Sony Bravia XBR KDL-55XBR8 55-Inch 1080p 120Hz Triluminos LED LCD HDTV

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 58.6 x 5.9 x 31.6 inches ; 107 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 135 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B001GIPMO4
• Item model number: KDL55XBR8
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,431 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 22, 2008

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Take the next step forward in HDTV technology with the KDL-55XBR8 BRAVIA XBR8 LCD flat panel HDTV. In addition to Full HD 1080p, this XBR-8 Series TV features TRILUMINOS RGB Dynamic LED backlight which produces breathtaking images with enhanced color purity that result in deep blacks and bright whites with startling depth and exceptional shadow detail. You'll also see the difference with Motionflow 120Hz PRO technology which enhances motion and delivers a smoother and clearer picture. Your 1080p HD images will look more breathtaking than ever thanks to the BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO fully digital video processor. This XBR-8 Series TV has DMex functionality which lets you expand the capabilities of your HDTV by adding optional BRAVIA Link modules (sold separately), plus it comes with plenty of connectivity options to connect your video sources.

A bold new design with a color-accented speaker grille complements the gloss black finish, which also hints at the floating glass look of previous XBR models. If you’re looking for some personalization you can purchase an optional speaker grille in multiple colors.

Last updated September 30, 2008

Key Features

• TRILUMINOS RGB Dynamic LED backlight produces incredible 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio in an LCD panel (Learn more)
  
• New: TV Guide IPG (Learn more)
• New: Enhanced (XMB) User Interface with Rich 3D Graphics (Learn more)
• New: DLNA Compliant (Learn more)
• New: Digital Media Port (Learn more)
  
• 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920 x 1080p) (Learn more)
  
• BRAVIA Engine PRO fully digital video processor (Learn more)
  
• Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE) (Learn more)
  
• 24p True Cinema capable (Learn more)
• Emmy-award winning Xross Media Bar user interface (Learn more)
• DMeX capable (Learn more)
• BRAVIA Sync capable (Learn more)
  
• S-Force Front Surround Voice Zoom (Learn more)
• Robust Connectivity with 4 HDMI inputs, 2 HD Component inputs, and a PC Input (Learn more)
• Piano Gloss Black with Onyx Speaker Grille
• Remote: RM-YD023

Which Bravia HDTV is Right for You?

• Comparison chart of features for all Sony Bravia HDTV Series
• What size TV should I get?
  

Learn More

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TRILUMINOS RGB Dynamic LED Backlight

TRILUMINOS RGB LED backlight technology aligns individual clusters of red, green, and blue LEDs to produce a significantly higher purity of primary colors than single white LED backlights, resulting in more accurate color reproduction. This clustered arrangement also allows the XBR8 to adjust the brightness of the backlight in units of small blocks, so it can display deep blacks in one portion of the screen and bright whites in another, producing images with enhanced depth, three-dimensionality and exceptionally accurate shadow detail. Further, unlike conventional full-screen luminance control, the BRAVIA suppresses unneeded backlighting and, therefore, consumes less power than the conventional LED-backlit models. And, because it uses LEDs rather than the fluorescent tubes found in many HDTVs, Dynamic LED backlighting also promises exceptionally long life. Found only in XBR8 Series HDTVs Go back to list of all features.

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Full HD 1080p

Full HD 1080p means our connections accept 1080p signals and the display will render that signal in Full HD 1080p. The flexibility of native 1920 x 1080 displays allows any high definition content to be viewed without the need to downconvert images to the native resolution of the display. Take full advantage of Blu-ray Disc players and PlayStation 3 systems that can deliver 1080p content. (Found in S, V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs) Go back to list of all features.

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Digital Media Extender (DMe^x)

Sony's Digital Media Extender (DMex) offers a digital connection path for optional modules like the BRAVIA Internet Video Link, as well as other modules you can add in the future. Innovative DMex expansion capabilities integrate into the award-winning XMB user interface making HDTVs a powerful entertainment platform that not only meets current needs, but expands to meet tomorrow’s needs as well. Go back to list of all features.

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BRAVIA Engine Technology

The latest version of Sony’s respected BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor uses a collection of unique SONY algorithms to significantly reduce noise and produce sharp, vibrant, life-like images. Dynamic Noise Reduction: Intelligently identifies and dramatically reduces noise in the signal according to the motion and brightness of each scene for clearer, crisper images. Detail Enhancement: Improved image enhancement algorithms render greater overall detail. Contrast Enhancement: Works with the Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit to optimize the contrast for every scene to create better depth and reality. BRAVIA Engine technology optimizes the color, contrast, detail and clarity of every scene for the exceptional performance that BRAVIA HDTVs are known for.

Enhance the blacks Match the color Smooth the motion Filter the Image Clean the image Widen the tone range	DRC-MFv1 (SD-HD Creation) Digital Texture Enhancer Enhance the blacks Match the color Smooth the motion Filter the Image Clean the image Widen the tone range	DRC HD-HD (SD-HD Creation) Digital Texture Enhancer Enhance the blacks Match the color Smooth the motion Filter the Image Clean the image Widen the tone range

Go back to list of all features

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Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE)

Part of the cinematic drama in film-making comes from details found in shadows and dark areas of the picture. Sony’s Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE)n uses real-time image processing to dynamically adjust backlight levels for improved contrast without masking details the filmmaker intended you to see. ACE delivers deep blacks in darker scenes, as well as fine details in shadows and other dark areas of the picture for a difference you can truly see. Go back to list of all features.

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Motionflow 120Hz Technology

No Motion Flow

With Motion Flow

Motionflow 120Hz technology doubles the number of existingframes by calculating in real time and inserting 60 entirely new frames between the original 60 frames. It uses a special Sony-developed algorithm that detects specific objects, as well as the movement of the overall scene and intelligently applies the right amount of enhancement. There’s more to the story. Unlike some other high frame rate technologies, Motionflow also includes Sony’s unique Image Blur Reduction algorithm, which reduces blur from the original source image captured by a camera before applying motion enhancement technology. Judder is a visual artifact that shows up in video content that has been converted from film-based content. A visible jerking or stuttering effect can sometimes be seen during motion sequences on converted film-based content that may be noticeable on scenes that include panning. There are many forms of high frame rate technology in the market today, but only Motionflow 120Hz technology uses special Sony algorithms designed to intelligently detect and apply the right amount of enhancement to reduce judder and deliver a smoother, sharper picture with more natural motion of the original film. Go back to list of all features.

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24p True Cinema

Movies and many prime time TV programs are shot at 24 frames per second. This means that TVs operating at any refresh rate that is not an even multiple of 24 will have to do some interpolation to present the content. TVs operating at at 30Hz or 60Hz traditionally solved this via a method called "2:3 pulldown". The television repeats the first film frame over the first two fields of video, and the second film frame over the next three fields of video (1, 1, 2, 2, 2), and continues to do this with the 3rd and 4th frames, the 5th and 6th framer (1,1,2,2,2 - 3,3,4,4,4 - 5,5,6,6,6), and so on until 24 frames are displayed over 60 refresh cycles. This discrepancy in the number of times frames are displayed can lead to a jerky motion in filmed material which some viewers notice  for example, especially with scenes that pan. 120, on the other hand, is an even multiple of 24. Televisions with 24p capability, operating at 120Hz, can display an equal number of frames for every refresh cycle. The benefit—You can watch movies in natural, cinematic motion, the way they are seen at the cinema. Every single frame of the movie can now be seen without using additional video processing that converts film-based images to video reproduction. Additionally, 24p True Cinema input capability can be used along with Motionflow™ 120Hz technology for outstanding fluid motion beyond what you would typically see at the cinema. Once you experience 24p video it will be hard to view video without it. (Found in S, V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs). Sony's Blu-ray disc players wisely take advantage of this by including 24p output capability. Go back to list of all features.

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x.v Color

RGB Color Range

xvYCC Color Range

Thanks to the adoption of a newly approved international color standard called xvYCC (an option in the HDMI v1.3 spec and which Sony participated in creating), the color space has been greatly expanded.  All XBR HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation “xvYCC” color space actually offers  an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize. Next-generation “xvYCC” color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors Select products such as four Sony Handycam High Definition camcorders include x.v.Color to reproduce color that takes you beyond HD. Go back to list of all features.

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10-bit Processor and 10-bit Panel

While it’s great to state that a TV is capable of creating billions of colors it’s a whole lot better when you have a true 10-bit display that can actually display them. Sony combines 10-bit processing with a 10-bit panel, allowing 64 times the levels of color expression. What that translates to is smoother transitions from color to color and subtle color changes faithfully reproduced without a paint-by-numbers look. So, where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color. Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors Enables increased contrast ratio Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white.  (Found in all Z and XBR Series HDTVs) Go back to list of all features.

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Rich Graphic On-Screen Control Interface

Delivering a fun user experience is what the new rich graphics are designed to do. Accessing video content and sharing digital photos with your family and friends on an HDTV is now fast, easy and fun. Colorful thumbnails cascade before your eyes allowing you to visually choose what you want to see. Viewing digital images through Sony’s photo viewer is now more organized and can be quickly accessed. Go back to list of all features.

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Xross Media Bar

Xross (pronounced Cross) is Sony's Technical-Emmy award-winning graphic user interface for Sony WEGA and BRAVIA televisions and PS3 and PSX game systems. The interface features category icons spread horizontally across the screen that organize the viewing options (TV, Music, Internet, Tools, etc...). When a category icon is selected on the horizontal bar, a vertical bar appears showing the viewing options within that category. Using the directional pad on your remote, you can easily maneuver horizontally from category to category, then scroll vertically through individual viewing options to easily navigate through the wide range of programming available on today's televisions. Go back to list of all features.

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TV Guide On-Screen Interactive Program Guide

The TV Guide On-screen IPG delivers continually updated program listings to users. The guide requires no subscription fees or phone connection and is available at no extra cost to the consumer. Sony is the first company to integrate the TV Guide On-Screen User Interface into a custom interface — Sony’s exclusive Xross Media Bar user interface. (Found in all V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs) Go back to list of all features.

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Connectivity

In 2007 Sony included HDMI CEC capability in select HDTV and BRAVIA Theatre Home Audio products, which led to a one-touch function Sony feature called BRAVIA Theatre Sync. This feature allows the access and control multiple tasks and system operations with one button ease. BRAVIA Sync is now being introduced as the name for a new family of control features that not only includes BRAVIA Theatre Sync, but will now include BRAVIA Sync. This feature allows the user to control a CEC-enabled camcorder connected to a BRAVIA HDTV via an HDMI cable by using the HDTV’s remote control and an on-screen display that shows camcorder transport functions. (Found in all V, W, Z, and XBR Series HDTVs) All Connections 4 HDMI — High Definition Multimedia 2 component video inputs PC Input: Limited to resolutions supported by both the PC and the Sony TV. See Sony TV users manual and PC documentation for supported resolutions Digital Media Port connection allows the use of an optional Digital Media Port cradle to connect digital devices directly to your BRAVIA HDTV Go back to list of all features.

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Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)

All 2008 XBR and Z-Series BRAVIA HDTVs are DLNA-compliant. You already know something about digital living. There’s the TV and digital video recorder in your family room. (And another set in your bedroom.) You have a PC and digital printer in your office, along with a network attached storage device. And you’ve copied all your music onto your portable music player and haven’t had to open a CD case for years. But getting them to talk to each other can be pretty tough. Why is it still so difficult to send digital content from one device to another? Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is a collaboration of the world’s leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile companies that has created design guidelines for a new generation of products that can work together — no matter the brand. Think for a moment about all of the photos “locked away” on your home PC that you wish you could access while entertaining your friends and family. Now, thanks to DLNA enabled devices, a DLNA-enabled PC can be accessed from the comfort of your living room or family room via a DLNA-enabled HDTV, where you can enjoy your memories with friends and family, without having to deal with the hassle and non-intuitive “PCexperience”. Or, say you recently downloaded your daughter’s birthday party video from your digital camcorder to your PC. Now you want to share it with your parents who are visiting. Without DLNA, you probably have to burn a DVD of the video or hook up the camcorder to the TV. With DLNA, you can just use your TV’s remote to call up the video on your TV. That’s it. Go back to list of all features.

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Live Color Creation

Many colors in the real world such as deep reds, greens and clear blues cannot be expressed with conventional display technologies. Live Color Creation technology achieves wide color reproduction using advanced chroma signal processing algorithms. The primary benefits are clear blues, natural greens and an overall vibrant color for all scenes. (Found in XBR6 Series HDTVs) Go back to list of all features.

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Optimized Theater Mode

Developed in consultation with the Sony Pictures Entertainment movie studio, most 2008 Sony BRAVIA LCD HDTVs feature our optimized Theater Mode. Selecting the THEATER mode on the BRAVIA HDTV remote automatically adjusts a number of key elements that have an important impact on reproducing movies better. Skin tones and lighting are seen as natural without over-enhancing color and contrast. The picture is fine-tuned for a dark viewing environment just like the cinema and optimized for LCD display technology. Even the right amount of film grain is included. All of this helps preserve the mood and detail so you enjoy the cinema experience that you go to the theater to see, right in the comfort of your home. Optimized Theater Mode is another great example of Sony HDNA in action. We not only create the exciting movies that you see at the cinema but also enhance the home viewing experience to recreate it as only Sony can. (Found on most Sony® BRAVIA LCD HDTVs.) Note: Optimized “Theater Mode” was developed in consultation Columbia Pictures, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Go back to list of all features.

Audio Features

S-Force Front Surround
Built around a sophisticated set of Sony algorithms, the S-Force Front Surround enhancement function generates realistic surround sound from the two speakers in the TV. Unlike some other "virtual surround" technologies, S-Force Front Surround sound does not need to be bounced off of side walls or other surfaces to hear three-dimensional sound. No matter what the size or shape of the room it's possible to hear sounds from behind you.

SRS TruSurround XT
TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two-speaker playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels. High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the two hidden, downward-firing side-mounted 2.2-channel dome speakers built into the TV.

SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass.

TruSurround XT audio also adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.

• Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
• TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
• The SRS WOW feature widens the soundstage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

Stereo broadcast reception is offered for MTS and SAP with 181-channel capacity. A sound leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.

Go back to list of all features.

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Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get. Minimum size= Viewing distance/3 Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5 Go back to list of all features.

Which Sony Bravia Series is Right For You?

Series

Size Range

Resolution

Bravia Engine

ACE

True 24p

DMex

TV Guide IPG

3D Graphic Onscreen Controls

120 Hz

10-Bit

Deep Color

x.v. Color

DLNA

Backlight

Dynamic Contrast

Multi Device Control

Component Inputs

HDMI Inputs

Speakers

Standard Features

L

32",37"

720p (1366x768)

8,000:1

1

2

2 x 10W

1 PC Input 178 degree viewing angle VESA mounting compatible 8 ms panel response ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM

M (19-inch)

19"

720p (1440x900)

9,000:1

1

1

2 x 5W

M

26",32",37"

720p (1366x768)

BE2

ACE

9,000:1

Bravia Theatre Sync

2

2

2 x 10W

N

26",32",37"

720p (1366x768)

BE2

ACE

9,000:1

Bravia Theatre Sync

2

2

6 (2x7W + 20W internal subwoofer + 2x7W external)

S

40",46"

1080p (1920x1080)

ACE

25,000:1

2

3

2 x 10W

V

40",42",46",52"

1080p (1920x1080)

BE2

ACE

25,000:1

Bravia Sync

2

4

2 x 10W

W

40",46",52"

1080p (1920x1080

BE2

ACE

30,000:1

Bravia Sync

2

4

2 x 10W

Z

40",46"

1080p (1920x1080

BE2

ACE

30,000:1

Bravia Sync

2

4

2 x 10W

XBR6 (37-inch or smaller)

32",37"

1080p (1920x1080)

BE2

ACE

25,000:1

Bravia Sync

2

4

2 x 10W

XBR6 (40-inch or larger)

40",46",52"

1080p (1920x1080

BE2

ACE

WCG-CCFL

50,000:1

Bravia Sync

2

4

2 x 10W

XBR8

46",55"

1080p (1920x1080

BE2 Pro

ACE Pro

TRILUMINOS RGB LED

over 1,000,000:1

Bravia Sync

2

4

TBD

Product Description

The Sony BRAVIA XBR8-Series HDTVs represent the next step forward for Sony HDTV technology. Underpinning this advance is the TRILUMINOS RGB Dynamic LED backlight, which utilizes clusters of red, green, and blue LEDs to produce accurate colors and an amazingly realistic image, and employs local dimming to dynamically adjust the brightness of LED clusters, allowing the XBR8 to display deep blacks alongside bright whites for enhanced image depth and exceptional shadow detail. Motionflow 120Hz PRO technology creates new frames to double the frame rate, then uses sequential scanning to enhance motion and deliver a smoother and clearer picture, and 24p True Cinema lets you experience a cinema-like experience. BRAVIA XBR8-Series HDTVs also feature the powerful BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO fully digital video processor, which creates sharp, crystal-clear images at any resolution, as well as advanced color reproduction technologies including 10-bit processing and a 10-bit panel, Live Color Creation, and x.v.Color capability. DMex functionality lets you expand the capabilities of the BRAVIA XBR8-Series with optional BRAVIA Link modules, including the BRAVIA Internet Video Link, BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA DVD Link, and BRAVIA Input Link (all sold separately). In addition, the exclusive Xross Media Bar (XMB) user interface, integrated TV Guide Interactive Program Guide, and BRAVIA Sync one-touch component control make the BRAVIA XBR8-Series HDTVs easy to use, and the large number of inputs offer you a wide range of connectivity options. BRAVIA XBR8-Series HDTVs also feature an RS-232C connection for integration into home automation systems. You can even customize the timeless design of the BRAVIA XBR8-Series by adding optional speaker grilles available in a selection of designer colors (sold separately).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking., November 20, 2008

By	R. D. Smith - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I actually own one. It is hard to imagine how a picture on a TV based on the current ATSC encoding could look any better. The blacks are "black-black". The colors are intense. The picture is bright. The only limitation I can see has more to do with the source material than with the TV itself.

I have DirectTV HD and Sony blu-ray, I also have rabbit ears for local TV. I will for the purposes of this review, ignore Analog TV and VCR, both of which are beyond obsolete.

With standard 480 source, the mosquito filtering is poor or non-existant. I am not sure if this is because of the TV, because of the upscaling of the DirectTV HD-DVR or because of the original network processing. However with true HD source (either 720P or 1080i), the results are stunning. The 3-D processing (two dimensions of the picture and one dimension of time) to interpolate intermediate frames is just stunning. With any other TV, I have learned how to see the macro blocking when the compression is running at the limit, but this TV does an incredible job of not only smoothing out the inter-frame judder, but it remarkably sharpens the picture for those interpolated frames as well. When I pause a picture with the DVR, you can see macro blocks, but as soon as you press "play", you can actually see the motion processor cutting in.

The results with a good blu-ray disk are, well, get your popcorn and 64 oz cup of soda because it is better than a movie theater since it is brighter.

I have two complaints, both of them "nits". The first is that it takes way too much effort to set the sleep timer. Obviously Sony did not anticipate that a lot of users would use this TV to fall asleep on the couch with. Its not a big deal, but other TVs have a one button sleep button - the height of lazy, I'll admit. The other thing is that the "universal" remote doesn't know how to control the DirectTV HD-DVR. Like all other universal remotes, you still need a remote caddy in your La-Z-Boy to keep all of your other ones...

Of course the obvious down side is the $7,000 price, but YGWYPF.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing TV - maybe too good!, January 14, 2009

By	C. White (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This television is fantastic - only problem is ....it's too good! It reveals all of the garbage signals that the hd providers are outputting! The various compression techniques, the huge breakups and distortions, out of focus imagery - All is revealed in larger than life quality on this monitor! But, that's why I got it. This TV is directly connected to an HD editorial suite for client viewing and when monitoring a fully uncompressed HD 4:2:2 image via HDMI from the edit suite it's amazing.
Bluray is great too -
Too bad HD content on cable and dish is so substandard.
(And also that no one seems to be aware of this) So much for the new horizon of digital!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars xbr8 review, August 25, 2009

By	Robert Drake - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We now have one (1) 55inch xbr8 and two (2) 46inch xbr8s in the house. The 55 is in the living-room with all the audio equipment. One of the 46 sets is in the den and the other in the master bedroom. We have studied hundreds of other sets over the years. The Sony xbr8 technology makes the others look like they are from "Toys Are Us". The picture is almost 3 dimentional when viewing a good blu-ray disc on a high end player. Upscaled standard definition DVDs are remarkable on this set. Good quality Film Noir is very good with the xbr8. The blu-ray of Casablanca is nothing short of amazing on the xbr8. The den set is often on most of the day (until we switch to the living room for evening viewing) and the set runs quite cool. Even viewing standard definition cable is vastly inmproved from other sets on the xbr8. Yes, it is expensive, but worth every bit of it. If watching movies is what you do--this is worth the investment. I do not thing I will be looking for another set until they "perfect" 3D for the consumer. I suspect this will be several years in the future. Now xbr8 technology in a perfected 3D format will be something to look forward to.