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Sony Bravia KDL-40XBR2

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  • 28 out of 51 people found this review helpful

    5.0 stars

    "Your CNET Editor has Mental Instability if..."

    by Lookn2find on August 30, 2006

    Pros: It's pure perfection to those seeking Quality not Quantity

    Cons: It isn't mounted on my wall yet...

    Summary: Your CNET Editor is Mentally Unstable if...
    1. He Reviews a 1080P Television for it's Quality and quotes "The set should be able to display every detail of incoming 1080i and 1080p sources"..."Should be able? meaning he doesn't even know for sure & he's the one we're supposed to respect with this review.
    2. He quotes "Its main appeal is style" right before he tells you he's not sure if it can display any 1080 signal therefore we don't even know if it was tested for quality.
    3. He quotes "Reproduces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; picture stays true from off-angle compared to other LCDs; myriad picture controls; resolves every detail of 1080p-resolution sources" Meaning that everything that an LCD has a problem doing this SONY LCD does it flawlessly then later tells you he?s not sure if it can show any 1080 signal & CONTRADICTS HIMSELF AGAIN saying "Sure the high-end Sony KDL-40XBR2 offers a commendable picture with more tweaks than you'll ever use, but let's face it: Style is this LCD's main weapon".
    4. He quotes "Sony kept the remote and menu system the same as its 2006 SXRD sets, such as the KDS-60A2000" You then click to review this 60A2000 TV & see him admit it's being the clearest DLP Television he's reviewed actually as the summary for the 60" on CNET's homepage not so long ago & then you wonder why he didn't really seam to review this LCD's picture quality but it's physical appearance and/or dimensions were of his main concern when reviewing a Television.
    5. He gives a TV a 7.9 review meaning it isn't even eligible for an award because it's physical dimensions and/or appearance keep it from getting into the 8.0 or higher award worthy ring which is all in his opinion when we are searching for FACTS as we can give our own opinions by the pictures shown as far as a physical appearance stand point and is useless to us as viewers.
    6. He quotes "Including the stand, the set measures 43.8 wide by 28.3 high by 12.8 deep" not even thinking it would be of the publics interest to know the TV itself is exactly 4.84" deep without the stand as if no one would ever dare to put a Television on their wall.
    7. He tells you that the menus are so user friendly that they even tell you what each individual customization does & makes the over abundance of tweaks a breeze & still seams to look down upon this flat piece of perfection with squinting eyes & a frown.

    Tighten up buddy, I have the most serious eye for detail you've ever seen in your entire life as I was raised in a body shop from the age of 3 & can see any flaw in sheet metal even down to the detail of how flawlessly our metallic lays down next to the OEM's paint in or out of the sun & it has to be flawless to my eye before leaving the door if I have anything to do with it as my father is also a perfectionist in the serious extremity. I am 24 years old & would just love to have your job as a reviewer/editor & I watch & will be watching every review you give for something that is nothing short of perfection & will watch you like a hawk especially if the leader in TV quality is mentioned.

    SONY People that's all I should have to tell you. SONY
    Spend the extra cash for quality over quantity or beat yourself for your mistake.

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  • 9 replies to this review
  • reply by: brx1769 on May 18, 2007

    And hence why he does this stuff professionally, and you do not.

  • reply by: softtailgolf on October 21, 2006

    Lookn2find you seem to have it togeather. I like to research also , but your way ahead of me. I can't seem to find comparison info on the xbr2vs. the xbr3
    I would guess the xbr3 is a newer version or upscale version, but can't tell. Do you have the skinny on this model. It looks like the xbr3 comes with an internal hd tuner. thanks
    Softtailgolf

  • reply by: blklacker on October 10, 2006

    Thank you for keeping it real. Cnet really dropped the ball on this review. Yeah the TV is expensive but what you get is one amazing LCD TV.

  • reply by: AceJMW on October 10, 2006

    This is a bit crazy now isn't it. I just bought this TV after much research. I realize that its pricy and doesn't preform "the best" but Its a great looking tv with all the features I was looking for. Its hard to find many LCDs or Plasmas with 3 HDMI and full 1080p over VGA and this TV does it well. The biggest draw back I see on this TV is how it handles standard def signals, but thats not why i bought this tv, I have an old TV for the standard def stuff.

  • reply by: curt1234567 on October 3, 2006

    The Cnet Editor review of this monitor is truthful.
    No LCD deserves a 10 even at 1080P.
    While this is a nice set you pay for it as well.
    The overly large stupid glass surround alone should knock this down 1 point.
    Subtract another point off for the processing problems as well as sony's typcial color problems, usually way off in order to impress.

    Samsung has Sony's number especially price versus performance. A much cheaper and smaller Tv rivaled it's picture at Worst Buy. That would be the Samsung 3251D for about 1200 bucks and its "only" 720P so thats a double slap in sony's face. And finally for all of you Sony FanBoys. We have a sony plant (Uniontown,PA) My contractor worked there for several months and he told me that Sony is using many Samsung chips as well as their Panels....

  • reply by: sigma50 on September 21, 2006

    bought 46" bravia xbr 2. any way to tweek a better picture ?

  • reply by: fluffy92 on September 12, 2006

    Does your attention to detail encompass your written word?

  • reply by: TVwatcher247 on September 3, 2006

    You were a little bit harsh but you are right there were very contradicting statements in his review. A 7.9 rating is very low for a TV he praised almost every step of the way, with only minor defects listed. He claimed to love the style but then complained about the size. I have to say the 4 inces bigger had me move around my dresser but what a nice four inches it is. But thaat is only my opinion! One thing he didn't get into was the speakers. I have heard that side mounted speakers have better durability then bottom mounted. Is it true, I don't know but This set seems to have better sound then the XBR1's that I have heard in the stores. Cnet has always been my first stop check for new items, but in my opinion the editor dropped the ball.

  • reply by: dvickman on August 31, 2006

    my what an angry young man. I found the review to be well balanced. I had to smile after your diatribe on your superior attention to detail and your knowledge of Sony. The Sony KDS60A2000 you mentioned is not a DLP rear projector, but is SXRD technology.

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