Since last weekend, well-known British hifi and home cinema retailer Richer Sounds has been selling a little gem of a HDTV in the form of the Sony KDL22PX300. What makes this 22-incher so interesting is the fact that it features an integrated Sony PS2 (Playstation 2) video game console doubling as the TV stand, which lets users play DVDs, CDs, PS2 and even original Playstation games – remember the Sony PS2 console is backward-compatible – directly on the flat-screen LCD television.
For a small LCD TV designated as a secondary display in the bedroom, home office or kitchen, the Sony KDL22PX300 is extremely well-specced. For starters, its array of connections would put many larger (and more expensive) HDTVs to shame: there are four HDMI inputs, three USB ports, two Ethernet LAN connections, as well as component, VGA, SCART interfaces. The Sony KDL22PX300 does not skimp on audio ports either, boasting two digital optical outputs, an analogue audio output, and a headphone socket. Although its native screen resolution is only 1366 x 768, full HD 1080p resolution would probably be overkill on such small screen estate anyway.
Perhaps even more of a pleasant surprise is the presence of Sony’s Bravia Internet Video platform on the KDL22PX300, allowing viewers to access selected web content such as BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Lovefilm directly on the LCD television provided the TV is hooked up to broadband internet connection (either wired or wirelessly via an optional USB wifi dongle). Priced at £199.95 (including a PS2 controller) by Richer Sounds, the Sony KDL22PX300 is probably the cheapest IETV (internet-enabled television) available to buy in the United Kingdom at the moment.
Interestingly, the Sony KDL22PX300 is not officially listed on the Sony UK website, but does appear in the support section of the Sony Europe portal under its alternative model number of KDL-22PX300. Furthermore, at this time of writing Richer Sounds seems to be the only vendor in the entire world carrying stock of this particular LCD TV model, raising the possibility that these KDL22PX300 HDTV/PS2 hybrids have been assembled by a third-party hardware company using surplus PS2 consoles with Sony’s permission.
Seems really pointless unless you have a low income, in which any console is better than none but surely being sony and costing 200 quid im sure there are better ways of getting a low res tv and ps2 than that
Perfect for my sons tv/dvd combo set! I had been looking around and most retailers have rubbish brands for 150-180. This will give him dvd and internet tv, as I said perfect!
Really like the idea, suspect its a tester for a PS3 model next year.
I was checking the instruction manual at Sony’s support site but it seems that even though the included remote has DVD control buttons, they do not work with the PS2’s DVD functionality, forcing you to buy a PS2 remote (or to stick with the DualShock). Can someone confirm this?
You get a wired PS2 controller with the TV. If you want wireless, Argos are selling x2 wireless 3rd party ps2 controllers for £2.99 Yep £2.99 for 2!
I bought the TV, I love it, but the big dissapointment for me is that there is no BBC Iplayer. I found out by Sony themselves that this TV is incompatible with BBC iPlayer and never will be (even after future firmware updates) which is a real bummer.
I was very happy to find that I can connect to my home LAN and stream avi’s from my library and use the tv remote for all functions. Nice. Just turn on Media sharing under Windows 7. No .mkv support though.
The wifi dongle is £50 though and only the Sony one is supported/compatible.
Lan cable and Lan plugs for me then…
Barg for £200
Contrary to your reveiw the PX300 has not been designed to accept BBC iPlayer. It is the only Sony TV with Bravia Internet Video that is not compatible with the iPlayer. See the Sony forum http://www.sony.co.uk/discussions/message/627543
for info. This says to me that the reveiwer Vincent Tech has not even tested it but just reported on it by utilising advertising blurb. Not good enough.
Ripped off again! All literature states that you can use BBC iPlayer and guess what? You can’t!
I purchased this three weeks ago yet only just found out this little nugget. Not sure if I can be bothered to take it back.
Utterly disappointed!
I’d buy this if it had a higher resolution. I’d like to be able to plug a PS3, 360 and PC into this baby, as well as having Freeview TV as an option. So perhaps a nigger resolution for the PC side of things? Say 1680×1050? Then 1366×768 for the 360 and all other consoles?
ha ha ha lol @ matt ” so perhaps a nigger resolution for the pc side of things?”
XD print screened my freind what a time to make such an error
yup am getting this tv i hope it works for my 360
Even though is not a 1080p tv, it looks like it is. I have had it for 2 and a quarter years now and it still works everything is still awesomely. I use it for my ps3 and xbox and I cannot fault it. The picture is really crisp the sound is good and there is literally no ghosting. I would rate this tv 9.6/10 just because its a little small for my new bedroom.