1. 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
2. DMex compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
3. BRAVIA Sync (Enhanced HDMI-CEC)
4. BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor
5. Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)

Editorial Review :

Performance takes center stage with the KDL-52XBR6 BRAVIA® XBR® LCD flat panel HDTV. Chock full of features including HD 1080p resolution and Motionflow 120Hz technology that provide smooth, natural images. Plus, BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processing enhances overall image detail making every scene sharp, vibrant and life-like. You'll notice deeper blacks with Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE), while 24p True Cinema capability helps deliver the cinematic experience when used with 24p output devices, such as a Blu-ray Disc player. There are also numerous inputs including four HDMI connections, two HD component connections, Digital Media Port and a PC input that offer you a wide range of connectivity options. And with the gorgeous piano gloss black finish, you'll be wondering if the view is nicer with the TV on or off. DMex functionality expands your HDTV's capabilities by letting you connect optional BRAVIA Link modules, including the BRAVIA Internet Video Link, BRAVIA DVD Link, BRAVIA Wireless Link and BRAVIA Input Link (all sold separately) Live Color Creation technology with WCG-CCFL backlight uses advanced chroma signal processing to widen color fidelity Unit Dimensions (Approx.) - 49 1/2 x 34 1/2 x 13 5/8 in (1256.9 x 874 x 346mm) with pedestal; 49 1/2 x 32 3/4 x 4 7/8 in (1256.9 x 830.5 x 121.8mm) without pedestal

Customer Review :

19 days for delivery from Amazon!!!

I ordered Sony Bravia 52XBr6 on Dec 19. Estimated delivery date they posted on site was Dec 30 with wrong Tracking#. Carrier was CEVA. Its Jan 3 today and I haven't got my TV yet. I called carrier CEVA to track the package and they told me that tracking# is wrong. Then, I called Amazon and they are also not sure of the tracking# and whereabout of the package. After making many calls to CEVA and Amazon and having conference calls with them, I came to know that tracking updates on Amazon site was wrong and useless. CEVA finally called me and setup appointment for Jan 7 for delivery. Not sure when CEVA will deliver the package. I would rate Amazon service very poor and suggest that they must change the carrier. I am worried about condition of the TV when it finally arrives and level of service.

Rating :

The Jekyll & Hyde of HDTVs

I spent a good 6 months researching HDTVs, reading reviews and visiting local stores to check them out before I decided on the Sony 52XBR6. But now I'm returning it; read on to find out why.

The only reason I went with an LCD instead of a plasma was because of the screen reflection issue. Our TV will be directly across from a large bay window, with our sofa in-between the two. So my wife and I didn't want to constantly have a reflection of the window behind us in the TV screen. So I never even considered plasma for this single reason.

After speaking to local salespeople, they recommended the Sony XBR6 over all other LCDs, including Samsung. They informed me that although Samsung TVs look nice, they have a quality control issue, where they allow an error rate of 8%-9% off the production line, as opposed to Sony who only allows 1%-2%. One store I went to that services the brands they sell said they stopped carrying the Samsung TVs altogether because they were spending too much time fixing them! So I ordered the Sony XBR6 and my wife and I eagerly awaited delivery.

Upon setting it up, the picture was fine: very clear, and HDTV channels looked crazy good. We popped in the Planet Earth Blu-ray disc, and again we were blown away. I also liked the on-screen menus -- very fluid, sorta like the PS3 or an iPhone. We couldn't have been happier. Little did we know that we were seeing the "Dr. Jekyll" side of this TV, and once nightfall came the "Mr. Hyde" side would emerge...

That night, we sat down to watch a movie on Blu-ray. Almost immediately, even before the opening credits came up (while the screen was still dark), I noticed lights shining from the corners and edges across the screen. There were also a couple of cloudy patches. I pointed them out to my wife, and she said "It looks like a marquee sign!"

I played around with the picture settings for a while, but even when I set the backlight to "Min" (the lowest setting) and the power saving mode to "High" (which is supposed to reduce the backlight to save energy), I could still see the lights. Of course, when the movie was playing I rarely saw them because the picture on-screen overwhelmed the flaws in the backlight. But whenever a dark scene came on, or a scene faded to black before the next scene faded in, you could see these lights. I saw the lights no matter what the source: Blu-ray, DVD, cable TV. My stomach sank, because I found it so distracting that I knew I couldn't keep the TV if something couldn't be done.

I contacted Sony tech support through their online chat feature, and after describing the problem and following a few of their troubleshooting tips, the problem remained. That's when the Sony tech support said, and I quote:

"This is the characteristic drawback of LCD technology. If you think that the LCD technology is not acceptable, you may purchase a plasma display to avoid the clouds."

Here's the kicker... Sony doesn't even make plasma TVs! So they were basically telling me to return their TV and buy a competitor's product!

So why am I giving this TV 3 stars instead of 1? Because in all fairness it does produce a great picture when feeding it an HD signal, as long as the picture is relatively bright all across the screen. If you watch mostly sports, sitcoms, and animation, you'll probably never notice the flaws in the backlight. But if you watch a lot of movies or TV dramas with dark scenes in them, you'll find the backlight flaws totally unacceptable. Maybe you'll get lucky and get one without flaws in the backlight, but that's the chance you're taking.

As for me, I'm getting a plasma, reflections be damned. In fact, I took my wife out to see the Panasonic plasmas at the same store where we bought the XBR6, and she said, "THAT'S the reflection you're talking about? That's not bad at all, I can live with that." And besides, that's what curtains are for, right? So it looks like our replacement TV will be a Panasonic plasma.

If you want to see what the leaking backlight looks like, I posted some photos here: www.webapalooza.com/sonyxbr6/

Rating :

12 days for delivery from Amazon logistic center which only 2 hrs away from where I live

I ordered the TV on Christmas day. Amazon shipped the item the next day on Dec 26 from Reno, NV which is two hours away from where I live. The TV was sitting with the carrier for about 4 days. Finally it arrived in Sacramento on Dec 30. The carrier called for scheduling delivery on Dec 31. The earliest they can deliver is Tuesday Jan 6. I do not know what's wrong with this delivery company. Sacramento is only 1/2 hour away from where I live. They also changed the delivery status everyday, so the tracking is practically useless because they can change the status whenever they feel like it.

I am worried about the service and the condition of the TV when it finally arrives.

Amazon should get a BETTER carrier for Sacramento area because I saw a couple other delivery complaints from people in this area. Strangely I could not find one of the complaints now.

Rating :

Oustanding Picture Quality

Previous Setup: Sony Wega 36 + basic cable for locals / direct tv for everything else + tivo + Bose Lifestyle 1-2 System for sound.

Current Setup: Sony 52XBr6 + direct tv dvr (dual channel) for everything including local channels + Bose Lifestyle 1-2 System for sound + Ethernet connection to the direct tv dvr for on demand service. Upgrading the satellite dish for HD capability also got us a dish that could handle local signals.

Yet to do for setup: Use the network features of the set and add a blue ray player. Since we rarely used the dvd or vhs that were connected to the Sony Wega, a blue ray is a low priority. We will probably never use the tv for playing games.

Delivery: Oustanding. Ordered through Amazon and received the set in 5 business days. One notice from Amazon when the set shipped and would be at my house, and one notice from the delivery company about delivery time. I did nothing but open the door for the delivery folks. They took care of the unpacking and setting up the tv. They made sure the remote and the set worked, and they were off after no more than 15-20 minutes from start to finish.

Picture Quality: More than for any other reason, this is why I bought this tv. For me, the decision process started and ended with picture quality, everything else a set had to offer was just extras, nice to have or something to ignore. On the XBR6, HD is stunning. SD is excellent. This is equally true for sports, movies, news, evening soaps. The XBR6 delivers a vibrant picture whether you are sitting straight in front of it or off to one side or the other. The factory settings are very close to the mark, if not on it. If you decide to tweek the picture for personal preferences or to accommodate room lighting, the manual and online menus are easy to follow and offer concise explanations.

No reflective glare: Concern about glare and reflection was a critical decision point for me because the set was going into a room with multiple windows and skylights Daytime with the Sony Wega's reflective crt screen had been horrible. Now, after watching the XBR6 on a few sunny days in a row, glare and reflections are subdued/tamed except on very dark scenes. On colorful scenes, the glare and reflections just aren't noticeable. I am very pleased. My expectations have been more than exceeded. The Samsungs I strongly considered as well as a couple of plasma sets got nixed because of my concerns about reflection and glare. A small negative for me is the reflective quality of the plastic frame around the set.

Sound System: Sound quality from the tv was never a decision factor for me just as it wasn't 10 years ago. A 10 year old Bose Lifestyle 1-2 system was easily connected, and its Dolby 5.1 output sounds better than ever.

Quality and reliability: Sony is number one in service and reliability. The rest are still learning. You can look it up. I did.

Misc. : 1. We have a small net monthly savings by going with direct tv for the local channels, dvr and hd. This amount does not include the foregone costs for tivo since we had paid a one time fee for the life of the unit to avoid month to month subscription fees to it. This amount does include the rip-off monthly fee increase for high speed internet access from the cable company because we discontinued cable service. After eight years with tivo, I thought I'd miss it more than I have, but the features on the direct tv dvr are very similar.
2. There is a couple of seconds delay when switching from one channel to the next. I assume it is due to the line from the satellite that is being multiplexed as a dual line. It is more than acceptable to me, but the pause that refreshes is noticeable.
3. The Tv Guide feature that Sony is promoting is useless for satellite subscribers because it is incompatible (unsupportable?) with them and also redundant, just as it is with cable.
4. You don't need to pay a premium for hdmi cables. See the discussion on avsforums about them as well as their discussions about lcd televisions. The discussions can be over the top and sometimes make a fringe issue sound like it is the center of the universe. These folks care about their viewing experiences. They also seem to know something. They are more reasonable than a person who faults a set sold in the US for not supporting a frame rate used overseas.
5. When doing diligence, I used cnet's reviews, myproductadvisor (to better understand my own requirements and what features are out there, although it seems to have a Samsung bias), other expert reviews, end user reviews (like this one and the others here), the manufacturer websites, and visits to several stores to see with my own eyes.
6. I am 100% satisfied, a very happy camper. I had high expectations from order placement to the day to day set usage, and those high expectations have been met. Sony, Amazon, direct tv and Bose are a great combination, and they've clicked at every level for me. I think they are the best at what they do.

Thanks for listening. I had fun. I hope this helped.

Rating :

Sony delivers!

You could not pay me enough to choose a different unit over Sony's XBR lineup. I own a 52" XBR4 (now in the bedroom), and purchased the 52" XBR6 for the living room. Sony's televisions aren't as mainstream popular as Samsung's comparable units, as they are a bit more money, but I'm a buyer who prefers quality over cost, and Sony delivers to A/V enthusiasts who know what they want from a unit. Even the differences between the XBR4 (purchased Feb '08) and the XBR6 (purchased Dec '08) indicate Sony is putting great effort into their R&D to offer the best possible television to the market. Samsung and Sony share an LCD manufacturing plant in Korea; Samsung still makes great televisions, but the gloss screens weren't for me. Sony's matte finish screens and extra video options are great for those who like to tweak, and the Bravia Sync features are very wife and family friendly.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
2. DMex compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
3. BRAVIA Sync (Enhanced HDMI-CEC)
4. BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor
5. Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)

Editorial Review :

Remarkable picture quality and eye-popping colors are hallmarks of this XBR 6-Series LCD HDTV. Sony's BRAVIA engine and advanced contrast enhancer dynamic backlight control combine to offer phenomenal picture quality.

Customer Review :

Very happy with this TV!

I really love this TV! I compared it to the Samsung, which had some higher revews, but when I saw them side-by-side, I really liked this better. The setup was intuitive, and my jaw dropped when I saw the Blu-Ray picture on it. I was happy with the HD feed, but the Blu-Rays take it to the next level. Love the four HDMI inputs, too -- need them!

Rating :

Great TV poor service by Amazon

I ordered this from Amazon and it was to be delivered on the 31 Dec. When it did not arrive, I called Amazon on the 2d of Jan as the web tracking was last updated 23 Dec and showed it in Sacramento. The gave me a phone number to call the shipper. Four calls later I finally located the TV at the shipper and had the option of waiting another 6 days for them to deliver or go get it myself. It was a 20 mile trip each way. The bottom of the box was open and after a quick (too quick) inspection the shipper retaped the bottom of the box and I brought it home. When opened the manual, batteries, and screws to attach the base were missing. I called Amazon and they said their TV department would contact me. They did and told me I should call Sony to find out if they would supply the missing parts. I said they should call Sony or send me a new TV. They sent a new e-mail saying they had called Sony and if I called Sony, Sony would send the parts. I did call Sony and after 1.5 hours on the phone, I got the parts ordered. Oh, and the said it will only take 7 to 10 business days to get the missing parts to me. I will try the TV when they arrive. In the mean time, Amazon's lack of service is a source of irritation.

Rating :

Worth it if you can get it below $2000

This is not a comprehensive review-just a review of what features I personally use in this HDTV as of this writing (January 2009). I just wanted to post my support for Sony making a very nice LCD-based HDTV.

I'm not a high end video enthusiast, and I bought the unit on sale ($1700), as I thought the launch price of $2500 was WAY too much. Anyway, I mostly use it with my Playstation 3 games and Blu-Ray movies, and may use it for PC gaming later. The images are nice and crisp and the anti-judder "motionflow" is creepy, but cool. Watching Rambo 4 panning sequences makes it look like actual live action, so for movies that are shot natively at 24 FPS, the technology has a "wow factor" that has to be seen to be believed. Wipeout HD looks fantastic on it, and seeing Blu-Ray resolution images on something of this size (or bigger) is a noticeable step up in visual quality that standard DVD resolutions just don't have even if they are upscaled. I plugged in my wife's laptop and with a gold-plated VGA connector, the 1280X1024 resolution was good, but her laptop doesn't offer a 1920X1080 resolution so if you have the intent to use the HDTV as a giant computer monitor, check to make sure your video card has the option of 1920X1080. The unit includes some JPEG images hardwired to the Linux-powered BRAVIA system, and so the colors are really robust on a high quality still picture. The navigation menus are pretty easy to use including the network setup. The audio has a good volume to it, and there is just enough bass to balance everything out. The simulated surround sound also works nicely. The unit feels like it is under 50 pounds so it's easily movable and the chassis is very attractive (I like the "floating LED" on the front).

So far the only negative here is that the remote control cannot control my Playstation 3 Blu-Ray DVD functionality. I assumed that it would...

If you can get this HDTV under $2000, like the price I paid for it, it's still expensive, but I think it's worth it. Highly recommended.

Rating :

Wonderful Picture.

I've owned several Sony TVs over the years but this was my first HDTV. I read a number of professional reviews but I really valued the customer feedback to give me the bottom line as a user. I wanted a 40" set and found the choice really come down to the Sony KDL40XBR6 and the Samsung LN40A650. I went to see them both and was pleased with the picture and features (like the 120 hz refresh rate) of each. I settled on the Sony because of the quality reputation and my wife being Japanese, has a strong belief in Japanese brand (although not necessarily made there) products. Price point was about $250 more for the Sony but I felt justified because of the brand. I wanted a HDTV that was simple to set up and simple to control. Set up was easy and the HD image is great. Compared to an old CRT set the controls take a little time to learn but are not overwhelming. I have my old standard Panasonic DVD player connected with a S-video cable and DVD image quality is very good too. Overall my first impressions are good ones, especially if you like to watch football...wow!

Rating :

Sony XBR6 TV -- Outstanding! A few cautions . . .

We expected to be blown away by the Sony XBR6, especially since so many people rank it even with or better than the Samsung 750. And the picture is great - when you get all the adjustments fine tuned. The Steelers trouncing of the Browns game was gorgeous! We highly recommend it but with a few cautions:

- Not the set for the "set it and forget it" type. Many adjustments required but it is beautiful when you get done.
- Sound. We heard many complaints about the sound from LCD sets so picked the XBR6 specifically because it has an internal subwoofer. But we found the subwoofer made little difference even when set to maximum, especially if you put the TV in a cabinet where the sound gets trapped inside. We fixed this by hooking up an external powered subwoofer to the sound output jacks on the rear of the set. Made a phenomenal difference - I highly recommend this if you can't use a surround sound receiver. And you can't do it on the Samsung (see below).
- Network upgrades. Features are evolving fast on LCD TV's so we wanted one that had the Ethernet cable jack to download the latest firmware versions over time. But according to Sony customer support their website that checks for new firmware is down, and even if it was working you still have to do the upgrade by downloading it to your computer and moving it to the TV via the USB port. I think they are wrong but did not have time to debate it with them.
- Signal diagnostics. According to Sony customer support this option only tells you the signal strength of broadcast TV. The website and manual make you think it looks at each signal coming into the set to tell you what resolution it is, etc. Again, I think the support rep was wrong but not a big deal.
- Not all USB devices work with the XBR6 USB port. To Sony's credit they state this clearly in the manual, but it was still frustrating to move a lot of pictures to a USB drive and then not be able to view them on the TV.
- Digital Media Port. This seems to be a confused option. The reviews have way too many complaints about what works and what doesn't when using it to connect iPods, etc. So instead of using the DMP we bought the Apple iPod composite connection cable and it works very well - even when playing movies from the iPod.

Pros:
- Feature set. All the benefits of 120 Hz, 24p, higher contrast, etc., are real and work well on the XBR6. Be ready to turn the 120Hz off at times (motion enhancer) because it works so well movies can end up looking "artificially good" (soap opera looking is the term we heard). But turning it off and on is easy.
- Picture is more natural than Samsung. The Samsung 750 can be stunning in the store but the color intensity can actually be fatiguing when you get it home. You can adjust it, but we liked the natural color of the Sony XBR6 better. The "Vivid" mode on the Sony can still crank up the color when you want it.
- Variable sound output. The Samsung only has fixed sound output jacks. The Sony XBR6's can be set to be variable. This made it possible for us to feed a powered subwoofer and control the sound level at the same time as the TV speakers with the remote control. Very nice effect without the complexity of a full surround sound receiver set up.
- Slim design. The width of the frame around the screen is the smallest we saw. This enabled us to fit the 40" XBR6 into our exiting entertainment center. Also minimizes the frame when hanging the set on a wall. The Samsung frame is much wider and has that "touch of color" tinting that we think distracts from the TV screen.
- No "cloud" effect. Not sure what this is but other reviewers mentioned it. We had no problem.
- Many, many input jacks including USB, LAN, HDMI on the side, etc.
- Deals can be had. Shop! We originally paid $1700, which was the best deal at the time. Then got a price match to $1560 just before Christmas. But the final deal was the combination incentive with the Sony s550 Blu-ray disc player which put the set at just over $1000! (If you don't need the Blu-ray you can resell it easily for more than you pay in the combo deal.)



Rating :

More reviews...

1. 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
2. DMex compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
3. BRAVIA Sync (Enhanced HDMI-CEC)
4. BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor
5. Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)

Editorial Review :

46" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * high-gloss black finish with silver speaker grille * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * 1920 x 1080 pixels * Motionflow 120Hz anti-blur technology for clearer motion *

Customer Review :

non accurate primary colors

I own 46" XBR6 for about 3 weeks now, I use this as a monitor from time to time and find primary colors somewhat inaccurate. Though I have to say this display does provide POP people ask for. I have not played any blu-ray movies so can't comment on that but pretty sure it would look great. Black levels are much better than I expected from an LCD. Even SDTV feed from cable looks better than expected but not for all programming so I can firmly say that upconversion process is pretty good. I did not see any motion blur while watching football. My initial comment about non-accurate color is more evident when you have another TV/monitor side by side (i have 21" NEC Professional series CRT next to my 46XBR6), otherwise it would be hard to tell for most people as my wife and friends were not able to see inaccurate primary colors until i turned my NEC.

Rating :

Spectacular Picture, Mysterious Sound Problem

The picture on this set is the most remarkable I have ever seen and I have been watching television since 1939. It does have one strange problem. When connected to Time Warner cable in New York City,the sound goes off for a few seconds at irregular intervals - it could be once every five minutes or it could be once an hour. If the same HDMI input is used for the Blu Ray player there is no problem. Nor is there a problem if the Time Warner box is connected to a 22 inch Sony High definition set. Sony has no idea what to do.

Rating :

Great LCD TV

I've owned the Sony 46XBR6 for about a month and have nothing but praise for it. The TV was very easy to set up; within minutes I had the cable box, a Nintendo Wii and DVD player hooked up with HDMI and component cables. The TV remote is very easy to operate as well.

As for the picture quality, it is second to none. Sports, concerts, documentaries, and my favorite TV shows pop with amazing color and detail. I knew that the XBR series was known for its top-notch picture quality, but I am honestly surprised at how amazing the HD picture quality is on this TV.

If you are in the market for an LCD HDTV do yourself a favor and check the 46XBR6 out in person - you will not be disappointed. The XBR6 is worth every penny I spent on it, and I'm sure you will feel the same way once you have one in your home.

Rating :

Awesome, Awesome!

I have had this now for a little over two weeks, and am blown away by the picture quality. The reviewer who complained about only one rf antenna input needs to get a new set top box from the cable company or change to a new provider. I am subscribed to Verizon FIOS in the Maryland suburbs, and their set top box for HD has multiple outputs including an HDMI. This TV has multiple inputs, including a single RF input for off the air or cable; three older yellow, red and white types; two component inputs, 4 HDMI inputs plus a PC and DMeX input. This should cover everyone's needs. The remote will control up to 4 devices including Verizon's STB, and you can program it tell you what device you are connecting.

Overall, I was pleased with the white glove delivery. The CEVA company out of Odenton said they would deliver it between 10 and 3, but the driver didn't arrive until 5. In his defense, he said that this was the last of his 22 appointments for that day. He came in and helped to move the older 32 inch CRT TV, and to set up the SONY. He didn't leave until the new TV was working properly, which was easily done.

So far everything is working perfectly, and if I could, I would give it more than 5 stars.

I have been an Amazon purchaser for almost ten years, and have never been disappointed.

Rating :

Awesome!

This television is just plain awesome! If you can get this television for uder $2000, buy it! This is the best television you can get for the price. The picture is crystal clear and installation was easy.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
2. Motionflow™ 120Hz - clear, smooth motion for DVDs, TV
3. DMex ™ compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
4. Enhanced XMB™ with 3D graphics incl. TV Guide
5. HDMI™ x4, HD Component x2, PC Input

Editorial Review :

52" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * high-gloss black finish * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * 1920 x 1080 pixels * 2 component video (accepts signals up to 1080p) *

Customer Review :

In time for the digital tv switch, and way to go Amazon!

My parents have been looking to replace their 20 year old big screen television for awhile now and took advantage of my being around for the holidays to purchase the Sony Bravia W-series 52 inch lcd tv so that, lucky me, I could set it up for them. I will mention that this TV is being used solely for free, over the air digital broadcasting and not for cable or satellite TV, so I will review it as such.

First, Amazon was, well, amazing. We purchased the TV on the Friday afternoon after Christmas, told it would arrive between Jan 6 - 15, but actually received it on New Year's eve, less than 3 full business days after ordering it! Amazon's delivery contractor was excellent, their tracking system was on top of the order from beginning to end, and they had two guys bring in the television and help set it up on our tv stand. Score. After getting a good look at the size of this TV (it's like the size of 2.5 of me!), it is not the sort of thing you would want to load into your car and try to bring home on your own. This is not even to mention that Amazon's price was at least $300 below the local big electronics retailer (that's not even including the tax I would have had to pay).

Set up was brilliantly simple (which is good, b/c I'm a moron when it comes to electronics). My parents don't speak English, so I was pleased to see that once setup was complete, the TV pretty much worked itself. I set the TV up with the new Sony bluray player we got using an HDMI cable (Amazon's prices, again, the best for those cables); hooked up our very old vcr with the old analog (3 pronged, red, yellow, and white) cable; hooked up the old rabbit-ear antenna (relieved I didn't need to buy a new one); plugged all these pieces into a surge protector and ta-da! It worked! I also love love love how the TV instantly detects the external components, so you can put in a videotape, DVD, or bluray disc and push play, and the TV will automatically go to your external device. (This is good, again, for the electronically challenged among us.) I should add that there are 4 HDMI outlets on this TV, a PC outlet, and room for at least 4 analog components.

Lots of features on this guy: auto-sensor for ambient light; excellent speakers; Bravia sync which synchronized the TV to our bluray player so they turned on/off in unison; free TV guide programming; power saving options; etc. etc. etc. Unlike another reviewer, I actually really like the remote control. It's incredibly user-friendly. The only thing I would change is that the home button and circular trackpad be moved to the bottom and the channel & volume buttons be moved to the middle.

The picture is good. I think, though, that I was expecting a lot better. There is still some evidence (or more evidence than I'd prefer) of pixelation despite all the fanfare regarding the 120Hz and digital signal. Potential buyers should take care in picking the appropriate sized TV for their room, as this will only emphasize the pixelation if you get a TV too large for your space.

I don't know if this is something that will get ironed out in the future, but the letterboxing (i.e. the black bars on the sides or on top & bottom of the program being viewed) is kinda annoying. You can switch from channel to channel or even (when on the same channel) from program to program and you'll see different variations on the letter boxing. I was watching the local news which had no letter-boxing, then they'd run a commercial that had letterboxing on the sides of the screen, then the next commercial would have letterboxing on both sides AND on the top and bottom of the screen, etc. etc. Sony made it easier to deal with this with the simple touch of the "Wide" button on the remote, but you have to adjust it with every single program and/or channel. It would be nice if there were some way that this was fixed universally or if Sony could have automatically adjusted the picture to the perfect zoom. (Sigh, maybe I ask too much.) As I said, perhaps this will be ironed out once the networks adjust to only digital signals.

Very happy with the purchase and I think you definitely get your money's value with this tv.


Rating :

Beautiful picture, beautiful price

This Sony television, in my opinion, has all of the highest qualities that I was looking for in an LCD TV. I have noticed the greatness of the 120 Mhz motionflow in comparison to the 60 Mhz televisions, especially when playing an action movie or an action game on PS 3.

This thing has 4 HDMI inputs as well. LCD backlighting was not really a big selling point for me and frankly I don't think it justifies the price increase.

Overall, I'm very happy with this beautiful picture.

Rating :

Sony 52" LCD - Excellent

After waiting two years to save, and then researching all the options, I chose the Sony 52" LCD W4100, which was an excellent choice. I read many reviews on Amazon and Consumer Reports, plus many trips to different stores to look and test. I just purchased this TV (Nov 2008), and have had no problems. The picture and sound is awesome. I looked at the other options: Samsung, etc, and they were good too, but in the end, I chose the Sony. I will add one note about the Samsung touch of class model. I was very close to purchasing it b/c it was $200 cheaper. However, when I compared the volume, I discovered the speakers on the samsung pointed down, and it did not sound very loud at the maximum level. When I checked the volume on the this Sony, WOW, awesome, excellent!!! That was the only difference and main reason I went with the Sony, plus the normal quality of Sony. I recommend a Blu Ray player (which I purchased with my TV) if your a movie buff, like me, it is amazing picture, and well worth the investment.

Rating :

So far, so very good

I was apprehensive about ordering such a large ticket item from Amazon (or any online company)but this has proven to be a very smooth and money-saving transaction. I ordered this tv (along with a blu ray player in a promotional deal) on Christmas night from Amazon. The shipping date I received was to be December 30 with an expected delivery of January 6. I received the Blu Ray on the 28th and the tv today about 4:00 PM, much sooner than expected.

The Amazon site when I placed the order didn't show White Glove delivery but the shipper's site did. The one delivery guy and I moved the TV off the truck, carried it across my yard and brought it into my living room; together we hooked it up - one HDMI cable from the cable box so that part was not too tough! It would have been, however, very difficult for one person (either the delivery guy or me) to have moved this tv into my house alone.

It would be handy if Amazon's site had showed a rear view of the set. I didn't think about this issue until almost the last minute; the tv's input and output panel are on the left side of the tv as you look at it from the front - the "s" side if you're looking at "Sony". If your cable box, etc are on the right side of the TV, as mine are, you may need a longer HDMI cable than you originally thought. (The inexpensive 6 footer I ordered through Amazon, which works great by the way, barely reaches.) I have ordered two of the ten footers to eliminate worries when I hook up the Blu Ray and other components.

The tv looks good in my living room (and will be much nicer when I get it mounted next week) and has been a pleasure to watch this afternoon and evening. The matte screen is great. Virtually no reflections and I have a bright living room. I have read other reviewers who have commented that this tv's screen is not as bright as the Samsung's - I found this to be true when comparing them side by side in Best Buy; however in my living room this tv is plenty bright without the reflection issue. The instruction booklet is thorough to say the least.



Rating :

My first big screen tv, second LCD: I love it!

I love it! Do I have any complaints or regrets? Nope. The price was better than anywhere else on Amazon. The picture quality is awesome, the sound quality/loudness impressive (where does all that sound come from?!), and I dig the Sony quality/functionality/features (partly why I chose it). Now I just need to get that blu-ray player!

Rating :

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1. 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
2. Motionflow¿ 120Hz; improves TV & DVD viewing
3. DMeX¿ compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
4. DLNA® Compliant - view photos from another room
5. HDMI¿ x4, HD Component x2, PC Input

Editorial Review :

Look no further than the KDL-46Z4100 for the most strikingly stunning and downright sophisticated HDTV Sony has to offer. With a remarkably slim bezel design, Motionflow 120Hz for the reproduction of smooth, lifelike images, BRAVIA Engine 2 and ACE for deeper blacks and crisp shadow detail, this TV's sensational design is only matched by its picture. The KDL-46Z4100 also includes DLNA compatibility so you can access your digital photo collection over your home network. DMex is also on board for an optional digital connection to innovative expansion modules like the BRAVIA Internet Video Link for exciting web-based content. The Digital Media Port (DMP) is included for connecting your portable digital audio devices like iPod and Walkman(R) music players. Sony combines 10-bit processing with a 10-bit panel, allowing 64 times the levels of color expression. 24p True Cinema Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) Technology Live Color Creation Technology x.v.Color and Deep Color PhotoTV HD Game Mode MPEG Noise Reduction 3D Comb Filter CineMotion Reverse 3 - 2 Pulldown Technology Channel Fix DMeX Seamless Upgradeable Audio Digital Amplifier Port for PC connection - Perfect for browsing and viewing video websites Ports - AC-In (Rear), RF Connection Input (Rear), 3 Composite Video Inputs (1 Side/2 Rear), S-Video Input (Rear), 2 Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr ) Inputs (Rear), 4 HDMI Connections (1 Side/3 Rear), PC In (D-Sub) + Audio In (Stereo Mini) (Rear), 6 Analog Audio Inputs 6 (1 Side/5 Rear), Audio Out (Rear), Optical Digital Audio Output (Rear), Headphone Output (Side), Digital Media Port Connector (Rear), PC Input, and RS-232C Control Dimensions - 42.5 x 27.1 x 3 (1079x686x74mm), 42.5 x 29 x 12.1 (1079x734x307mm) with pedestal Weight - 49 pounds (22kg), 58 pounds (26kg) with pedestal

Customer Review :

Best Picture for the Money

I went with the Sony Bravia based on recommendations from friends and family who owned them. I decided on the 46 in. Z-series based on the 120 HZ refresh and 24p true color. Having owned it for two months, I am extremely happy with my decision. The picture is amazing, and after comparing to my friend's 52 in. W-series, I can tell a difference in picture quality with the Z-series true color. I also like the slim LCD frame and 3 in. depth. The only difficulty I encountered was four rows of multi-colored pixels that showed up the day after it was delivered. After talking to Sony, we decided that it was a processor issue and they recommended returning it (I found out later that the Sony website has software updates to correct this). Due to Amazon's awesome return policy they delivered a new one within two weeks and picked up the old one upon delivery. No hassles-no questions asked and I was never without a TV. Note that the Amazon electronics return policy is only good for 30 days and Amazon won't budge on this. After that, the Sony warranty kicks in. Amazon direct may cost a little more but in my book it was worth the extra money.

Rating :

Best 46'' LCD TV in the market for the price

I got the Sony KDL-46Z4100/B this morning from Circuit City with a free Sony blu-ray BDP-S350 player for under 1500 including taxes. Very good picture quality, pleasantly surprised with how good the sound is from the TV. Remote that comes with the TV is universal, I can control my cable box, av receiver, blu-ray player all-in-one remote.

I find this TV to be of very high quality, I hope it can last like the Sony CRT TV I own.

Rating :

All-around great value

Have had the 46z for six weeks now. It's our first HDTV, and frankly it's been life-changing! Better finish up any projects or books you wanted to read before the TV arrives.

The picture looks great in Standard picture mode, and you can toggle to Cinema mode for late-night movie watching with the touch of a button. I used the TV speakers for a month while getting our home theater installed, and I was impressed with the sound. It's still nothing like watching in surround with a booming subwoofer though, that's half the experience of watching movies!

Also, for anyone on the sidelines over signing up for HD programming with your cable or satellite provider, it's a must. (Unless you just watch OTA antenna broadcasts.) Seriously, watching in HD is a totally different experience, and even my six-year-old notices when a channel is not high def. We have our 46z about 11 feet from the viewing position, and it's perfect for this distance. I was thrilled to be able to fit it in our entertainment center with the thin bezel. All the other HDTV models I was considering would have had to be 40" in order to fit.

Oh, and if you're buying new components it really is worth considering making everything Sony for the Bravia Sync. I put a DVD in the player and voila, it turns on my TV and A/V receiver. Awesome! The remotes work interchangeably. Even when I use my Dish Network remote to adjust the volume the Bravia Sync knows which speakers I'm using (TV or external) and adjusts the right ones.

Rating :

Great Picture

I love my new Sony Z. The picture is terrific and the sound is pretty good too. There are a lot of bells and whistles on this TV set and it is taking me a while to learn what they all are.

Rating :

Amazing

What a great tv, upgraded from a Sony 32" 720p about two weeks ago and loving every second of it, I don't need to say about the quality, features or looks, that was well explained on the reviews bellow, they were very helpful for making my choice.
Now, I only have one minor con, that is the first tv I've seen that has sleep timer without a sleep button on remote control, to activate the sleep timer you must go to MENU, than SETTINGS and Clock/timers instead of just pressing the sleep timer button. I know that maybe 97% of users use this set on living rooms, so sleep timer are not used(I believe), but I use on my room and was very handy using the ST function directly from the remote control. So that was it, my only tiny con that I found. I really recommend this Sony KDL-46Z4100.

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