Sony Grand Wega(TM) SXRD 50" Rear Projection TV KDS-R50XBR1

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [3.90mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 245.2 pounds
• ASIN: B000BN65NM
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,174 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 18, 2005

Product Description

Looking for a widescreen TV? XBR(R) Grand Wega(TM) offers a great picture for the maximum 1080p HDTV service. Sony's rear projection HDTV is equipped with SXRD technology and offers a brilliant, colorful image pleasing to any pair of eyes. In addition to the dynamic SXRD technology, it features WEGA GATE Easy Operation Guide, CineMotion technology and Sony's WEGA Engine system. Rear projection is not flat-panel but, at about 18 inches deep, it fits on many countertops or its optional stand. Rear Projection allows larger screen sizes at more reasonable cost than flat-panels. If you're looking for supreme quality and value, Sony XBR(R) Grand Wega(TM) is the TV for you. Connections -HDMI , 3 i.LINK(R) Connections, Component Video Connection, Control-S In/Outputs, Optical Digital Audio Output, PC Inputs, 6 Audio Inputs, Audio Output, 3 Composite Inputs 1920 x 1080 Pixels for up to 1080p HDTV SRS TruSurround XT Equipped, S-Master Digital Amplifier, Steady Sound, Dolby Digital Twin-View (Picture in Picture) Memory Stick Media Viewer / Memory Stick(R) Media Slot Audio Power Output - 30 Watts Total (15W x 2) 4 Full-Range Speakers Simulated Surround, Sound Modes - Dynamic, Clear Voice, Natural, Speaker On/Off Auto Channel Programming, Channel Jump, Channel Label, Channel Skip/Add Parental Control with V-Chip Advanced Video Menu, Auto White Balance Black Corrector - High, Medium, Low, Off 3D Digital Comb Filter, Detail Enhancer, Digital Texture Enhancer Direct Digital II Circuitry, DRC(TM) MultiFunction Circuitry, DRC(TM) Palette Presets, Dynamic Focus(TM) Circuitry, Dynamic Picture(TM) Processor, ErgoBright Technology Game Mode, Picture Modes - Vivid, Standard, Pro English, Spanish, French menu displays Program Guide Access Power Save Mode - Standard, Reduced Programmable Timer, Sleep Timer (15, 30, 45, 60, 90 Minutes, OFF), 2-Event Timer Unit Dimension

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning picture quality!, November 28, 2005

By 

G.E. (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony Grand Wega(TM) SXRD 50" Rear Projection TV KDS-R50XBR1 (Electronics)

I looked at half a dozen 1080p true HDTVs in October 2005 before settling on the KDS-R50XBR1 (there is also a KDS-R60XBR1 60" big brother to this TV). I am thrilled with the picture quality, especially after fine-tuning the Brightness, Contrast, Picture, and RGB balance settings using the Avia calibration DVD. Especially on true HDTV 1920x1080 sources, this TV has an absolutely outstanding picture! In fact, it's more like watching a film or looking out a window than a mere television picture. The SXRD picture is liquid smooth and silky with no screen door effect or harsh "graininess" you see in competing technologies such as DLP, LCD, and even plasma.

One important note: If you are debating between the 50" and 60" models, you should know that both models use the same 120 watt bulb. With the 60" model having approximately 20% more screen surface area to light up, that translates to approximately a 20% dimmer picture than the 50 inch model. (If you ask me, it's not a "bright" idea to use the same bulb wattage for two projection TVs of different sizes, but I guess it keeps manufacturing costs down.)

Compare the two models side by side on the same HDTV content (I did) and you'll see a marked difference in the vividness of the whites and bright colors. The KDS-R50XBR1 50" really "pops" (like looking out the window on a sunny day); whereas the KDS-R60XBR1 60" looks merely average in the brightness department (the overall picture is still excellent, just a bit dimmer).

For me, I decided that a smaller screen with a brighter picture was more important than a big screen with a slightly dimmer picture - especially since this TV sits in a daylight room. Hopefully Sony will correct this oversight in a future SXRD model because the 60" picture is considerably more impressive purely from a size perspective.

The pros: Its magnificent picture quality! SXRD is probably the finest picture you can buy for under $12,000. It has advanced picture fine-tuning feature for prosumers. The 50" model has a dazzling bright display that outshines everything I've seen so far.

The cons: The side speakers are relatively weak with no bass response (as one would expect from their diminutive size). They are not detachable, and add a considerable amount of horizontal width to this TV's footprint. They ought to be made detachable or placed beneath the screen instead at the sides. Also, there are only 2 HDMI ports. It is quite conceivable that a person might have 3-4 HDMI devices (Bluray DVD, Playstation 3, Dish Network, Digital Cable, etc.) but most TVs on the market only have 1-2 HDMI ports so this is not unusual. Daytime viewing is generally very good as long as no direct light hits the TV screen; however, projection TVs still don't seem as bright as the old cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs.

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SXRD, best television on the market today, November 25, 2005

By 

The Z Man "Ronnie Z-Man Barzell" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony Grand Wega(TM) SXRD 50" Rear Projection TV KDS-R50XBR1 (Electronics)

We ended up purchasing the 50" set as opposed to the stunning 60" set due to limited space in our living room.

Out of the box, the 50" produced the most stunning HDTV images I have ever seen. Nevermind the fact that I cannot pump any 1080p signals, I'm talking 720p and 1080i. Even from my DirecTV HD feed, which is compressed up the wahzoo, it still looks remarkable.

Adjusting the set appropriately (which most casual users won't even need to do) took no time and inputs were a snap. I have a progressive scan DVD player hooked into it and its attempt at upconverting the signals makes watching standard-def DVDs a pleasure. For a real treat, pop on the new transfer of TOY STORY for eye-popping standard resolution.

And let's talk about the price? 3999 for THIS set? THIS TELEVISION? The last HD set I bought was the beautiful yet flawed Loewe 55" and that cost me over 8000 dollars. That was a DLP rear-projection that, until now, was the best RP image I have witnessed.

Anyway, I can go on and on with technical specs, but your best bet is to hit a Sony Store or a high-end electronics store and witness this beauty for yourself. Also, there is a glowing review in the recent Perfect Vision Magazine.

I honestly feel this is the best HD television on the market today. Sony's SXRD technology blows DLP out of the water and if any of you have witnessed the 70" Qualia rear-projection set Sony introduced last year, you can consider this television the "Baby" Qualia, because that's what it is.

Also, the light output is so strong that I can have all the windows open and the lights up and I can still see 90% of the image.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Yellow fog, May 5, 2007

By 

K. Fortier (Abingdon, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony Grand Wega(TM) SXRD 50" Rear Projection TV KDS-R50XBR1 (Electronics)

I have had this TV for about 9 months now, and I have loved every thing about it. But last night I noticed for the first time the "yellow fog" starting up in the right hand corner. I'm very upset about this because my son bought the same 50" set a couple of months before I did, and last month he ended up having his TV replaced because of the same problem. He said the yellow spot starts out small, but as time goes by it ends up spreading over a lot of the screen. Fortunately, he had purchased a Circuit City extended warranty, and they actually replaced his TV with a new 60" at no charge. Evidently this is a really common problem with this TV and they don't even do the repair anymore. I don't have an extended warranty, so I guess I'll be doing my fighting with Sony. Wish me luck!
PS -- I just had a live internet chat with Sony customer service, and after they figured out that I knew that this has been an ongoing problem, they gave me a link to their website that says there is an extension of the original warranty due to this problem (it's a malfunctioning part called the "optical block"). If Amazon lets me do this, the link is [...]
If you can't paste that into your browser, just go to the Sony website and the announcement and instructions are under "news and alerts".