Sony KDS-R60XBR2 LCD TV

The feature-packed Sony KDS-R60XBR2 is a pricey piece of equipment. Yet, with its full features and performance, there is no doubt that this TV is one of the best in the market. The televisions has Sony’s SXRD light engine, which provides full 1,920×1,080 (aka 1080p) native resolution, and offer a full set of picture controls, among the most extensive ever seen on the market. This combination adds up to picture quality that’s almost perfect.

A defining characteristic for this HDTV is its speakers that sticks out like giant ears. They extend beyond the already massive television’s frame by a good 5 inches each, bringing its total dimensions to 66×40x20.3 inches WHD. The set weighs in at 121 pounds - along with its special stand.

The speakers and the outside of the KDS-R60XBR2 are silver, while the screen itself is framed by a glossy black border. A gray pedestal base supports the silver cabinet, and a small panel opens up to reveal an A/V input with composite video as well as an HDMI input.

Overall, the set is uncommonly attractive for a big-screen HDTV, and the three-tone exterior helps it appear slightly smaller than if it was all one color. Speaking of big, there’s also a 70-inch version, the KDS-R70XBR2, which features removable speakers.

The Sony KDS-R60XBR2 is one of the most loaded HDTVs ever reviewed. It uses the same LCoS-derived, SXRD-branded chips as both the older KDS-R60XBR1 and the step-down KDS-60A2000. There are a total of three chips, one each for red, green, and blue, each with 1,920×1,080 discrete pixels. This arrangement differs from that of DLP-based 1080p displays, which generally use a single chip and a color wheel to produce red, green, and blue. The Sony’s 1,920×1,080 pixels exactly match the resolution of 1080i and 1080p HDTV sources and delivers every bit of detail. Other sources, including 720p HDTV, DVD, and standard-def television, are scaled to fit the pixels.

The KDS-R60XBR2 also adds a CableCard slot to the back panel, which allows you to watch digital and high-def cable channels without the box. It incorporates the TV Guide on-screen EPG, which replaces the EPG you lose when you ditch the cable box.

As for its connectivity, the Sony KDS-R60XBR2’s jack pack leaves little to be desired. It includes an HDMI input on its front panel, in addition to a composite A/V input. Around back you’ll find two more HDMI inputs, and all three have the ability to accept 1080p sources. Other inputs include: two A/V inputs with component video; one A/V input with composite video and S-video; one A/V input with composite video only; one VGA-style PC input; and one each antenna and cable RF inputs. There are also an analog audio output and a digital optical audio output for use with the Sony’s ATSC tuner, along with the aforementioned CableCard slot.

The picture quality of the Sony KDS-R60XBR2 is among the best in a rear-projection HDTV. The XBR2 exhibited excellent black-level performance, superb grayscale and color decoding accuracy, and very good uniformity across the screen. Nothing’s perfect however, and the Sony did fall short on primary color accuracy and some video processing issues, namely 2:3 pulldown.

While the Sony KDS-R60XBR2 has a picture that’s essentially identical to its less-expensive SXRD stablemate, the prodigious feature set on this 60-inch HDTV will attract buyers who must have it all.

Sources:
http://reviews.cnet.com
http://www.hdblog.net
http://shopping.yahoo.com
http://www.pricescan.com