Sony's
XBR6 / XBR7 / XBR8 models are still waiting in the wings for their U.S. debut, but along with HDTVs that push the extremes in thin and fast, the company announced these more conventional models it's deemed "the highest quality BRAVIA HDTVs in history." The XR1 (read: XBR8) series will feature a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (3,000:1 static) courtesy of those new TRILUMINOS three-color LEDs, 10-bit BRAVIA Engine 2 processing and Motionflow 120Hz technology. If you can live without 240Hz or WHDI, the 1080p 55-inch edition runs ¥750,000 ($6,489 U.S.) with a 46-inch for ¥600,000 ($5,479 U.S.). The next level down is the X1 (read: XBR6 / XBR7) series, based on old school CCFL backlights limited to a 3,000:1 contrast rating, ranging in size from 40- to 52- inches and in price from ¥530,000 ($4,866 U.S.) to ¥320,000 ($2,922 U.S.) when they go on sale October 10. Digital Media Extender support, DLNA connectivity and all the other high end feature's make their expected appearance across the lineup. With fears of
watered down technology effectively quelled, Sony wouldn't make us wait until October to find out when we can buy an HDTV in the U.S. or
Europe from this lineup -- somehow we
doubt it.
posted August 28th 2008 4:12AM
"...until October to find out when when we can buy an HDTV in the U.S."
i call typo in the last sentence: "when when"
...and its fixed already
daim
One miiiiiiiiiiilion....
One l too.
One hundred billion.........
It's over nine THOUSAAAAAAAND!!!
1.21 gigawatts!!!!
Why can't they skip all this new 'LED' stuff and just cut to the chase and give us O-LED equipment?! Sony have proved to us that the technology is there as they're already selling that 11" tv. Scale it up and sell it to the masses please!!
$3000 for an 11inch non-HD TV is why they can't just scale up and sell to the masses... unless the masses can just scale up their wallets.
Patience, my young apprentice.
Patience my young padawan.
...All I want is a 26" full hd tv and as far as I can tell no one is doing the small sizes yet. Lame.
You might just have to settle for a computer monitor for the moment.
"The next level down is the X1 (read: XBR6 / XBR7) series, based on old school CCFL backlights limited to a 3,000:1 contrast rating"...
Are you sure it's not limited to 33,000:1? The current range (for example the KDL40W4000) uses CCFL and is capable of 33,000:1 dynamic contrast.
Apologies for splitting hairs - I work in a Sony shop and I find it hard to ignore these things.
No problem, it says 3,000:1 on the Sony Japan page, we'll probably have to wait for the U.S. press release to know exactly.
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200808/08-0828C/
I'm curious guys.
Who makes better TVs Sony or Samsung?
Consider prices please.
That's hard to answer with prices in mind. Sony makes better quality panels, but are consistently high-priced. Samsung is typically more budget-minded, but taking that into consideration, doesn't go crazy with the specs. If you plan to spend what it takes to get a Sony or higher-end Samsung, the Sony is probably the safer bet (especially considering Sony's track record with TV lifespan). However, if cost is more important, you'll find a much greater selection of Samsungs in the lower price categories and as less costly TVs go, you could do a lot worse than Samsung.
How does Sony make better panels if Samsung makes all their panels for them? The real answer is: Both. Samsung has really came out of the gates in the last year and they blew Sony out of the water in Volume and overall Sales... Sony has a better Engine with their Bravia Pro, but they charge a hefty premium... Personally I'd save the $1500 premium for the Sony name and their Engine and go with Samsung. Early reviews of the LN55A950 are looking really good, and reports are that it is definitely the best LCD available (only became available within the last week), until the XBR8's come out.
I agree, but if they had just invested that time/money into o-led instead, surely this would create opportunities for them to make the technology more affordable?
That's not an "edit" button there....
I agree, though I do think that if they had invested that time/money into O-LED instead they could have perhaps created more opportunities to improve the technology and make it more affordable?
look like sony is still using sammy panels just like sammy's 1M:1....sony might update with 2M:1 sammy panel when they come out
I'm curious guys.
Who makes better TVs Sony or Samsung?
Consider prices please.
Why does Engadget report on scam figures like dynamic contrast ratio? And without even a hint of irony, either.
Can some one tell me if I'm missing something. The xbr8 with the LED back light has the same static contract ratio as the xbr6/7, 3000:1?
Samsung Doesn't Make Panels for Sony, It's a Joint Operation call S-LCD and it manufactures the 10-Bit Panel available in all of last year's Sony Panels and this year's Z, XBR6, XBR7 and XBR8...The 8-Bit Panels are provided from Sharp, and is currently in the W Series and Below...as for the Quality if Picture the Bravia 2 Engine is Amazing and the XBR8 and 7 Will use the Bravia 2 Pro with the XBR8 Using Tri-luminous Backlighting (Red, Green and Blue LED lights) which is something Samsung Hasnt developed yet only standard LED Backlighting and the High-End XBR's over RC-232c Control which is Industry Unique with a Flash Drive Input and the Best Menu System available
I can tell you first hand that the XBR8 will be huge for Sony. I've seen it in action, and it looked at least as good as a Pioneer Elite. From blacks, contrast, and even motion blur (thanks to Motionflow Plus using the LEDs), it didn't look like an LCD at all. This thing is one notch down from OLED, which still looks slightly more vibrant, but it's really close.
It's a fatty though. Unless they change the production model, the 55" I saw was a bit thicker than your standard LCD. Still not in DLP or SXRD territory by any means but they must have made the chassis a bit larger to fit that LED array, I'm guessing. And the other downfall is that it's also going to run around $7000. Ouch.
It may actually be worth it, though. It's incredible.