Sony KDL-55XBR8 Review
Description: Sony Bravia 1920 X 1080 (1080p) 55" Diagonal LCD TV with LED Backlight
Resolution: 1980 X 1366
Dimensions with Stand: See Specifications Here
Power Consumption: 480W
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: April 2009
Resolution: 1980 X 1366
Dimensions with Stand: See Specifications Here
Power Consumption: 480W
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Date: April 2009
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Picture Quality Rating : 95 / 100
Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15
Up conversion from 480i and 480p: 2:35:1 aspect DVDs should be viewed in the Zoom aspect picture mode controlled by the Wide button on the remote control. While this mode properly displays the aspect of the content, it does soften the picture giving a slightly blurred appearance from the enlarged image. This was one of the only drawbacks from the XBR8's picture. Aside from that the Bravia Engine 2 processed signals extremely well.
A scene from 480i input from Braveheart shows off the contrast of this LED backlit TV as daylight penetrates illuminating the veil of the princess. But notice that the image is overly soft due to using the Zoom aspect ratio to gain the correct sizing alternative.
720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: One feature that we found very necessary was the Noise reduction feature.
Once turning on this setting option, the picture was crisp and clear with very little about which to complain. There is bright color, great contrast and black levels and most surprising to us – plasma-like Viewing angles. There was some false contouring in dark on bright areas of the picture. This "mapping" of dark matter will not be noticed if one is 15 feet or more from the television. However, it is noticeable from a closer distance. Other than that, another defining plasma-like characteristic is depth perception with HD signals which is excellent.
In this scene from The Fifth Element notice the false contouring in dark blotchy areas of the tunnel.
In this scene from The Fifth Element see the beautiful color definition and contrast provided by the XBR8's Triluminous LED Backlight.
Black Level: Our post calibration contrast measurement was a fairly impressive 1091 to 1, it is a very good result for an LCD television. I was surprised by how deep and penetrating the blacks were on this LED TV – perhaps the best black levels we've seen on an LCD though a couple of new Samsung LCDs may rival them.
Dark Shadow Detail: No complaints in this department aside from the occasional mapping issue. Dark areas of images were detailed and easily discernible.
See the excellent dark shadow detail in this HD Dolby Digital test disk image of 9 Inch Nails in concert.
Notice the variation and realism of the flesh tones in this HD image from our Dolby test disk.
Viewing Angle/Off Axis Viewing: The XBR8 has the best viewing angle capability we've seen on an LCD. We estimated that contrast does not start to degrade until about 75 degrees – a superb plasma-like result – especially for an LCD TV.
Motion Lag: There was some notable jerkiness when the camera panned from side to side. Sony does not give a clear option for accessing the 120Hz processing. Instead, they give a few advanced picture settings such as Motion Enhancer and Game Modes. So, it was impossible to know whether we were viewing images in 60Hz or 120Hz. We thought the XBR8 did a good job with reduction of motion lag during fast moving scenes. It would be nice to clearly be able to turn the 120hz processing off if wanted – to see the difference.
Video Features: We do not normal recommend using many of the "enhancing" features present on todays TVs which typically add video noise. However, the Noise Reduction option on the XBR8 is a favorable feature. We recommend placing it on the medium setting which greatly helps to reduce background motion artifacts without softening the picture too much.
Features Rating : 89 /100
Video Aspect Ratio Sizing: The Wide button on the remote controls aspect ratio options. There are more aspect ratio options for HDMI input content including Wide, Wide Zoom, Normal, Full, H Stretch, Zoom.
Inputs: 4 HDMI Inputs round out a complete enough set of input options. Has Firewire and USB port as well as a CAT 5 input jack.
Aesthetic Considerations: While an attractive TV, there are no real design style improvements over past models. One drawback we immediately noticed in the XBR8 is the 6" depth cabinet which is no doubt caused by the new LED lighting system. Still, that is a bulky depth especially if wall mounting. The speakers now are housed on the sides of the "floating" glass. The wide bezel and glass create a little glare from ambient lighting though the screen itself does a good job reducing glare.
Remote Control/Menu Funtionality: The Xross Media Bar menu system is a cool looking if not a little quirky to use at first. Once accustomed to it, it is a fun little feature scrolling through the numerous advanced settings which for the most part you will want to avoid. One that you do want to turn on is the Noise Reduction function. It's annoying to have to scroll through inputs each time one needs to change input sources (for instance from HDMI to composite). We would like to see discrete input buttons on the remote control.
Audio Output: We felt the sound was flat without enough definition when listening to the Ramsey Lewis Jazz Ensemble in our HD test disc. There was no crispness in the high hat. Sound output was dull and the speakers did not put out sufficient volume for the size.
Features: There is a new Video Game mode as well as Bravia Sync option for communicating with other Sony equipment.
Note: At 480watts the Bravia 55BXR8 uses close to the same power as a plasma TV of the same size. It's an energy guzzler, but it does not get hot to the touch.
Value Rating : 79 /100
Price Considerations: At $5500 this LCD is a pricey option. The Samsung LN55A950 is a similar LED backlit LCD and costs about $1000 less. The Sharp Aquos LC52XS1U-S is a premium priced $10K plus model also with LED backlighting and other premium features. The playing field will narrow somewhat soon with LG entering this size LED backlit LCD market, but for now that's the whole competitive landscape if you take plasma out of the picture.
LCDs which are not LED backlit, may not have the viewing angle or deep blacks that this unit does but will sell for half the price. A 58" top of the line Plasma TVs with similar picture quality will sell for around half the price as well.
The picture is certainly excellent especially the black levels, and viewing angles which are so important to viewing pleasure. Color information while not the best we've seen was also good. Drawbacks include the cabinet depth at 6 inches, the surprising poor Audio quality from the built in speakers, and the occasional scaling mistake from lower resolutions.
Overall Rating : 89.5 / 100
Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.
Review Equipment Used: Sony Blu Ray BDP-S1 High Definition DVD player, Sony DVP-S50 DVD player, Sencore Color Pro 5000, Sencore Auto Cal Pro, Sencore signal generator.
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Sony KDL-55XBR8 Specification
Take the next step forward in HDTV Technology with the Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 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.
16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel 16:9 Full HD 1080p resolution panel (1920 x 1080) accepts any HDTV signal and renders it with optimum resolution.
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 XBR®8 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. And, because it uses LEDs rather than the fluorescent tubes found in many HDTVs, the TRILUMINOS® RGB Dynamic LED backlight also promises exceptionally long life.
BRAVIA Engine™ 2 PRO BRAVIA Engine™ 2 PRO is Sony’s most advanced video processing system, utilizing the latest generation of Digital Reality Creation technology to render a supremely sharp, crystal clear image from any video resolution on this LED TV.
Motionflow™ 120Hz PRO technology Motionflow™ 120Hz PRO technology couples a high 120Hz frame rate with sequential scanning technology, which controls the backlight to horizontally divide frames and reduce visual flickering. The combination of high frame rate and sequential scanning significantly reduces source image blur and judder in film sources, HD content, broadcast movies, and primetime programming, and helps create smoother, more fluid motion for a natural and realistic viewing experience.
Specifications
- Television Type : Flat Panel LCD HDTV
- Auto CC on Mute : Yes
- Closed Captions (CC) : Yes
- Closed Caption Button : Yes
- DMex™ Seamless Upgradeable : Yes RS-232C Control : Yes
- On-Screen Display : Enhanced GUI + XMB
- Illuminated Sony Logo : Yes
- DMex™ support : Yes
- Touch Sensor : Yes
- Video Signal : 480/60i, 480/60p, 720p, 1080/60i, 1080/24p (HDMI™ only), 1080/60p (HDMI™ / Component) Video Features
- 24p True Cinema™ Technology : Yes
- 3D Comb Filter : Yes
- 4:3 Default : Yes
- Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) : Yes
- Auto Wide : Yes
- CineMotion® Reverse 3:2 Pulldown Technology : Yes
- Deep Color : Yes
- Game Mode : Text
- Live Color Creation™ Technology : Yes
- MPEG Noise Reduction : Yes
- PhotoTV HD : Yes
- Picture Mode : Vivid, Standard, Cinema, Custom; Photo-Vivid, Photo-Standard, Photo-Original, Photo-Custom
- Video Processing : Bravia Engine 2PRO™ Technology
- Wide Mode : Wide Zoom, Normal, Full, Stretch, Zoom
- x.v.Color™ Technology : Yes
- Image Blur Reduction : Yes
- Black Insertion : Yes (Motionflow PRO)
- Motionflow™ Technology : Motionflow™ PRO 120Hz
- BRAVIA® Sync™ : Yes
- Channel Block (with password) : Yes
- Channel Jump : Yes
- Channel Labels : Yes
- Channel Surf : Yes
- Clock : Yes
- Edit Channel Labels : Yes
- Favorite Channel : Yes
- ID-1 Detection : Yes
- Info Banner : Yes
- Input Skip : Yes (Auto)
- Label Inputs : Yes
- LightSensor™ Technology : Yes
- Multiple Language Display : English, Spanish, French
- On/Off Timer : Yes
- PAP (Fixed or Variable) : Fixed
- PAP (Picture & Picture) : Yes
- Parental Control : Yes
- Freeze : Yes
- Power Saving Mode - Picture Off : Yes
- Program Guide Access : Yes
- Show/Hide Channels : Yes
- Sleep Timer : Yes
- Theatre Mode (Theatre Button) : Yes
- TV Guide On Screen : Yes
- USB Application(s) : Music Player (mp3), Photo Viewer (jpeg)
- BRAVIA® Sync™ Menu Button : Yes
- PIP (Picture in Picture) : Yes
- On-Screen Display for External Input : Yes
- Aspect Ratio : 16:9
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio : over 1,000,000:1
- Viewing Angle (Right/Left) : 178°
- Viewing Angle (Up/Down) : 178°
- Screen Size (measured diagonally) : 46"
- Native Resolution : 1920x1080
- Display Resolution : 1920x1080p Full HD
- Panel Bit : 10-bit
- Color Range (u'v') : 122%
- Color Range (xy) : 105%
- Backlight Type : LED with Local dimming
- Panel Type : LCD
- Audio Power Output : 10 W + 10 W, 12 W + 12 W (Woofer)
- Speakers (Total) : 8 Audio Features
- Alternate Audio (Digital) : Yes
- Audio Mode : Dynamic, Standard, Clear Voice
- Audio Out : Yes
- Auto Mute (on no signal) : Yes
- Auto SAP : Yes
- Digital Amplifier : Yes
- Dolby® : Dolby® Digital
- Simulated Surround : Yes
- Sony Original Surround : S-Force®
- Sound Booster : Yes
- SteadySound® Automatic Volume Control : Yes
- Stereo System : MTS
- Voice Zoom : Yes
- 5.1 Channel Audio Out : Yes
- AC Power Input : 1 (Rear)
- Analog Audio Input(s) (Total) : 6 (1 Side/5 Rear)
- Audio Out : 1 (Rear)
- Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr ) Input(s) : 2 (Rear)
- Composite Video Input(s) : 3 (1 Side/2 Rear)
- Digital Audio Output(s) : Optical Digital Output - 1 (Rear)
- DIGITAL MEDIA PORT : 1 (Rear)
- HDMI™ Connection(s) (Total) : 4 (1 Side/3 Rear)
- HDMI™ Connection(s) (w/ Analog Audio In) : Yes
- HDMI™ PC Input : Yes
- HDMI™ PC Input Format Support : Yes
- PC Input Format Support : Yes (see manual for exact formats)
- RF Connection Input(s) : 1 (Rear)
- RS-232C Input(s) : Yes
- S-Video Detection : Yes
- S-Video Input(s) : 1 (Rear)
- PC In (D-Sub) + Audio In (Stereo Mini) : 1 (Rear)
- Dimensions (Approx.) : 58.625 x 33.75 x 14.125 in (1486 x 855 x 356mm) with pedestal; 58.625 x 31.625 x 5.875 in (1486 x 803 x 147mm) without pedestal
- Weight (Approx.) : 122 lbs. (55kg) with pedestal; 107 lbs. (48.5kg) without pedestal
