Sony XBR4

theginz2004

I am going to be buying my first LCD TV in the next few months, and I am pretty sure I am going to get this. How are the specs on this TV? Compared to other TVs on the market? I know it is not out yet, but any information will be extremely helpful.


http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665116632

borromini

The XBR2 is the predecessor to the XBR4 and has been a very popular set. It's single most-discussed flaw has been the clouding issue. I own an XBR2 and never had the clouding problem. Based on my experience with this set, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the XBR4 since I would suspect that it will be a better set based on the published specs.

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"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

DEVO

I'm interrested in what the real difference between the xbr4 & xbr5 is. Last years model the xbr2 had interchangable bezels, and the xbr3 was gloss black. What is the xbr5 going to have different?

theginz2004

When does the XBR5 come out? It is not even listed on Sony's website.

borromini

If the time-line is similar to the XBR3, the XBR5 is likely to come out 3 months after the XBR4.

__________________
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

BuTal63

The 40" and 46" XBR5's are expected to ship in July, the 52" XBR5 in September.

Subject to change of course.

theginz2004

If the XBR5 is coming out in July, why is it not on their website?

Also, does anyone know the differences between them?

borromini

The differences will likely be the same as the differences between the XBR2 and XBR3.

__________________
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

HDWANNABEE

Since XBR5's are coming out in July, when are the money hungry b***ards going to lower the prices on the xbr2's?

BuTal63

You just have to know where to look.


http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...rl=&productId=

Take Sony's early limited description of the specs. with a grain or two of salt. They've been known to change a bit by the time the sets hit the street.

theginz2004

Thanks

borromini

Probably right after you buy one.

__________________
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

DEVO

It's always 31 days...right after the return and price match policies!

BuTal63

Heehee - and I thought I was the only one to have that kind of price luck.

But seriously folks, with the announcement of the new XBR4's and 5's, Sony did lower the MSRPs $200-300 on the XBR2/3's, depending on model. Yes I know - whoopie.

They are still probably among the most expensive mainstream sets for their panel sizes, but you can buy them a good bit cheaper - while you can still get 'em - from reputable discounters, especially if you don't mind taking a small gamble with an on-line purchase.

Sony flat panel prices have been dropping steadily for a few years now, along with other manufacturers. Geez, the 32XBR1 listed for $2,699.99 when it was first introduced only 2 years ago. The new 32XBR4 is $1,599.99 - and you'll be able to buy it for less than that at all but the most retail-retail outlets. I've only just started tracking Sony's 1080p flat panels, so I don't know if we'll see the same kind of steep pricing slope with them as with the 768 32XBR series. Thanks to competition it'll happen eventually, but perhaps later rather than sooner.

Of course, we don't know what the performance of the new models will be, but my eyes always seem to gravitate to the XBR panels when I do side by side comparisons. To my eyes, only the Samsungs have come close lately. Everybody's different though. And certainly there are much cheaper sets out there with acceptable pictures too.

If I have the coin, I'll usually pay the difference and get the XBR. At least a good lcd flat panel has a decent chance of a long lifespan over which to amortize the extra cost, unlike some of the other hd tech out there whose longterm reliability - or the reliability of the manufacturer in the case of off-brands - has yet to be proven.

Good grief - too much time on my hands today.