Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR - do you have one?

My husband and I want to get a new TV. We haven't had a new TV in
over 15 years. We decided we want a 46" LCD. We don't want a plasma
- too heavy and I don't like the problem with screen burn in.

We have looked in Circuit City and Best Buy and read Consumer Reports
and we are very confused.

Consumer Reports loves the Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR and when we saw it in
the store we loved it too. Granted it is much more expensive than
other comparable sizes of different brands but cost is not the issue.
We are in our early 70s and what we want most is something we LOVE.
We don't plan on buying another so we want to get whatever looks the
best even if it costs more than it should.

What we want is a great picture - sharp, good contrast and great
color. I'm pretty technical and would have no trouble tweeking the
settings if necessary.

I've read some disconcerting consumer comments on this TV and it's
making me nervous. However I know that quite often people only write
comments when they are unhappy.

I'd be very grateful for comments on this model. Other advice would
also be most welcome.

Thanks very much.

Whick model are you looking at specifically, XBR2 or XBR3?

TTUL... John

"Jane" wrote in message
oups.com...
My husband and I want to get a new TV. We haven't had a new TV in
over 15 years. We decided we want a 46" LCD. We don't want a plasma
- too heavy and I don't like the problem with screen burn in.

We have looked in Circuit City and Best Buy and read Consumer Reports
and we are very confused.

Consumer Reports loves the Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR and when we saw it in
the store we loved it too. Granted it is much more expensive than
other comparable sizes of different brands but cost is not the issue.
We are in our early 70s and what we want most is something we LOVE.
We don't plan on buying another so we want to get whatever looks the
best even if it costs more than it should.

What we want is a great picture - sharp, good contrast and great
color. I'm pretty technical and would have no trouble tweeking the
settings if necessary.

I've read some disconcerting consumer comments on this TV and it's
making me nervous. However I know that quite often people only write
comments when they are unhappy.

I'd be very grateful for comments on this model. Other advice would
also be most welcome.

Thanks very much.

We have the 40" Sony Bravia Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD that is 1080i.
We love ours.

The newer Bravia 1080p is the one you want. Make sure it has 2 HDMI inputs
(for cable box and the HD DVD player)

CC usually has a 1080p HD DVD hooked up directly to the Sony's and they look
magnificent. Especially when the they travel to a caribbean beach ... haha.
You will be hard pressed to find a nicer picture.

"Jane" wrote:

Consumer Reports loves the Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR and when we saw it in
the store we loved it too.


I assume you're looking at the KDL-46XBR2. Have you also considered the
KDL-46V2500? I've seen them side-by-side, and there's no difference in
picture quality.

Figuring out Sony's nomenclature can be difficult. Bravia, Grand Wega,
SXRD, XBR, etc. You might consider the Sony KDS-50A2000. I understand it
has the same XBR chip set minus some of the added whistles and bells so it
is considerably cheaper than Sony's top-of-the-line. Great picture!


"Jane" wrote in message
oups.com...
My husband and I want to get a new TV. We haven't had a new TV in
over 15 years. We decided we want a 46" LCD. We don't want a plasma
- too heavy and I don't like the problem with screen burn in.

We have looked in Circuit City and Best Buy and read Consumer Reports
and we are very confused.

Consumer Reports loves the Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR and when we saw it in
the store we loved it too. Granted it is much more expensive than
other comparable sizes of different brands but cost is not the issue.
We are in our early 70s and what we want most is something we LOVE.
We don't plan on buying another so we want to get whatever looks the
best even if it costs more than it should.

What we want is a great picture - sharp, good contrast and great
color. I'm pretty technical and would have no trouble tweeking the
settings if necessary.

I've read some disconcerting consumer comments on this TV and it's
making me nervous. However I know that quite often people only write
comments when they are unhappy.

I'd be very grateful for comments on this model. Other advice would
also be most welcome.

Thanks very much.

On Feb 11, 9:17 am, "Jane" wrote:
My husband and I want to get a new TV. We haven't had a new TV in
over 15 years. We decided we want a 46" LCD. We don't want a plasma
- too heavy and I don't like the problem with screen burn in.

We have looked in Circuit City and Best Buy and read Consumer Reports
and we are very confused.

Consumer Reports loves the Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR and when we saw it in
the store we loved it too. Granted it is much more expensive than
other comparable sizes of different brands but cost is not the issue.
We are in our early 70s and what we want most is something we LOVE.
We don't plan on buying another so we want to get whatever looks the
best even if it costs more than it should.

What we want is a great picture - sharp, good contrast and great
color. I'm pretty technical and would have no trouble tweeking the
settings if necessary.

I've read some disconcerting consumer comments on this TV and it's
making me nervous. However I know that quite often people only write
comments when they are unhappy.

I'd be very grateful for comments on this model. Other advice would
also be most welcome.

Thanks very much.

The model we looked at was the KDL-46XBR2. This is the one rated in
Consumer Reports. The complaints I have read about it regards
cloudiness or MURA. I don't understand what this is but it's clearly
serious because people with this problem rate picture quality as poor
while those without rate it as excellent. Not all sets have this
problem but enough to have created some very unhappy owners.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Sony. Keep in mind that retail stores
often set up their Sony demos to run on a blue-ray disc (Sony's version of
HD DVD), and the picture is near perfect. If you will be watching "regular"
television the picture will not be quite as good, with HD being better than
SD. Try to view it hooked up to cable or satellite...or even an antenna
showing an HD program. Also, it is generally recommended to buy a set with
1080 lines to take full advantage of HD programming as it becomes more
commonplace.

BTW, I think the concern with screen burn on plasma is generally overstated
with many plasma sets having built-in methods of preventing it by moving the
pixels from time to time or wiping the screen. Then again, I understand
that plasma used more power, runs hotter, and has a life span at which time
it is basically a throw-away.

Like so many high tech items the technology changes so rapidly that you can
wait forever for that "next" "better" technology to be available. I think
either Sony LCD flat panel or Sony LCD rear projection are fine choices. I
have a 60" LCD rear projection and love it.

"Jane" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 11, 9:17 am, "Jane" wrote:
My husband and I want to get a new TV. We haven't had a new TV in
over 15 years. We decided we want a 46" LCD. We don't want a plasma
- too heavy and I don't like the problem with screen burn in.

We have looked in Circuit City and Best Buy and read Consumer Reports
and we are very confused.

Consumer Reports loves the Sony 46" BRAVIA XBR and when we saw it in
the store we loved it too. Granted it is much more expensive than
other comparable sizes of different brands but cost is not the issue.
We are in our early 70s and what we want most is something we LOVE.
We don't plan on buying another so we want to get whatever looks the
best even if it costs more than it should.

What we want is a great picture - sharp, good contrast and great
color. I'm pretty technical and would have no trouble tweeking the
settings if necessary.

I've read some disconcerting consumer comments on this TV and it's
making me nervous. However I know that quite often people only write
comments when they are unhappy.

I'd be very grateful for comments on this model. Other advice would
also be most welcome.

Thanks very much.

The model we looked at was the KDL-46XBR2. This is the one rated in
Consumer Reports. The complaints I have read about it regards
cloudiness or MURA. I don't understand what this is but it's clearly
serious because people with this problem rate picture quality as poor
while those without rate it as excellent. Not all sets have this
problem but enough to have created some very unhappy owners.