-Incredible Picture
-Better Sound than previously described
-Great Looking
-Inputs Galore
-Gorgeous DVD Picture
-Ingenious PIP

-Always On EDS, Text, Caption when selected

This review is for the KV-36XBR450

My new KV-36XBR450 is in another league compared to my old 36XBR200 that I purchased three years ago. With my old 200, you could drive a BMW between the scan lines. The 450 has no scan lines, with an unbelievable line doubler/quadrupler?

DVD performance is tack sharp and the colors perfect.

Every TV today needs as many inputs as possible. There are 4 Video Inputs, with any number of combinations.

Sound is better than described...suitable for most applications. If you have invested in this type of TV, you are going to use an external speaker system anyway.

My XBR200 had a couple of great features that the 450 doesn't.

(1) When you pressed freeze, the entire full-sized picture froze...just like a VCR. A very cool feature!

(2) When you pressed DISPLAY, the EDS and Closed Captioning features came on the screen...and another press of DISPLAY took it away. Now you have to go through the MENU system to turn it off. Very annoying.

But overall, the 450 is a stunning television.

An important note: If you buy this set, go to www.crutchfield.com and check out the Wood Technology. Here is the link:

http://crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-J21IMx99yn9/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=1&g=15730&I=188CMV36E&o=M&a=0

This stand is made with REAL wood, not the crappy pressboard. It has 6 casters that support the 240 pound XBR beautifully. I've used this stand for 3 years on my XBR200 and now on the 450. It is a bargain for $299.00. I have 7 A/V components stored in the cabinet. It is an amazing piece of furniture for the money. It comes in Black Ebony and Oak. If you need a free standing unit and you constantly work with your wiring, this is for you. I cannot fully preach the importance of a stand with casters enough. Good luck trying to move the Sony Stand with you need to get at the back. Plus the Sony Stand only takes two components.

Similar Products Used:

36XBR200

Great picture when seen at the store with HD connected.

Heavy, about 300 pounds! Awkward measurements to fit in an entertainment center.

I just purchased the SON KV36XBR400 as a floor model for $1197. Friends tell that was a fantastic deal. For those that have this TV, was it a great deal and what problems, if any, can I expect. Was it smart to also purchase the extended warranty? Thanks for the advice.

DVD Playback-component input

Standard Cable Input

Just purchase the T.V. set last week. Picture when using the component input and Sony 560D is amazing clean! Audio is decent. The playback from standard cable is not very good. My cable feed is bad anyway so I knew it would not look good. I'm planning to buy a satellite soon. Just can't decide which one to get. If anyone out there can help me decide email me. The set is heavy but once it's in place, not a big deal you don't normally move it around anyway. Mine is placed on a corner unit with wheels and it's no problem to get to the back of it. Plan ahead and the wieght is not an issue. I would like to know if anyone out there has seen a substantial difference between a progressive scan dvd player compared to standard one (560d)on this set. Overall this set is awesome, GO GET IT! or wait for the 40" if you have the room.

http://www.audioreview.com

http://www.agoraquest.com

Tom Kolovich IS CORRECT!

There is a new site. So new that there are no posts yet!

Maybe this site will catch on some day but for now I'll stay here.

Thanks Anyway Tom

I love this Sony TV. Everyone who comes over to the house is amazed at the clarity of the picture. I use DirectTv, DVD,VCR,Cable, and rooftop antenna.

All are awesome.

Thank You Sony

Similar Products Used:

NONE

Great picture
Multiple inputs

Weight
Not enough controls on remote

I replaced my 14 year old XBR with the KV36XBR450 last week.
It has a great DVD picture using component video and the anamorphic 16:9 squeeze. I spent my first days just looking at my DVD's again.

I didn't list a price because I got it with a friend's Sony employee discount.

My family likes the picture in the VIVID mode, but the feeling on http://www.agoraquest.com/forum.php is that setting has the colors too bright and it may damage my CRT. I still have to adjust the picture using Video Essentials.

We didn't like the Sony stand. I found the Bello AVSC2103 at J & R
http://www.jandr.com/JRProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=&pcount=&Product_Id=825861

for $533 including shipping to the West Coast.

As said before, it makes a good signal look very good and a bad signal worse. Some of the cable TV channels look worse than with my 14 year old TV. I am changing to digital cable to see if it will make a difference.

The remote doesn't control enough components and it doesn't have a learning function. It should have a programable multiple command function. It takes about eight button pushes to get my DVD playing on the component input. Fortunately, I could program my receiver remote for most of the Sony functions.

Similar Products Used:

32XBR15

great picture quality

picture tilts to left

At first I thought I was being paranoid about the picture being tilted as I always look for the tinyest defects when I make a large purchase. I finally found that you could asjust the tilt in the setup menu and luckily for me +7 (the limit) just fixes it. At least I have a straight picture utill a tech can calibrate the tube.
The fact that I confirmed (from reading reviews) that I am not the only one with this problem makes me feel a little better but then also annoyed at the lack of production quality for such an expensive item.

picture ( with good signal )

picture ( with bad signal )

This is a review for the XBR450.

As mentioned in numerous other reviews, Sony's DRC is a blessing and a curse. It makes a good signal look great and a bad signal look horrible. I have DirectTV and the vast majority (90%) of the stations look great. Fox for example is as almost as good as DVD quality in my opinion. Unfortunately the stations that have the poorest signal are the local stations which I watch the most.

DVD's look great, but not jaw dropping stunning in my opinion. I went ahead and got the Sony progressive scan DVD player, but I cannot tell a difference between when the DVD player is in progressive mode or regular. Again, I think the DRC is doing a good job with a good signal, so the progressive scan doesn't buy much.

I too found the set to have too much red and used the service menu to cool it off. I just followed the instructions posted in other reviews and was able to easily change and save the settings.

As an added bonus, this set is theft-proof. You can leave the house unlocked and rest assured the set will be right where you left it when you return. It took 3 average sized men to move it, and add another if you've got steps. Put the strongest person on the front/glass side since that's where the weight is. I would recommend one of the Sony stands to hold the set since it could easily tip forward with dire consequences if not properly secured.

COLOR ACCURACY, DETAIL, EXTENSIVE ON-SCREEN MENU, STYLING.

COLOR CONVERGENCE, GEOMETRY, WEIGHT.

I purchased the Panasonic HX-41 about 2 months ago and after not receiving satisfaction from the service repair company or Panasonic, I returned the unit to Sears. I then purchased the Sony XBR450 with the help of a buddy, from a corporate incentive company in Atlanta for a substantial savings. I ended up paying about $150.00 more for the Sony then the Panasonic. I feel that I should have a fairly accurate feel for the differences between these two televisions since I had both of them for about 4 weeks each.

The Panasonic's weaknesses are bad geometry problems, few menu adjustments, mismatched color saturation between the two pictures in the picture-N-picture mode and a weak instruction manual. Its strong points are compact size, weight and vivid color output with strong whites.

The Sony's weaknesses are color convergence. I was told by the service tech that there was no way to adjust the convergence. The Sony had a slight geometry problems (but not as severe as the Panasonic.) Inferior picture with weak station signals. Extremely heavy, which caused me to have to reinforce my solid oak cabinet to keep the bottom doors from dragging. Its strong points are a detailed in-depth menu, picture detail, accurate color, cabinet design and a great looking remote control.

I was not all that happy with either, considering their price, but I would give the Sony a slight edge, if price is not considered. Both looked great with dvd and bad with cable, on certain stations. If you already have a large television, I would try to wait it out for more improvements.

Similar Products Used:

PANASONIC HX41

Picture, controls, features, look.

Sound, heavy to manuver.

Please apply this review to the 36XBR450.

I would like to thank everyone for their input on this message board. It was a great resource to get first person accounts of the product.

End result: I’m thrilled!

I wanted a high quality TV that would bridge the gap between 16:9 and 4:3 programming. Just perfect.

I live near Chicago and haven’t purchased a HD tuner to experiment with digital signals, but I’ve gotten to play around with everything else.

My Playstation 2 absolutely rules on this set. The detail is great (especially on Movie mode set on Interlaced). The small details that I would never pick out on my 24” Wega are crystal clear here. With component cables (p.s. I didn’t notice the difference between Monster Cable’s PS2 cables and Sony’s) there are zero flaws to this exceptional picture.

DVD’s look great (although I still can’t tell the difference with the Cine mode). I’ve just been using the PS2 DVD drive and I can’t see any reason to upgrade.

Analog signals look really good – especially with the XBR’s great line doubler. Some reviews of analog signals have been poor, but even sitting really close to the TV I see little reason to complain.

This is just a great TV – a bit pricey, but well worth it in the long run. I couldn’t be happier.

Similar Products Used:

24" Wega

Picture clarity is second to none. It's incredible. The color is very brillant and clear. Incredible looking set. Cool silver tone look. easy to navigate menus, nice PIP, plenty of inputs.

Very Heavy, Needs at least 3 people to move. You also need to have a good stand that can support over 230 pounds.Not impressed with 16:9 picture mode, and tv sound. recommend using a outside source for sound. It makes a world of difference.

Where is the section for the Sony Wega XBR 450??? At www.agoraquest.com there are a couple of reviews on the Sony Wega XBR 450 under the review section. Also, you can post questions you have about the wega, maybe configuration problems or answer some questions in forum section. You should check it out. the website just launched and needs all the particpation possible from you to make it work. And registration is free.

I really have enjoyed my previous XBR, but this new one is the best ever. The picture is so clear it looks like you are looking through a window. Use the Video Essentials,it make the DVDs and digital cable TV awesome to look at. With the HDTV situation so uncertain, this TV gives you all the flexibility for today's viewing choices as well as the ability to view HDTV when it finally arrives (even though it's not full HDTV resolution, it's hard to tell the difference).

And again if you have any questions, submit them to the forum at www.agoraquest.com

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega KVFS12