If anyone knows a good place on the internet that tells the best way to config my tv and get tips on it let me know...

great picture, but....

difficult adjustments/calibration (how do you?)

My main problem is that when watching DVD in progressive scan the "bright whites" are too bright almost faded. For example lamps, candles, sun shinning in someones face... I tried adjustign brightness/contrast in users menu, w/o much improvement. I wonder if I can fix this getting into the service menu to calibrate the brightness. Any tips/suggestions? By the way, I connected my DVD player to the TV using component cables.

DVD Performance

Processing of poor quality channels from analog cable

This TV delivers exceptional DVD performance. However, I am having one annoying problem with the control-s function between this TV and a SONY 777ES receiver and a Sony 7700 DVD player. I previously owned an XBR 250 and this feature worked fine (i.e. when I turned on the TV my 777ES reciever would automatically turn-on and would auto select audio inputs as I toggled between TV and DVD. With my XBR400 hooked up in the identical configuration, this funtionality is dead.

If there is anyone out there using the control-s feature successfully with an XBR400 please e-mail me. Thanks, Erick.

Similar Products Used:

None

Amazing picture

none

I had been using a 10yr+ TV and bought DVD player that led me buying a TV which then led me to buy a home sound system (Marantz SR7000, B&W speakers)

The picture on this TV is truly amazing better with DVD's then with cable. I do find that thier is a change in color for one channel to another but the ability to change the color a little this way or a little that way is so easy. The menu button is easy use to adjust with out me having to get off the couch.

Great picture

Mother board went during a 5% power reduction initiated by the local power co

I posted my review of this set way back on October '00 and have been very satisfied with this set until Aug 11 of this year.

My set now has been bitten by the defective motherboard syndrome that has effected many XBR 400's based on what I have read in this forum. The other day, it was 105 degrees here on Long Island resulting in a 5% power reduction system wide to prevent rolling blackouts. Not sure if this reduction in voltage caused the motherboard to short out, but now my set, shuts itself down after playing for about an hour. The set just turns itself off as if someone was playing with the remote control. This seemed so ironic that this problem started during the power reduction. I immediately called SONY as the set is still under the one year service program. (I also bought an additional four years when I bought the set). The response I got from SONY was that this is a common problem in the XBR 400's manufactured in 2000. I was referred to a local authorized repair shop who will order another motherboard and install it at no cost to me. Who knows how long that will take! THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A SET THAT COSTS $2000 TO PURCHASE. Not sure if the boards were improved for the XBR 450's, but I sure hope so!

I really love this set and I hope to get it back on line real soon.

Similar Products Used:

Wega (Non XBR)

Picture clarity, good viewing from any angle, multiple video source connections, great on screen programming, good sounding speakers with the ability to turn them off making a/v receiver and home entertainment system setup easy.

Heavy. Need a television stand that can handle its great weight. I use the Boltz-USA television stand with casters to set mine on. Casters make connects, disconnects, and reconnects easier to manage. Billy Bags has a television stand that make owning this baby a pleasure. The weight is limiting if you set the XBR on a stationery stand.

Excellent edition to my home theater system with a great picture quality. Digital signal like DVD a projected perfectly

Beautiful Picture, HDTV capability, Discrete codes for Philips Pronto

Expensive through normal retailers

I just received this TV recently. I had a 4 year old 35XBR48 that worked fine until recently, but the picture tube went out and the local Authorized Sony Service Center quoted me a repair bill of about $1600. I talked to Sony about my quality expectations and they offered to sell me a new 36XBR450 for $1200. While I am not pleased at having to fork over $1200 to replace a 4 year old, I do think this is a killer TV and it is HDTV compatible unlike the XBR it replaced.

Similar Products Used:

35XBR48, 53XBR300

picture and sound

weight

This review is for the kv-36xbr450.
I initially bought the kv-36hs20...and I should have kept it:it was great, but too expensive (around $2,000). So, I changed it for the kv-36s13. That was a big mistake. The difference in picture quality is incredible. The s13 has such a problem with colors and brightness, that it only took a couple of days for me to decide to exchange TV's.
Finally I decided to go for the top of the line (XBR450) because I didn't want to go through the hassle of having to change to another TV set.
I don't think there is a difference between the KV-36hs20 and the KV-36XBR450, but since the difference was just $200 between the two sets, I wanted to have "piece of mind".
Throught all of these exchanges, Sound Advice was just great, so if aanyone in Florida is going to buy one of these expensive sets, just go there.

Similar Products Used:

kv-36hs20 and kv-36s13

Great Picture, Nice LOOK, multiple inputs, classy remote, Twin View PIP

Weight, price (even though I got a great deal)

(Actually for Sony KV-36XBR450)

I have been debating on a TV now for almost a year. I have been torn between getting one of the Mitsubishi wide screen HDTV sets and this one. Both are great, but since most of my viewing is still regular programming, I decided to go with a 4:3 set instead of the 16:9. The only thing that I think I would have been happier about with the Mitsubishi was its size - By going with the Sony I gave up almost 20". But after I got it home, it was amazing! The picture is crystal clear (with REGULAR cable) and it set up easily. I haven't noticed any of the "washing out" or "red push" that I have heard in some of the sets that have been reviewed. This TV is absolutely a great product. Since it is wider than normal and FLAT, it looks much more stylish than setting a 55" box in the middle of your living room floor. If you can get a good deal on this TV (~$2000) than I would definately get my hands on it. I bought a floor model and haven't had any problems.

My HT:

Yamaha RX-V1200 (Receiver)
Sony KV-36XBR450 (TV)
Panasonic RP-56 (DVD)
JBL S38 (main)
JBL S26 (rear)
JBL S Center
Generic rear center
Paradigm PDR-10 (Sub)

Similar Products Used:

Older Sony 36", Sanyo TV

Awesome picture, flat screen, line-doubler, tons of inputs

Size, weight(like moving a safe!)Wish it were 16x9

I've had a very nice experience with this TV. I used audioreview.com before my purchase and I was a lttle worried about the "speaker grill problem", but I guess I was lucky, no such issues. DVDs and HDTV look incredible when compared to Projection HDTV sets. I've tried a few of the "Superbit" DVDs (Fifth Element, Air Force One) and they rival 1080i that I get from my HDTV decoder. I prefer this set to the XBR-450s just because the faceplates are metal & the 450s replaced them with silver colored plastic (looks cheap to me). My advise is to make sure you buy from a dealer who will take care of any problems should they occur (i.e. not EBay or Best Buy)

System Setup:
Sony SATT60 - DirectTV with Tivo
Sunfire Cinema Grand II A/V Processor
Sunfire Cinema Sigature Amp
Panasonic RP-91 DVD Player
Pioneer Elite CLD-99 Laserdisc
Panasonic HDTV Receiver
JVC S-9900U SVHS VCR

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic 32" Pana-flat tube.