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- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"With good HD input, this picture is the best and is as good as it gets"
Pros: Stunningly realistic superior HD picture
Cons: Adequate but not great sound
Summary: Sony's flagship store in New York didn't even have this newer model when it was available and purchased at another New York dealer. In some stores where there wasn't good HD input, this set didn't necessarily distiguish itself from others, but that obviously is not a fair test for HD. With the proper HD signal, however, this picture is absolutely breathtaking and in a class by itself (I can only imagine that the XBR2 40 or higher must be even better.) A strong comparison was made to the Samsung LNS3252D whose colors appeared at first to be more vivid but were definitely not as realistic. I would assume that is why Sony added a "vivid" setting on the newer model XBR2 to match Samsung, but the set's standard setting is definitely more natural and real. In my opinion, this set easily blows away all competition and apparently Sony knows it as the higher price reflects it. I have also seen a top rated 40' plasma HD, and while plasma's regular programming might look better, this LCD HD is unequivocally superior to anything I have ever seen for HD. The detail you can now see-incredible realism in sporting events from uniform detail to hockey ice scratches-to detail in the interior of the Ed Sullivan theater, the likeness of Letterman, Leno, guests, nature scenes, movies, has to be the closest thing to being there. Two other fairly critical people agreed that this was the best picture they had seen. The sound is good but I am not certain there is better sound for this size set. For superior sound, it can always be played with stunning realism through professional systems. This set is a real winner.
