<![CDATA[Gizmodo: KDL-52XBR4]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: KDL-52XBR4]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/kdl-52xbr4 http://gizmodo.com/tag/kdl-52xbr4 <![CDATA[ Sony's New XBR5 XBR4, and W Series LCD HDTVs ]]> Sony's finally upgrading my beloved Sony XBR3 LCD, so gorgeous, it was chosen as the display of choice by Playstation for the PS3 launch, and even Apple for their Apple TV demos. The new LCDs are 1080p, running a full 1920 by 1080 res, with 10-bit panels that can resolve color 64 times that of 8 bit panels.

The bottom line is that Wilson and Louis, at the Sony event, describe these new LCD TVs as the best-looking TVs they've ever seen, inside and out.

The nicer XBR5 and XBR4 sets also have 120Hz tech, which Sony calls Motionflow, and 24 frame support at full high def.

The devil is in the details, and here's that for all three TV lines.

The XBR5 line is distinguished from the W series by its 120Hz support, which interpolates the original 60 frames with 60 tweened frames. The new TVs also all do 24 frame support, which all film content is recorded and mastered in, so hopefully its played back on these TVs without pulldown and jutter*. The TV does upscaling and deinterlacing by means of the "BRAVIA Engine Pro circuitry with Digital Reality Creation-MultiFunction v2.5". It comes in 52-, 46-, and 40-inch flavors.

The XBR4 line is basically identical to the XBR5. Except every equivalent size is $300 cheaper as an XBR4, and they have detachable color plates. (The XBR5 comes only in piano black.) Strange, but Sony did the same thing with the XBR3 and XBR2. Weird, I know.

Then there's the W line. There's the W line looks identical to the XBR5 line, but it lacks the 120Hz system. It also uses a lesser video processor, but Sony doesn't specify the difference: "Sony's BRAVIA Engine EX full digital video processing system with Digital Reality Creation-Multifunction v1.0 (DRC-MF v1.0)." Like the other two lines, it comes in 52-, 46- and 40-inch sizes.

Is there a caveat? Yes. Sonys have been known to have blotchy backlighting on some sets. I don't know if these have those problems, but its worth waiting for a full review before buying.

(*I think. The press info isn't clear if it will actually divide the 120Hz by 24 or if it does a 60 frame conversion first before jumping to 120Hz.)

XBR5 and XBR4 Pricing and Availability:

The KDL-52XBR4, KDL-46XBR4 and KDL40-XBR4 models will be available in August for about $4,800, $3,800 and $3,000, respectively. Also shipping in August, the KDL-46XBR5 and KDL-40XBR5 will be about $4,100 and $3,300. The KDL-52XBR5 model will come out in September for about $5,100. Sony's KDL-46W3000 and KDL-40W300 models will debut in July for about $3,500 and $2,700, respectively, while the KDL-52W3000 will be available in August for about $4,300.

W Series Pricing:


W3000 Series
KDL-52W3000 - $5100
KDL-46W3000 - $3500
KDL-40W3000 - $2700

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Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:44:24 EDT Brian Lam http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266680&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Sony Punches Up its Bravia Line with Slimmer Microdisplays and New LCDs ]]> Sony lifted the curtain on its new line of Bravia TVs Wednesday night introducing 5 new slimmer SXRDs alongside 9 new LCDs. On the microdispay side, the new TVs shed some fat (they're 40% thinner than previous models) and range in size from 50 inches to 70 with features like MotionFlow 120Hz (which keeps moving images clean when set on moving backgrounds) and Photo Mode (which smoothens out your digital camera's pictures when viewing them on your TV). And lots of these sets have that PS3 like cross media bar styled menus. The LCDs (which include the XBR4 and XBR5 series) vary from 40 inches to 52. Full line up after the jump.


A3000 Series
KDS-50A3000 - $3000
KDS-55A3000 - $3300
KDS-60A3000 - $3500

XBR Series
KDS-Z60XBR5 - $5000
KDS-Z70XBR5 - $6000

LCDs
W3000 Series
KDL-52W3000 - $5100
KDL-46W3000 - $3500
KDL-40W3000 - $2700

XBR4/XBR5 Series
KDL-52XBR4 - $4800
KDL-46XBR4 - $3800
KDL-40XBR4 - $3000

KDL-52XBR5 - $5100
KDL-46XBR5 - $4100
KDL-40XBR5 - $3300


Press Release
Press Release

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Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:00:38 EDT Louis Ramirez http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266673&view=rss&microfeed=true