[MrDad0330]

I currently have an Olevia 32" HDTV in my living room and I finally am ready to buy my dream machine in the family room where i have home theator. I am looking at the Sony 46" LCD, XBR4. Does anyone have any commentes on this set?
I purchased a Sony AV Receiver last year in preparation for this Sony TV. It is the ES5200. HDMI outputs and all the bells and whistles. I am planning on also purchasing the Sony BDP-S330 Bluray DVD player. All the comments Ive heard is to not run my HDMI cables to my AV receiver then out to my TV but instead to run only my optical outputs from my "D" HR and Blu ray player to the AV receiver for 5.1 sound only. Run my HDMI outputs from the DVD and HR to the TV. Sound about right?

 

[davring]

I don't think you can go wrong with that set, I'm a little partial I run HDMI direct to my TV and audio separate to my receiver. I'm happy with that set up. Try others, you may find easier or better ways with all your choices. Enjoy.

 

[MrDad0330]

Thanks for your input. Is your Sony the 60hz or 120hz set. I never saw the 120hz in action. Just curious..

 

[davring]

Thanks for your input. Is your Sony the 60hz or 120hz set. I never saw the 120hz in action. Just curious..

60hz. I have seen both and I personally can't see much of a difference. My sister just bought the 52 inch Sony 120hz, I think the "W" series, absolutely great picture. The 120hz sets will give you more choices for viewing some upcoming 1080P broadcasts. The 120hz sets became available the year after I bought my set.

 

[Richard King]

Moved to a wider audience. You might also want to check out AVSForum.com

 

[veryoldschool]

XBR2 owner and while I love it, I hate Sony [again] because of their lack of 1080p support for 1080p/24. They never listed mine as NOT supporting it and won't work on an update to support mine.
Even the XBR4 is having issues with the 1080p/24 DOD under test currently from DirecTV.

 

[Nick]

Never was a Sony fanboy -- nothing specific, just a decade or so of observing Sony trying to
control the world, plus a series of notable product/marketing failures, plus a fairly constant
stream of negative anecdotes and opinions from various people along the way.

 

[ironwood]

Sony is number 1 brand. Latest Samsung models are great too. You cant go wrong with Sony if you like design. Quality is great and great performance in a long term.

 

[bidger]

Sony is number 1 brand.

SONY is #2, Samsung is #1 in North America. Check the first sentence in the third paragraph of this article.

 

[bidger]

Never was a Sony fanboy -- nothing specific, just a decade or so of observing Sony trying to
control the world, plus a series of notable product/marketing failures, plus a fairly constant
stream of negative anecdotes and opinions from a various people along the way.

Certainly not unjustified for feeling that way. When SONY does things right, they can be very impressive. When they fail, it's on an equally grand scale.

 

[Phil T]

I have a 52"XBR4 since March and love it! No issues at all.

 

[ironwood]

SONY is #2, Samsung is #1 in North America. Check the first sentence in the third paragraph of this article.

I am talking about quality not market share. I am actually surprised Sony is No 2 in number of TVs sold considering their price is 30-100% higher than every other brand.

 

[kikkenit2]

I currently have an Olevia 32" HDTV in my living room and I finally am ready to buy my dream machine in the family room where i have home theator. I am looking at the Sony 46" LCD, XBR4. Does anyone have any commentes on this set?
I purchased a Sony AV Receiver last year in preparation for this Sony TV. It is the ES5200. HDMI outputs and all the bells and whistles. I am planning on also purchasing the Sony BDP-S330 Bluray DVD player. All the comments Ive heard is to not run my HDMI cables to my AV receiver then out to my TV but instead to run only my optical outputs from my "D" HR and Blu ray player to the AV receiver for 5.1 sound only. Run my HDMI outputs from the DVD and HR to the TV. Sound about right?

I recommend that you try using the audio receiver for video switching. HDMI is a digital signal and shouldn't degrade any passing thru the ES5200. Analog video is a different story. Then you can put that TV remote away.

 

[Christopher Gould]

also if u go straight to the tv with the video you will have to change the input on the tv then change the input on the receiver to get the correct sound, when u change devices.

if you go through the receiver with your video you only have to change the input once

 

[elaclair]

I recommend that you try using the audio receiver for video switching. HDMI is a digital signal and shouldn't degrade any passing thru the ES5200. Analog video is a different story. Then you can put that TV remote away.

Not sure about the Sony, but I know most players will only output the advanced audio codecs through the HDMI connection...so another reason to connect direct to your receiver then out to the monitor.

 

[dennisj00]

I've had the 46 XBR4 for almost a year and never regretted it. Actually went to the store planning on something much cheaper and ended up spending almost three times what I'd planned.

But seeing that set on Blu-ray convinced me. And when I got it home, don't have blu-ray, but the first weekend of NFL on DirecTV -- I sold my season tickets!

Friends still don't believe the picture quality.

 

[MrDad0330]

Dennis, how long ago did you purchase your XBR4? I am looking at that set and also the Samsung LN46A750 series 7. The Samsung is $150 less at CC. Thats not enough to sway me to it. Some of the above comments have me hedging though. On the CC site, the Samsung has higher ratings.
Some of you have commented on issues with 1080P/24 on DOD with "D" with the Sony. I probably cant go wrong with either. My buy date is in about 2 weeks so I have a little time to make up my mind. I never thought Id consider anything but a SONY but some comments here are making me wonder...
Most comments here are telling me to run my HDMI from my new D receiver (which will be a HR22 and my soon to be blu ray DVD) to my Sony ES5200 and back to my new TV. I agree with your logic, my only reservation to doing it that way is IF i just want to listen to news or a ball game and dont really want my SONY AV reciever on, I can just watch and listen to my TV with it on only. In that set up, everthing comes directly from my HR22 to my TV thru the HDMI cable. If i wish to listen to my HR22 thru my home theator, i simply turn on my AV receiver with will see only the optical output and turn the sound on my TV down to zero.
If i want to watch a Blu Ray disc, I would have to switch the function on my TV to pick up the HDMI input from the DVD, again turn down the sound on the TV to zero and listen to the 5.1 sound from the Sony AV receiver. Does that make sense or and I lost? Again, I would do this so I could see and listen to my TV only at times I dont need my home theater.
That is the method to my madness.... But, i am really up in the air on the TV...Sony XBR4 vs Samsung series 7

 

[spartanstew]

1. Yes, that's a nice TV (XBR4).
2. In order to get lossless audio, you'll have to connect your BD player to the Sony receiver via HDMI. Optical will only give you DD (or DTS).
3. That particular receiver does not decode DTS-MA (it's missing a bell and whistle).
4. Did you mean the BDP-S350? The 350 also does not decode DTS-MA, so with that combination of AVR/BD, you'll never be able to take advantage of discs that have that sound format.
5. You don't ever need to use your TV's speakers. Just use your 880 to automatically turn on all of your equipment and you'll never have to worry about it. The other option is BD player - HDMI - AVR - HDMI - TV / DVR - optical (since D* doesn't have lossless sound anyway) - AVR & DVR - HDMI - TV. Not quite as simple, but your 880 should be able to handle it seamlessly.
6. Is it a family room or a home theater? They're not the same thing. If you really want any semblance of a home theater, you'll need to go much larger than a 42" display. To get the full benefit of 1080p from a 42" display, you have to be sitting 6' or closer (and 7.5' or closer to see any benefit). So, if you're set on a 42" display and you're sitting more than 8' from the screen, you might as well get a 720p set and save some money as you won't be able to tell the difference in resolution anyway.

 

[MrDad0330]

Sparton,
Thanks for the input. I will be getting a 46" for my family room. My farthest couch is 11.5 ft. From what I see, that is in the range for a 46". I do agree, if your not close enough or dont have a large enough screen, you lose so much of the HD picture. I will normally sit at about 6ft and in the recliner (haha) about 9ft.
Do you think I need to upsize to a 52"?
Also, being i have a Sony DA5200ES AVR, I guess I will never get DTS-MA so I am SOL. Also, I thought optical sound was superior to HDMI so I always thought optical from my HR22 or my blue ray would provide me better audio. Any yes, I am looking at the Sony BDP-350. Should I consider another unit? But again, if my Sony DS5200ES can't see/hear DTS-MA, is it important.
When you say "lossless audio" vs DD or DTS, what do you mean. I appreciate your comments. I am far from understanding this all. I also was considering all Sony components so I could take advantage of the Bravia Sync BUT, with my 880, that probably isnt even a consideration. I take it you lean more to Sony vs Samsung?
Hey, thanks is advance for sharing your expertise....

 

[spartanstew]

Sparton,
Thanks for the input. I will be getting a 46" for my family room. My farthest couch is 11.5 ft. From what I see, that is in the range for a 46". I do agree, if your not close enough or dont have a large enough screen, you lose so much of the HD picture. I will normally sit at about 6ft and in the recliner (haha) about 9ft.
Do you think I need to upsize to a 52"?
Also, being i have a Sony DA5200ES AVR, I guess I will never get DTS-MA so I am SOL. Also, I thought optical sound was superior to HDMI so I always thought optical from my HR22 or my blue ray would provide me better audio. Any yes, I am looking at the Sony BDP-350. Should I consider another unit? But again, if my Sony DS5200ES can't see/hear DTS-MA, is it important.
When you say "lossless audio" vs DD or DTS, what do you mean. I appreciate your comments. I am far from understanding this all. I also was considering all Sony components so I could take advantage of the Bravia Sync BUT, wimy 880, that probably isnt even a consideration. I take it you lean more to Sony vs Samsung?
Hey, thanks is advance for sharing your expertise....

Here's a graph that will show you distances. As you can see, if you're sitting 9' away, in order to fully get the benefit of 1080p, you'll need a 65" set or bigger. A 52" set from that distance will just begin to get the benefit of 1080p, so I certainly wouldn't go any smaller than that.

Lossless audio is one of the main features of Blu Ray. Not only is the picture better, but the sound is as well. There's two main variations of lossless audio: True HD and DTS HD. Most BD discs have one or the other (as well as the standard DD and DTS). In order to take advantage of Blu Ray to the fullest, you'll want to be able to get all the "lossless" sound formats. Since your AVR will not decode DTS-MA, you need a blu ray player that will. The following chart will show you which ones will do that. The Sony 350 only bitstreams DTS-MA, which means you'll only get that sound if your AVR will decode it. Since your AVR doesnt decode that format, you'll need a Blu Ray player that will decode it. That would include any BD player in the following chart with Green underneath the DTS-HD column:

If I were you, I'd wait for the Sony S550 which decodes all the formats and you should be good to to. HDMI is the only avenue capable of the best audio. Optical is fine from the DVR to the AVR, because D* (or anyone else) can't provide lossless audio anyway. When it comes to Blu Ray, however, you have to go HDMI.