I know nothing: saw a nice looking Sony KV-1981R
 

It was in a thrift shop, not turned on, but looked to have been very well cared for. No remote, though. The line was too long at the counter and I didn't have much time. What can you tell me about this set?

http://image8.usedottawa.com/YOW6283837.1.jpg

I borrowed this picture.

Trinitrons usually have VERY good pictures, unless they have a zillion hours on 'em. From the pic, that one looks like a good 'un..Might be worthwhile to go check it out further...

...

Maybe I'll cruise back over there tomorrow with a DVD player and check it out;)

This is a mid to late '80's set. I've seen several with bad flybacks and weak CRT's. Otherwise, they were good sets. If it has a good picture and the price is right, I'd buy it.

I have a Sony KV-20XBR that I'm trying to sell for $30. It's made in Japan, has detachable speakers, and 2 video inputs. Does anyone know anything about KV-20XBR/KV-25XBR?

My Sister and her now ex-husband bought a KV20XBR around late '85 or '86. I hate to think what they gave for that set. When it was a few years old, the left audio channel died. She continued to watch the set for several more years until the CRT went bad. It was then given to me and I adjusted the CRT bias for a watchable picture and traded the TV for something or another. I can't complain about the set not lasting. It was used anywhere between 5 and 12 hours a day for it's entire life.

But wasn't this TV rated the highest in picture quality by Sony at that time, since it's an XBR? Was that a good-designed model or bad-designed model?

The one my Sister had appeared to be well built. IIRC, the XBR was Sony's TOTL TV.

I do remember hers having A/V input jacks and some sort of multipin jack that would allow the TV to be used as a computer monitor.

Can you add some pictures? I know I've seen these before, but can't recall. They almost sound like the professional models PVM-2030 and PVM-2530.
I have the 2030 and it's picture is outstanding.