CNET Editor's rating: 8.0 out of 10
Reviewed by
David Katzmaier
Review date: 9/27/07
Release date: 9/1/07
The good: Excellent black-level performance for an LCD; accurate color; 120Hz processing smooths judder in motion; fine screen uniformity and off-angle viewing for an LCD; numerous picture controls; solid connectivity with three HDMI inputs and one PC input; distinctive "floating glass" design; interchangeable bezel color option.
The bad: Expensive; benefits of 120Hz blur-reduction hard to discern; smooth motion seems unnatural for film-based material and introduces some artifacts; main menu system kludgy to operate; many picture adjustments seem unnecessary and/or harmful.
The bottom line: Although not quite as impressive as the best plasmas, the 46-inch Sony KDL-46XBR4 outperforms any flat-panel LCD we've tested so far.
Description:
The Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR4 is a 46-inch, liquid crystal display television.
Compared to other liquid crystal display TVs on the market, it is expensive at around $2,515.
This flat-TV is an LCD display, which is generally the best kind of flat-panel screen for viewing in brightly-lit rooms.
Pros:
With built-in HDTV compatibility, this TV set can display images that are significantly sharper and more realistic than regular television, as long as the source is high definition.
(It can easily render standard-resolution digital TV broadcasts and also depict the full resolution of widescreen DVD video.)
The 3:2 pulldown feature of this TV reduces artifacts that can occur when motion pictures are transferred to a digital format such as DVD.
Cons:
Has only a rear connector location.
Suitability:
A liquid crystal display TV, suited for home entertainment as well as work place applications.
Also, a wide aspect TV such as this one is well suited for DVD movies recorded in the popular 16:9 format, as well as high definition programming.
Value:
In general, this TV's features are as expected for this price.
Suggestions:
(1) For assistance in shopping for a new HDTV, review CNET editors'
Ultimate HDTV Buying Guide
.
(2) If donating or repurposing your old TV is not a viable option, CNET encourages households to recycle their electronics.
Please explore the following website to find a recycling center in your area
Electronics Take Back Coalition
.
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