View Full Version : Purchasing An Hd Ready Sony Television
Sugzze
10-21-2004, 07:55 PM
Can someone please tell me which is the very best Sony 36"XBR HD READY out there that I can purchase? I want excellent picture quality, etc. Thank you and a reply will be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I just had a 34xbr960 delivered to my house last week and we are not happy with it.
Ratman
10-21-2004, 08:08 PM
Here's what listed on the Sony website:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=tv_34%22to36%22TVs&Dept=tv
I believe there may only be zero or one direct view 16:9 HDTVs over 34". If you want bigger 16:9, consider a 40-42" LCD RPTV for about the same $?
gparris
10-21-2004, 11:09 PM
Most folks I know see a 34" CRT directview next to a 42" LCD RPTV, they decide to get the 42" as it is not only larger, but not too much bigger dimensionally from the 34" and looks much bigger in picture size. Note the LCD RPTV has a lighter weight, much smaller depth (saving size there) and uses less power with no convergence and burn-in. 42" is the preferred size and most common in the plasma models, too, though without the higher cost.
brector
10-22-2004, 11:12 AM
I started out with the 36" HDTV sony. I had it for a little over a week. I took it back and went with a 51" sony RPTV. If you are dead set on the 36" - it's a nice tv. But I would go bigger. My $0.02
gparris
10-22-2004, 02:35 PM
A more and more shows are filmed in letterbox mode, assuming your 36" Sony is a 4:3 model, I would go with the 42" 16:9 model to help eliminate those annoying black bars that get even worse in Sony's 16:9 "enhanced" setting. In the end, with DVDs and more letterboxed shows coming out, HD becoming more the standard, 4:3 aspect ratio sets are, IMO, going away.
The other day I went to my guest bedroom and put in a widescreen DVD in the player on the 32" Sony Wega I bought 3 years ago before I got my 48" Mits HDTV (hence why this is now in the guest bedroom). I got very irritated at the big black bars on the top and bottom of the screen and worse, when the "enhanced" mode on the Sony was used to get the whole picture as the director intended. What I ended up with was what looked like half the screen was black top and bottom. Ouch!
I took the DVD out and replaced in the HDTV set area and noticed no bars and the complete picture. Good thing I use that set for just the analogue basic cable for guests and nothing much else!
Point is, get the 16:9 screen and you won't be sorry and the best size closest in screen height (apparent vertical size) is the 42" size.
TeeJay1952
10-22-2004, 05:44 PM
Can someone please tell me which is the very best Sony 36"XBR HD READY out there that I can purchase? I want excellent picture quality, etc. Thank you and a reply will be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I just had a 34xbr960 delivered to my house last week and we are not happy with it.
May I ask what was wrong with XBR960?
Did you calibrate it either with ISF tech or one of the dvds?
Love mine. I am just curious.
:patriot: :patriot:
Eldorado
10-26-2004, 10:59 PM
My KD-34XBR960 works very well, but the sharpness can't be adjusted to my satisfaction. The blacks seem to be too black, even after a careful Avia calibration. It is very good, but is it the best?
zulu934
10-27-2004, 01:25 PM
I had the earlier 34XBR910 and was not pleased with the picture either. My solution was to get the 51WS520 and I am very very pleased. It looks great with HD, DVD's, and SD. In my opinion, the very latest RPTV's are a significant improvement over earlier models with thinner profiles, brighter and sharper pictures, and better viewing angles. I used to own a Sony LCD and this set blows it away - at half the price.
