Which Sony to buy?

[pascal_f1]

I like the Sony's better from going around for a while, but I can't seem to make up my mind on wich is better between these three :

40" Bravia XBR LCD Flat panel

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KDLV40XBR1&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_flatpanel_26%22to42%22

OR

50" Grand WEGA SXRD Rear Projection

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KDSR50XBR1&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_ProjectionTVs_RearProjection_42to51TVs

OR

50" Grand WEGA 3LCD Rear Projection

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KDFE50A10&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_ProjectionTVs_RearProjection_42to51TVs

They all seem to have pro's and con's where none of them seems to be a clear winner to me...

What do you think?

[max]

I would buy the 50'' SXRD out of the three options you have listed.

MAX,

[gparris]

I would buy the 50'' SXRD out of the three options you have listed.

MAX,

Agreed, there was some screen door effect with the Sony 50 LCD set, though a good set for the price.
The Bravia 40" is too small against the 50" sets you gave and pricey for what you get, IMO.
IF you are planning on keeping your set for awhile and want the best picture without regrets of the three, get the SXRD as I have compared these three sets with the LCD and SXRD next to each other and found the SXRD best in picture and I think you will, too...but its your choice amongst the Sonys, unless the width is too big with those speakers the SXRD has where you are placing it.

[Intimidator#3]

Reall just depends on how much money you want to spend. The only diffrence is some have extra inputs than others. The PQ on all 3 sets will be about the same so just up to you but you cant got wrong with any of them.

[max]

Reall just depends on how much money you want to spend. The only diffrence is some have extra inputs than others. The PQ on all 3 sets will be about the same so just up to you but you cant got wrong with any of them.



This is not very accurate at all, The PQ on the SXRD sets is by far alot better than it is on the 3LCD sets. I own both and can tell you from a person who views them each day to day.

MAX,

[Intimidator#3]

Well their might be some diffrence in PQ but not in what the price diffrence is between the two. The SXRD use the SXRD Panels where the other use 3 LCD Panels and the SXRD comes with just some extra inputs. Besided that your are paying more for just the extra inputs and the "SXRD Panels" is all. So point being if you want to pay extra for that go ahead but really that is it. I have seen both sets and to me the SXRD look a litte better but not for the price diffrence. If it's in your budget yes got with the SXRD but for your money 3LCD version is just as good for the money.

[gparris]

SXRD looks way better than the 3LCD panels unless you want to tell yourself that and to validate saving some money.
max is right on and he has BOTH sets...SXRD definitely is better than 3LCD and Sony might well get end the 3LCD sets in the future if they can get the pricing down to what these are for the SXRDs.
I have gone in many a store with different programmes and setups with both sets sitting side-by-side and found a big difference and yes, I have perfect vision.
As everyone jumps on the 1080p "bandwagon", 720p could be a thing of the past just like non-progressive scan DVD players and non-Hi-Fi VCRs became.
So the choice becomes have the 3LCD set, now, save some money and then sell it for whatever in a year or two to get a SXRD-type set later.

[Matt27]

This is not very accurate at all, The PQ on the SXRD sets is by far alot better than it is on the 3LCD sets. I own both and can tell you from a person who views them each day to day.

MAX,

I think the real concern is whether or not the SXRD SONY sets actually accept a 1080p input.Which i'm not sure if it does or not?

To me that's a real deal breaker to spend all that money and it does'nt accept 1080p inputs,unless it's upgradeable for the future maybe?

[max]

I doesn't except it now, there is suppose to be an upgrade in the future from what Sony support has told me.

But if you are buying a TV now, It is the Best hands down. The 3LCD sets are good but not close to the SXRD's PQ. If you want the best PQ available now then it's the one for you.

Although I dont think the 1080p input now should be such a deal breaker, you can haggle the salesman to a price that is fairly close to the 3LCD and neither Blu-Ray or HD-DVD has said they will be releasing movies at 1080p.
The only real concern would be for HTPC and PS3 when it comes out. But even for PS3 there is no clue how many games will be made at that resolution.
I mean Xbox can do 720p and 1080i but yet 95% of the games where made at 480p, so the decision is yours.

MAX,

[Intimidator#3]

Well folks are makeing to much out of 1080p! Most things will not be broadcast in 1080p so if they arent then you will not benfit from it. So again it all depends in what you are watching. Most networks are not going to change things really that soon. But PQ is manily goind to depend on what you are watching and what you have hooked up to your TV. The TV itself can only do so much its all on the other end. 3LCD's are good and SXRD's are good but it all depends on how much money you want to spend. The PQ is NOT night and day between 3LCD and SXRD. What determines your PQ more than anything is what you are watching. HD Channels will look about the same on a TV that cost $2,000 or 4,000 or 10,000. Its the same channel on channels that have some issues are SD channels which is mainly how they are produced. Either way buy whats in your budget and what fits in your room the best. Just hate to see folks spend $1,000 to $2,000 on a TV and not get that much more of a diffrence. But again it's their money.

[Matt27]

I doesn't except it now, there is suppose to be an upgrade in the future from what Sony support has told me.

But if you are buying a TV now, It is the Best hands down. The 3LCD sets are good but not close to the SXRD's PQ. If you want the best PQ available now then it's the one for you.

Although I dont think the 1080p input now should be such a deal breaker, you can haggle the salesman to a price that is fairly close to the 3LCD and neither Blu-Ray or HD-DVD has said they will be releasing movies at 1080p.
The only real concern would be for HTPC and PS3 when it comes out. But even for PS3 there is no clue how many games will be made at that resolution.
I mean Xbox can do 720p and 1080i but yet 95% of the games where made at 480p, so the decision is yours.

MAX,

Thanks for the info, that's great that the sony can be upgradeable, will it be pricey though?

Max, i too am interested in the SXRD technology,how are the black levels?If i was going to get one though i think i would wait untill the prices go down a bit since it's to pricey for me right now.But yeah your right about the Blu-ray though with not supporting 1080p for movies,since i never heard them mention anything about 1080p yet,i think 1080i should do just fine, and better yet that sony you have has 1080p deinterlacing correct? if so then it will be similar to what a progressive scan dvd player does to a 480i signal and converts it to 480p.

As for games being done in 1080p for PS3, not sure how many, but i know Heavenly Sword is one of them.

[max]

Thanks for the info, that's great that the sony can be upgradeable, will it be pricey though?

Max, i too am interested in the SXRD technology,how are the black levels?If i was going to get one though i think i would wait untill the prices go down a bit since it's to pricey for me right now.But yeah your right about the Blu-ray though with not supporting 1080p for movies,since i never heard them mention anything about 1080p yet,i think 1080i should do just fine, and better yet that sony you have has 1080p deinterlacing correct? if so then it will be similar to what a progressive scan dvd player does to a 480i signal and converts it to 480p.

As for games being done in 1080p for PS3, not sure how many, but i know Heavenly Sword is one of them.


The black levels are great, Contrast Ratio has been tested by HomeTheaterMag to reach up to 13,300:1 making it the highest available from any micro display.

Movies and television all look great, and I am not sure about the price of the upgrade.

MAX,

[Matt27]

Thanks for the info max:)

Looking foward to geting one, but will wait untill the prices drop a bit.

[gparris]

As soon as I can get a 60" SXRD at the price of a 50" I will get one
(to replace my 48"Mits CRT set which is having problems)
as I know the discounting will eventually start. :D

For example, the 70" Hitachi set I have had since April originally sold for $6999.95 then it went on "sale" for $5499 then discounted to $4999
(my price) and now, I see it for much less than that. :)

The markup at the stores is horrendous...I can wait and watch my other HDTV sets (amongst family members) or fight with the Mits a little longer, maybe not much longer, though, as everytime I go into a store that sells SXRDs, I migrate in that direction. :drool11:

[sensay]

Does this ATSC tuner have HD built in(over air) like the 40in Bravia? The description is not as specific for the sxrd as it is for the Bravia set-wondering if its the same thing...thx

50" Grand WEGA™ SXRD™ Rear Projection HDTVKDS-R50XBR1
ATSC Integrated Tuner with CableCARD™ Slot


40" BRAVIA™ XBR® LCD Flat Panel HDTVKDL-V40XBR1
HDTV (built-in ATSC tuner for over-the-air HD reception)

[Ratman]

ATSC is OTA.

When they reference CableCard, that denotes that the tuner will also decode digital cable (QAM).

So... the SXRD will decode both OTA and digital cable.

[pascal_f1]

Okay, I've been through a lot of store since I posted this message and I've got to say, the Bravia 40" XBR is just so much better looking in stores that it's not even funny.

I don't know...I still like the 50" SXRD but that darn picture quality on the XBR just keeps pulling me back.

Does anyone here have a 40" Bravia XBR? I'm surprised no one here really talked about the LCD Bravia...

Maybe some feedback on that one will make my choice.

[gparris]

The Bravia's picture is smaller than the others you are looking at so it is hard to justify any true comparison as I see it. :)

While its LCD panel may be appealing from a flat panel perspective, have you watched it for motion artifacts and "smear" like I have?

Additionally, I noticed that you cannot watch the LCD panel from too much of an angle as I went from side to side and the brightness levels dropped dramatically. Black levels were not as good as a similar-sized DLP, either.

So I wonder what the appeal for you on the Bravia is, unless its the actual name...your choice. I have sold HDTVs and sometimes just the name does it...and I'm not kidding here. :whistle:

[poormansevo]

For anyone considering the SXRD set, I can vouch that it is one of the best looking sets I have seen. Upgrading from a CRT RP this thing is like night and day. Fry's is selling the 50 inch for 3299.99 as of today, but that might had just been for the holiday sales.

[sensay]

any news on the upgrade for 1080p on the SXRDs?...im thinking of waiting until i see whats going to be shown at CES in january before making the SXRD 50in purchase, as the PS3 is very important in making my decision- both for the Blu-Ray and Games...i know not everything will be supported in 1080p, but I am pretty sure the 2nd generation software of the "big" titles will surely have this feature- the supposed upgrade will solve all reservations if it is indeed coming out.

I doesn't except it now, there is suppose to be an upgrade in the future from what Sony support has told me.


MAX,

[Shmomey]

Does anyone get the sense that the Sony KDF55A20 will be phased out or obsolete this year? I purchased mine at $2699.00 and within a week it dropped to $2529.00. Is the 3LCD technology outdated already?

[gparris]

Outdated?
It is a matter for only you to decide, do you not like your new Sony?
Pricing goes up and down every week at every store.
One day, the 50" SXRD was selling for 250 dollars off list, then 500, but not for any other reason than the store competing
and possibly, a slow sales week.

The 60" model, which is extremely popular, IMO, was on one week selling 800 dollars off list from its usual 250-500 off retail list.
Do not equate sales prices with outdated models or display types.

Yes, there are LCD RPTV models probably coming out this year in 1080p, but there are none out there now, unless there is something I don't know...but many DLP and LCoS models are already available in 1080p...but nothing is (yet) broadcast, no high def DVD or is anything sent out on cable or satellite in 1080p...why worry?
If you want, exchange your Sony set for the newest SXRD set in 50 or 60" size or better yet, the newest 56" JVC LCoS 1080p set which is selling at about a thousand more.
Note that the price difference is due to it being the very latest technology, not because it is necessarily that much better-you decide that one.

If it were me, I would have got the 50" SXRD (due to your space limits, if any).
When I stand in the HT store next to the 3LCD 60" Sony and the 60" SXRD, the colours, detail and contrast are just that much better on the SXRD without a doubt, IMO.
If you have a return policy like CC has for 30 days, see if you can exchange it for the 50" SXRD as I think it uses the same stand (if you are using one).

[Shmomey]

GParris, I like my 55 KDFA20 so far. I have only had it for a week. I finally figured out how to play high definition games. The black levels are distracting and the screen door effect is noticable. I paid $2429.00 via Circuit City. The new 50 inch Sony SRX is going for about $3799.00. If the price drops closer to the $3200.00 or $3100.00 mark I will be tempted to exchange my Sony for the better model. I already have the Sony stand in place. Once I get down to the last week of my 30 day trial period I will be getting more serious in regards to a possible exchange. If not, the T.V. I have right now is not bad and I really enjoyed the football games this past weekend in High Definition. Having too much knowledge in regards to new RPTVs can be annoying. I would probably move on and be content if I did not read all of the forums and HDTV magazines.

[gparris]

Shmomey:
Thank you for your honest and thoughtful reply.
All I am - and the rest of us here - are trying to be helpful.
The screen door effect on most if not all LCD RPTVs, can be annoying.
LCoS and DLP are other fixed pixel type displays that are great for gaming and offer no chance of burn-in that may better suit your needs...see the FAQ section this forum.
Hope you come to conclusion with your setups and HDTV final choices/options and you are happy.

You are right on target with the fact that if you (me) don't read so much about A/V equipment and this forum at times, ignorance could be/can be bliss.
It it helpful to know more, it assists you getting the best product, using it and so on, but it also makes you know what you could be missing, too.

[Shmomey]

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy all of the input and advice. In fact, the more the better. This forum has been has been great. Not once has someone scolded me for my ingnorance in regards to the HDTV world. In fact, the more I get into the HDTV world the more exciting it gets. Take Care

[Ratman]

Not once has someone scolded me for my ingnorance ...
No scolding... other than getting "inputs" vs. "outputs" straight! :)