very sharp picture, no burn in, and pretty even light output across the screen especially when compared to crt rear projectors.

wish the screen could be removed

I am curious I felt the same way as far as contrast and black levels are concerned but when it's pitch black outside or in your house how many different objects can you actually make out in the dark anyway? The television is supposed to reproduce a life like picture ,so granted a crt may have more contrast and deeper blacks but thats what we're used to ,but whose to say it's more accurate when judged against real life? just my opinion, besides it also has strengths that outway the whole contrast and black level issue to me.

Similar Products Used:

kp57xbr10w ,kp53xbr200, kv34xbr800,and samsung dlps

Cost vrs picture size when compared to Plasma or LCD. Light weigh. Very bright and vivid colors, up conversion to 1080i. Tons of hook-ups. User changeable single bulb. Sony's Wega engine and build quality.

Cheap remote. Blacks not as black as would be expected.

After seeing this TV hooked up to a HD source it blew me away, although the blacks are not strong the TV is still amazing. For the price (retails for $4999.99 Canadian) it is very compariable to DLP and a fraction of the cost when compared to LCD or plasma for the same picture size. This TV MUST be used with the highest possible video source available to the user, s-video will not do the TV justice. Component Video is amazing and HD will blow you away. Tons of hook-ups, lightweight, very user friendly, no set-up ready to go right out of the box. Do not pay full retail!! All stores were willing to sell for $1000.00 Canadian below the retail. The ability to change the single bulb yourself at a cost of $250.00 is a big plus, can't do that with a DLP. Best bang for your buck for the picture size. Very impressed, although if you rely on s-video you will notice pixelation or the screen door effect, however who buys a Grand Wega to not take advantage of HD or Component.

Similar Products Used:

RCA CRT, DLP,

Digital fixed pixel with DVI connection which accepts digital HD feed and DVD input which has been upscaled to 1050i and 720p. Small size which will permits tabletop setup and to continue useful life as second TV in bedroom etc. Bright, TV type, programs are terrific through the DVI port.

Poor contrast.

While the unit performs adequately by ordinary standards, as an XBR it should perform to the highest level. It fails in one significant test, it cannot produce sufficient contrast resulting in black being grey, details in dark areas being lost and grainy. This is especially important when watching movies which are produced to be viewed in a dark room. All of these are characteristic of LCD projections. I would suggest that you avoid these because you will quickly realize there is better performing monitors out there. This unit does not live up to the XBR monikor. Had I know what I know now, I would have bought a DLP unit such as Samsung's.

Similar Products Used:

Samsung DLP, Sony XBR directview.

super sharp video on bright HD movies weight only 80lb and 16" deep

black levels

Well I bought the Sony KF-50XBR800 cause of the name and that I wanted a new hi-tech tv.In the store it sure looked grate when they were playing a dvd on it as well as satellite HD After setting up the TV and comparing it with my pioneer pro-610 I noticed that the blacks were not deep black like on the crt tv I tried adjusting the contrast and the brightness to get the gray washed out look out (like the way LCD monitors look when you look of to the side) The picture was very sharp and vibrant with lots of color detail but when put in the Pitch Black dvd (using a Sony DVP-9000es)the dark scenes were not really black but more like a light gray and no detail on the dark scenes (day scenes would blow you away and make your eyes squint) I kept trying to set it to at least get it be almost like my pioneer. But no luck after a week so I took it back and got a SamsungHLN507w DLP set after comparing them with the crt.s and the lcd’s and now I am happy.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer pro-610

Great picture, slim and lightweight

Pricey, remote weak (for the price of the unit you should get their top of line universal remote) Needs a stand which adds a couple of hundred to the price. The optional Sony stand is about 500 and looks terrible. I got a Bush stand it works great for a fraction of Sony's cost. Lamp costs 300 to 500 and is said to last 4000 hours.

Great picture, slim and lightweight. Reportedly no burn-in problems if you play videogames on it, we'll see. Can see picture clearly from angles and with lights on. Enough plugs in back for everything. Can display pics from a sony digital camera using the smartstick. Has a user replaceable lamp.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 32" Trinitron