If you're in the market for a new large screen, you would think that plasma is the technology for you. However, with some new developments in LCD, flat-screens have finally become a two-horse race.
Sony's KDL52XBR is the penultimate TV in their range after the stupendously expensive Sony KDL70XBR, but does it have the muscle to continue the company's recent performance dream run?
Design
If there's one thing Sony takes pride in -- after performance -- it's design. And true to form the 52XBR is a stunner. For the AU$300 extra on the 52-inch X3100 you get a very spiffy looking brushed aluminium finish. Of course, unlike the X series this isn't interchangeable, but it looks better anyhow. The floating glass finish is still there and so is the illuminated Sony logo (which can be turned off). Overall, the build quality is everything you'd expect from a premium television by Sony.
The remote is the same one the company uses for the other models in the XBR series and is large, friendly and easy-to-use.
Features
The Sony KDL52XBR features a 52-inch 1080p panel, and like the 46-inch KDL46XBR we reviewed recently, includes a number of up-to-date features. There is support for the Blu-ray (and HD DVD) 24p standard, and a 100Hz anti-judder mode.
But if HD disks aren't your thing then there is an onboard HD tuner so you can receive 1080i content. Other features include a USB port for photo viewing, PC connectivity, and three HDMI version 1.3 ports.
The menu is straightforward and easy to navigate, with TV channel options appearing first. Advanced options, such as PC Power Saving, are logically arranged, while the Contrast control, as with many other Sony TVs, is here entitled Picture.
Performance
Using an HDMI splitter, we found the KDL52XBR performed almost identically to its smaller brother, the 46XBR. Watching Mission Impossible III on Blu-ray showed that detail, colour and judder-removal were all executed with pinpoint accuracy. As we've said before 100Hz Motionflow is perhaps the best technology we've seen for removing judder and on Blu-ray it works superbly.
We were interested to see how a large screen such as this coped with black levels, and we were encouraged to see that it coped well. While the picture didn't seem to boast as much contrast as the Sony 46-inch the blacks were a smidgeon deeper.
Colour was a little more accurate on the 52-inch after calibration, with skin tones in particular looking quite natural. This ability carried through to HD broadcasts, though Channel Seven newsreader Ian Ross's red eyes looked particularly lurid. This wasn't a fault of the TV, but his physician -- give this man some eye drops!
Backlighting is more consistent than its little brother, though over time we have noticed the backlight clouding problem grow. Off-axis viewing isn't as good as the smaller one, either, with a noticeable rainbow sheen and reduced contrast.
As expected, gaming via the PS3 was excellent, with little detectable motion blur and bright colours bringing out the best of Rock Band. Using the PC input was also as good as expected, with none of the buzzing pixel noise you'd see on a plasma TV.
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Juan Siculja
16/09/2008, 02:06 AM
rating
9/10
Changed from a V 40" series semi-HD to this model. Wall mounted it and it looks great.
Pros: Great Picture and sounds. USB jpeg input and 3 HDMI inputs. Also got it for under $4,000. So the price was a great factor in buying it as well. Luv the illuminated remote control.
Cons: Slow changing channels. I wish it has Picture in Picture. Also large remote.
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Rednes
12/08/2008, 08:20 PM
rating
9/10
I had my sony bravia xbr52 since Sept 07 and i still love it. After months and months of playing with the options ive finally got the picture ive been looking for. I have it hooked up to the Bose V-30 home theatre system and works flawless together. The PS3 bluy ray movies look fantastic. Xbox 360 games look amazing. The Wii looks pretty crap because of its crappy graphics.
Pros: Picture quality and rich colours and HD looks amazing. Its looks great in the house. Plenty of HDMI outputs.
Bright clear picture.. Plenty of options inside of option.
Cons: Channel changing is slow especially when your a fast flicker. Sometime in full HD you get a tiny amounts of distortion around the edges of moving people in crowds.
The guide doesnt always work and only shows the next show, not whole day.
The out of the box settings need to be change
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Bazza
06/02/2008, 11:10 PM
rating
9/10
Ty Pendlebury.
sorry but dont agree with the backlight clouding.
Pros: once calibrated properly this helps to reduce any clouding to almost un-noticeable levels that most people couldnt tell or see it any more than any other lcd.
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Bazza
06/02/2008, 10:58 PM
rating
9/10
A Gageler
to answer your small problem with the unwanted tv channels just save all the ones you want to you favourites list then using the +- button to scroll through your favourites.
i have fav-list 1 as all my HD channels and fav-list 2 as my SD channels, works for me.
Pros: once calibrated with proper settings its the best HD image ive seen.
very good blacks and shadow detail.
Cons: out of box settings.
if you need some setting to help with this LCD just email me and ill send you mine.
bdmason@iinet.net.au
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Jon.
28/01/2008, 04:01 PM
rating
10/10
Wow! Picked it up yesterday for my loungeroom. Have a 100 cm CRT Sony in the family room and decided it was time to update the loungeroom. A little slow changing channels but man...its worth the 2 sec. wait! Take your plasmas and trade up to the real deal!
The whole room has been transformed to a place of Sony beauty. I love it.
Pros: Picture, audio, styling and total satisfaction.
Cons: Dont want to leave the room or go to work anymore!
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A Gageler
06/01/2008, 10:40 AM
rating
9/10
A fantastic looking unit with great picture quality. Black come out very black despite claims by some that LCDs can't match plasma. Sony's current PS3 promotion makes it a very good deal - even if you don't want the gaming capability, the "free" PS3 is a great alternative to spending another $650 on a BR disc player
Pros: Floating screen design (looks great wall mounted)
Picture quality, particularly in high definition model
Cons: Doesn't appear to provide the option of skipping/blocking channels in the digital tuner (if the option exists it isn't obvious) - means that you get the same channel presented several times over
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GoldCoastDude
03/01/2008, 05:23 PM
rating
9/10
After owning a Loewe 82cm Aconda for 7 years I felt the time was right to upgrade. Until now there has been no LCD or Plasma on the market that came close to the Loewe regarding picture quality. I can safely say that is not the cast anymore. The Sony is just stunning, especially with BD. I bought a new 5300ES to go with it and both work wonderful together. First thing you need to do is set your own calibration. There are many threads on the net to help, but the standard and vibrant are crap. Cinema is ok but needs some colour tweaking, too much red tint. Once you have got the set looking how you want it, it is just magnificent. I can't fault it. Well worth the money and with the PS3 giveaway a steal.
Pros: Large screen size.
100Hz anti judder
Easy to set up. Don't be afraid to play with the settings, you can always reset it.
Looks good
Solid build and quality
Cons: Slow changing between inputs
Would have liked a black aluminium finish (personal preference)
Took some convincing with the other half.....but I won in the end!
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E Cadner
19/12/2007, 05:34 PM
rating
9/10
Weeks of research ( plasma v lcd, brand v brand...) and an excellent deal from a local SonyCentral shop saw me pick up this beauty recently.
Pros: Looks the business
Easy to set-up and use following initial trepidation
Montionflow and 100hz delivers the goods - very fluent with fast-moving action
Angled viewing very acceptable
Did i mention it looks the cats pajamas ?
Cons: Very slow changing channels
Its big - dominates the average-size sitting room ( but in an impressive sort of a way !)
Sound good, but may need some help from an amp/standalone speakers to really do the thing justice
Its telling me it wants a bluray player, but i havnt sorted the bluray/HD thing yet, so Ill wait....
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Boost-Juice
17/12/2007, 02:36 AM
rating
9/10
So sexy and Menacing compared to any other next gen TV. The design is a 10/10 and everything else such as quality of picture is excellent.
Amazingly, the sound is like a really descent pair of wharfdale's hooked up toa small amp, which is a great effort out of the skinny sucker.
Pros: -Sound (very deep and strong for what it is)
-Design (Best looking Telly on market)
-Rich Picture like only Sony knows how
Cons: -The slight hazing on black screens that you can see.
BUT mostly the blacks have now been updated when its amongst picture input, its only on blank screens you can notice anything
(much better than my old Vseries 32)
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