lines of resolution. For even greater clarity with motion images, Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology. This technology converts the motion in each scene into data. And each frame is practically displayed for a shorter length of time than in previous systems, to reduce aftereffects.

Over 2,000,000:1 High Contrast (Native 40,000:1)
New VIERA models incorporate an improved panel production process and the new Real Black Drive system. A pre-discharge control system, the Real Black Drive system combines with NeoPDP technology to achieve next-generation black reproduction. When you're watching movies, VIERA renders images just the way the director intended, even in scenes where it's difficult to achieve a proper balance of light and dark.

Wide Color Viewing Angle
View breathtaking images with rich, vivid colors from anywhere in the room. Because plasma TVs are self-illuminating, images look beautiful from any angle. Black areas do not fade, and colors look virtually the same no matter where you sit.

AR Filter
This advanced filter keeps images sharp, with minimal glare, while dramatically reducing reflections from external light, which helps to produce clear images. This filter creates pure, crisp images in a wide range of colors.

THX Certified for Faithful Movie Image Reproduction
G10 Series Plasma HDTVs meet the high standards set by the Lucasfilm THX Certified Display Program, to recreate faithfully the visual ambience intended by the original movies creators. If you love movies and demand cinema-quality images in your home, this is the HDTV for you.

The Next Level of Video Gaming
Take your team to the championship and your gaming to the next level on the TC-P50G10. A specialized Game Mode helps ensure fluid and seamless gameplay by minimizing time lag when displaying game images. With Game Mode turned on, you get the motion resolution and enhanced details you need to win. And don't worry about racking up all those long hours playing; anti-image retention technology and a remarkable 100,000 hour panel life ensure that your VIERA HDTV will still run smoothly and beautifully long after you score the game-winning goal.

Effortless Connectivity
Make the TC-P50G10 the entertainment hub for your friends and family, and the center of your multimedia world. A built-in SD memory card slot makes it easy to share your digital photos and home videos, while H.264 AVCHD video compatibility allows you to get the most out of your high-resolution AVCHD home videos. The new VIERA Cast feature lets you enjoy great web content--such as PICASA online photo albums and YouTube videos--right on your TV. And when you connect your compatible AV components with HDMI cables, VIERA Link technology lets you control them all with one easy-to-use remote.

Enjoy Exciting Web Entertainment in Your Living Room--No PC Required!
With Panasonic's VIERA Cast technology, you can enjoy online content like Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube videos, Picasa Web Albums, stock information, weather and more. All through an easy-to-use Web interface that's built right into the TV. No extra equipment required--just surf with your TV's remote, and let the fun begin!
Share Your Digital Photos and Hi-Def Camcorder Videos on the Big Screen
VIERA Image Viewer provides a better way to share your digital photos and home videos recorded on your AVCHD camcorder. Just pop your SD memory card into the handy slot, and instantly display your digital photos and hi-def videos for friends and family.

VIERA Link
VIERA Link makes it easy to connect all of your compatible AV devices. That means your Blu-ray Disc player, DVD recorder/player, home theater system and hi-def camcorder can be operated by a single VIERA remote control. You can even view digital photos via the SD card slot, which comes standard on the TC-P50G10 and all new VIERA flat-panel HDTVs.

Exceptional Service
With its lead-free construction, TUF Display screen, and long lifespan, a VIERA HDTV is a safe, eco-friendly, durable and lasting investment in high definition entertainment. Of course, should your VIERA TV ever need service of any kind, you are entitled to the VIERA Concierge program--a free service made available to all VIERA owners to bring peace-of-mind to your purchase. Benefits of this extensive service program include: use of an exclusive toll-free expert hot line, live chat with a VIERA HDTV expert, priority service scheduling, and a personalized VIERA Concierge benefits card.

	Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P42G10 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV List Price: $1,199.95 Sale Price: Too low to display Average Rating:

Make all your favorite sports, TV shows, movies, and video games more realistic. Get nearly double the pixel resolution of standard HD with Full HD 1080p Resolution. It’s easy for details to get lost in the shadows. 50,000:1 Contrast Ratio allows for deeper blacks and greater picture detail, especially in darker scenes.

	LG 37LH30 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Gloss Black List Price: $749.95 Sale Price: Too low to display Average Rating:

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Link Info

	SANYO DP19657A 19 INCH LCD HDTV WITH DIGITAL TUNER			US $179.95

Sanyo DP26648 On Amazon.com

* 26" Diagonal LCD HDTV (720p)
* Wide screen 16:9 Aspect Ratio
* Native Panel Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels(WXGA)
* Wide Viewing Angles:176 H x 176 V Degrees
* Integrated Digital Clear QAM ATSC + Analog NTSC Tuner
* 191 Total Channels
* Receives ATSC signal formats (including 480i/p, 720p and 1080i) converted to 720p display
* 3D Y/C Digital Comb Filter
* MTS/SAP Stereo & Digital Audio
* Two 3 x 10 cm speakers: 5 watts/ch
* Picture Shapes: 1-7 (w/remote control PIX Shape Key)
* 7 Picture Menu (5 Preset, manual, advanced manual)
* XDS-Extended Data Service capability
* V-Guide Parental Control
* Trilingual Menus: English, Spanish, French
* Closed Caption Compliant: NTSC-608, ATSC-708CC
* Sleep Timer: 1/2 - 3 hours
* Auto Channel Search
* 2 HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) input
* 2 Component (Y-Pb-Pr with R/L audio) inputs
* 1 S-Video Input (overides composite input)
* 1 Composite Input (V,L/R)
* PC/Mac capable (VGA D-Sub 15 pin) with mini Audio input
* 1 USB input
* 1 Coaxial Digital Audio Output
* 1 Fixed Analog Audio Out (R/L)
* 1 RF Input ( Analog/Digital Antenna In)
* Detachable Stand / Vesa 200 x 200 Wall Mountable (with optional kit not supplied)
* Energy Star compliant
* Dimensions w/stand: 26.1"W x 19.1"H x 9.0"D, 18.0 lbs.
* Dimensions w/o stand: 26.1"W x 17.8"H x 4.6"D, 16.6 lbs.

Pioneer Elite models have been among the top-selling plasma TV models for quite some time now. Among the many in the market, one model worth considering is the Pioneer Elite PRO-141FD Plasma TV. This elegantly-designed Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD Flat-panel TV is perfect for your home. With top-of-the line features to complement its looks, your friends will surely go green with envy.

Like other Elite KURO series TVs, this Pioneer KURO plasma television is built to provide you with an output that is out of the world. You have to see it for yourself to believe the outstanding picture quality. A high-definition resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080p) and a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio are the reasons behind the amazing picture quality.

This Pioneer KURO Plasma Television also promises deepest black levels so that you can enjoy the sharpest details on the images. The attention given to even the minutest of details puts the Pioneer Elite PRO-141FD Plasma TV in a different league altogether..

The open architecture of this flat-screen TV is another special feature. You can enhance the functionality of the system for almost any application with this open architecture. And then there is the IP control platform, which helps you expand the set up as well as configure. You will not be disappointed with the connectivity options either. The Pioneer Elite PRO-141FD Plasma TV gives ample video and audio connectivity options. With all these features, this 60" flat-screen TV from Pioneer gives a tough competition to all other plasma TVs.

Buy Pioneer Elite models On eBay.com

Link Info

	Pioneer Elite Pro 141FD 60 Kuro Monitor Refurbished			US $4,599.00

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Elite® Signature Series 60'' Class High-Definition Monitor

* Designed & built exclusively for high-end custom installations
* Highest standard, reference quality monitor
* Open architecture for heightened flexibility and custom control
* IP Control for expanded set up, configuration & self-diagnostics
* Multiple menu structures w/extensive picture settings & adjustments

* High-Definition 1080p Resolution (1920 x 1080p)
* 60” Diagonal Class / 16:9 Wide-Screen Aspect Ratio (59.58” Screen)
* Deep Intense Black Levels for Unmatched Contrast
* Open Architecture for Flexible Integration and Custom Control
* Multiple Menu Structure: User/Home/Integrator
* Ultra Thin Cosmetic Design (2.5”)
* Expanded Picture Set Up and Adjustment for Custom Calibration (ISFccc, Exclusive Blue only mode)
* IP Control (Web Server) for set up, control, configuration and self-diagnostics
* RS-232C Control
* IR Repeater
* Multiple Menu Structure
o User Menu
o Home Menu
o Integrator Menu
* Additional Integrator features: Studio, Monotone, FRC (Frame Rate Conversion) and Mirror mode
* OSD Off Mode
* World wide signal support: NTSC, PAL & SECAM

KURO Features

* New Optimum Mode automatically analyzes and adjusts video
* New Room Light Sensor
* Image Orbiter (Off / Mode 1 / Mode 2)
* New Energy Save Mode (Picture Off / Standard / Save 1 / Save 2)
* Picture Adjustment Comparison (Compare Before / After picture images while adjusting settings)
* 4 Independent HDMI 1.3 inputs with KURO Link and ability to accept 1080p True24/60Hz signal
* 1 DVI
* Standard 3:2 (60Hz) and Advanced PureCinema with 3:3 Pulldown (72Hz), Smooth (60Hz)
* Remote Control: Illuminated / Preset Mode / Learning Mode

Picture Settings

* A/V Selection memory – 8 options for viewing preferences: Optimum / Standard / Dynamic / Movie / Pure / Sport / Game / User (PC input: only Standard & User)
* Aspect Ratio Control – Auto* / FULL (for SD & PC) / Full1 (only for HD) / FuLL2 (only for HD) / FULL 14:9* / Dot by Dot* / Zoom* / CINEMA* / CINEMA 14:9* / 4:3 / WIDE1* / WIDE 2* / WIDE (only for SD)* / *Except PC signal
* Advanced Picture-in-Picture (4 positions), Picture-side-Picture (3 patterns) / SWAP and Still Picture capability
* After Image Reduction Function
o Orbiter (Off / Mode / Mode 2)
o Auto Size (Off / Natural / Wide-Zoom)
o Side Mask Detection (Mode 1 – for black side masks / Mode 2 – for black & illustrated side masks)
o Side Mask Brightness Sync (Fixed / Auto)
o Video Pattern (White Bar)
* Game Control Preference (AV Selection: only Game) (Off / On)
* Room Light Sensor (Off / On)

Video Processing Technology

* Picture Detail Settings - DRE Picture, Black Level, ACL, Enhance Mode, Gamma and CTI
* Noise Reduction Setting – 3 DNR, Field NR, Block NR, Mosquito NR
* Color Detail Settings – Color Temperature (Pre-settings), (Manual), CTI, Color Management
* 3DYC (Off / High / Mid / Low)
* IP Mode (1 / 2 / 3)
* Drive Mode (1/ 2 / 3)

Video & Audio Connectivity

* Inputs
o 4 Independent HDMI 1.3
o 1 DVI w/HDCP
o 1 Component
o 1 Composite
o 1 RS-232C
o LAN (10/100 Base-T Ethernet) for IP Control
o PC
* Output
o IR Repeater

Product Dimensions

* Panel (W x H D): 57 11/16" x 34 1/2" x 2 17/32"
* Panel Weight: 110 lbs.

The good: Produces a deep level of black; accurate primary colors; dejudder mode smoothes moving video with few artifacts; screen attenuates ambient lighting; solid connectivity with four HDMI and one PC input; numerous picture controls including white balance; attractive styling with transparent pane below screen.

Specifications: Product type: LCD TV ; Diagonal size: 46 in ; Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 30000:1

As Sony and Samsung continue to battle for LCD supremacy, Sony is trickling down previously premium features to its less expensive models. That's where the KDL-46W4100 comes in; it's the least expensive 2008 Bravia LCD to feature a 120Hz refresh rate and dejudder video processing, and it currently costs hundreds of dollars less than the equivalent size TV in Samsung's 120Hz-equipped A650 series. The bad news is that the Sony can't quite muster the picture quality chops to compete against those models--despite its excellent black-level performance, its fluctuating backlight and a few other gripes spoil its chances. However, if you've fallen in love with the smoothing effect of dejudder and want to avoid completely breaking the bank, the KDL-46W4100 deserves consideration.

Design
Sony's styling flair this time around is supplied by a horizontal window in the midst of the frame, right below the standard glossy-black rectangle and above a strip of silver (perhaps a harbinger of silver's triumphant return to TV design?). You'll get a great view of your wallpaper and the silver pedestal stand. Overall we liked the looks of the KDL-46W4100, and it's refreshing to see an alternative to the standard glossy black rectangles that doesn't involve buying red drapes (we're looking at you, Samsung and LG).

Including the two-tone black-and-silver stand, this 46-inch Sony measures a relatively compact 44.1 inches wide by 30.9 inches tall by 12.1 inches deep and weighs 67 pounds. Without the stand, it's 44.1 inches wide by 29.3 inches tall by 4.6 inches deep and weighs 58 pounds.

We liked the feel of the smaller remote included with the KDL-46W4100, and its buttons are arranged in a thoughtful way that's easy to navigate by touch. The remote doesn't have any backlighting and cannot control other gear, but those are minor gripes.



The company tweaked its menu system for this year, although we still find its PS3-like "Cross Media Bar" (XMB) arrangement cumbersome to use on a TV. There are too many vertical selections and only three horizontal ones, begging the question of why there's a horizontal axis at all. One improvement is that all of the picture-affecting items are now grouped under the picture menu, and another is that the secondary "options" menu calls up a few more selections, obviating the need to visit the main menu much. Sony has also added a third way to access different inputs (in addition to the leftmost of three horizontal XMB items and a dedicated "input" menu), which consists of a new "favorites" screen that includes last-used inputs, favorite channels you manually add as well as a weird screen saver that can be programmed with images grabbed from a composite or TV input only. All told, this is one of the most varied and option-riddled menu systems we've seen, and despite the Sony's sophistication we prefer a straightforward arrangement such as that found on the Samsung LN52A650.

Features
Despite its place in the middle of Sony's 2008 Bravia totem pole, the KDL-46W4100 has as many features as most makers' high-end HDTVs. The list starts with a 120Hz refresh rate, which helps clean up blurring in motion and works hand-in-hand with the company's dejudder video processing, dubbed "Motion Enhancer" in the menu and MotionFlow in Sony's literature (more in Performance on its effects). Naturally the KDL-46W4100 has a native resolution of 1080p, the highest available today, and just as naturally it doesn't make much of a difference at this screen size.

SONY BRAVIA KDL-46S4100 On Amazon

	Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-46S4100 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV List Price: $1,299.99 Sale Price: $1,150.00 Average Rating:

SONY BRAVIA KDL-46S4100 On eBay

Link Info

	Digital TOSLink Audio Cable for Sony Bravia KDL 46S4100			US $6.29

As Sony and Samsung continue to battle for LCD supremacy, Sony is trickling down previously premium features to its less expensive models. That's where the KDL-46W4100 comes in; it's the least expensive 2008 Bravia LCD to feature a 120Hz refresh rate and dejudder video processing, and it currently costs hundreds of dollars less than the equivalent size TV in Samsung's 120Hz-equipped A650 series. The bad news is that the Sony can't quite muster the picture quality chops to compete against those models--despite its excellent black-level performance, its fluctuating backlight and a few other gripes spoil its chances. However, if you've fallen in love with the smoothing effect of dejudder and want to avoid completely breaking the bank, the KDL-46W4100 deserves consideration.

Design
Sony's styling flair this time around is supplied by a horizontal window in the midst of the frame, right below the standard glossy-black rectangle and above a strip of silver (perhaps a harbinger of silver's triumphant return to TV design?). You'll get a great view of your wallpaper and the silver pedestal stand. Overall we liked the looks of the KDL-46W4100, and it's refreshing to see an alternative to the standard glossy black rectangles that doesn't involve buying red drapes (we're looking at you, Samsung and LG).

Including the two-tone black-and-silver stand, this 46-inch Sony measures a relatively compact 44.1 inches wide by 30.9 inches tall by 12.1 inches deep and weighs 67 pounds. Without the stand, it's 44.1 inches wide by 29.3 inches tall by 4.6 inches deep and weighs 58 pounds.

We liked the feel of the smaller remote included with the KDL-46W4100, and its buttons are arranged in a thoughtful way that's easy to navigate by touch. The remote doesn't have any backlighting and cannot control other gear, but those are minor gripes.

Sony KDL-46W4100
Although still tedious to navigate, at least the PS3-esque XMB menu system finally groups all of the picture controls under the appropriate heading.

The company tweaked its menu system for this year, although we still find its PS3-like "Cross Media Bar" (XMB) arrangement cumbersome to use on a TV. There are too many vertical selections and only three horizontal ones, begging the question of why there's a horizontal axis at all. One improvement is that all of the picture-affecting items are now grouped under the picture menu, and another is that the secondary "options" menu calls up a few more selections, obviating the need to visit the main menu much. Sony has also added a third way to access different inputs (in addition to the leftmost of three horizontal XMB items and a dedicated "input" menu), which consists of a new "favorites" screen that includes last-used inputs, favorite channels you manually add as well as a weird screen saver that can be programmed with images grabbed from a composite or TV input only. All told, this is one of the most varied and option-riddled menu systems we've seen, and despite the Sony's sophistication we prefer a straightforward arrangement such as that found on the Samsung LN52A650.

Features
Despite its place in the middle of Sony's 2008 Bravia totem pole, the KDL-46W4100 has as many features as most makers' high-end HDTVs. The list starts with a 120Hz refresh rate, which helps clean up blurring in motion and works hand-in-hand with the company's dejudder video processing, dubbed "Motion Enhancer" in the menu and MotionFlow in Sony's literature (more in Performance on its effects). Naturally the KDL-46W4100 has a native resolution of 1080p, the highest available today, and just as naturally it doesn't make much of a difference at this screen size.

Sony KDL-46W4100
Sony's Motion Enhancer dejudder video processing is available in two strengths.

Sony offers four picture presets, each of which can be adjusted independently per input, in addition to a Theater preset that can't be adjusted at all. Among the basic settings, available on all presets, is a pair of noise reduction settings and three color temperature presets. More advanced settings, which can't be adjusted while in the Vivid preset but can on the other three, include a white balance control to further tune color temperature, a gamma setting and a few other adjustments that we generally left turned-off for best picture quality.

Video processing options aside from MotionFlow include CineMotion (notice the theme?) which, among other things, affects the TV's 2:3 pull-down performance; a Game Mode that removes video processing entirely to eliminate any delay between a game controller and the onscreen action; and a photo/video optimizer designed to do exactly that. Sony includes four aspect ratio modes for HD sources, and a setting in the Wide menu allows you to make one of those modes display 1080-resolution content without any scaling or overscan. We recommend using this setting unless you notice interference along the extreme edges of the screen, which is the fault of the channel or service, not the TV. The menu has a cool graphical display that illustrates the differences between the various aspect ratio settings.

Conveniences start with an option we haven't seen on many HDTVs recently: the TV Guide onscreen electronic programming guide. TV Guide lets Sony display a grid of information for antenna and cable channels, but people who tune primarily with an external cable or satellite box will probably use their box's EPG instead. In other words, TV Guide won't be useful for most KDL-46W4100 owners. The TV's picture-in-picture mode unfortunately restricts content in the secondary window to only the TV/antenna input.

Sony includes a provision for its Bravia Internet Video Link module as well as, like many manufacturers, a control-via-HDMI scheme (we didn't test either of these options or TV Guide during our review). We were pleased to see a two-step power saving option that limited peak brightness and really cut down on energy consumption (see the Juice Box below).

Performance
In sum, the Sony exhibited solid black levels and very good dejudder video processing, but we couldn't get over its fluctuating backlight and found its screen uniformity underwhelming.

Before formal image quality tests we submitted the Sony to our standard calibration and as usual, color fidelity improved quite a bit over the best picture preset, which in this case was Sony's Theater mode. We were able to bring color temperature more closely into line with the 6500K standard (see the Geek Box below) and disable most of the less-helpful picture features. Check out our complete picture settings for details.

For testing we compared the KDL-W4100 with last year's best Sony LCD, the KDL-46XBR4, this year's best LCD so far, the Samsung LN52A650, along with a pair of superb plasmas, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD and the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U. Our disc of choice was I Am Legend on Blu-ray played via our trusty Sony PlayStation 3.

Black level: Yes, the KDL-46W4100 is capable of displaying a very deep shade of black. The dark areas, such as the shadows that appear as Robert closes up the apartment for the evening, looked as inky as any LCD we've seen except for the LED-powered Samsung LN-T4681F, slightly exceeding the darkness of the black areas on the other two LCDs in our comparison--a solid point in the W4100's favor. The two plasmas, for their part, still appeared a bit darker overall than any of the LCDs. Sony's shadow detail was also very good, appearing as natural as on the Samsung, although not quite as good as the plasmas.

Unfortunately, the W4100's level of black fluctuated noticeably with picture content, specifically when the screen went completely black, such as during the credits or between scenes. The fluctuation was most obvious when moving from light to dark to light again, such as when Robert closes the final window of his apartment in preparation for the night, and the screen goes completely black (about 12:08 into the film). After a second the W4100's screen got a few steps darker still, spontaneously and with no other change in picture content, an effect that appeared quite unnatural compared with the other displays, whose blacks remained constant. A second or two later when the white door fades into view, the backlight kicked in and the letterbox bars and shadows brightened, again in obvious steps that were distracting compared with the other displays.

In most scenes, the backlight didn't dim or brighten, but we still wish there was a way to make it constant in every scene, as there is with the variable backlight on the Philips 42PFL5603D. We couldn't find any setting that prevented the Sony's backlight from fluctuating, including engaging the Custom picture mode as opposed to Cinema.

Color accuracy: The KDL-46W4100 did well in this category, although it couldn't quite equal the Samsung or the Panasonic. Primary color accuracy measured very close to the HDTV standard and while green was off just a bit, the shots of the trees and grass in overgrown Manhattan still appeared as natural as on those displays. The secondary color cyan was less-accurate than the primaries, however, which made the deep blue sky above Robert as he tees up on the wing of an SR71 Blackbird, for example, appear a bit too deep and blue compared with the others.

On the down side, color decoding pushed red so we had to reduce the color control a bit to preserve accurate skin tones. As a result the colors overall looked a bit less punchy and vivid than those on the Samsung and Panasonic, although there was still plenty of pop thanks to the Sony's deep black levels. We also appreciated that the black areas didn't tend strongly toward blue, as we've seen on so many other LCDs. Yes, they were a tad bluer to our eyes than the excellent Samsung and the plasmas, but better than the XBR4 and certainly not distracting in most dark scenes.

Video processing: Like similar modes available on other displays, Sony's MotionFlow processing is designed to smooth out motion--including the judder or faint stuttering inherent in 24-frame material such as that found on most films. Judder can be perceived most easily in pans and camera movement, but once you notice it, it seems to pop up everywhere. Some viewers find the smoothing effect desirable, while some think it looks too videolike and even cartoonish in some instances, particularly Hollywood films. We're of the latter camp, but we feel dejudder processing can be effective in some scenes.

Of the two MotionFlow modes available on the KDL-W4100, Standard introduces less smoothing while High, naturally, introduces more. That's the same arrangement as last year, but when we compared last year's KDL-46XBR4 with the KDL-46W4100, it became obvious that Sony has adjusted its MotionFlow processing for the better. The W4100's Standard setting didn't look quite as smooth as the same setting on the XBR4, leaving a bit more judder while still introducing some smoothing. The W4100's standard was about equal to the Medium setting on the Samsung. The ultra smooth High setting on both Sonys looked about the same, and we saw similar artifacts on both, including the "halo" distortion that appeared around an object moving against a detailed stationary background. Speaking of artifacts, however, neither Sony introduced any trace of the "triple puck effect" that was still a bit visible on the Samsung.

During Legend the modes behaved about as we expected. In High, we saw numerous artifacts, such as brief halos and breakup along the edges of Robert's red Mustang as he speeds through deserted Manhattan, but the extreme smoothness, which made every shot seem a bit fake or too videolike, was the most-objectionable issue to our eyes. For those who still want some smoothing the Standard mode made one of the better compromises we've seen; the helicopter shot down over the Manhattan buildings to find the car evinced a bit of filmlike judder and didn't look as fake as High, although we still preferred the look of Off.

Speaking of Off, that's the setting we used when evaluating the Sony with a 1080p/24 source. Comparing it with the plasmas, which were set in standard 60Hz mode, we did see a bit less of the judder associated with 2:3 pull-down on the Sony and the other 120Hz LCDs sets. The best example from Legend came during a long approach shot over the Intrepid; the wings of a white aircraft in particular moved more smoothly on the LCDs and looked a bit worse on the plasmas. We must say the effect was quite subtle, however, but it will give purists a good reason to use the 1080p/24 output on their Blu-ray players.

Our 1080i deinterlacing test revealed that while the Sony doesn't fail the test in the way the XBR4 did, it still didn't maintain full resolution with 1080i film-based sources. When displaying the deinterlacing pattern from HQ, our standard test, the W4100 softened the highest-resolution areas, causing them to lose that full detail, and so it failed the test as well. Of course, this failure and softness was very difficult to spot in program material.

As usual we found that engaging either of the dejudder modes also eliminated motion blur according to a test disc designed to show such blur in scenes like a series of cars driving past a stationary camera. With MotionFlow turned off, however, the cars' license plates showed the same kind of blurring and stutter we've seen on non-120Hz LCDs. Of course, both plasmas introduced no blurring, and indeed looked a bit sharper than the Sony even with MotionFlow engaged, but the difference was not drastic.

Uniformity: The Sony's screen was not as even across its surface as we expected from a high-end LCD. We noticed a brighter area on the left side of our review model's screen in dark areas, and a significantly brighter patch on the lower left edge that became even more distracting when we moved off-angle. When we viewed the Sony from either side it tended to be a bit discolored toward red or blue, and its black levels went south and washed out faster than the Samsung.

Bright lighting: This year's screen, in terms of reflectivity, splits the difference between the Samsung and last year's XBR4. The new screen certainly doesn't reflect as much ambient light as that of the mirrorlike Samsungs, and it did a noticeably better job of attenuating reflections than either of the two plasmas (despite their fairly effective antireflective screens), but it wasn't quite as good at cutting down reflections as last year's LCD. Still, for rooms with a lot of ambient light, especially windows opposite the screen itself, the KDL-46W4100 is a better choice than the Samsung LN52A650.

Standard-definition: The Sony tested as a below-average standard-definition performer. It displayed every line of the DVD format, although details in the stone bridge and grass looked relatively soft. It did a slightly better job than the XBR4 at removing jagged edges from moving lines and a waving American flag, although it still wasn't as effective as many HDTVs we've tested. Sony's noise reduction is still excellent, cleaning up the noisiest areas of low-quality material almost completely in its strongest NR mode, and offering a great selection of NR settings between to deal with higher-quality material. Finally, while the Sony did engage film mode to remove the moire from the bleachers behind the speeding car on the HQV test disc, it fell out and then back in to film mode quickly, thus failing our 2:3 pull-down test. The results for this test were the same in both Auto 1 and Auto 2 CineMotion settings.

PC: With analog PC sources connected via the VGA input, the Sony performed very well, resolving every pixel of a 1920x1080 signal with no overscan and delivering crisp text, although we did see a bit of edge enhancement, even in the special "Text" TV preset, that we couldn't eliminate. Via a digital HDMI connection PC performance was as perfect as any 1080p TV we've seen, with every detail resolved, no edge enhancement or overscan.

The FCC and the cable companies have left most of their publications open to interpretation by using word like "Should" & "Probably"

As of March 1, 2007, all television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported into the United States must contain a digital tuner. In addition, effective May 25, 2007, the Commission required sellers of television receiving equipment that does not include a digital tuner to disclose at the point-of-sale that such devices include only an analog tuner, and therefore will require a digital-to-analog converter box to receive over-the-air broadcast television after the transition date. Retailers must inform consumers by prominently displaying the following text if they are selling TV equipment with only an analog tuner: "This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting".

As the DTV Transition draws closer the confusion is increasing. Even as geeks we are finding ourselves a bit bewildered. The questions only get more numerous. Are Cable Companies going to continue to broadcast analog signals. They can seeing "Congress mandated the conversion to all-digital television broadcasting, also known as the digital television (DTV) transition, because all-digital broadcasting will free up frequencies for public safety communications (such as police, fire, and emergency rescue). Also, digital is a more efficient transmission technology that allows broadcast stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, as well as offer more programming options for consumers through multiple broadcast streams (multi casting). In addition, some of the freed up frequencies will be used for advanced commercial wireless services for consumers". It would be no problem for cable companies to continue analog signals since it wouldn't interfere with any of the reasons for The DTV Conversion. But will Cable Companies still carry analog signals so you don't need a digital set-top boxes with a analog TV. This is what The FCC states about this "If you receive cable or satellite television service, contact your cable or satellite provider about any additional components, such as a digital set-top box, that you may need to watch digital broadcast programming".

According to The NCTA ( National Cable & Telecommunications Association) "Thanks to a compromise adopted by the FCC in September 2007, cable companies will carry the main digital signal of “must carry” commercial  full power broadcast TV stations and will duplicate that signal into analog format so that all channels can be viewed on any older analog TV sets connected to cable.

Cable’s carriage of the signals in both digital and analog formats will ensure that all customers will see commercial  full power broadcast TV signals after the transition.  This approach will make the digital transition effortless for all cable customers and provide valuable assistance to commercial TV stations trying to reach all of the homes in their region)

If you have Cable your DTV transition should be smooth. If you want a digital picture you still need a built-in digital tuner in your TV, but your older analog sets will still work. The quality of analog signals still remains to be seen. As not all broadcasters have switched over.

Now if you receive only free over-the-air television programming, the type of TV you own, either a digital TV or an analog TV, is very important. Consumers who receive only free over-the-air television may view digital programming through a TV set with a built-in digital tuner (integrated DTV) or a digital-ready monitor with a separate digital tuner set-top box. (Both of these digital television types are referred to as a DTV). The only additional equipment required to view over-the-air digital programming with a DTV is a regular antenna, either on your roof or a smaller version on your TV such as “rabbit ears.”

After your full power stations transition to only digital, you will be able to receive and view over-the-air digital programming with an analog TV only by purchasing a digital-to-analog set-top converter box. All U.S. households are able to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, LINK to be used toward the future purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. Eligible converter boxes are for the conversion of over-the-air digital television signals, and therefore are not intended for analog TVs connected to a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service.

NCTA , (National Cable & Telecommunications Association) is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. There are a wide variety of suppliers to the industry.

There are many state and regional associations that represent the cable and telecommunications industry and a number of professional organizations.

The NCTA is probably the most reliable source for DTV Transition when it comes to cable TV and how it effects the consumer.

Contact Info for NCTA: National Cable & Telecommunications Association
25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW - Suite 100
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 222-2300

The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access after investing more than $100 billion over ten years to build a two-way, interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to millions of American consumers.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) LINK is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

What people may not recognize is the extent to which every area of their life is intertwined with the communications technologies the FCC has the responsibility to regulate. For example, because almost all electrical and electronic equipment emits radio frequencies, FCC equipment authorization rules protect the American public.

The DTV conversion has been delayed till June 10, 2009 due to the fact that so many people have been on a waiting list for the converter box coupons. Most Television broadcasters have the digital equipment in place and ready for use. Some stations have already turned on the digital signal and continue the analog signal too. Others have stopped their analog broadcast which has left some without TV. Under the extension the TV stations have the choice whether to change now or before June 10. The sooner consumers have the proper equipment in place the better.