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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Alternative to the XBR series, August 20, 2009
I received this TV a week ago and I am in love. This TV has the Bravia Engine 3, not 2 like the spec sheet on this page says, so for the money, you are getting a top notch product. SD signals look like crap, because they are crap, its not your TV's fault, its your cable provider, but HD looks amazing. I have not been having any problems with the black levels, as described in other Sony reviews, and the colors are rich and vibrant. Plenty of inputs on this set. I currently have my macbook (watching HULU and other video streams, picture looks great) via DVI to HDMI, a PS3 (which is giving me the true 1080p experience for Blue Ray Discs, which is what I base my color and black observations on) and a HD cable box also taking up another HDMI port. I still have not even used 1/4 of the inputs provided. The cinema mode when watching movies adds a warmth to the picture that gives you a movie theatre experience without the "true white" LCD overexposure.
If you are looking for a GREAT tv at a semi-affordable price forget about Samsung and Panasonic, Sony is where its at for all around value, oh and you don't get that glossy screen which drives me nuts! Sound could be a little fuller, but by no means is it bad. Besides, if you are going to spend the money on a nice set, you might as well get a nice stereo system as well.
PROS- GREAT PICTURE, GOOD VALUE, GREAT COLORS, GOOD MODE SELECTIONS (PICTURE), LOTS OF ADJUSTABLE ITEMS, PLENTY OF INPUTS
CONS- AUDIO SOMEWHAT LOW, 240HZ ADVANTAGES REALLY HAVE YET TO BE SEENS AS THIS ONLY AFFECTS INPUTS THAT THE TV CAN CHANGE OR UPRES (IE CABLE).
ALL IN ALL I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TV TO ANYONE SHOPPING FOR A NEW FLATSCREEN.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great TV, September 30, 2009
Terrific picture, especially on the HDTV channels. Controls, etc., are straightforward and intuitive. Sound is just a tad softer than I'd prefer, but it's not bad. Could easily hook a secondary sound system to it, but haven't bothered. My previous TV, an Olevia 32", was the same width, but with side-by speakers it lost a full 8" of screen size. The Bravia is exactly the same width, only a couple of inches taller, and delivers a 25% larger screen. The 240hz upgrade is definitely noticeable. If you're on HD, it's the only way to fly. Plan to hook it to my laptop and take advantage of online TV-movie selections. This set also connects to the Internet, if you have the correct cables or signal devices. That's on the agenda, too.
Don't fear the delivery service, my experience was excellent: They arrived when promised, brought it upstairs, unpacked it, hooked it up, and carted away all the trash. Buying via Amazon beats going to a big-box store and having to do all that yourself -- and the price I paid was more than $200 *below* my local big-box store for the same TV. Free delivery, too. Couldn't be happier.
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45 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
3D Peering into Look - Terrific PQ Details and Blacks, June 13, 2009
Received our 40" Z5100 one week ago via Onecall Amazon Sale - double boxed via Fedex tracking/timeliness. Extremely happy with the results. I own four LCD TV's and a long term member of AVSForum.
Was able to replace a 32" Sharp with side speakers and gain 8" viewing for my wife's primary viewing in the Master Bedroom Armoire and while I was torn between it and the B750 it's a damn good thing I went with the Sony as I found the Samsung would not have fit the space.
To my surprise when I set everything up was how reflective the Sony was while off - not full matte like my Sharps but that has no impact when the TV is turned on at all. Damn the TV is black and semi-reflective Off but a beauty when displaying.
No gaming is done on this TV and so I won't report on anything in that regards and I won't assist with calibrations since my viewing preference is a vivid panel.
I decided on this panel after studying panels for the past 6 months and finally viewing the XBR9 and the Z5100 next to Samsung B750/B650 panels. As great as the Samsungs were I was unable to get that peering into PQ DEPTH that I experienced on the new Sony panels - plus I feared the wife may complain about reflections on the Samsungs after having none for 4.5 yrs on the Sharp. I was repeatedly impressed with this immersiveness on these two new Sony panels as I am in my Home.
I popped in Mamma Mia Blu-Ray and it was fantastic - the Mediterranean Sea color and clarity was eye popping and I turned on AMP and when you haven't experienced it before it's sort of strange to have that Live Camera view and soap opera look - I prefer the theater look but it's nice to play with but something one can use according to their preference.
The blacks on this are wonderful trumping the 4.5 yr old it replaced easily.
I spent hours going from the bedroom to my main 57" 3.5 year old Sharp and I used Food Network HD to cross compare since they constantly zoom into the cooking experience and it's easy to see PQ details on that channel. Again my in-store HD Viewing with 3D depth peering into of the Sony trumped my 3.5 yr Technology on my Sharp easily. The friggin clarity on HD on these cook-off's was simply amazing on the Sony and it tells me Sony may have a kick butt 65" when it debuts with BE3 on the W5100 in August. My Sharp had a flatter smoother look - still looked great and the 57" size delivers alot of WoW but the details on the Z5100 was stunning. The Z5100 and XBR9 are the first LCD's I've seen that could match or exceed the PQ details of the SXRD I owned previous with HD.
Also, I carefully watched for flashlighting and clouds and saw ZERO - simply BLACK - BLACK - BLACK!
The only negative I can report is Turdvision SD - it is what it is - a TURD!
I'm used to viewing HD 90+% of the time and so I'll always tolerate it for my channels that have not transitioned yet but I don't buy my TV's for SD - after all some SD channels can look quite good while others are crapola no matter the panel especially after growing accustomed to HD at six times the PQ.
The irony is that I'll rarely view this TV regularly as my wife and I have very different tastes and I have a sleep disorder where I only view the Sony occasionally after setting it up but it gave me a yardstick to make a move to a 65" > in the future with it's PQ Depth, Details, and Black Levels and hopefully I can provide her this larger 40" panel in the same space a 32" would only fit with First Rate PQ for 8+ years and she's quite happy and takes away the guilt when I jump to a 65" as she'll have the Z5100 for regular viewing and then the BIG HT 65" or my 57" for HT immersion as size does have it's benefits to get HT immersion with Blu-Rays especially.
IMO Ten/Ten Panel Processing, BE3, 240Hz, and the 100K:1 CR and the maturity of Sony Bravia Series is now returning rewards in the "Z5100" and XBR9. Enjoy!:D
ALSO --- Most importantly with the achilles Heal of LCD --- I see no Friggin HAZE!!! The Samsungs (B750/B650) are still outstanding IMO also but if you cannot handle the reflective nature and ambient lighting issues a viewing room may interfere with PQ these Sony panels trump the Samsungs IMO and with a little patience the prices should drop also.
Extremely Happy and look forward to the Sony 65" W5100 in August!!! :)
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