Sony XBR3

How is it? The KDL-46XBR3? Is it the same as the XBR2 model? I'm thinking about getting it.

this top notch model i doubt anything could go wrong with this.

It's the same with the exception of the piano gloss finish and longer warranty...different remote too. I have the XBR2...and delighted to own one. :)

this top notch model i doubt anything could go wrong with this.


unless you are one of these people: http://www./avs-vb/showthread.php?t=748779

Fortunately, I'm not one of them. :)

I was deliberating on what size 40" or 46" Sony after reading that i think I will pass.

My 46 XBR2 has been perfect. OTA HD is amazing.

Same here...I find it hard to believe we're in the minority. Other than AVS, I haven't read about this issue anywhere else.

I want to take the plunge into HD with the XBR3, but the uneven backlight issue now has me wavering again. Just how serious is it?:eek:

Like I said, mine has been just the best TV I've ever owned and I've bought plenty. Last one was a Sony 61" rear (1996, $4800). Great TV for it's time. If you believe all the comments on this TV @ AVS it would seem about 80% are faulty. Glad I lucked out but Sony has never let me down.

Samsung - buzzing problems
Sharp - banding
Panasonic - clay face
Vizio - a sure step down

Plasma - burn in ?
LCD - backlight ?

Enough to scare anyone away but selling like hotcakes. Just make sure you buy from a reputable dealer and should you have a problem get it corrected the same day if necessary. To me, that's the key. Get the Sony warranty, it's cheap.

One could argue there's no such thing as perfection on all HDTV models. If you have the stomach for it...just buy one and see for yourself in your own home. Note the return policy's grace period and be critical of what you see of the TVs performance during that period.

Not only that, but I think folks tend to pick up on what one person says and attribute everything to that buzz word. Today, it's all about "cloudy."

I remember some guy over at AVS actually posting some images showing this issue. EXCEPT all they showed was the guy was, uh, impaired. There was NOTHING cloudy about the images. The second one DID show some fairly significant motion blur; BUT that which MAY not to all that visible in that it could have been one of those intermediate frames (not sure what the correct term is). No matter what the source, if you step by step you ARE going to see some really nasty "intermediate frames" that you simply won't notice when it's running at full speed. It looked very much like his camera caught one of these and bingo, he's got a "cloudy" display!

When I first got started in HD 8 months ago, I started freaking a bit over "black crush." I found it highly amusing that in the past few weeks, I've twice been to a movie theater and BOTH times I was sitting there saying to myself "oh boy, look at those totally crushed blacks." Seriously. Plus, those "crushed blacks" on the screen were NO WAY as deeply black as my "can't show a good black" LCD set!

As for Sony, here's a tale. Last fall, my XBR CRT failed me, 4 1/2 years into it's "life." High voltage issue, so I get a new board for 600 bucks! I opted for that because I thought I'd get at least another 4 years out of it at which time I'd absolutely go HD. 8 months later, the damn replacement part failed and no way can I get it fixed without another huge charge (repairs only carry 90 day warranty and even my credit card doubling would work as it was past 6 months).

So am I pissed at Sony or what? I felt it was still about a year early for me to go HD, but I really had no choice. SOOOO, I've now had 7 months of HD bliss, so in a way I'm not AS incensed at Sony (but any products from them get three points off at the beginning). AND I'm on an interesting part of the cycle. Got in before the 1080p phase, but at 40" I don't think 1080p would mean that much. I figure next year we'll see LED and maybe the year after SED. By 2009, there MIGHT be enough significant differences that I may consider an upgrade. I normally think of 3-4 year cycles on expensive equipment anyway.

i was wondering why it's selling for $2799 on jandr.com. maybe it's because of all the problems. thus the longer 18 month warranty. i'm going to wait till they fix the problem. one more thing the price on crutchfield is $3299.

i was wondering why it's selling for $2799 on jandr.com. maybe it's because of all the problems. thus the longer 18 month warranty. i'm going to wait till they fix the problem. one more thing the price on crutchfield is $3299.

I've found the 46" for between $2600 and $2775 with shipping from several reputable well thought of online vendors (Abes of Maine.com, Pricemad.com, dbuys.com, plasmabay.com).

Crutchfield was one of the most expensive along with onecall.com (which suprised me) and all of those other vendors are just as highly rated, Abes of Maine might be the best rated according to Pricescan.com dealer ratings.

If I had someone buy my 30" Sony Bravia LCD (XBR900L) for around $1000 to $900, I might just purchase one of those until I pull the trigger on a new 1080p front projector in a year or so. ;)

i was wondering why it's selling for $2799 on jandr.com. maybe it's because of all the problems. thus the longer 18 month warranty. i'm going to wait till they fix the problem. one more thing the price on crutchfield is $3299. The longer warranty isn't because they know it has a problem. There's been a firware update that addresses the clouding issue. The lower prices on XBR3 are legit as it's been out for almost a year.