50" Sony SXRD vs. 40" Sony LCD Bravia

MIKE KURTZ

I am looking at purchasing a new televison and I am having a difficult time deciding between the 50" Sony SXRD or the 40" Sony LCD Bravia. The viewing distance will be approx. 12' to 15' away from the T.V. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Camdogg

Well if the obvious difference in physical size of the unit isn't a problem, I would go with the larger screen. At viewing distances of 10' and beyong I think you'd really like the extra 20% or whatever it is. I like the Bravia LCD units and will probably get one for the bedroom. I think LCD is where the flat panels are headed. However, I don't think they are quite there...yet. I love the SXRD, but then again I am a huge fan of the LCOS technology. The SXRD has the best pq that I've ever seen and has been reviewed as such by many.

Edit: I have to buy a new TV as mine is being sold with my house (custom built in ent. center made for that tv, and every offer we received included extra $ for TV) and want to buy the SXRD but those damn wings on the side make it too big for the built in at our new house. I'm now trying to find a TV that is not more than 49" wide. FWIW I'm not considering an LCD because I want a large screen about 50" and don't want to pay $6K (or more) for it.

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Peferling

I have the 40" Bravia, as room size was a concern -a 50" unit would have spread my entertainment center too much, crossing over a window. I'm viewing from 12' away and it's a pleasing experience. I would try to view both units from your intended distance and decide. I measured the distance at home to the couch, then went to best buy, borrowing an office chair from the furniture section. Sat down 12' away, and gazed for a while. Found the 42" models suited my tastes.

I chose the 40" Sony Bravia for it's stated 30% wider gamut -only took a look to verify that fact. True reds, pure whites and correct skin tones. The internal digital tuner and HDMI future proofs it. Only the Samsung's came close, but lacked extra features.

I'm a video editor and plan to get the 32" Bravia for my studio work, in my opinion, for the money, it's that accurate.

Pete

ImRizzo

Sony is supposedly going to release new models of the SXRD Series and the update is supposed to be sans side speakers and Shiny picture surround bezel This LCOS SXRD is the best PQ on the market at the present and Sony is listening to the consumers regarding to extended speaker ears.....I'm patiently waiting and that is the reason the prices are beginning to drop on the current models.
For some reason the 50" picture Quality is better than the 60" I have seen both playing a special computer feed 1080 pictures WOW WOW drool WOW!!

Camdogg

Rizzo - Where did you get this info? I know many people have complained about it, but haven't heard anything definite. That would be great if they did this.

__________________
52 “ JVC D-ILA * Motorola 6412 HD DVR III * Toshiba Upconvert DVD * Harman Kardon DPR 1001 * Sony 300 Disc CD * iPod 30g photo * Definitive Technology Supercube II * Boston Acoustics VR1 towers- Front * Boston Acoustics CRC7 – Center * Boston Acoustics Micro 110x’s – Surround * Monster Power Center HTS 3500 MKII, Monster Cables: THX Ultra certified HDMI, THX certified fiber optic, THX certified component * Xbox w/HD pack

ImRizzo

I was at Best Buy Magnoila Store yesterday in search of speakers and got into discussion w/ Magnolia regional mgr who explained reason for current price drop and the projected date of new models of Sony SXRD's ( supposedly sometime in Aug/Sept 06 ) He seem to be well informed in comparision to the usual assortment of trools who try to lock onto you when you enter their little den. He wasn't selling anything only monitoring the operation of the department which is apparently a separate entity from BB

EVILMRT

BTW before you buy the Sony 40" bravia wait a month because sony is coming out with their new Sony 40" bravia S series.

You ask me how i know. Well i preordered the 40" TV from sony's website and my receipt states march 13th, 2006. Apparently it has a better picture than the bravia that is currently out.

Better price also.

You can look at the new sony model on sony.com under their lcd tv's

BrianO

Actually the screen of a 50" set is 56.7% larger than that of a 40" set having the same aspect ratio. It's 25% wider and 25% taller.

Camdogg

Thanks for the very precise #'s. I thought about doing the math but instead decided to just put "or whatever it is". That's a lot larger, and even further's my point.

__________________
52 “ JVC D-ILA * Motorola 6412 HD DVR III * Toshiba Upconvert DVD * Harman Kardon DPR 1001 * Sony 300 Disc CD * iPod 30g photo * Definitive Technology Supercube II * Boston Acoustics VR1 towers- Front * Boston Acoustics CRC7 – Center * Boston Acoustics Micro 110x’s – Surround * Monster Power Center HTS 3500 MKII, Monster Cables: THX Ultra certified HDMI, THX certified fiber optic, THX certified component * Xbox w/HD pack

Fred44

I agree, my Bravia looked good right out of the box. Did you have the unit professionally calibrated, or just tweak it yourself?

BuTal63

New slim Sony 55" SXRD as shown at CEDIA Industry Expo Jan. '06.
http://www.cnet.com/4831-11405_1-6413188.html?tag=all

Sony has not yet verified they will actually produce this set. However, rumors abound that we will see this set, as well as new 50 and 60" SXRD's in similar slim cabinets (also sans speaker wings) sometime later this year. Possibly also a new 70" SXRD to replace Sony's aging 70XBR950 LCD set and it's discontinued Qualia 006 70" SXRD.

Note: the set in the picture is NOT built into the display wall. What you see is the actual depth of the cabinet. I had a better picture front-on that shows absence of speaker wings, but unfortunately can't find it right now. Drat! Also shows what may be narrow speaker grilles on either side of the screen - not sure.

More unsubstantiated rumors: the new SXRD's will have a re-engineered light engine which many of us hope will reduce or eliminate color blotch and color uniformity problems reported by more than a few current owners of the first gen. SXRD's.

Also unsubstantiated:
KDS50XBR2000 (August 2006) MSRP $2999.99
KDS55XBR2000 (July 2006) MSRP $3599.99
KDS60XBR2000 (August 2006) MSRP $3999.99

Sony's SXRD version of LCoS is the best RP picture I've seen, If all of the above comes to pass, it'll be worth the wait.

BuTal63

Well, everyone has their own preferences. For me, a viewing distance of 12-15' demands a 60" screen, at the bare minimum, especially with the high-level quality picture provided by an SXRD. The 40" LCD Bravia picture, also excellent, would be wasted at that distance. You can sit much closer or go significantly larger, given a good HD signal source, and take better advantage of the immersive HDTV experience.

Further example, in the Sony SXRD manual the minimum viewing distances for the 50 and 60" SXRD's are approx. 6.6' and 7' respectively.

First rule when going from a small screen set to one of these bigger babies: ALWAYS buy bigger. Once people get used to it in their homes, for every person complaining of buying a set that's too big, there are a thousand regretting they could have gone bigger, assuming the space is available.

Rick0725

2006

Attached Images

Sony_slim_55_SXRD-1136512414953-440_330.jpeg (27.3 KB, 300 views)

BuTal63

That's better! Thank you.

I still wish I could find the full-front shot I saw on another forum and apparently neglected to save, but this shot is an improvement.

oldcaliforniak

How do you know it has a better picture than the Bravia?