Three years ago we bought a 60” Sony Projection TV for $3500 even though Sony quality seemed to have steadily gone down hill. We bought a Sony TiVo that started locking up after one year, you know after the warranty expired. We had a Sony DVD and of course after a year it would get really hot minutes into the movie and stop working. But Consumer Reports rated the Sony TV (KDS-R60XBR1) excellent so we decided to give it a try. BIG MISTAKE! Obviously Consumer Reports got that one wrong, so we will never trust them again. Next time we need a product review, we will just Google it and see what real people have to say about it. So anyway, after the magical one year mark our TV had no picture, it just looked like it was off. We called Sony and they told us to call The Sony sponsored repair man, also known as the one they must pay off to keep within their conspiracy. So we call the repair man and he said the lamp was blown and he could replace it for $600. We said no and found one on line for $200. We chalked it up as probably just a one time deal. Three months later, the screen became distorted, so again we contacted SONY and they sent out their repairman again. He replaced the optical block (the thing that makes the TV work) and SONY agreed to cover this expense, which we initially thought was nice until we later found out they were being sued over this issue in a class-action lawsuit. Six months later, no picture again! So we ordered another lamp and again called Sony who gave us the big run-a-round and we accomplished nothing! Six months later, yep you guessed it, black screen. We order another lamp and called Sony. Sony promised to reimburse us for the lamps all we had to do was fax the receipts. I fax the receipts and do you think we got a reimbursement check? Heck NO! So now it’s four months later, New year’s Eve 2010 and guess what? Another black screen! We called Sony, yet again, and spoke with someone named “Shayne”. She tells me they have no record of reimbursing us for the lamps but they would be happy to take $50 off their $250 lamp for us…..whoopty shoot! She seems carefree of the situation so I ask her, would you be happy paying $200 every six months to keep your $3000 TV running and she says “well if that’s what it took”. I said BULLCRAP!!!! So anyone want to buy a TV? Sony used to stand for quality, now it stands for not backing their poorly designed TV and uncaring treatment of their previously loyal customers! “Shayne” is a great example of how Sony no longer seems to care about customer retention and their products that last until just moments after the warranty expires. SONY in this house NO MORE!!!! Incidentally, “Shayne” advised us that she is the final step in SONY customer service and she has the final say with our case, so we have no further recourse with SONY.

Picture quality, pure and simple

Questionable cabinet design with ugly "eared" speakers (that I have not bothered to listen to)

I spent a long time looking a HDTVs and their various technologies before buying this set. Bottom line: This is the best picture one can currently purchase in a 50 inch set. The best DLPs are a close second, but SXRD/LoCS is superior. Without getting into all the technical features, this set will remind you of watching an old NTSC broadcast on a high quality 27 inch CRT TV back when that was state of the art a couple decades ago. There are no motion artifacts even during sports broadcasts in HD on a compressed cable signal. The colors, contrast and black levels are jaw dropping. The Cablecard feature (which I am using) works flawlessly as does the (optical) digital out for the receiver. Be sure to set the picture mode to "Pro." The "Vibrant" mode looks surreal. The "Standard" mode must be for retail stores only. Non-HD digital cable at 480i is surprisingly good, especially if left in the 4:3 aspect ratio (with black vertical bars on the sides of the screen). DVD programming looks best using component video cables and leaving the player on "interlaced." This was counter-intuitive to me, but the set seems to do a better job upconverting the "i" signal than the "p" from my Denon DVD player. This model is being replaced as of August 2006, and good deals can be had. Sony is splitting its SXRD line into two levels. Where previously there were only two models in the "XBR" line, the new offerings will have more screen sizes and a lower end "A2000" line along with the high end "XBR" line. The boxes are changing and the objectionable eared speakers are gone. The reviewed set is essentially identical to the new 50" XBR and offers the same picture quality. The A2000 lineup will be less expensive but lacks some features, so be aware while shopping.

Customer Service

Not needed. Cablecard set-up was easy.

Similar Products Used:

None used, but over one year looking at everything I could find