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Sony KDL-55XBR8: Review

Posted to Televisions 2009-05-18

If you were to say "breathless" and "amazing" in the same sentence, then the Sony KDL55XBR8 55 inch Class BRAVIA XBR8 Series LCD HDTV (KDL-55XBR8) would probably come to mind. This is truly one of the most stunning televisions available on the market today. With a monster-sized screen, rich colors, and incredible audio and video quality, this model completes the home theater experience. At a very hefty price, it provides the best picture and sound in an LCD. You should consider purchasing this product if your truly want your "wow" friends come game-day.

In addition to its incredible quality, an array of breathtaking features makes this massive television an award-winner. This 55" 10-bit LCD has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with an aspect ratio of 16:9. With the stand attached, it measures 58.6 in x 33.8 in x 14.1 in and weighs 120 pounds. If we remove the stand, it measures 58.6 in x 31.6 in x 5.9 in and weighs 105 pounds. The giant screen size is not the only impressive part of this TV. It also features the new and improved BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO, which provides unsurpassed video quality when compared to older models.

Rating:

4.8 out of 5

Features

The Sony KDL-55XBR8 has many more features that were added to this series in 2008. Several enhancements were not available prior to then. As far as ports go, this model comes with four HDMI and two components. It also includes a PC-input for computer connectivity, along with one Ethernet and USB 2.0 port. And it comes with an array of other plugs, including S-video and audio inputs/outputs. The XBR8 series represents Sony's first mass-market attempt at using LEDs. It utilizes three color channels of LEDs- two green, one red, and one blue- for each of the 128 LED modules behind the surprisingly-thin screen of this model. In addition, it has a 120Hz refresh rate and three Motion Enhancer settings instead of two. It also comes with a Bluetooth wireless audio adapter and an iPod dock. Overall, this model is loaded with a ton of features.

Performance

Performance-wise, this TV is among the best-performing flat-panel LCDs available on the market. With its 1080p/24p cinematic screen pixels, this model produces superb black level and color accuracy. The breathtaking image quality of this LCD is made possible by its advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO (ACE PRO) that makes use of the TRILUMINOS RGB LED backlights. Users may be surprised to find that this model also offers great performance even under a variety of bright light situations. It displays uniformity of brightness across the screen, which is helpful if you have room lighting that differs from a typical situation. The smoothness of the picture is attributed to the several award-winning video rendering and processing engines that this model possesses.

Summary

When looking at all the features, qualities, and performance that this LCD offers and comparing it with other models available, the Sony KDL-55XBR8 truly ranks among the best in the market. The only thing downside that users must examine is the extremely-high price of this LCD, which is quite outrageous when compared to prices offered by competing models and companies. Nevertheless, if you are really just looking for that breathtaking picture experience and do not care about the price, then you should seriously consider this product.

Pros

Breathtaking 55 inch 1080p/24p LCD screen with flawless motion and vibrant colors
Motionflow 120Hz PRO, DLNA, BRAVIA Engine Pro 2, TRILUMINOS, and more
Tons of ports and plugs- 4 HDMI, 2 Component, PC, Ethernet, USB, etc
Almost too many award-winning features and advanced technologies to list

Cons

VERY expensive- an awesome television suited only for the serious viewer