Sony 40 in XBR LCD WEGA Flat Panel HDTV (KDL-V40XBR1)

Pros: Image quality, inputs, ease of setup and use, clarity and quality...

Cons: A bit more expensive than plasma's... & 1 yr warranty (like most)

Summary: I recently purchased this HD 40" LCD after 3 yrs of shopping and waiting for LCD/Plasma technology to drop in price and improve in features. This year I caved and decided to take the plunge - and I'm ecstatic I did!

The New Sony Bravia XBR 40" LCD technology met all my needs for the TV I had been looking for. The key is I have a relatively odd shaped family room (in an old New England house) where room real estate is at a premium and the need for a flat TV was the only answer to increase to a 40" screen for viewing at 10 to 16 feet from where the TV is positioned. The other major issue is the room is that it gets incredible southern sun in the winter, making it a great TV/Family room but providing the added complexity of serious room "glare" from various viewing angles during different times of the day.

The size and glare issues were the key drivers for finding the right TV, and after experiencing some serious problems with glare off of many, very nice, high quality 42" Plasma (my favorite was Fujitsu EDTV for 3K with 3yr Warranty), I decided to settle in on finding the right Flat - LCD. After I saw Sony Bravia introduction and choked on the $3300 list price at CC and BB, I realized that the inputs we needed for HD, DVD, PC, and other video lines - I took a long, hard look at Sony. Others were good like Sharp, but the reality was Sony had the best quality image, color, contrast, etc.. when receiving an HD source so it closed the deal.

I purchased off the floor ("out of the box") from a Circuit City after they realized the one they thought was inventory was not there, and there were only 4 total in "shipment" to a Mid-Atlantic warehouse that supplied all the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The key was I arrived on early on a Sat. AM so I could seek out the floor representative with the most knowledge and background - who turned out to be a regional manager working that morning to see how well the store was operating... In the end he was great and I cut the check and am glad I did....

A spectacular TV well worth the investment if you like sports, movies, and general high quality video viewing... alot of fun and I guess my one vice now...

Happy viewing with your new flat no matter what you choose - - its truly a whole new world when you spend the extra bucks to upgrade to high quality, high def....