 |
Sony Grand WEGA KDS-50A2000 50-Inch SXRD 1080p Rear Projection HDTV
By: Sony Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 86
More Information
 On: 2008-06-26
I purchased this television 14 months ago. Great picture. It worked fine for about 20 months, then the problems started. The Optical Eye had to be replaced. Sony did this for free, but I had to wait 8 days. Next the lamp burned out after 2 years. I watch tv about 4 hours a day. The salesman stated the lamp lasts for 4 to 5 years. After replacing the lamp I now have trouble getting the tv to turn on. Ive had 4 servicemen out to my house and the cable company about 5 times. Nobody seems to know whats going on. Ive had enough and I am lucky enough to be able to replace it. Dont buy this set. Its not worth it.
 On: 2008-05-31
I am like a lot of buyers, not a whole lot of knowledge and I rely on reviews a lot. This is exactly why I am going to be completely honest.
First off, I would like to say...check the return policy for this item. If it is not working properly they WONT take it back; its terrible. My 50A2000 came in questionable packaging. When I opened the box none of the packaging materials were in place correctly and the remote batteries were in the remote. On top of this, the setup menu didnt start when I turned on the tv. These things arent the worst possible issues but they do say the tv was previously used.
Main Problem: The mainl issue I have with it is random restarting. While I am watching a program it will randomly turn off and turn on. Its annoying because when it happens it take forever to turn back on. This is why I have been contacting Sony and Electronics Expo. They wont return it, but they will send someone to check it out. This problem happened the first day i got it.
The tv is light (not heavy), this is a plus. It fits nicely on a regular desk (as you can see in my consumer images). It does however, have a forward lean. I put a level on the top and it is clearly leaning forward. I have yet to figure out a way to get it leaning back.
I think the SDTV picture is awesome. I read a lot of reviews complaining about the regular picture but I am impressed. Sometimes I cant tell a difference between it and HD. This is not such a good thing for the HD. Overall, I am disappointed with the HD. It improves significantly when the program is darker colors, but for a lot of light (sports) it is not so hot. I really enjoy watching sports too, so this is unfortunate.
The sound from the tv itself is good. I hooked it up to some speakers but nevertheless, it is good.
I rate the KDS-50A2000 3 stars because it is not terrible but not great. I would rate it lower but I got it 46% off or something ridiculous. I have a Vizio 42" LCD, which has much better HD. If I could return this tv I would.
Hope this helps. This tv is just not for me. Perhaps these issues are not so bad for other buyers...good luck.
On: 2008-05-17
Dont Buy IT! I purchased this tv in November 2006. I loved it. Great color, would have highly recommended it back then. Now it is May 2008. There is now a big yellow blob on my screen. Of course my 1 year warranty has already expired!
The yellow blob, from what I have now read is a common problem with the Sony tvs that occurs approx. 1 and 1/2 to 2 and 1/2 years after purchase. Sony had a class action lawsuit filed against them for this same issue. Sony covered the repair costs on 2 of their models based on the class action suit. They are refusing to cover the repairs on this model.
Buyer Beware! If you buy this tv make sure you get the extended warranty!
 On: 2008-03-06
I bought an older Sony Grand Wega 54 inch Monitor a few years ago; and was pleased with the quality.
This 50 inch model with 1080p (Manufacture Date - December 2006) blows the general flat panel tvs away. Plus, I found the viewing angle to be better than the Bravia rear projections of the same size.
Won this one on ebay last week, from a local affiliate - in like new condition; with a 2 year squaretrade warranty (bargain rate). TV fan is very quiet. PQ excellent with various sources... regular cable TV via coax looks well... 1080i digital channels crisp; BD player has outstanding presentations. As a former theater projectionist; I am very pleased with the 50 inch SXRD 1080p Grand Wega (rear projection)! Cost with tax and two year warranty included: $1100.
 On: 2007-11-13
How to start...
This review would have been 5 stars until just 10 months into its life the damn TV stopped working. It seemed to happen overnight. I was watching TV fine one night and the next day I went to turn the TV on and I crapped my pants. The fan came on and the green power LED lit up just like normal, but the screen never came on. Instead the fan shut off and the green LED turned to red and started blinking.
The only positive thing I can say is Sony support was very helpful. Not a long wait on the telephone and the person I spoke with seemed sympathetic. She referred me to an official Sony repair store and I have an appointment to get it fixed.
Luckily the TV broke before the 1 year parts/labor warranty ended. I expected better quality from Sony...something that would not break down in 10 months. Hopefully Sony will extend the warranty since they had to fix it. I will keep my fingers crossed though.
On: 2007-11-12
How to start...
This review would have been 5 stars until just 10 months into its life the damn TV stopped working. It seemed to happen overnight. I was watching TV fine one night and the next day I went to turn the TV on and I crapped my pants. The fan came on and the green power LED lit up just like normal, but the screen never came on. Instead the fan shut off and the green LED turned to red and started blinking.
The only positive thing I can say is Sony support was very helpful. Not a long wait on the telephone and the person I spoke with seemed sympathetic. She referred me to an official Sony repair store and I have an appointment to get it fixed.
Luckily the TV broke before the 1 year parts/labor warranty ended. I expected better quality from Sony...something that would not break down in 10 months. Hopefully Sony will extend the warranty since they had to fix it. I will keep my fingers crossed though.
On: 2007-10-08
I just bought this TV from a local Frys store after reading most of the reviews here on Amazon :) I must say I agree with all the reviewers who gave this TV a 5! It truly rocks. Nothing beats the Sony picture quality, and this TV is a bargain at the sub-$1400 price on sale/clearance. I hooked up an HDMI cable to my Comcast cable box (used a DVI-HDMI adapter), and also connected the optical to my Sony 5.1 home theatre.. thats all I need. Watched the Matrix Reloaded and Miami Vice yesterday, and WOW!! Go for this model, and being a techie myself, I know the the SXRD technology is more reliable than conventional projection TVs.
On: 2007-09-30
I got this TV a year ago, and Im still loving it. Blu-ray and HD channels look incredible, and I havent had any problems with it over the past year.
I mostly watch SDTV (digital cable), and I personally still find the picture on the tv to be pretty impressive, especially when I go over to a friends house and see how blocky SDTV looks on their HDs.
I also do a LOT of gaming, and Ive never had any problems with the TV. The number of inputs is perfect for my system setup (PS3, PS2, Wii), and I just cant get over how amazing these games look. Also, I appreciate the minor details like being able to label the different inputs.
I only have a couple of minor gripes. The no Picture-in-picture is a minor con. Also, I recently discovered that the optical digital audio out only works for "digital channels," whatever that means. Basically it never worked for me. I hooked up the analog audio out to my 5.1 surround system, and the sound is pretty decent.
If youre looking for a top of the line HDTV for a decent price, this is the one to by. Ive never been so happy with a purchase before.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-06-03
In one word, wow!
This is my first big screen and I am extremely happy with this TV. My last TV was a 32" Sony CRT so this is definitely a substantial upgrade. I absolutely love this TV but I just wish I could use it to get 1080p out of my Xbox 360. Unfortunately this TV only accepts 1080p through the HDMI connections. This makes sense but my Xbox 360 only outputs 1080p through the VGA connection. The new Xbox 360 elite has an HDMI connection but obviously I dont have that. Not sure what Im going to do about that yet.
Both my wife and I were against rear projection TVs and never liked the picture quality they had. This completely changed once we saw the Sony SXRDs. This is a beautiful TV for the price. It is packed with features and a great value. If I were to buy an equal in an LCD flat panel or Plasma I would be paying close to twice the price. Since I wasnt going to mount my TV on the wall having a flat panel didnt make a difference for me. Before I found this TV I was going to buy a 37" or 40" TV. I look at these now and realize I wouldnt be happy with that size. Actually, if I had my way I would have bought the 60" version but really this TV is more than big enough.
I sit about 9 feet away from this TV and I think this is the perfect viewing distance for this TV. Video games on my Xbox 360 and Wii (both through component) are awesome. I only have a progressive scan (480p) DVD player and most movies look great. I say most because you can tell movies that are low budget. Poor video quality is definitely more noticeable on a big TV like this. I have standard analog cable right now and it is as bad as my Sony CRT. I say as bad because analg cable sucks no matter what TV you watch it on but on a bigger TV it is more noticeable again. Im going to wait to buy HD cable or satellite until there are more HD programs and channels. I really didnt buy this TV for watching cable anyways since most TV programs suck nowadays. The thing I will miss is sports in HD but again I can wait for that.
If youre looking for a big screen HDTV then this may be a good choice for you especially considering the price compared to others.
On: 2007-05-23
Everything we expected and more. We love the picture especially the nature shows.the underwater colors are unbelievable.
I watch only HD chanels now.
On: 2007-05-17
This is not only the best TV Ive ever owned, this is the best picture Ive seen. Ive had this TV for 2 months now. I LOVE IT!!! Friends and family rave about my TV. Recommend it to everyone. Amazon is also great. Shipping was fast and the delivery guys from Eagle Transport were very professional and curtious. Buy this TV!!!
 On: 2007-05-14
Excellent picture and controls. The remote is well thought out and there is single button access to the most used basic controls such as picture viewing area and sound type. The picture itself is excellent with good blacks and shadow detail. Motion seems to be blur free and no rainbow effect. I think for the price it would be difficult to find a better unit that is 1080P capable. A third HDMI would have been nice.
The sound from the built in speakers is just OK, but most people are like myself and have an external speaker setup. I would definitly do this purchase again and the service from Amazon was perfect. I had the TV within 5 days.
On: 2007-05-13
TV has a great picture in both HD and standard modes.
On: 2007-05-12
I received this TV on April 4, 2007 and love it. The HD picture is super and the simplicity of the set up and use makes it so enjoyable. I evaluated Plasma, LCD and rear projections prior to my purchase. This one beats all rear projections I have looked at and unless you need to hang your TV on the wall go with this and you wont be disappointed and you will save $$$$ over LCDs or Plasmas. Also, when the lamp ages the replacement is so easy, open a side cover (no tools needed) and swap the lamp out. If an LCD or Plasma need service you may likely need to bring it to a repair center. Also rear projections never burn in an image whereas plasma and LCDs may do so. Unlike other rear projections that darken as you approach 45 degrees from the side this is sharp up to 60 degrees. The delivery was flawless and right on time. I have purchased a number of things from Amazon and never had a problem. This is the most expensive purchase I made through Amazon and will never hesitate to buy from them. Also I got free delivery and no sales tax. I priced it at the Big Box Electronic stores and it would have cost me around $2500 so I saved a lot buying online. Keep up the good work Amazon!
On: 2007-05-01
Just purchased this tv after much searching and researching. I intended ro buy only one more tv in my lifetime and I wanted it to count. I found the perfect choice. I added a Sony surround sound and I truly have a home theater. It was just installed over the weekend and I am already hooked. SD stations are extremely clear and the color on this tv is phenomenal. I would recommend rhis to anyone surching. No tv glare like on some LCD/s that I saw. I was considering a Samsung LCD but after seeing the picture and the price difference I couldnt resist this tv. Get one and you will be amazed. I got mine at Best Buy and they were extremely helpful.
On: 2007-04-05
Before this TV I had purchased a DLP 1080p TV from a local big box retailer, but I quickly discovered the mysterious rainbows that a small percentage of people see.
I quickly returned to the store and exchanged the DLP for this TV! Though I did perfer the brightness of the DLP, I have really started to enjoy this TV - especially after finding the correct settings for all the user adjustable menu items.
I was very fortunate and after 25 days of having the TV, the retailer clearanced them out and I was able to get a price adjustment to make the TV only cost $1350!!!! Amazons price is great, but they should be going on clearance soon to make way for the A2020 version of the tv. Get a great deal at clearance and youll be happy!
On: 2007-04-04
Weve owned this 50" Sony tv for about one month now. We are satisfied with the product. HD quality is good. I enjoy watching sports broadcasts, DVD movies, and video games. Non HD stations however are only fair. LCD viewing angles are alittle better but still need to be improved. Cant wait for football season.
On: 2007-04-02
For a year I have been lusting after the SXRD. I have had Sony TVs all my life and can attest to their longevity and picture quality as being the best in the industry. I was looking to move up in technology, screen size and resolving power from my Sony 27" Wega that I purchased 5 years ago. At the beginning of the micro display (DLP, LCD, & LCoS) revolution, Samsung was the leader and the biggest spender on R&D for this technology. Sony was happy to sit back and rely on their reputation while they brought to market LCD projectors that their long time customers looked at with Benny Hill expressions of suprise and disgust. Meanwhile, Samsung and Panasonic took more and more of Sonys market share with exquisite picture quality, handsome cabinet design, and intuitive controls. Well, the gloves came off at Sony. Sony decided to get around the pros and cons of LCD and DLP using a technology that only one other major manufacturer (JVC) has had the guts to produce on a large scale. This technology is called LCoS, or Liquid Crystal on Silicon. Sony uses the SXRD moniker to differentiate its LCoS based TVs from the rest of the sub-standard LCD TVs it produces. Basically, LCoS is a hybrid of DLP and LCD using the best of both technologies and able to discard the deficiencies. Inspite of the advantages of this technology, few manufacturers are willing to produce TVs using LCoS because it is more expensive (less profitable). I would have bought the less expensive 720p 50" Samsung DLP HDTV but my wife said that I would regret it, knowing how much I wanted the SXRD. Man, was she right. I got this thing home and out of the box on standard digital cable, transmitted at 480i resolution, it was impressive. The up-conversion works phenominally. When we had our cable company upgrade us to an HD converter box I was exceedingly impressed with scene transition, contrast, and well....the color was jaw-dropping. Normally, when I have seen a projection TV produce color this vibrant, there was alot of color bleeding and smearing (color temps. too hot). But not on this set. The first movie I watched in HD was "V for Vendetta" and it was totally absorbing. I was really excited about this TV and asked my wife what she thought of it. She said that she couldnt tell the difference from normal TV except for the size. After I stopped looking for the alien pods in the basement and clues as to what they had done with her, I came into the livingroom where she was watching "Saving Private Ryan" in HD. It was the beginning where they are storming Normandy beach and an excellent war scene. What made me take notice of how my wife was watching was that she was sitting forward on the couch with her head way down and flinching at the whizzing bullets and artillery explosions on the screen. I caught her attention and asked her, "Cant tell the difference, huh?" The biggest thing about HD isnt that us tech nerds can tell the huge difference from older technologies, its that the normal "Joe" gets immersed so entirely in the program that they forget where they are. The shadow detail, black reproduction, limited stepping, iris controls are all, in and of themselves, little improvements and subtle but they enhance cumulatively the experience and soon the person is lost in the program. And that my friends is the triumph and the ultimate goal of these technologies. As impressive as the picture quality is in HD on this set, I was looking to stay a bit ahead of the technology curve by buying a set that was capable of displaying a 1080p image. I borrowed my friends Panasonic Blue Ray player and found that I dont ever need to see a movie in the theater again. Reviewers say that 720p is almost film-like. 1080p, in my opinion, surpasses film and heightens the viewing experience that much more. Many current sets offer the same HDMI inputs and resolution, etc. which you can read about in the other reviews of this set, but as many can attest, how a set uses all of these things together is what matters most. And it is awesome!!! The one and only down-side to this TV is that when playing video games on it with the PS2, there is hesitation in the game play. My favorite game right now is MLB 2006: The Show. When batting there is a delay. At first I couldnt figure this out but then realized that the TV was trying to up-convert the image and in this attempt to up-convert, there was the delay. This TV, after much research, has so far surpassed its competition that its total capabilities will not be realizied anytime soon. (1080p HD programming from the cable company, satallite, or over-the-air providers) Just the small amount of 1080p discs being produced on Blue-Ray are capable of showing what this TV can do. So, this TV is too good to measure using existing technology. An affordable big screen that is finally worthy of the title of "Home Theater." Highest recommendation posible.
On: 2007-04-02
The new 50A2020 is now available, so get this one at a great price before theyre gone. I think theres only (2) differences...
Cosmetic & the claimed contrast ratio. All the rest of the specs seem identical.
I will agree with other reviews, that NTSC doesnt always look great.
But for me, thats because you can notice the compression more on this TV than a regular CRT. Heck, youre blowing the picture up!
And just because everything is now "digital" that doesnt guarantee a better picture. Theyre just cramming in more channels, and to do that you must compress.
But in the very near future ... DirecTV is hopefully going to add 100 HD stations still this year, and by 2009 as we all know we can kiss our good friend NTSC goodbye.
So for now, enjoy your DVDs in all their glory, Catch Letterman in pristine HD, and dont forget about all the HD sports that just look awesome on this TV.
And to get the most out of NTSC while it lasts, watch it in normal 4x3 mode, NOT stretch mode. It looks a lot better.
Oh by the way, CNET did a test on the 60" version, and they post the best settings for theater/movie mode ... check it out.
On: 2007-03-28
I have really enjoyed this TV!
It has an awesome picture with or w/o the high definition channels.
I would recommend this TV to anyone considering this 50"SXRD rear projection HDTV.
On: 2007-03-22
...this is hands down the best HDTV out there without spending a ton of money. When I realized that my 32" CRT just wasnt going to cut it for the Xbox360 and the PS3 and anything else that was at 720p and 1080p I set out to find something with great or good quality around or under $2000. I searched amazon for the TV that everyone loved but found that that was almost every 1080p TV out there.
The DLP TVs were the right price but didnt like the fact that even after improving on the color wheel I could still see the rainbow effect especially when looking around on the screen. This 50 wega was right next to the DLPs and loved the clarity and the fact that it was a pretty decent price. The other thing i noticed (this is me being anal) is that I could see the individual pixels when i was close enough to the screen of the WEGA. On the DLPs the picture up close there was no definition and the clarity was muted by noise. This is probably due to the fact that the actual resolution processor on a DLP TV can only do 960x1080 mirror array and have to overlap the pixels in order to create an effect that produce a 1920x1080 pixel picture which is the standard for 1080p. LCDs are just way too expensive at such a size. Plasmas Im none too keen on how the pixels are seperated and it makes it look like your seeing the picture through a screen door.
Setup was a snap on this TV and the buttons on the controller were easy to find.
On: 2007-03-20
Very good picture at a reasonable price, if you have the back room for the rear projection. IT is nice that they made the bulb accessible for replacement when needed.
On: 2007-03-14
Ive owned this TV for about 1 1/2 months. I love this tv with all my heart. I did a lot of research, as well as searching in stores, for the right tv. I finally found it. I truely think this is a beatiful tv. Its somewhat pricey, but well worth it. I regret, not a day, ever since I purchesed this tv. I was interested in plasmas, as well as lcds. The Sony lcd XBR was the best I saw, but, I cant afford a $3000 tv, so this was the very next best. Really it all depends on what you see and what you like. This TV takes a little up-keep, but the picture quality will never change. So this tv, if properly taken care of will last for ever. I would recommend this tv to my very best of friends.
On: 2007-03-09
I bought this TV in January and I absolutely love it. I did a lot of research prior, and this TV came out on top. I was mainly looking for a 1080P television. It was a toss up between this, or the Samsung 1080P models. Im really happy with the television, we didnt have to do too much tuning out of the box.
My only issue is the TV takes alittle bit long to turn on, which is understandable given the technology. But it would be nice to eventually cut the time in half. Also the TV does not produce native 1080p from the Xbox 360 HD player which was really disappointing. It only produces true 1080p via HDMI not VGA. So be warned if youre planning on using this TV with the Xbox 360 HD player. Although 1080i has been nice too.
On: 2007-03-09
Ive had the KDS-50A2000 for about six weeks now, and I am quite happy with its performance. As Ive never had an HDTV before, Im not writing from the perspective of a seasoned consumer, much less that of a technical expert, but rather from the new consumers viewpoint. I admit it: the wow factor is still pretty high.
Im not saying "All I can say is wow," though. I did compare this set with a lot of others and judged its picture quality and ability to deliver true 1080p performance as first rate for the price. I chose it in preference to a comparably priced DLP TV, a Samsung, because of what I saw as the superiority of Sonys SXRD resolution technology; the picture flat-out looked better: crisper and clearer. The controls and adjustments are intuitive and easy to use; so is the remote. The TVs own sound is better than I expected as well.
The depth required by the rear projection technology makes the set a bit more cumbersome than a flat panel TV, but the current prices seem to make it a particularly good choice if youve got somewhere to set it; a plus is that it doesnt require a stand.
The lamp for the set takes a few seconds to warm up, so its not an "instant on" technology. Im glad I knew that going into the purchase so that I was able to factor it into my decision to buy. Its a minor factor for me. At the same time, the channel changes are just a little pokey; not sure if thats the cable or the TV. But again, no biggie.
The only real complaint Id have relates to the design: the perforated silver panel below the set is just a bit distracting. Its not as "sexy" as the piano-black Samsung. Even if Sony doesnt go "full piano black" on these sets, they might consider that the screen would "float" better if the bottom panel were not so obtrusive.
I do like the fact that the TV has an HDMI input; the single HDMI cable lessens the spaghetti factor behind the set. My TV cable provider didnt clue me in to this option, even though my cable box has an HDMI output, but I was happy when I discovered it, along with the availability of relatively inexpensive HDMI cables on the Internet. There may be some debate among the cognoscenti about whether its worth spending $149 for an 8-foot HDMI cable from a high-end audio manufacturer, but I believe Im going to declare myself satisfied for one with similar specs at a third that price from an Internet outlet.
On: 2007-03-08
This tv is stunning! Im not gonna go into all the technical mumbo jumbo cause plenty other users have done that... I will say that when this tv says its HD right out of the box its not joking. I connected one end of a coax cable to the tv and was holding the other end in my hand and the tv did a channel search and a few minutes later I was watching over the air HD broadcasts. The cable wasnt even connected to anything... I did eventually connect it to the non-HD antenna that I own and the picture still looks great. So just be aware that you dont have to spend the money on an expensive HD antenna any antenna will suffice just let the tv do the rest of the work for you. If I could enter a committed relationship with this tv I would!
On: 2007-03-08
For $1700 at the time, this TV blows the rest of the cometition away. You can buy a Panasonic or others for less, but the picture quality and extra technology in this TV makes it worthwhile. The picture clarity and colors (contrast ratio as well) are excellent. At first I was wary of purchasing such a large item (both price and size) online. Amazon was excellent in order processing and shipping. The TV comes by a non-standard shipping company called American EGL. Again I was worried, but all was delivered on time and in perfect condition. I would recommend this method of buying any TV due to no taxes, free shipping, no price gouging, and excellent product.
On: 2007-03-08
I had an excellent experience... the TV was delivered in a timely way, the delivery company and their men were very professional, and the TV itself is everything I expected from the Sony brand name... in a word: excellent. As some previous reviewers commented... the color was great "right out of the box."
Amazon makes it all easy and affordable! Thank you.
On: 2007-03-08
Wait for this to go on sale at the above price. Totally market driven, the price fluctuates all the time. Best 50" around by far.
On: 2007-02-28
I have research several types of tvs from the plasma, LCD, and the rear projection and I am very pleased with the sony KDS-50A2000. Excellent picture right out of the box without paying a lot of money. Highly recommend and definitely would buy from [...]. Very professional and always on top of your delivery.
On: 2007-02-27
Had it for 1 1/2 months, and VERY happy with it. Only complaint is the 2 minute warm up time of the light bulb, but am used to that now. Otherwise it is excellent in every way.
To the person who doesnt like to press the TV/VIDEO button 7 times to get to AV7, go into the "Label Video Inputs" menu and you can choose "SKIP" for the inputs you are not using.
Now, my question: There are only 2 lines for the DISPLAY Info Banner, to describe the TV show, but sometimes there are more words than it can display. IS there a way to make it show the rest of the words?
On: 2007-02-20
Ive had the TV about 3 weeks and so far its been everything Id hoped for. The picture, when the broadcast is in hi-def, is simply stunning. My first football game was the AFC championship game. My Pats not winning was the only downside(cant blame Sony for that). You could actually read some of the tattoos. Was wary of the rear projection technology-had heard about repair issues- but was assured by my tech competent son-in-law that Sonys SXRD was something new and better, not subject to repair problems of the past. So far, so good. At this point, couldnt be happier. Unless you want to hang it on the wall, why even consider spending the extra $500 for an LCD?
On: 2007-02-19
Sony KDS-50A2000 is the best rear projection HDTV Ive ever seen. My Xbox360(component) and PS3(HDI), Nintendo Wii(component) look amazing on this TV.
On: 2007-02-19
I purchased this RPTV about a month ago. I have researched this unit exhaustively for close to three months. Ive looked at all other possibilites. Ive read some of the comments from other owners that had problems with this TV. Taking all that into consideration , I bought this unit. I have to say that this is the "BEST" tv I have "EVER SEEN". I would put this up against ANY tv out there PERIOD. The picture is "Drop Dead Beautiful". Everybody that has come over to see this set has had the same reaction!! To be "SAFE" I have purchased an extended warrany on it , since the Micro Displays are apt to require more srevice. I only have "GOOD THINGS" to say about this TV. "Consider It"
On: 2007-02-17
After weeks of reading up on all the newest TV technology and assessing my personal wants I decided to go with a Rear Projection TV. The 2 main factors were size vs price. I really liked the LCDs on the market, but wanted at least a 50" set. And as many reading this know the larger LCD (most max at 47") are almost double the price for a comparable RPTV.
This set is spectacular. The viewing angle, lack of glare and picture quality are top notch. The one minor flaw is the basic sound is, well, basic. But when your in this market of TV you must have upgraded audio. If you dont, its okay, the sound is adequate, as are most TV sets; even tube TVs. This flaw is common in the TV market, so I dont count it against the overall marks.
I should also say the price I got from Amazon was unbeatable. Also, the shipping was QUICK and without issue.
Good luck to those researching and you wont be disappointed in this TV, so go ahead and get it already!
On: 2007-02-15
I purchased the Sony 50A2000 several weeks ago from Amazon for $1699 ($800 off regular price of $2399). No tax and the shipping was free. The TV arrived in good condition in the original box. It was easy to hook up to the digital cable box with HDMI. Time Warner even included the HDMI cable at no extra cost. Once you get used to the HD channels you dont even want to watch regular stations anymore. I have been watching many basketball games on ESPN HD. I wish I had bought one sooner!
On: 2007-02-11
We purchased this television from a local electronics dealer. A few days after delivery, we noticed a small black spot in the left-center of the screen that appeared to be either dead pixels or material trapped under the screen. We called the store where we purchased the set and they sent a repairman.
The technician offered to disassemble the set, in our living room, in order to investigate the problem, but mentioned that the screen might not align properly upon reassembly. He also said that Sony doesnt consider problems outside of the central viewing area to be significant. I, however, feel that a television in the $2000 neighborhood should be absolutely perfect in every way. We insisted the electronics dealer repace the television, and they agreed.
The repacement set had the same black spot issue in not one, but two locations on the screen. Were waiting for another set replacement. Were a little disappointed in Sony, to say the very least. My point here is to closely check your screens for these spots. I recommend a program or movie with a white or light colored solid picture as a background reference.
On: 2007-02-10
I am writing this review based upon comparing HDTVs that friends and family have at the same size: 2 Samsung rear projection LCDs, one Pioneer Plasma, and one Mitsubishi rear project LCD. My comparison was also based upon a 1080i picture because I dont yet have a device that produces a 1080p picture. In my humble opinion, the SXRD has the highest quality picture over any TV I have ever seen in my life. The only set that equals it is the Sony LCD Bravada which is priced at thousands more. Unless one really needs to hang their TV on the wall, there is no justification for paying thousands more for essentially the same picture. I am by no means an expert but I will list the following pros and cons based on some of my research and personal experience owning the set for almost three months now:
Pros:
*I experienced none of the set up issues mentioned below. I plugged in the component cables, turned on my TV and instantly saw the most stunning HD visuals I have ever witnessed. I have actually tried to tweak the settings to see if it will get better and always go back to the defaults for the optimum picture. The TV continues to amaze me still, especially if I have recently been over another house with an equivalent TV set.
*Of particular note and not very well known, Sony produces the ONLY rear project LCD HD set that has significantly less picture degradation issues when viewing the screen from the side. That is one of the selling points of Plasma & Flat LCD sets. All other rear projection LCD sets have a poor quality picture when viewing from an extreme side angle. If you dont believe me, go to a store like Best Buy and see the comparison for yourself.
*Another little known fact is that video game consoles DONT like DLP. Sonys alternative to DLP is superior. That is why Samsung sets have a Video game setting as an option. It is literally adjusting the DLP functionality to produce a higher quality visual when playing a game. Some XBOX 360 games now have a special setting for DLP because of the inherit degradation issues some folks are experiencing when playing video games on DLP sets.
Cons:
*Probably the biggest con for this set is for folks who own an XBOX 360. I fault XBOX 360 for this issue as well. The Microsoft box does not have an HDMI cable output. The only way it can produce a 1080p picture is through a VGA cable. Now, the Sony SXRD does have a VGA jack, but can only show a 1080p picture utilizing the HDMI jacks. I confirmed this with the Sony helpdesk folks.
With that said the visuals coming through the component cables at 1080i via XBOX 360 games, XBOX HD-DVD add-on, and the Comcast Cable HD-DVR are just awesome and stunning. The resolution and color explosions have to seen to be believed.
Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this television.
On: 2007-02-09
This is somewhat lengthy but if youre going to spend $2,000 on a TV its worth spending a minute reading up on it.
I purchased this TV a month or so ago. I actually purchased three TVs, put them all in my house to see which one I liked best and kept the Sony. I also had the Samsung HLS-5086W, and Toshiba 50HM66. One 1080p and two 720p sets. I purchased the 1080p Sony instead of the 720p model because I got it for a great price, it was the smallest premium for the 1080p model instead of the 720p model from the three manufactures. I think its gone up some since I purchased it though - prices for micro-display rear projection TVs fluctuated wildly in December and January.
The picture quality is outstanding. It was the best of all the TVs I took home. Im pretty picky and while this TV isnt perfect for me it has the best picture and ultimately thats what matters most.
The TV has more settings to adjust the picture then youll likely need. This TV has the most impressive set of picture controls - at least compared to the other two I had, download the manual from Sony and you can look through all the settings you can control.
I really cannot comment on the sound, Im running sound through an A/V receiver. But, it does have more sound settings then the Samsung or Toshiba. One thing about the audio out that I dont like is that its only enabled for the coax inputs. If you plan to use composite or HDMI inputs then the audio out is not enabled. Probably not a big deal for most.
The feature set of this TV has more or less the same as the Samsung and Toshiba. One thing Id have liked to have is auto input detection. The TV has 9 inputs which is great but can be time consuming to switch between inputs. I use the Air antenna and the two HDMI inputs (6 & 7), if I switch from one HDMI input to the other I have to scroll through all 8 other inputs to get back to the first HDMI input - even though there are no other signals on the inputs. The Samsung will only show inputs that have a signal to them. Its a minor inconvenience.
This TV costs more than either the Samsung or the Toshiba but its worth it. Part of that is this TV is a 1080p and the others are 720p, part of it is because its a Sony. The picture quality is worth the extra money, 1080p isnt though. Do NOT buy this TV just because its 1080p. I had this one side by side with the Samsung and with the same HD source (Over the Air) you cannot tell a difference due to the resolution - the Sony is brighter, the colors are better and more accurate, it excels with dark scenes, etc. and thats why I kept it but I could not tell a difference due to the resolution - which makes sense since I dont have any 1080p sources to input to it...
One thing I want to point out too, in some of the reviews a few people have rated the TV low because standard definition sources display poorly. They do compared to HD sources, but they do on any large screen, fixed pixel display (DLP, LCD, Plasma). Do some research and understand whats going on and how SD sources are displayed. This TV happens to have a number of features to help display SD signals and if you take advantage of them youll be able to get an SD picture thats pretty good. Spend a few minutes tweaking the SD source and it will be more then acceptable. A great and useful feature of this TV is the settings apply to each input. So, if you have an over the air antenna you can set up the TV to display that perfectly and if you have an SD cable/satellite input you can have different settings for that input.
I really didnt want to spend the extra money for the Sony (or a 1080p model), but I was surprised to see how much better the Sony looked compared directly to the Samsung or Toshiba. It especially excels with dark scenes. Both the other TVs could not show details in dark scenes, for example the pocket or collar of a black shirt against a dark background. With the Sony you can see the pocket, shadows in the pocket, etc. With the other two all you can make it is a dark shirt. Thats likely due to the different display technologies the TVs use. Sony uses LCOS (they call it SXRD) and the others use DLP. DLP sets have trouble with dark scenes.
At some point I will get an HD-DVD player so maybe the investment in the 1080p will pay off - I know that is debatable but regardless the TV is exceptional.
I also have had experience with Sony support. I used the IM feature they have on their website twice and was very surprised by how helpful and accurate it was. Very well done service by Sony. You can even get a transcript of the chat session to save.
Finally, Sony offers a 5 year extended warranty with this TV. You purchase it directly from Sony. It covers parts and labor, costs $249. I think thats a great deal for an extended warranty. You dont have to purchase it with the TV, you have 60 days to purchase the extended warranty and you can purchase 2,3,4, and 5 year terms - all with different prices.
On: 2007-02-05
I ordered this TV from Amazon on Monday and the shipment arrived on Friday in the same week, just in time for the Super Bowl! It helps that I live in Austin and the shipment was from Dallas which would explain the fast shipping. I did not pay shipping so that was nice. I hooked up to my antenna to receive channels from the air. The digital channels in general are very clear. Analog channels are also very good. Watching the Super Bowl with HD broadcast was amazing. The picture quality is excellent. So far I am pleased with the result. I do wish that Sony would have PIP but I knew going in that it would not be a problem not having this feature. The remote control could be better. I was a little concern with the start-up time, but so far it is ok for me. Start-up time is in the 30 second range. Overall, I would definitely recommend this tv.
On: 2007-02-03
I purchased this TV from Amazon during the Dec special and could not be happier. Ive owned a 720P projection and decided it was time to enter blu-ray and HD-DVD world with a TV that supported 1080p inputs. I have done as much research as humanly possible and decided on SXRD and could not be happier.
My decision was based on these facts:
1. First and foremost, I did not intend to hang my television on a wall and having a rear projection that protrudes 13" as opposed to 5" for LCD or plasma was no concern.
2. Based on #1 I decided to weigh the pros and cons btwn projection and LCD. LCD has better viewing angles and brighter during the daylight. Well I work during the day like most people and the room is not greatly lit anyway. And I do not intend to move to the sides of the tv while watching. On top of that, these projections have better contrast (black levels) and pixel response time (2.5ms vs. 8ms for LCD generally). This proves very important watching movies (contrast) and sports (response time) where the action is fast.
3. Now the harder decision was which technology? DLP, LCD projection or LCos (which sony calls SXRD). The below reviews and articles from video mags and their high tech tests convinced me the newest technology (SXRD) did away with rainbow effect and/or screen door effect inherrent in DLP and LCD Projection, respectively.
[...]
Now I have the TV and could not be happier with my decision. I paid the same as some friends with 1080p LCDs with a bigger screen! (50 vs. 40). These friends have agreed that after some tweaking, my tv actually is better watching sports (no trailing pixel effect) and movies (where deep blacks can be realized). Their advantage is very brightly lit rooms where the projection picture can look dimmer but this is extreme conditions. They also watch their LCD on a stand which removed any size difference since it will protrude only as much as your stand does. Also note this TV is about 75lbs, which is light to me. If it werent for its size, I could move this around myself! As far as the viewing angle is concerned, I cant see much difference sitting from any angle until you actually are at the side of the screen but who watches at that angle anyway?
SETTINGS: I know many people want to know the optimal settings. There are two schools here.
A. Majority perception - this is the pre-set settings out of the box. Most people are not as technical will enjoy this since colors are bright and the display is bright and generally the normal population will like to see this and it sells better in stores this way. Colors and brightness are maximized.
B. True to Scale (lifelike) - this is the videophiles who have everything set closely to the telivision braodcast standard and what the dvd calibrations help you attain. This is where everything looks real and not exaggerated and scales are distinguishable for the same color i.e. different shades of black.
The settings Ive used to accomplish B. are below. This seems to be the preferred settings from many of the forums for this television and originally distributed by CNET with their professional calibrations. I have followed this and am very impressed by 1080P Blu-Ray movies!!!! AND you can have separate settings per input!!! which is great because I want blu-ray 1080p material as close to whats intended and I want to tweak cable broadcast, especially standard definition signals.
"What follows are the user-menu settings we found ideal for viewing in a completely dark room with a 1080i HDMI source, namely the Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player (with its Enhanced Black Level turned Off). Your ideal settings will vary according to room lighting, source and personal preference. We have not listed settings that do not affect picture quality with this setup. See the full review for explanations as to why we chose these settings.
Picture menu:
Mode: Custom
Advanced iris: Min [I use AUTO IRIS 1 since my lighting varies and not completely dark room as in there tests]
Picture: 84
Brightness: 56
Color: 41
Hue: 0
Color temp: Warm2
Sharpness: 50
Noise reduction: Off
--Advanced Settings--
Black corrector: Off
Gamma: Off [I use low to correct Standard definition picture with my DVR box input and off with 1080p blu ray input since I assume it sends what was intended to view]
Clear white: Off
Live color: Off
White balance: (see below)
Detail enhancer: [I use low to correct Standard definition picture with my DVR box input and off with 1080p blu ray input since I assume it sends what was intended to view]
Edge enhancer: Off
--White balance--
R-gain: -2
G-gain: -1
B-gain: 0
R-bias: -3
G-bias: -2
B-bias: -1
Setup menu:
Color matrix: Standard
Power saving: On"
[...]
The last thing is bulb replacement. The bulb lasts about 8000 hours (approx 4.5 years for 6hrs avg daily viewing). I think I would prefer to replace the on rear projection which brings the picture back to new with no picture deterioration (at a cost of ~200). As far as LCDs, I dont think there is any method to bring the picture back to new after many years of use.
I know this review is long but I believe it is helpful for many needed to make a big decision.
On: 2007-02-02
I purchased this TV from Amazon during the Dec special and could not be happier. Ive owned a 720P projection and decided it was time to enter blu-ray and HD-DVD world with a TV that supported 1080p inputs. I have done as much research as humanly possible and decided on SXRD and could not be happier.
My decision was based on these facts:
1. First and foremost, I did not intend to hang my television on a wall and having a rear projection that protrudes 13" as opposed to 5" for LCD or plasma was no concern.
2. Based on #1 I decided to weigh the pros and cons btwn projection and LCD. LCD has better viewing angles and brighter during the daylight. Well I work during the day like most people and the room is not greatly lit anyway. And I do not intend to move to the sides of the tv while watching. On top of that, these projections have better contrast (black levels) and pixel response time (2.5ms vs. 8ms for LCD generally). This proves very important watching movies (contrast) and sports (response time) where the action is fast.
3. Now the harder decision was which technology? DLP, LCD projection or LCos (which sony calls SXRD). The below reviews and articles from video mags and their high tech tests convinced me the newest technology (SXRD) did away with rainbow effect and/or screen door effect inherrent in DLP and LCD Projection, respectively.
[...]
Now I have the TV and could not be happier with my decision. I paid the same as some friends with 1080p LCDs with a bigger screen! (50 vs. 40). These friends have agreed that after some tweaking, my tv actually is better watching sports (no trailing pixel effect) and movies (where deep blacks can be realized). Their advantage is very brightly lit rooms where the projection picture can look dimmer but this is extreme conditions. They also watch their LCD on a stand which removed any size difference since it will protrude only as much as your stand does. Also note this TV is about 75lbs, which is light to me. If it werent for its size, I could move this around myself! As far as the viewing angle is concerned, I cant see much difference sitting from any angle until you actually are at the side of the screen but who watches at that angle anyway?
SETTINGS: I know many people want to know the optimal settings. There are two schools here.
A. Majority perception - this is the pre-set settings out of the box. Most people are not as technical will enjoy this since colors are bright and the display is bright and generally the normal population will like to see this and it sells better in stores this way. Colors and brightness are maximized.
B. True to Scale (lifelike) - this is the videophiles who have everything set closely to the telivision braodcast standard and what the dvd calibrations help you attain. This is where everything looks real and not exaggerated and scales are distinguishable for the same color i.e. different shades of black.
The settings Ive used to accomplish B. are below. This seems to be the preferred settings from many of the forums for this television and originally distributed by CNET with their professional calibrations. I have followed this and am very impressed by 1080P Blu-Ray movies!!!! AND you can have separate settings per input!!! which is great because I want blu-ray 1080p material as close to whats intended and I want to tweak cable broadcast, especially standard definition signals.
"What follows are the user-menu settings we found ideal for viewing in a completely dark room with a 1080i HDMI source, namely the Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player (with its Enhanced Black Level turned Off). Your ideal settings will vary according to room lighting, source and personal preference. We have not listed settings that do not affect picture quality with this setup. See the full review for explanations as to why we chose these settings.
Picture menu:
Mode: Custom
Advanced iris: Min [I use AUTO IRIS 1 since my lighting varies and not completely dark room as in there tests]
Picture: 84
Brightness: 56
Color: 41
Hue: 0
Color temp: Warm2
Sharpness: 50
Noise reduction: Off
--Advanced Settings--
Black corrector: Off
Gamma: Off [I use low to correct Standard definition picture with my DVR box input and off with 1080p blu ray input since I assume it sends what was intended to view]
Clear white: Off
Live color: Off
White balance: (see below)
Detail enhancer: [I use low to correct Standard definition picture with my DVR box input and off with 1080p blu ray input since I assume it sends what was intended to view]
Edge enhancer: Off
--White balance--
R-gain: -2
G-gain: -1
B-gain: 0
R-bias: -3
G-bias: -2
B-bias: -1
Setup menu:
Color matrix: Standard
Power saving: On"
[...]
The last thing is bulb replacement. The bulb lasts about 8000 hours (approx 4.5 years for 6hrs avg daily viewing). I think I would prefer to replace the on rear projection which brings the picture back to new with no picture deterioration (at a cost of ~200). As far as LCDs, I dont think there is any method to bring the picture back to new after many years of use.
I know this review is long but I believe it is helpful for many needed to make a big decision.
On: 2007-01-30
What are the optimal settings for non-HD sources and HD siources and are they different for each channel? What cables provide the best picture quality? What are some alternative HD DVD players and will non-HD DVD players provide a good picture?
On: 2007-01-30
This tv has a fabulous picture. I usually play DVDs on an Oppo 981 upconverting player and they look awesome, even the ones I create myself in iMovie. My friends are all very impressed. Highly recommended!
On: 2007-01-30
I just purchased this television from Best Buy when my 4 year old Toshiba 42 inch rear projection television was being to die. I am incredibly happy with my purchase.
Out of the box set up. Incredibly easy. I connected an HDMI cable from the television to my DirecTV HR10-250 HD DVR. (I then connected a fiber optic audio cable from the HR10-250 to my receiver.) I then connected the 3 component cable from my TV to my DVD player. (Again, connecting a fiber optic audio cable from the DVD player to the receiver). This took less than 5 minutes and I was ready to go.
The remote was a little twitchy trying to figure out the menus but I was able to label Video 4 for my DVD player and Video 6 for my satellite and I was off to the races.
First, please remember that the factory settings for your picture are horrible. If you expect to see a fantastic picture right out of the box you will be disappointed. You actually need to set the controls to match the room/environment where your television resides. Luckily, I pulled out my DVD Video Essentials disk [...] and began the calibration. This took about 20 minutes. I would highly recommend purchasing this DVD [...]
Once I was done with the calibration, I was awestruck by how beautiful the picture is in HD. The picture was crisp, the writing on the screen was spectacular, it was amazing. I couldnt pull myself away from my television set on Sunday because I was watching a golf tournament! A turned to a couple of basketball games in HD and felt like I was in the arena.
I did quite a bit of technical research and concluded that this rear projection television was a much better buy than an LCD or plasma. I didnt want to go back down to a 40 inch screen (LCD and plasma) and ended up getting a much bigger screen (50 inches) for a few hundred dollars less! It is a fantastic buy in my opinion.
For those of you finally entering the world of big screen HD television, this television would be a great choice. Trust me, I have been viewing HD for the past 4 years and this television is phenomenal.
On: 2007-01-29
I have had the 50" SXRD for over 1-1/2 months and have had no problems with this HDTV. The picture quality is amazing with DVDs, HD Cable and as a computer monitor. The unit arrived in less than week and delivery was easy to schedule.
On: 2007-01-28
I love this tv. It was a very good value and gets a fantastic picture. I have it hooked up to my cable provider with non hi def. signal and the picture is very good. But I also have an off air ant. providing hi def signal and this is what I rally love about it. With just an amplified rabbit ear set up I am getting just beautiful pictures with about 15 digital stations of which 5 are HDTV. Im used to watching HDTV since I have another tv in another home but this one is just awesome. The only negative for some may be some picture drop off at the side viewing angles but its not like it used to be for rear projectors. Highly recommended!
On: 2007-01-22
I have been pretty happy with this TV, but beware the high definition component inputs do not support 1080p. So if you own an xbox 360 the best you can do is 1080i. I dont know if you can tell the difference because the xbox 360 does not offer an hdmi connection (I wish it did). So I am stuck at 1080i which looks pretty good anyway.
On: 2007-01-20
I am happy with the TV and with the delivery from Amazon.com. I knew what I wanted and I was price shopping for the Sony KDS-50A2000. I was surprised when I found that Amazon.com was selling very close to the lowest price I could find. I had bought from Amazon.com before and trusted the company. I ordered the item and was surprised when it arrived early. Right out of the box it worked great.
On: 2007-01-20
I really am enjoying the new Sony TV. I had a 720P Sony TV and all in all I have to say that out of the box the picture was better on the other one. Dont get me wrong...this is a great set but the auto adjustments on the other was much better. In other words you really have to tweak and fine tune each channel to get that perfect picture. Flesh tones is where I really noticed the difference. I have always prided my Sony products in the sense that people ....well looked like people. Out of the box everyones skin tone was the same. After alot of adjustments the picture really started coming in. I dont think I am a fan of there new technology. The old one was better but I didnt care for the screen door effect. I know it sounds like i am bashing the new one....but seriously it is a good tv not great though. Not like my other Sony.
On: 2007-01-19
I am very pleased with this purchase. The picture is excellent when the broadcast is in HD. Even with standard definition broadcasts, the picture is still quite good. Wish that the set came with PIP, but other than that, I like this television very much. Sony has always had a good reputation for their quality of televisions, and I think this product proves that their reputation is well deserved. I would highly recommend this purchase to anyone looking to add HD to their home.
On: 2007-01-19
My wife, who was convinced that we didnt need this TV, has become a big fan.
After several weeks of research, I pulled the trigger just after first of the year. This set has been all weve wanted & more. Timing was just right $1,749 w/ free delivery at the time of our buy, less $30 for Amazon Visa incentive. Amazon Visa purchase generated points enough for two $25 vouchers (already received) for future purchase(s) w/ Amazon. Net price = $1,669. The call to schedule in-house delivery came within a week of order. They were ready Fri. I had to beg them off until Monday.
The 50A2000 does a great job with NTSC Analog signals and the 1080 programming through our antenna is simply stunning. (Great deals on quality antennas at Warren Electronics. Go to AntennaWeb first to determine best product for your need/geography)
Ive read of a comparison to this set being the "Trinitron" of the new millennium for Sony. In the short two weeks weve owned this set, I must agree. Come on in, the waters fine.
On: 2007-01-17
The main qualities that drew me to this TV were the 1) high marks in quality from cnet, consumer reports, and user comments; 2) the price and 3) the Sony name. I have been very impressed with the quality of the HD picture that I receive from both over-the-air and via the signal from Dish Network. I am very happy with the price I paid as it was several hundred dollars less than Circuit City or Best Buy. I chose to purchase the extended warranty directly from Sony (it was slightly cheaper than through amazon and much cheaper than what BB and CC were offering).
[...]
Overall I love the TV so far. The picture is awesome and the menu system is intuitive and easy to use. I would definitely recommend this TV to someone who has the space as I feel it is a great product at a great value.
On: 2007-01-16
I was in the market for an LCD set when I was introduced to this model at a local electronics store. I couldnt believe the picture was not an LCD display. Later, when I saw the price at [...] (which was a good $[...] cheaper than a number of retailers in my area) there was no question that I was going to "pull the trigger" on this purchase. My wife wasnt all to excited about getting a big screen TV. She had the usual concerns about the amount of space it would take up in the living room as well as the price of the unit. Since its arrival, she has changed her tune. She, too, is very much impressed with its style and picture quality.
On: 2007-01-15
Exelent set, the Picture is unbelivable... sharp with life like colors,
very easy to set up. addictive....
On: 2007-01-15
Before I got this television, from what I was reading, I thought I would have to pay a lot to get the color adjusted, but it looked great right out of the box. The rating I give this tv is an average, 5 stars for the HD part, and 3 for the SD part. Overall I am happy with this purchase. Was holding out for the SEDTV, but it looks like it may be years away
On: 2007-01-14
[...]
Set up was automatic and easy. TV is light enough for one person to move, but easier if 2 people do it.
Picture Quality - I choose this TV because it had the best NON-hd quality. I have a Direct TV Tivo (a real tivo), standard def. Since Direct TV is being lame about giving decent upgrade deals on HD-DVR gear right now, I figured I would have to wait awhile to get the price I wanted( "free"), and have to live with the no-hd picture quality. With this tv I can live with the picture for awhile. Its a bit fuzzy and pixelated compared to my tube TV. - more noticeable since the screen is so big. DVDs and other inputs look crisp. Net Net - I can live with the picture now....but not for long. It still is the best option (LCD or DLP) for price and non-hd picture quality among all the brands in my opinion (after spending a month looking). Watched King Kong as soon as the TV was set up and quickly forgot about the picture quality.
The price I got on Amazon is still unbeatable. I wanted the 40" LCD XBR, but still to pricey and this unit is equally as good, with only a few inches more in depth.
So far, so good.
On: 2007-01-14
Short and sweet. This TV is somewhat of a let down. I was expecting much more for being Sonys top of the line TV but it really isnt any better then Sony cheaper models. The standard definition on this set is really miserable. The only way to really get the artifacts and grain to an acceptable level was to really dumb down the contrast which then made everything look way to dark and my HD suffered. HD looks great when the contrast is at about 80 %. I really wish I would have done some more research because other LCD or LCOS sets out there look so much better on SDTV and comparable on HDTV. Really not worth the extra money. Sony really needs to bring itself back to the glory days!
On: 2007-01-14
For the money I dont think there is a better value in a 1080p LCD projection TV. I started looking at the 3 color LCD (50E2000) but after comparing them at a local retailer the picture quality of the SXRD blows the standard set out of the water with picture detail. Sony also sells extended in home service plans directly for up to 5 years so buying online with free shipping is great
On: 2007-01-12
Sure I would have liked something bigger. After you get a big screen TV, I think a lot of people feel the same way. After I got over that, I could not believe how good the picture was. Certainly the best picture I have ever seen on any projection TV. Better than most plasmas too, in my opinion.
Since I bought this, I found out that my brother bought the same TV, only the 60" version. He feels that same way.
Everything is great about the TV. No glare from lights (I have overhead lighting) or sun (its on a wall perpendicular to a patio door with no curtains or shade.) It has plenty of input choices. The sound is even great, which was a surprise.
I would absolutely recommend this line of Sony HD TVs.
On: 2007-01-11
This is the first big-screen or high-definition TV I have owned, and after 2 months I am totally satisfied. I did a lot of comparison shopping in stores, and I wasnt impressed with these Sonys until I saw one playing a truly high-definition source. Since I keep the set in a corner, I had no need for a flat-screen set, which would have almost doubled the price. So far it has worked flawlessly. Amazon had the best price, and delivered promptly. I also bought the stand Sony makes specifically for this model; it is well-designed and solid.
On: 2007-01-11
I ordered this TV from amazon on black friday weekend for $1,650.00 and couldnt be happier. My roomate has a toshiba 62 inch 1080i TV and the picture quality on the SONY isnt drastically better but my opinion gravitates to the SONY, but they both have fantastic pictures on HD channels.
I was contemplating a smaller plasma TV or something I could hang on a wall, but sometimes there is no replacement for a larger screen with a near identical picture. Either way, you cant beat that price for what the TV lists for, almost a grand more.
I highly recommend this TV. Also if you plan on getting any warrenty with it, make sure the warrenty package is bought within the same purchase of the TV, and the TV dollar value falls within the warrenty price range listed. EG: $1,000 - $1,999 Value TV Warrenty would apply to My TV, I made this mistake when purchasing mine, and now only have the factory 1 year warrenty.
On: 2007-01-10
First big screen, the SXRD is absolutely the best picture, but....somehow missed they eliminated the picture and picture feature. Sony includes a "freeze frame" function which is really useless. The "picture in a picture" or "picture and picture" which Sony calls it has been removed and priced accordingly from the other models which eliminates the ability to "multi-task" ie two channels, DVD & TV, pc monitor, etc. Still a great picture and good looking package, just limited to viewing single source.
On: 2007-01-10
I love this TV. I did my research, and found this TV to fit my needs exactly. Though its only capable of displaying 1080p over HDMI, thats no big deal since quality HDMI cables are readily available - DO NOT BUY THE EXPENSIVE MONSTER ONES, any HDMI cable, because of the nature of the connection, will either be perfect, or broken... no quality variance. Ive had nothing but good experiences with it since I received it. EGL shipping was excellent, though I chose to pick it up at the warehouse. It came fast, and much earlier than the approximated ship time. I couldnt be happier unless it was free, and because of Amazons prices, I still got it for close to a thousand dollars cheaper than the Sony store, or any of the big box retailers like Best Buy.
On: 2007-01-10
I finally bought this after more than 1 year of checking out LCD, plasma, DLP. This is the best. The picture quality is emuch better than a lot of plasma, and for the price of 1/2 of a plasma. And this thing just woked. I only spent about 30 minutes first time to set it up. Something I want to mention however:
1) Sound from the TV speakers are not that great. But then if you have a home theater system, then youre ok.
2) SPDIF output from the back of this TV only work if the source is from this TVs tuner. It will not work if the source is something else. I cannot tell if spdif output of this is 5.1 either.
3) It would be nice if this has a better scaler to scale from SD to HD.
On: 2007-01-09
A tremendous picture right out of the box. HDMI is a pleasure to use. This TV has
plenty of features but the key (for me) is the picture. WOW! VERY impressive. You will not be disappointed
with this product.
On: 2007-01-09
Really nice TV, love the 1080i HD. Delivery service was ok, white glove all the way. The delivery took awhile to get from the warehouse but the actual delivery person was pretty good. Free shipping, what can you say. Took all the trash with them and helped set the tv into place. Made sure there was no damage. Have had no problems with the TV. Great picture!
On: 2007-01-09
Granted weve only had this TV for a couple of months, but I love it! The picture is amazing. Crisp and clear. My parents have its equivalant (1080p with up-sampling) in a 56" Samsung and this Sony is by far the better product. The color is more true and the picture more crisp. Also, I noticed the Samsung kept having the digital squares on the picture. Like it was having trouble keeping up with the up-sampling..or something. Never seen anything like that on the Sony. Great product.
On: 2007-01-09
Excellent clarity and accurate colors. LCoS is a more reliable technology than DLP. Would have liked to have split screen PIP like in my previous Sony HDTV but not a big deal. Unlike other reviews Ive read, I think this set has good sound. You need a Home Theater anyway to complement a TV like this. It matches perfectly with my JBL E80 front and EC35 center channel speakers.
Set your Cable or Satellite box to 1080 default for all signals and youll get a good standard def picture.
On: 2007-01-04
Very good quality picture when use HD, and also very good for the price.
On: 2007-01-03
I have done a lot of research before finally settling on this TV. I started in market looking for Samsung DLP, however found Sony SXRD having a definative edge over Samsung DLP. The picture looks so bright, sharp and clear that it is sometimes hard to believe. the only other set that came close to this one (in this proce range) was 50" Panasonic Plasma, however I found Sony SXRD still marginally better. My wife and I went to Best Buy, Circuit City and Frys electronics to ensure that we are not missing anything. Every singly time we liked this set. The only concern (if any) are that this TV has different red and green colors than all other TVs. May be the colors are not the correct ones. But believe me it looks even better. so who cares :)
Anyways I got it from Amazon at 1750USD and at this moment it is 1900+USD. I would strongly advice you to check this out before taking the final call.
On: 2006-12-25
Just got my new Sony50A2000.
I have been pricing this set for months, when it finally dropped below $2,000 i went ahead & got it @(Vanns) online.(Delivered to local store in 1 day! FREE)
I couldnt be happier. Excellent picture right out of the box, but i ran a calibration dvd and fine tuned it (this unit has so many tuning options, i doubt if i even found them all) so it looks as if im in the same room with actors on set!
Im one of the few who cannot be satisfied with LCD/PLASMA screens (under $4,000) as i can see pixulation(sic?) from across the room, and they NEVER have blacks true enough for my taste.
The 50A2000 has the highest review score at cnet, and now i see why.
Yes, i will have to drop $150 - $200 on a lamp in a few years, as i have my set on 24/7.(They are $200 on ebay now.. & i expect the price will come down by the time i need one)
But, with this picture quality, i dont care.
I am the envy of my neighborhood.
Many freinds have never seen HDTV as it was meant to be, & their jaws drop when they see it.
I no longer mention that it is 1080p, as no one knows what im talking about anyway.
I dont usually write reviews... like i see on amazon all the time, in fact i wonder where they get the time, but if there is just one person who reads this, who is looking for the best picture quallity for under $2,000, i am glad to share my views.
I highly recommend this set.
P.S.> Reviewer who said XB360 could not use HDMI input, nonsense, i have mine set up in HD using a simple VGA to HDMI converter i bought on ebay for $6.99(had to fix)
***I have been researching this TV (& others) for months before i purchased, and i have never heard of the "green haze/blob" issue mentioned by disgruntled reviewer.
In fact, i would be careful about going to the URL mentioned by said disgruntled reviewer.
There is a thing called "mass hysteria" that is a documented, true phenomenon. I checked out the site, and it seems there were people trying to convince me that there is a "green blob" on my TV screen, where there was none. Many weak minded people will fall for this, & there is just no talking to them after they have this "green blob" thing set in their minds.
Ever met a conspiracy theorist? Thats what were dealing with here. On the site mentioned, i read posts by poor disturbed souls who hung around that forum for too long, and they admit themselves "no one in my house can see it but me!"
My advice is... unless you really do see a "green blob" on your TV screen,,, dont go to that "green blob" forum, or you WILL be seeing "green blobs"... and maybe Elvis, Shadow People, & UFOs too!
Now,,, if Blu-ray would drop below $400.....
On: 2006-12-21
***UPDATE***
Apparently, my problem is not uncommon:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=636342
http://www.breakitdownblog.com/2006/08/19/class-action-lawsuit-against-sony-for-green-haze-or-green-blob-sxrd-problem/
As an update to my service problem, Sony told our repairman that it will probably take 3-4 weeks for the necessary part to come in.
____________________________________
My family resisted buying Sony products for years, because while the technology was great, the products never lasted. We finally decided to go with Sony when buying a new TV, because the reviews were great for the KDS-50A2000. We got the TV in April 2006.
Initially, the TV did not disappoint. While I generally dont like the "hit the input button 8 times to get to the video option you want" feature that this, like many TVs, has, there were no other complaints, and the picture was fantastic. Until now.
Around Thanksgiving, the screen started showing an ugly green vertical streak on the right side. It wasnt even a nice green, almost a Shrek-like green. It basically splotched all lighter images, so if a persons face appeared on the right side of the screen, he would look like an alien. It wasnt real noticeable until we watched football in HD; at that point, the blotches and streaks were obvious. It was the same no matter what input we used: DVD, VCR, DirecTV, same splotch. Since that time, the ugly green splotches and streaks have spread to the middle of the screen now, effectively covering half the screen.
We called Sony in early December. To say the customer service representative was less than sympathetic would be a horrible understatement. She was rude, uncaring, and frankly wanted to do nothing to help. Because there wasnt an official Sony repair center within 15 miles, she said there was nothing she could do. She even asked why we were even calling, since she did not consider a green splotch a very big deal. Even after explaining that we did not expect a $2,500 TV to have any flaws after 9 months, no less a fairly major picture flaw, she had no intention of servicing the product.
So we asked to speak to her supervisor, and she straightened out a little. I stress "a little." She finally took down our contact information and indicated that someone would call us back with service information. It has been 3 weeks since that call, and no response.
Fortunately, we invested in Best Buys extended warranty, and they were far more helpful. Even when their normal service company told them they were swamped with service requests, Best Buy at least tried to find other service companies, and when they couldnt fulfill the request, they went back to the original company and told them about our predicament. So finally, a month after noticing the problem, a service rep is supposed to come in today and fix it.
Moral of the story-- great-looking product, but there is a reason that Sony is in big trouble. If you are confident that the TV will last, by all means get it, because the picture is terrific. But if it breaks down, dont expect Sony to be of any help.
On: 2006-12-20
***UPDATE***
Apparently, my problem is not uncommon:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=636342
http://www.breakitdownblog.com/2006/08/19/class-action-lawsuit-against-sony-for-green-haze-or-green-blob-sxrd-problem/
As an update to my service problem, Sony told our repairman that it will probably take 3-4 weeks for the necessary part to come in.
____________________________________
My family resisted buying Sony products for years, because while the technology was great, the products never lasted. We finally decided to go with Sony when buying a new TV, because the reviews were great for the KDS-50A2000. We got the TV in April 2006.
Initially, the TV did not disappoint. While I generally dont like the "hit the input button 8 times to get to the video option you want" feature that this, like many TVs, has, there were no other complaints, and the picture was fantastic. Until now.
Around Thanksgiving, the screen started showing an ugly green vertical streak on the right side. It wasnt even a nice green, almost a Shrek-like green. It basically splotched all lighter images, so if a persons face appeared on the right side of the screen, he would look like an alien. It wasnt real noticeable until we watched football in HD; at that point, the blotches and streaks were obvious. It was the same no matter what input we used: DVD, VCR, DirecTV, same splotch. Since that time, the ugly green splotches and streaks have spread to the middle of the screen now, effectively covering half the screen.
We called Sony in early December. To say the customer service representative was less than sympathetic would be a horrible understatement. She was rude, uncaring, and frankly wanted to do nothing to help. Because there wasnt an official Sony repair center within 15 miles, she said there was nothing she could do. She even asked why we were even calling, since she did not consider a green splotch a very big deal. Even after explaining that we did not expect a $2,500 TV to have any flaws after 9 months, no less a fairly major picture flaw, she had no intention of servicing the product.
So we asked to speak to her supervisor, and she straightened out a little. I stress "a little." She finally took down our contact information and indicated that someone would call us back with service information. It has been 3 weeks since that call, and no response.
Fortunately, we invested in Best Buys extended warranty, and they were far more helpful. Even when their normal service company told them they were swamped with service requests, Best Buy at least tried to find other service companies, and when they couldnt fulfill the request, they went back to the original company and told them about our predicament. So finally, a month after noticing the problem, a service rep is supposed to come in today and fix it.
Moral of the story-- great-looking product, but there is a reason that Sony is in big trouble. If you are confident that the TV will last, by all means get it, because the picture is terrific. But if it breaks down, dont expect Sony to be of any help.
On: 2006-12-15
Wholehearted agreement with the reviewer below who cautions buyers to think about the material theyre going to watch. This is a set built for HD content, and while NTSC and 480i material looks OK, its in HD cable/sat, HD-DVD/Blu-ray, and gaming where this set really shines.
One cautionary note for Xbox 360 users: as the XB360 doesnt send HDMI, and the KDS-50A2000 only accepts a max of 1360x768 through VGA, youre out of luck for 1080p gaming. Consolation prize: 1080i looks smashing on this TV anyway, so I really wasnt that disappointed.
Overall, for the money, its one of the best values out there, and the Sony picture quality is nothing short of amazing. I looked at well over a dozen options - LCD, plasma, and DLP - before settling on this, and I havent thought twice about the purchase since.
Highly recommended for anyone with good access to HD content.
On: 2006-12-03
I have now had this set for 3 months and I am very happy with it. I must admit, if there was a 4.5 stars I would give it 4.5 stars instead of 4 stars. Ill get into that in a bit.
Why I Love this Set:
Put simply, it has an absolutely incredible picture that is not compromised by its very competitive price. I previously had a 720p LCD 50" TV and the first time I watched hi def content on this 1080p TV I was stunned by the picture quality of it over the 720p TV. Ive only seen this TV with 480i, 480p, 720p, and compressed 1080i material. I have not yet seen it with uncompressed 1080i material or 1080p material, so I can only imagine how good it will look the first time I get to see an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray on it.
I play a lot of Xbox 360 and this set has such a gorgeous picture that I bought a bean bag that I plop down on about 3 - 4 feet from the screen. From that distance the picture still looks phenomenol. I had a 720p LCD rear projection TV and I had to stay at least 6 - 7 feet away to not be bothered by the screen door effect.
Why I had to knock off a star:
I am knocking it to 4 stars for two reasons, lack of features and the fact that it took 4 sets before I got one without problems.
I know the set has a good price, but there are two features that I really would like to see in this set and would have paid $100 more to have each one. Cablecard and picture in picture (PIP). Actually, if it didnt have cablecard, but did have PIP I probably would be fine. I want PIP for two reasons 1) to be able to watch two sporting events at once and 2) to be able to play Xbox 360 while my wife watches TV.
I had to go through 4 defective sets before I got one without problems, which makes me question Sonys quality control. The first one had some serious audio synchronization issues when using the internal ATSC tuner. The second one would flip out about once every 30 minutes. The menus would flash on and off and the screen image would flicker. The third one had a green area on it that never went away. The fourth one (which I kept) works great, but I do have to say that is has a few greenish areas that take about 2 minutes after power on to be not noticeable on almost all content and about 20 minutes to not be noticeable on black and white content. I guess that this is actually expected and that many rear projection TVs arent considered truly warmed up until 20 - 30 minutes have passed. Like I said, within 2 minutes, it is not a problem at all and the picture quality you get when it is warmed up is phenomenol.
Summary
To sum it all up, I am satisfied with my purchase even though I paid more than what it is currently selling for at most stores. The fact that I was willing to go through three defective sets before getting a good set shows you how happy I am with the picture quality, which in the end is the most important aspect of a TV.
On: 2006-12-02
Awesome awesome TV...what more can I say. I was deployed in the desert when I ordered it so it was scheduled to be delivered a day before I flew home. I called Eagle Freight who was shipping it and they were very helpful and rescheduled the delivery...which showed up on time. They set it up and took packaging items away..but I asked them to leave the box since I am in the military and move a lot! I have it hooked up through a Knology digital cable box with their HDTV package, with an HDMI cable. The Discovery Channel picture is the most sensational. In also bought a Sony DAV DX375 HDTV upchannel DVD player with surround sound for about $375 at Best Buy. (also used an HDMI cable) I dont want to buy the actual HD DVD player just yet, but the upchannel picture is ridiculous already. You can use the DVD player remote to control both the TV and DVD player this way. I was about to buy the 60" and I am glad I didnt because this TV is HUGE. My roommate has the matching Sony WEGA LCD TV and that picture doesnt match the SXRD. XBOX is amazing on this...and I only have the original XBOX system and it still looks awesome. Word to the wise..you can get HDMI cables at Wal Mart for about $30 or order them off Amazon for around $16. Best Buy and all sell them for almost $80! Awesome TV...this baby rocks...the picture is out of this world and I couldnt be more happy.
On: 2006-12-02
Weve had this TV for a few months now and love it! The picture is great and it has lots of great ways to customize the picture if youd like. I also like the numerous options for showing 4:3 pictures as well - you can zoom to multiple levels, like other sets allow, but you can also do a hybrid crop/zoom that I actually prefer.
The 2 HDMI inputs are great, I wish it had a couple of more, but you can get a nice AV receiver to do that if youd like.
We have an HD Scientific Atlanta cable box hooked up to it, but it doesnt seem this TV will pass through the digital audio to our AV receiver. We have HDMI in to the TV and digital optical out to our receiver, but we cant get 5.1 audio this way. If I hook the digial audio optical cable directly to the AV receiver, it works great. There are some technotes on Sonys support site that say there could be some digital audio out issues when using a cable box as a source - but this doesnt make sense to me, seems the TV should allow this. The quality wont suffer as a result, I just need to run the digial audio cables directly to my AV receiver, requiring a few more cables.
I also wish the TV could accept 1080p input using its component inputs, but you can only input 1080p using HDMI.
Another important note over the previous generation LCos/SXRD sets, they were 1080p sets, but could only accept 1080i inputs.
The set is a nice size, not as compact as a plasma/lcd, but very compact nonetheless. Its also really light - Ive done most of the moving around with it by myself.
The component inputs on the front are a nice touch as well - you dont get that on many TVs.
Another great Sony product that I would highly recommend!
On: 2006-11-27
Ive been researching DLP style HDTVs for about 3 months now and was pretty well sold on the Samsung HL-S5087W 50". I went into Bestbuy to actually see the t.v. in person (before buying online for much cheaper of course). While bartering with their sales person to just see what price they could get me in the store, there just happened to be the new SXRD Sony sitting right next to it.. I couldnt help but notice the clarity and brightness of it, even over the Samsung that I had pretty much been sold on. After talking with one of the more knowledgeable sales people I had ever talked to before, I changed my mind. and after getting the TV home, I am extremely glad I did!
On: 2006-11-27
Plasmas look great, but they use a fair bit of electricity. A 50" plasma will typically use close to 550 watts while on.
This guy uses 1/2 of that.
And, with California marginal electric rates running 20 to 30 cents per KWH, that would translate into $750-$900 savings over a 10 year life of the set (assuming energy costs dont go up -- which they will).
Plus this has the full 1080p resolution advantage over most plasmas.
Definitely the set to consider this year...
On: 2006-11-24
Recently received our 50A2000. Very happy. Easy set up and controls are easy to understand. Picture is great on full HD shows or DVDs. Very happy with our decision.
On: 2006-11-20
I bought this tv a month ago after having the samsung 56" 1080p for a week. My wife and daughter didnt like the samsung because it was too big and bright. I was willing to get rid of it because of the terrible picture it has in standard definition though I tried very hard to adjust the picture in, also lines in 4 by 3 set up bowed in. My understanding was that to get rid of this it need to be professionally calibrated ($500) Also, I couldnt get the contrast adjusted down enough to make out images in dark areas-dont know why, just couldnt. Also, though the colors were rich, they also seemed almost cartoonish. In scenes, in the first Star Wars movie, where there was large brownish areas(sand) the picture would distort or pixelate. I thought maybe it was the upconverting dvd player couldnt replicate the image correctly.
Now, for the Sony. The picture is not as bright as the Samsung, though it can be adjusted to where it looks great. The colors are much more accurate than the Samsung. The distortion problem with the sand didnt happen with the Sony. Everything in hd looks fantastic. In standard definition I was able to adjust the tv to where the picture actually looks pretty good, which really surprised me. I see no reason for getting this tv calibrated. I noticed after a day or so of watching the samsung that my eyes started hurting-probably the brightness of the picture. Didnt happen with the Sony.
All in all, this is a great tv.
On: 2006-11-20
My TV history: Ive owned a Sony KF42WE610 set, which is an LCD Rear Proj. TV. I have helped purchase (and tweak) a Samsung HLP4663W DLP set for my parents, which replaced an older Mitsubishi CRT RPTV. I also own a 26" Syntax LT26HVE flat-panel LCD which I use as my PC monitor. I think its fair to say Ive seen my share of HDTVs.
Well, my parents bought me this set as a graduation gift, to replace my Sony LCD set which was lost in a housefire. And boy, am I ever pleased with it. Sonys SXRD (their proprietary version of LCOS, or Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology is easily superior to all of the above-mentioned techs (including Plasma, which I have not owned, but have viewed relatively extensively). It is offered at a "Sony mark-up" but not a tremendous one in terms of other 1080p-capable sets.
What really blows away competing technologies in the current marketplace is the black level. Sonys SXRD has, for the first time, equaled the deep, inky, rich blacks of a very good CRT or plasma set - and married it to the brightness of microdisplay technology, at a much more affordable price than flat-panel LCD or plasma sets.
The blacks are truly stunning. STUNNING. On my 2003-model Sony LCD RPTV, black was a very dark gray. On my parents 2005-model Samsung DLP, blacks are better still, but you can still see a bit of light shining through. The blacks on Sonys SXRD sets are so dark, they are only barely discernable from a completely turned-off set. If youre new to microdisplay tvs, you may not be impressed. But when youve followed their evolution for 5 years like I have, it is just astounding the progress that has been made. These blacks are as good as the best plasma sets, WAY better than the best current LCD flat-panels, and finally as good as a very good consumer-grade CRT direct-view or projection set. The level of black may seem unimportant to a newbie, but it is possibly the most important quality of a convincing picture - a high black level leads to a flat, washed out picture. The ability to render deep shades of black without losing detail in shadows makes for a realistic, convincing cinematic experience.
The resolution is, of course, terrific. It is impossible to see individual pixels at further than a foot from the screen (I have 20/20 vision). 1080i HD signals show an obvious (though slight) boost in detail over 720p display devices. SXRD tvs, like all "microdisplay" sets (LCD, DLP and LCOS), offer a tremendously bright and "punchy" picture, as opposed to what you may be familiar with, the older, much dimmer CRT projection sets. This is due to its UHP (ultra high pressure) lamp light source, which is a bright, white light, unlike the three multicolored CRT "guns." It never requires convergence, and there is no danger whatsoever of "burn-in" or image retention. Better still, when the lamp begins to dim or fail after about 8,000 hours of use, it can be replaced by the user, effectively giving you a brand-new picture. This DIY feature is much appreciated by someone who wants to avoid annoying (and costly?) service visits. I have seen some negative reaction to user-replaceable lamps. People say: If you have to buy $200 to $300 lamps periodically, wont that add up to a huge expenditure? Well, first of all, were talking about 8,000 hours of use, according to Sonys specs on this sets lamp. That equals out to various numbers of years depending on your viewing habits. Lets say you watch 5-6 hours a day - working out to about 4 years. To me, $250 every 4 years is not a big deal, especially when you get a "like new" picture each time you replace. Other techs like Plasma have what they call "Mean Time to Half Brightness," usually around 20,000 hours. So thats around 10 years until you likely would just be better off replacing the plasma set. Even given future price erosion, were talking about likely a $1500-$2000 purchase to replace. Weigh 2 or 3 lamps in 10 years($500-$750) against a new $2000 set after 10 years, and the expenditure doesnt seem so bad.
DLP is almost on the same par in terms of picture quality, but for me (and *maybe* 5-10% of the rest of the population), my ability to see rainbow trails on high-contrast scenes takes it out of contention. Until manufacturers put out 3-chip DLP sets (1 chip per primary color, with no rainbow-inducing color wheel to separate the white light from one chip into the 3 primary colors), I cant live with a DLP set as my daily option. ((update: LED-based DLP sets do not have the rainbow effect, because the LED source lamps are red, green and blue, thus obviating the need for a color wheel. This new tech deserves to be watched carefully - reviews indicate that the picture quality is not yet quite up to snuff)) Keep in mind, this is not to dissuade anyone from getting a DLP set - they look great, and if you dont see rainbows, they come in 1080p flavors for a great price. The best test to see if you are sensitive to rainbows is the THX optimizer menu available on many DVDs. Look at the circle test pattern, and move your eyes around the circle. If you see rainbows, this is the easiest test for them. If you dont youre golden. That said, color wheels are getting faster, so perhaps this issue will diminish with each new generation of DLP sets.
LCD projection sets (like my previous set), though they have three chips (and thus no rainbows), have a lower level of "pixel fill," (the portion of the screen filled by the pixels of the image, as opposed to the spaces between pixels) meaning you can more easily discern the spaces between pixels, creating what some call a "screen door effect." Figures Ive read put the pixel fill of LCD RPTVs at 50%, DLP sets at 90%, and SXRD sets at 92% (I have not seen a published figure on plasmas, but to my eyes they look to have a lower pixel fill - I have always found it quite easy to see plasma pixels). I can say from having owned these sets and compared them side by side that it does make a big difference. Pixels which are invisible a foot away from the screen lend themselves to an incredibly creamy, smooth picture which doesnt look "digital." LCD offers a great no-rainbow budget option, but currently is not available in 1080p resolution, has a higher black level by the nature of its pass-through technology, and has more easily discerned pixels.
Where Sonys SXRD models unexpectedly shine are in their feature sets and customizability. You can name each input and channel. There are so many tweaking options available in the regular user menu that you may never even find them all. The funny thing is , most of them are unnecessary. I calibrated the set with the Digital Video Essentials home theater disc, and the set required *no* changes to color settings and only the barest minimum change to brightness levels. Both SD and HD signals look great, and the integrated Over-the-Air tuner does a great job of pulling free broadcast HD signals. This is a set that you can plug in and not change one setting and get a truly great picture - all the knowledgeable tweaking in the world (I consider myself knowledgeable, having made service menu adjustments based on much research on my old Sony) will only improve things nominally - which was kind of a disappointment - since I so enjoyed tweaking the Sony LCD and Sammy DLP sets, each requiring far more in the way of adjustment.
I use the Oppo 971H upscaling player for my DVD source, the PS3 for my Blu-Ray source, and the Terk HDTV-S indoor/outdoor antenna to pull in my OTA HD broadcasts. I highly recommend all of these pieces of equipment (Oppo has a new model out, which can be purchased on Amazon.) As many have said - you MUST feed your set the best material to really enjoy it. Upscaled DVDs through HDMI look very good, and native 1080p Blu-Ray discs such as "Planet Earth" cant be beat. Pairing a set like this with an HD disc player (whatever your pleasure, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray) is highly recommended.
As far as standard definition goes, "garbage in, garbage out" is the applicable phrase - but to be fair, this Sony does a fine job of smoothing out analog cable signals to make them watchable. I consider myself a pretty discerning viewer, and frankly I just dont understand some of the criticism out there with regard to this sets SD performance. Folks, if you feed a high-performance set like this a blurry, noisy signal through coaxial cable, youre going to see each blur and shake in glorious, 50" high-resolution detail. Its the nature of the beast. Play with the "DRC Palette" to find a setting which smooths it out to your liking.
Just an aside - as with most microdisplays, this set has a screen with a matte finish - not the glassy reflective screens typical of Plasma or CRT sets. Thank goodness. I dont know why anyone ever thought putting a 50-inch mirror in your living room and then trying to get a good tv picture from it was a good idea. Now if they can just stop using these shiny screens on laptops... Another note on the screen - like all microdisplays, this sets screen is "high gain," meaning it is engineered with a lenticular finish on the interior to amp up the brightness levels and create a wider viewing angle. While this is mostly a good thing (especially in a bright room), some people feel it creates a "silk screen effect," in which you can see the "sparkling" of the screen material on a very bright field in the image, such as a white screen, or clouds. Subjectively, it doesnt bother me at all. But it is a difference to note between these types of sets and a front projector, LCD, or plasma.
The one and only drawback for me is the lack of picture-in-picture - I would have used it a lot for gaming while having the TV on as well. It is a disappointment, but not a dealbreaker. The quality of the picture makes up for it. Others may miss "cable card," though it is not something I care about. PIP and Cable Card are available on the step up "XBR" model Sony, for quite a premium. Since the two models share identical display chips and nearly identical processing abilities, I personally dont think the premium is justified.
With resolution, color fidelity and black levels like these; and weighing in at 85 pounds and about 14 inches deep; all at a price rapidly plunging below $2k; I cannot reasonably see purchasing any other type of set, unless space is so limited that you absolutely cannot live without (and you have the extra $1000 for) a flat panel.
Theres a reason these sets top the ratings of sites like CNET, Sound & Vision, and Home Theater Mag. They are truly the best of breed and cant be topped in the current marketplace for quality and price/performance. These sets (and DLP sets also, minus the rainbows) are better than flat-panel technologies for sometimes half the price. I cant possibly recommend a set like this enough if you are in the market for a big screen which you want to use for serious movie watching, HD sports, or even just regular viewing.
On: 2006-11-20
I never gave much thought to HDTV, even though everyone I knew that had it raved about it. Anyway, once my old tv quit working, I decided to go with this Sony. I am not a tv or gadget nut so I wanted a tv that was user friendly but with a great picture. This Sony has an outstanding picture right out of the box (Ive heard people talk about calibration, etc, but Im more of a plug and play person). The HD channels are extremely clear and the colors are great. The standard channels are not nearly as good, but I think they suffer by comparison to the HD channels. I tried to cut a deal with several local stores, but none of them would come close to the Amazon price. It took about 10 days from the date I ordered the tv for it to get here, but it was well worth the wait. I am extremely happy with the picture and sound quality of this tv.
On: 2006-11-14
I purchased this TV (not from Amazon) about a week ago. I have it connected to DirectTV (not HD yet), HD upconverting DVD player, and Phillips over the air HD antenna. The current DTV picture is OK, but nothing to brag about. The upconverted DVDs Look really good, and very detailed. I did not have high expectations with the HD antenna, but boy was I wrong, I was able to pickup all my local stations that offer HD in about 15 minutes with the digital channel scanner. Watching Sundays NFL games in HD was breathless. My daughter and I watched the Ghost Whisperer on Friday night, and the picture as just outstanding. I will have my DTV upgraded to HD in the next few weeks. I cannot see getting a better picture, and I have not even used the 1080P yet. The only small complaint would be I noticed that when changing stations via the over the air antenna the volume levels change drastically. One recommendation is to check the review on cnet, and use their optimal settings. I did think the factory settings out of the box were a bit to bright.
On: 2006-11-12
I am a 23 year-old, newly married college student that is fascinated with modern technology. I purchased the KDS-50a2000 about three months ago and my wife and I actually AGREE that this has been "THE BEST" purchase we have ever made. I researched HI-DEFINITION televisions and the competing technologies for about 6 months before deciding on this particular TV and have enjoyed every moment of its use. I was a litte sceptical after reading a few reviews from the "TV finatics" who can find flaws in near perfection, but I took a step-in-faith with SONY. Not only have our movie nights cuddling on the couch turned into a much anticipated event, but also our X-Box 360 past time has been revolutionized into an awe-inspiring event! The detail and vibrance of color is amazing. Not to mention that we pick up about 40 more channels on our Time Warner cable sevice, 4 of which are in HD with no extra charge. For the price, this television is exceptional! I didnt know what I was missing before this TV and I dont think I could ever go back. Actually, I am quite sure I couldnt.
On: 2006-11-10
This was my first HDTV, replacing a nine-year-old Sony Trinitron 27-inch CRT. I had my decision narrowed to the KDS-50A2000, the KDS-60A2000, and the Samsung HL-S5687.
My main search criteria were as follows, in order of importance: picture quality (including 1080p resolution and HDMI input--yes, Ive bought into the hype), connectivity, and price. Not among my criteria were cabinet size (i.e. I didnt need a flat panel), sound reproduction, PIP, or cable card.
In the stores, the Samsung looked brighter, with more vibrant color, was bigger than the 50A2000 of course, and cheaper. So I was leaning that way, albeit reluctantly, because Im somewhat a Sony loyalist. Meanwhile, the Sony 50A2000 was brighter than the 60A2000. I was told thats because the two sizes use the same lamp. The Sony images looked more finely detailed, maybe, or was that my loyalism coloring my perception?
Anyway, when the 50A2000 got down to $1950 on Amazon, free shipping, no sales tax, I went for it.
About my purchasing experience: all was well with Amazon, but the shipper, Eagle Global Logistics, got my name and phone number wrong. Their delivery date window was way too broad and wrong as it turns out. They recovered from their initial mistakes, though, with courtesy and efficiency. The delivery was much sooner than expected. I suggest you contact the shipper as soon as possible to work out details.
I also ordered the Sony DVPNS75H DVD player with the HDMI output.
I am no expert, but I am completely pleased with the sharpness of the image, the blacks, the whites, the color accuracy. It looks fantastic. The DVDs through the HDMI are stunning; I even hooked up my old LaserDisc player and it looks really good.
The set-up and menus are intuitive and easy. Im getting all my broadcasts through old rabbit ears. Standard definition images are very good. I was happy with many of the TVs default picture settings, but it offers a wealth of adjustment options. There are more connections than Ill need. The TV is quiet, lightweight, and simply, elegantly designed. The speakers sound is also quite satisfying.
The picture is plenty bright in a normally lit room, vibrant (much better than you tend to see in stores, I think), accurate, with a wide viewing angle. 50 inches is enough for a theatrical thrill. Amazing.
I cannot rightly compare this TV with other products, as this is my first and only HDTV purchase. I also have some quibbles with the HDTV experience in general. But I can conclude that I am totally thrilled with this product so far. Go for it.
January 13, 2007 Addendum: About a month after ordering this TV, I saw that it had gone down in price another $150. I asked Amazon whether reimbursement of the difference were possible. They credited $150 to my Visa with no fuss at all. Amazon, you rock!
On: 2006-09-29
Before you buy, think about the source of the material that you watch. If it is mostly NTSC video (analog TV), I wouldnt bother. If it is mostly digital cable (480i), I still wouldnt bother. If you mostly watch standard-def DVDs, will soon be watching HD DVDs/Blu-ray, or HDTV feeds, then I would say GO FOR IT.
IMHO, standard definition TV (NTSC) looks fair, standard definition DVDs (through an excellent upconverting DVD player like the Toshiba HD-A1) look very good and HD-DVDs look AWESOME.
Even when I messed with the settings, I just couldnt get NTSC video to look any better than what I would consider tolerable. Standard definition DVDs, however, look very good. The resolution is not near as good as HD DVD, but it is pretty good and the color reproduction is phenomenal. I watched Star Wars Episode One on the new TV (through the HD-A1) and saw colors and detail I had never seen before. I am excited about watching all the standard def DVDs in my collection on the new TV to see the difference.
HD-DVDs are just plain awesome and the sound is phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and get the HD-A1 from Toshiba for under $400 and not the 2nd generation, as G2 does not have analog audio outputs, which youll need for Dolby TrueHD and DDPlus (unless you have a very new receiver). Yeah, the HD-A1 is a little slow, but it works pretty well after you do the firmware upgrade. This thing is more like a PC than a video player, so just be patient. Turn on the TV and the DVD player and then go make your popcorn.
Also beware that most retail rental stores (at least by me) dont have Blu-Ray or HD-DVDs for rent yet, so you may want to sign up with Blockbuster (good selection) or Netflix (OK selection). Im not buying any just yet.
One more thing...the stand for this puppy is expensive but it is designed specifically for this model. The front bezel clamps down on the front of the TV and the rear of the stand has a belt that snaps into the TV. Its not going anywhere. If you are going to drop $2K on this sucker, you better make sure the stand holds it in place!
Oh getting back to the TV, my center channel speaker barely balances on the top of the TV. I will need a shelf or something else creative to secure the speaker better.
***Updated 10/2/2006***
OK, instead of feeding my cable to the TV through my DVR (VHF in, VHF out), I fed it directly to the TV and used a splitter. There was a SIGNIFICANT improvement in picture quality. Also note that I have seen huge variations in picture quality from channel to channel and show to show. I was watching a movie on TBS (di | | |
