Sony SXRD?

[BMXTRIX]

Is it really back to the point where we are all hailing Sony for the best damn televisions on the market again? I would have to say so. After several hours walking through several stores including Magnolia and Myer-Emco in the DC area I simply haven't seen anything that looks a bit better other than the 34" Trinitron CRT display.

I don't own one, but am now recommending the 60" model for my brother for his media room. But, am interested to hear if others have some opinions to chime in with. It seems to me though that Sony has their act together with this particular product... Something refreshing for a company that seems to have had a few fumbles in recent years.

 

[j_garcia]

LCD-P will most likely be going away. Sony's plan going forward, according to a display market research analyst who spoke here at our company this week, will focus on LCOS and LCD. The SXRDs do look pretty good though, possibly better than their LCDs at the moment. LCD is currently the fastest growing market segment.

 

[The Dukester]

Well, I may get blasted for this from the Sony-haters out there, but I really hope they hit a home run with the SXRD. Raise the bar for the competition to jump over!
I have read where a few folks have had problems with them, but from what my admittedly untrained eye can see, they seem to have the best pic out there right now. I am looking forward to the new 1080p units hitting the stores soon and check one out with the new HD discs.

 

[corysmith01]

Yeah, I've seen these, and while I'm not the biggest fan of Sony (but certainly not a hater), I must admit that they look pretty darn good.

BMXTRIX, which Myer-Emco/Magnolia did you visit? The one off of Leesburg near Tysons Corner? I used to live in that area and frequented those two...reading your post brought back memories.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I have seen them all around... yesterday was Gaithersurg, MD. I spent a few years working for Myer-Emco as their Crestron programmer (corporate office based) and hit all of their stores. I work in Reston and there is a Myer-Emco that is a few minutes off my drive home. The one towards Leesburg is a bit out of my way.

 

[SOUNDZGR8]

I've been checking these out too.

When they have the dedicated 1080p Sony signal loop playing, it's untouchable.

But when watching regular HD Discovery on this TV, the image made my eyes tired. Almost like the colors were out of registration or something.
The image could have been effected by so many tv's sharing the signal.

The other issue I had was that they (Circuit City) said they had to already change the bulb in it in less than 6 months. Maybe that's normal with all the hours they leave them on, but I thought that seemed like a short lifespan for such an expensive bulb.

 

[Hi Ho]

After comparing and tweaking both a Sony SXRD and JVC I-DLA set at best buy that were setup next to each other, I'd have to give the crown to the JVC, which was cheaper. It seemed to have better color and better blacks.

I also don't get what the big deal is about the Sony CRT's. I have seen plenty of them but they didn't look any better than those from Panasonic, Toshiba, and even Sanyo, all of which cost significantly less.

Now, I know most of you know that I'm not Sony's biggest fan, but I'm being subjective here. I really don't see what the big deal is with Sony TV's. From what I've seen, other companies offer as good or better pictures for less money.

 

[SOUNDZGR8]

The latest version of the 34" 16:9 Sony CRT isn't as good as the previous year's model(s). They actually downgraded the product. So THAT is why I believe you think the other tv's are comparable.

But believe me (because I went through months of Pepsi Challenges trying to find a better [and bigger] picture. But it just didn't exist), if you can get your hands on a one year old sealed 34" Trinitron XBR model, all other tv's don't even come close.

I've had mine for about two years, and it still ceases to amaze me. I'll watch the dumbest **** JUST BECAUSE it's in HD because it looks so incredible.

I'm still currently looking for a bigger TV that gives me that level of satisfaction . . .

 

[Hi Ho]

I'm not just talking about the latest models. I've been wondering for years why people are so crazy about Sony CRT's. I simply don't see how they're so amazing. The picture looks very nice, so does the picture on many other TV's. There isn't enough of a difference, if any, to make me pay the premium for a Sony set.

 

[SOUNDZGR8]

Not all Sony CRT's are created equal. The one people are crazy about are the 34" 16:9 XBR model(s) I discussed earlier in this thread.

On my TV, when you watch sports, you can read logos on peoples shirts on the OTHER side of the stadium. You don't just see texture in the cloth of peoples clothes, you practically see the thread count. You don't just see tone in peoples faces you can see their pores.

I hate to keep reiterating, but if you don't see the difference, you're not viewing the right set.

 

[Hi Ho]

A local home theater shop has had the 34" XBR sets on display ever since they came out, old and new. They are properly calibrated and in a dimly lit room. Comparing the Sony set to the Panasonic and Samsung sets next to it, I see no amazing, mind blowing difference. I see very little at all. In fact, I liked the picture on the Panasonic better. I could see the thread count in their clothes and pores on their faces, as you put it, on all three sets.

 

[RLA]

Is it really back to the point where we are all hailing Sony for the best damn televisions on the market again?

I would say no!
I have been reporting for the last year or so that I don’t see the elated over hyped excitement generated by the Sony's. Sure they look good at first glace but get them home, calibrate them and then you start seeing the flaws unless you have not seen a properly calibrated display device.

Poor black levels and color depth are among the problems I see. IMOHO a good properly calibrated rear DLP is a better alternative to the Sony. Another issue is QC. Sony is notorious for terrible QC and customer service related issues and contacts that I have indicate that things have not changes over the years.

Maybe Gene can chime in here since he has had the Sony in his system recently and is now viewing a very good rear DLP

 

[hemiram]

I've had mine for about two years, and it still ceases to amaze me. I'll watch the dumbest **** JUST BECAUSE it's in HD because it looks so incredible.

Well, I know what you mean, even though you really screwed up that sentence!

Since I got my HDTV, a Sharp 37", and got it all adjusted to the point I can't get it any better, I've been watching all kinds of "stuff" that normally I would pass on:

Hogan's Heroes. Looks like it was shot last week.
Old movies I hated, like "Cincinatti Kid". I sat through the last 45 minutes of it somehow.
A couple of hours of the space shuttlle countdown and then the launch. It looked amazing, A really great picture, and the birds chirping and jet chase plane noise in surround was interesting.
Concerts with singers and music I hate.

I'm still currently looking for a bigger TV that gives me that level of satisfaction . . .[/QUOTE]

My friend has the XBR, and it does look amazing, but I'm very happy with my Sharp LC37D40U. The 18 months no interest also help!

 

[The Dukester]

It's funny you should say that, Ray. The Sony dealer here that I have bought products from for over 15 yrs. (and not just Sony, but other brands as well) says just the opposite. They tell me that they sell Sony BECAUSE of their dealer/customer support. They say that as much Sony equipment as they sell that if it did not hold up and when it does break down that Sony did'nt support it that they would have been o/b a long time ago. When I confronted them with the reliability/customer svc issues that so many have posted about here, the only thing they could say was it may have a lot to do with your local rep. They say their rep cannot be beat, so that could be a big difference, at least in cust. svc.

As far as the SXRD pic quality, I admittedly don't have the experience/trained eye you do, but the pic sure looked better to me at another dealer that sells many diff brands. I originally thought the JVC DiLA had a better pic when comparing side by side, but when I fiddled with the adjustments, the Sony just looked better to me. Of course, neither had been properly dialed in, but the black levels and shadow details of the Sony just flat beat out the JVC on the two I looked at. I played with the remotes for quite awhile trying to adjust the pics to the best possible level I could get with my eyes. The SXRD had quite a bit better seperation in the subltle changes in blacks and near blacks. The JVC just looked like all one shade of black. Colors may have been a little more saturated on the JVC, but they looked a little more natural to me on the Sony.

Just my observations, however.

I would say no!
I have been reporting for the last year or so that I don’t see the elated over hyped excitement generated by the Sony's. Sure they look good at first glace but get them home, calibrate them and then you start seeing the flaws unless you have not seen a properly calibrated display device.

Poor black levels and color depth are among the problems I see. IMOHO a good properly calibrated rear DLP is a better alternative to the Sony. Another issue is QC. Sony is notorious for terrible QC and customer service related issues and contacts that I have indicate that things have not changes over the years.

Maybe Gene can chime in here since he has had the Sony in his system recently and is now viewing a very good rear DLP

 

[Hi Ho]

I have a friend that owns a local electronics/repair shop and according to him, Sony has the worst reliability/quality of just about any brand except RCA. He's been in the business for thirty years and says Sony has gone downhill in the last 10-15 years. According to him, most Sony CRT's made in the past 10 years haven't gone more than a year or two without problems. To top it off, he says they're overly complex and very difficult/expensive to repair. His experience with Sony service isn't too great either. He has trouble getting parts from them. Sony prefers that the customer buys a new TV instead of getting it repaired.

I don't yet own an HDTV but I can say that my Sanyo 27", which I bought for $250 in 2001, works like new and has a fantastic picture. It produces absolute black, has excellent shadow detail, and excellent color. I could have paid nearly $1000 for a Sony WEGA set of the same size in 2001 but I wouldn't have gained anything, and if the Sony reliability woes hold any truth, it probably wouln't be working today.