It seems like Sony always has new HDTV products every quarter. People are not over the last released model yet and here comes a newer series. Sony can’t seem to run out of improvements and enhancements to add to their current line of HDTVs and the company is also now joining the trend of the so-called LED TVs. The new XBR10 series employs the edge-lit LED technology, hence called LED TV.

One of the two models in the XBR10 series is the Sony KDL-52XBR10 – a 52-inch TV. The other one is 46 inches. This is one of the thinnest LCD TVs of Sony and that is because of the edge-lit LED technology. And so as not to destroy the sleek and thin exterior, the company makes use of the wireless technology with the XBR10 series. The unit comes with the Bravia 1080 wireless transmission system, which is similar in appearance as a cable box, and is essentially a media box where all of the supposed connections to the TV are attached. The only wire that can be found at the back of the TV unit itself is the power cord.

In terms of picture quality, the Sony KDL-52XBR10 claims to have very dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. This model is also full HD at 1920×1080. However, compared to the previous XBR8 model of Sony, the XBR10 appears to be an underdog because of the RGB LED backlight, or the Triluminos, used in the XBR8 series. This technology produced extremely better color accuracy and saturation than the XBR10s. Nevertheless, the picture quality on the KDL-52XBR10 is still stunning and realistic.

This XBR10 model makes use of the 240Hz Motionflow technology for smooth video processing. It is also capable of playing 24p content through HDMI. To further enhance video quality, especially on fast-moving objects, a host of other features are built-in to the KDL-52XBR10 such as the Advanced Contrast Enhancer, MPEG Noise Reduction, CineMotion Reverse 3:2 pulldown, BRAVIA Engine 3, 3D Comb Filter, as well as Game Mode and Deep Color.

Sony has been known, as well, to be big on interactivity of their products. With the XBR10s, Sony still included the common features such as YouTube access, Amazon Video on Demand, Sony Pictures, Sports Illustrated, etc. What’s new with this series is the addition of Netflix. Widgets are still present to keep the user up-to-date with different things.

In terms of connectivity, the media box has sufficient amount of input and output ports. It has 4 HDMI ports, an RF connection, RS-232, analog and digital audio ports, composite video ports, and a USB 2.0 port.

With all these features and the introduction of wireless technology on an HDTV, the Sony KDL-52XBR10 is definitely a nice gadget to have in the living room. For those with big pockets the current best deal for this model is $4,799.

When buying HDTV, one consideration is the size of the room where the unit will be placed. For an average-sized living room, anywhere from 32 to 46 inches would probably be a good size of an LCD. But how about the Sony Bravia KDL-70XBR7? Where in the world will it fit in an average house? Sure, it would be definitely great to watch your favorite movie on a 70-inch LCD, but unless you have a mini- theater at home, it will be more practical to settle for something smaller.

The Sony KDL-70XBR7 definitely has great built-in features. However, this model will most likely be appealing only to hard-core entertainment enthusiasts who have the money and space to afford this giant telly. Buying this 70-inch XBR7 will cost your pocket around $20,000 which may not be a reasonable amount for most average consumers. However, once you start seeing the images in this big screen, you can’t help but just be awed.

First of all, this gigantic baby has Full HD capability, which means that it is able to produce images at 1080p resolution. Images and scenes look so realistic that it somehow sends the feeling that you are included in the scene, seeing it live, and not just merely watching on a television. Another reason why images seem to pop out and have life is the extremely deep black levels of this 70-inch XBR7, thanks to its 10-bit LCD panel with Advanced Contrast Enhancer and Live Color Creation circuit.

From its predecessor, which is the XBR6 series, Sony further enhanced the features by incorporating the Bravia Engine 2 Pro digital video processing. The Sony Bravia KDL-70XBR7 has 120MHz Motion Flow technology that renders fast moving objects and action scenes smoothly.

In terms of its design, Sony still did a good job. The huge screen is surrounded by piano black bezel with glossy finish and glass details. On each side, you will find the speaker grilles that are just right in size; otherwise, they might ruin the overall design of the 70XBR7.

Connectivity for the Sony KDL-70XBR7 is not a problem as it has just enough built-in ports. The unit includes 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, PC input, component inputs, Ethernet port and an RS-232, which is a step-up from the XBR6 models. It also has Bravia Sync capabilities, as well as DMe.

Having an excellent picture quality on a gargantuan TV screen is indeed something that is truly desired, but, may not match what most people are only willing to pay. Nevertheless, this huge Sony TV will undoubtedly be in the wishlist of many as this is the luxury that not many can pay for. If you think you need so much quality and screen estate go to Amazon where there are just two models left for a price of $19,999 with free shipping included.

Most of the HDTVs from Sony are known to be expensive due to the extravagant features included in each model. But not the KDL-L5000 series. The series comes in four sizes – 22-, 26-, 32-, and the 37-inch models. All of them belong to the entry level models of Sony and do not have all the hanky-panky features of their higher-end cousins.

The Sony KDL-26L5000, in particular, is one of the smaller LCD TVs in the market today. Despite being an entry-level model, and inexpensive at that, this model does not fall short in its features. All of the must-have features of a basic LCD TV are incorporated in this little baby. Hence, it is a good buy for those who are looking for their first LCD TV and just want to try out the feel of having one.

The Looks

Unlike the more expensive Sony TVs, the KDL-26L5000 does not have the sleek exterior with thin bezel and overall elegant look. It is much chunkier with its thick frames and somewhat tapered edges. This model also comes with a stand that does not swivel. Nevertheless, the unit still looks robust and more enticing than other brands of the same specs.

The KDL-26L5000’s remote is smaller than other models’ yet more useful. There is a central key that is very much identifiable and an easy access key for the aspect ratio control. The menu screen is much simpler as well, just like its looks. It does not employ the popularized cross media bar by the Sony PS3s. It is also nice of Sony to add brief descriptions for each of the menu options, making this more user-friendly, indeed.

Features and Performance

Since the Sony KDL-26L5000 is an entry-level LCD TV, people should not expect features normally found in bigger and more expensive HDTVs. First off, this KDL-L5000 model only has 720p resolution, unlike the common HDTV trend now which is 1080p. But since the screen size is relatively small, just 26 inches, a higher resolution is not really necessary. Though it would be good to have the 1080p resolution, 720p will also do just fine with this model.

Despite the unremarkable design and some low-end features, the KDL-26L5000’s picture quality is something to be proud of. The black levels and color accuracy of this Sony series is comparable to other higher-end models. On bright backgrounds, colors are brilliant and very much realistic. Dark scenes are also as good with the deep black that this model produces.

Another feature that is not found in this KDL-26L5000 is the 120Hz video processing. Hence, fast-moving scenes should be expected to be somewhat blurry. But this should not impair the overall evaluation of this Sony model considering the solid picture quality that it produces, as well as the competitive price. For an entry-level TV, the Sony KDL-26L5000 is one of the best indeed.

Sony continues to be one of the top brands in terms of entertainment gadgets. Early this year, Sony announced the release of its new Z-series in its Bravia line of HDTVs. The new Sony KDL Z5100 series has three screen sizes – 40”, 46” and 52” displays. All three have identical features and also have similar performance, so we’ll just take a look at the 52-inch model of this series.

Exemplary Performance

This huge 52-inch display boasts of its Full HD panel with 1920×1080 (1080p) resolution. Viewing Blu-Ray discs and other HD sources prove to be an amazing experience. With its 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, the Sony KDL-52Z5100 is able to produce excellent black levels with even lighting all throughout the screen. Primary and secondary colors are almost perfectly accurate with just the right color saturation.

The Sony KDL-52Z5100 also has the Motionflow 240Hz technology which takes video processing to the next level. Fast-moving scenes are virtually blur-free and sharp with the help of this technology. This is mostly evident when watching sports events, action films or when playing intensive games on the TV. However, for regular TV viewing, the effects of 240Hz are not really noticeable.

Another thing to note about the Z series is its compliance to the Energy Star requirements. In fact, the TVs in this series even exceed the Energy Star 3.0 must-haves by 15%. To save more power, features such as Light Sensor technology and Dynamic Backlight Control are built-in to this display to control the backlight intensity based on room lighting and image brightness on the screen.

Unique-to-Sony Features

Together with the Motionflow 240Hz technology, Sony Bravia TVs also has the Bravia Engine 3 which is a fully digital video processor that further enhances image output. This results in more realistic images that are sharp, crisp and vibrant with full details.

With the Sony KDL-52Z5100, Bravia Internet Video is also included. With the use of an Ethernet broadband connection, video content can be accessed and downloaded from different sources such as Sony Pictures, Sony Music, You Tube, Amazon On Demand, Sports Illustrated, etc. Bravia Widgets is also available which allows users to get daily weather reports, news, sports updates, and a lot more.

The well-loved user interface of Sony PS3 and PSP is now found in the Sony KDL-52Z5100 with the integration of the Xross Media Bar. This enhances interactivity and user experience of the Z-series Sony TVs.

At a reasonable enough price, especially when bought from online stores such as Amazon, the Sony KDL-52Z5100 is very well recommended for an outstanding viewing experience that exceeds most people’s expectations.

One of the newest inclusions in Sony’s Bravia line is the KDL-52XBR9. Other than the 52-inch model, this series is also available in 46- and 40-inches which share the same features as the 52-inch unit. There is also a 32-inch model in the KDL-XBR9 series; however, the performance is not similar to the larger sizes.

On the Bright Side

The most notable difference of the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 is its thin bezel compared to the usual 3-inch thick frames surrounding the LCD screen. This design made the model look less bulky. In addition to the minimalist look, Sony also decided to hide the speakers this time underneath the matching glossy black stand.

Sony also adopted the Cross Media Bar arrangement of its menu from the PS3 models and used the same on its higher-end TVs. There is also a noticeable improvement in the settings menu with increased controls for picture settings compared to last year’s menu options. One more thing to appreciate in the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 is the expanded explanations of the menu options that help users easily locate the specific setting or option they are looking for.

Although the black levels of this Bravia do not match those of the LED-based and some Plasma TVs, this performs fairly well compared to other standard LCD TVs in the market. The deep black levels are adequate enough to produce rich colors and realistic feel to the images. Color accuracy, especially with the primary colors, is excellent and there is also high level of color saturation producing more vibrant pictures.

Sony is also big on add-ons with this XBR9 series, adding built-in Yahoo widgets, You Tube, free CBS videos and Amazon Video on Demand. The streaming videos from Amazon are fantastic, while the free videos from YouTube or CBS also streams pretty smoothly.

The Downside

The major drawback of the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 is the price tag which ranges from $2000 to $3000. Some would find other LCD TVs of the same performance in terms of picture quality for a lot lesser cost. One of the major contributors to this expensive cost is the 240Hz video processing technology. However, the 100% increase of motion resolution from previous models is hardly noticeable to most consumers, which would not really justify the price for many.

When viewing a color-rich scene, it is also noted that brightness is not uniform all throughout the screen. Also, picture quality fades significantly when viewing off-angle. Deep black levels could also improve some more to be at par with most of the top LCD TVs and even Led-based TVs in the market.

Overall, the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 will be much appreciated by those who do not mind the price tag for the added interactive capability and interesting add-ons. However, for most practical consumers, they will most definitely think twice before bringing this huge gadget home.

Go grab a Sony BRAVIA KDL-52XBR9 at Amazon

Sony introduced late last year one of its thinnest panels – the Sony Bravia KLV40ZX1M which is only 1.1 inches thick. It is amazingly thin that one could not help but imagine how the components are squeezed inside.

Edge-lit LED Technology
KLV-40ZX1M is one of the LCD panels that make use of LEDs as backlight. However, instead of having light-emitting diodes all across the panel, only the edges are lined up with these. This makes the very thin design of the unit possible. Having said this, the picture output of this model is different from that of the other brands and models that use LEDs all throughout the panel.

More Plus Points
Since only the edges have LEDs, the KLV-40ZX1M is energy efficient. Compared to other brands using the same technology, it only consumes almost two-thirds that of the power used by the others. Another design-smart with this model is the idea of having the arm between the panel and the base stand double as a plate to hide the cables coming from the back. Very neat indeed.

The Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M has a matte-screen finish which is a strategic design to prevent the screen from reflecting bright light from the surroundings. In terms of picture quality, the colors in this model are relatively accurate compared to other models that make use of the same technology.

Considerable Deltas
Perhaps, one of the first things that a buyer would notice is the hefty price tag. For the KLV-40ZX1M, selling price ranges from $2,795 – $3,500. This is a little too expensive considering that there are other models that cost less, yet performing a lot better.

Talking about the different LED technology in more detail, the edge-lit twist adversely affected the picture quality expectation from this innovation. Since only the edges are using LEDs as backlight, the KLV-40ZX1M does not have the local dimming feature. Hence, the black level is not like one would expect in an LCD TV. Because of this the sharpness and accuracy of the colors are affected.

Also, uniformity issue is quite expected out of this edge-lit LED technology. In dark scenes, it is evident that the edges are brighter then fades towards the middle. Although in very bright scenes, this issue is not noticeable.

Another notable feature of this LCD flat-panel is its connectivity, or the lack of it. It only has one, and only one, connection source – a single HDMI port at the back of the panel. No audio/video ports, neither a cable/RF port. Hence, this flat-panel is a monitor, not exactly a TV due to its lack of tuner.

The Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M is undeniably sleek and elegant-looking outside, plus the fact that it is thin which gives one the impression of it being high-tech. However, once functionality and performance is put to the test, it seems not really worth for the huge buck. After all, it’s not all about the looks. As the old adage goes, “never judge a book by its cover.” This goes true with this Sony Bravia series.

Learn more about Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M HDTV

Having a refresh rate of 120 Hz is almost common already among LCD TV product lines, especially those high-end ones. And while people are still trying to appreciate this technology advancement, here comes Sony introducing yet another breakthrough in the HDTV scene. Late last year, Sony released the Bravia KDL-52XBR7 – the very first and only one that boasts of a refresh rate of 240 Hz!

Commendable Features

The increased refresh rate, definitely, is the most interesting specification of the XBR7. Upon testing it was noted that the effect of the 240 Hz refresh rate is the improvement of motion resolution. Also, with this refresh rate, it is but natural for Sony to ensure an enhanced dejudder processing.

In terms of picture quality, the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR7 is exceptional in its class. Considering that it still makes use of the CCFL LCD technology, it exhibits deep black levels that are comparable to LED-based LCDs and even Plasma TVs. Images can come out realistic because of the accurate colors.

For a display this huge, power consumption is one important consideration. It is nice to know that the KDL-52XBR7 somehow exceeded expectations in terms of energy efficiency. The model employs power saving modes that limit the brightness even on its highest setting.

Other interesting features that can be noted are the ability to grab picture and music files from network computers and display them on the screen, the onscreen TV Guide which not usually found in HDTVs, the user-friendly menu options, and its numerous connectivity options. There are several I/O ports that can be found here in the KDL-52XBR7 – 4 HDMI ports, RF jack, S-video, composite video ports, analog audio, Ethernet port and USB ports.

The design of the XBR7 alone is a statement in itself. The matte-screen display is surrounded by shiny black frame of uniform width all around. At the bottom, a plastic frame is hanging to hold the speaker bar which can be replaced with a different color. The default color is silver but brown, black, gold and red speaker colors are also available separately.

The Drawback

The features of the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR7 are unquestionably awesome. However, one may think twice because of its price which ranges from $2,800 to $3,800 a piece. To think that the specifications and features are almost the same with the higher-end displays, it would be more practical and smarter to buy either a LED-based or a Plasma TV at the same, or lesser, price than the XBR7.

Conclusion

Overall, the KDL-52XBR7 is great considering all the characteristics and features it offers the consumers. However, the small difference in performance with other LCD models selling at a lower price does not really make it a smart investment.

Currently Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR7 is available for $2,077.77 at Amazon, you might also consider looking at this link to see more data about this HDTV set at that link.

Sony has been launching televisions for many years and also familiar about things what works or what does not work? Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 is the excellent example of what a model of a good TV should be. Its silver exterior and sleek black is very comfortable in its look for eyes and would be perfectly suitable to decor of any room. The speakers of the 55XBR8 are mounted on its side and seem to float because of transparent glass separated them from TV.

The standout features of this model are:

• LFD Backlight
• Refresh Rate120 Hz
• Resolution Full 1080p

The full resolution of Bravia KDL-55XBR8 allows you to watch everything clearly from sports to movies. The source of 1080p is available for you any time as you do not have any problem to view detail of every bit in your video game, TV shows and movies. The bit processor 10 ensures you that images on Blu-ray disc are the same as what you will view on the screen of that TV set.

The Triluminos LED backlit panel embedded in Sony KDL-55XBR8 allow you to get brighter, accurate colors scheme than standard CCFL backlighting. TV sets which used LED backlights provide dim brightness in the areas which need to look darker. This results in a low quality of image display especially in darker scenes. The standard LCD TV sets refresh the images 60 times in each second or at the rate of 60 Hz. While KDL-55XBR8 sets refresh the image 120 times in every 20 second which improves the quality of sharpness of image especially in such scenes where you find motions. This feature seems best for the person who likes to watch sport channels.

For instance, if you are watching cricket match in this TV set, the ball will stay in focus instead seeming blurry. Sony 55XBR8 also uses high quality 10 bit processor which is able to deliver 1024 level of gradation. Previous 8 bit processors of color TV sets were able to display 256 level of gradation. The result of this 10 bit processor is real and more accurate. Therefore, this is highly tested best in class, having characteristics of bright room viewing, picture control, different color of speaker grilles and unique style display. While reviewing all these specifications of this TV set, it is an obvious reality that you will find this Bravia KDL-55XBR8 best in quality and style that is unable to find in any other HDTV.

This 55 inch HDTV has hit the market and made a huge impression on the reviewers (here’re some reviews) $5,999.99 with free shipping is not the best deal if you think only about the size of it, but if you consider the quality of the image it’s a sure winner in this category.

For more information (user reviews, best deals) about Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 click here

As many other retailers, Sony decided to presents it’s most advanced LCD HDTV just before the Christmas season, let’s have a look what this HDTV has to offer.

It’s slightly bigger then the nowadays standard 46 inch, and the additional space really make difference, and you can put it in bigger room and enjoy it with bigger audience. As for the screen details, it’s XBR6 series so the color processing is done in 10 bits AND displayed also in 10 bits (usually we have only 8 bits displays/processing). Even more interesting is that Sony uses xvYCC international standard (which is a part of HDMI 1.3) in which the color space is 1.8 larger than in RGB.

KDL 52XBR6 also contains a contrast enhancer (called ACE), it makes watching dark scenes a lot more entertaining, as you can see more in the shadowy places of the motion picture. This HDTV makes it without losing great representation of black color, so when it is black it is really black. Another good feature is the dynamic noise reduction, constantly keeping track of the signal noise and reducing it only in the appropriate places.

MotionFlow 120Hz technology is a whole new thing Sony developed for the Bravia series. It basically doubles the number of frames in the movie. Normally we have 60Hz, and the MotionFlow takes two frames, calculates the new frame that should appear between them. It makes watching fast action especially entertaining, as one can finally keep track of quickly moving objects.

120Hz of KDL-52XBR6 allows another feature – watching cinema movies without jerky motion. One has to understand that movies are made at 24Hz, and normal TV is 60Hz, so displaying them on the TV screens means that some of the frames will repeat, (24×2 = 48, we still need 12 to get to 60) and it makes this jerky motion. On the other hand, 120Hz is a direct multiply of 24 (24×5 = 120) so no frames will be multiplied more then others and the unpleasant effect disappears.

For the TV addicts, added in XBR6 series the On-Screen Interactive Program Guide, which one can use at any time. Further more it doesn’t need any subscription, it just a free addiction from Sony (which is the first company to add such functionality for free).

As for the audio, nothing new in this space, but you get usual SRS TruSurround XT and a less common S-Force Front Surround which makes the sound more 3D.

Other features of this 52XBR6 HDTV include a USB port, which can be used for watching photos on the big screen, contrast of 50,000 to 1, four HDMI ports, and a PC input.

So many new features and with a good price one has to really consider this HDTV when thinking of replacing old TV (or even HDTV). Watching sports and movies on 52 inches is a whole new deal, especially when you have more colors, superior noise reduction and a free TV guide that.

The sum up of this Sony 52XBR6 review: it is one of the best 52 inch HDTV one can buy in the late 2008, early 2009, and it costs only $3,499.99.

Update: Currently KDL-52XBR6 is available for only $2,399.00, so consider buying it here or reading more 52xbr6 reviews.

Learn more about Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR6 LCD HDTV

The XBR addition to the model name of Sony has always been a sign of the high-end HDTV that’s why Bravia KDL-46XBR4 besides the wide range of features (e.g. 120Hz frame rate, high contrast ration and 10 bit colors) it has a higher price than other models – $3,299.99 is the list price (one can find online stores that reduce this price even to $2,619).

This Sony model is 1080p capable and uses the latest generation of LCD panel which can produce more natural colors. It’s not just empty words, the display is actually capable of displaying 10bit per RGB color, it means that it can display 2^10 * 2^10 * 2^10 = 1,073,741,824 colors! More over, the processing of the color space is also done using 10bits. For those who are not aware, most displays still use 8bit processing and display, they are cheaper but give worse color representation. Furthermore this LCD panel has a dynamic contrast ratio of 15,000 to 1 (normal contrast 2,000 to 1), those two properties make a astonishing display.

KDL-46XBR4 has a feature called Motionflow which adjust the display frame rate to the video source one’s. Sometimes users have a 24 fps video and their TV is capable of displaying 30 fps, this produces sometimes a flicker on the screen when there is no adjustment like Motionflow.

Various connectors that are part of this HDTV make it a versatile product. One can connect it to Blu-rays/HD DVD using HDMI 1.3 interface, three composite video connectors, two component ones, and last but not least PC Video/Audio using which one can display a collection of photos or play a Divx movie (or even show some funky wallpaper in Windows). Speaking of photos, 46XBR4 has a special mode called Photo TV HD which sets the display parameters to mimic the ones of a printed photography, making viewing photos on the screen like looking at real photo album.

As with other Sony products this one also has the Theater Sync feature. Behind this strange name is just a technology that enables e.g. starting the TV, DVD, setting up the surround system and starting the DVD playback with just one push of the button. The same thing for turning everything off, it is great time saver.

Summing up, Sony Bravia XBR4 is a great addition to the XBR line of HDTVs, giving a nice black glossy bezel surface (available in other colors), a superb LCD display (with wide color space) and the Theater Sync for faster movie setup times.

Learn more about Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR4 46″ 1080p LCD HDTV