As of this writing (Sept. 25, 2011), I’ve had the Sony XBR-55HX929 for simply over two months, so I believed it was about time I shared my impressions of it. Not anything I’ve to say differs considerably from what different (optimistic) opinions have said, but I believed I’d give a contribution to the collective wisdom.
Permit me start off with a little bit of context: I’ve had, at the least briefly, five HDTVs when you consider that March 2011: a sixty two” Mitsubishi WD-62525 (a rear projection TV with 720p native decision), a Panasonic TC-P55ST30 (plasma), a Samsung PN59D6500 (additionally a plasma), a Samsung UN55D6900 (an LED facet-lit LCD), and the Sony XBR-55HX929 (LED backlit LCD with native dimming). The Mitsubishi died in overdue March and I’ve been looking for a replacement. As you’ll be able to see, I’ve tried out simply about the full array of TV technologies. My search has ended with the Sony XBR-55HX929, and I’m very pleased with it. I will evaluate the Sony with some of the different units I’ve had below (toshiba dvr620).
There are a number of considerations that owners or potential owners of the Sony have had, so let me address those. First, the construct date. I ordered my set from Amazon.com on July 9, it shipped on the thirteenth and was brought the 20th. It was assembled in Mexico in March 2011.
The feared “crease”: Yes, mine has the crease (a barely darker “line” that seems along the sides of the picture on many of these Sonys, usually on the left and proper, but sometimes along the top and backside edges, about an inch in from the bezel). I’ve fairly faint creasing on each the left and proper sides. It seems just a little darker in path of the underside of the screen.
However: I believe many space owners and individuals to discussion forums that below regular viewing cases–if you to find yourself observing “actual content material” slightly putting up a uniform (or practically uniform) area of shade for inspection functions–I never notice it. My spouse has never observed it, nor has anyone who has come over to look the set. I will be able to see it on the PS3′s house display, but that hardly bothers me. It surprises me just a little that I say this, when you consider that I’m fairly picky and minor imperfections often irritate me to no end (this is one cause I’ve long gone by manner of all the units mentioned above!). If I could see it once I viewed conventional content material, I’d go back the set. But I don’t. As it is now, I may not dream of returning the set.
So, my view is that the “crease” difficulty mustn’t deter you from getting the Sony XBR-HX929. If you don’t want a new set instantly, by means of all manner wait a few months and perhaps there will be a dependable movement of crease-unfastened units (although a latest comment from Sony UK has me somewhat uncertain). If you must buy now, I don’t assume the crease should scare you away from this set. (Well… I’m just a little torn about this truly: Despite what Sony UK has lately said, the crease is probably a producing defect, and a top-of-the-line merchandise shouldn’t have manufacturing defects (samsung ht-d6730w). So, I will be able to sympathize with those that do not want to give Sony money for liberating a very costly product with such a defect.)
Like a few others, I’m making plans to put a name it to Sony to document the crease. The more they hear about it, the more doubtless they’re to do something. Also, if there is a bear in mind, or an offer to exchange units with the crease, etc., I will surely be concerned with taking Sony up on that.
Image quality: I’m utilizing David Katzmaier’s (from CNET) beneficial settings. Considered from immediately on, entrance and middle, at eye stage, the picture is excellent (4.five or five out of five stars). The blacks are actually black–deep, inky, and just about indistinguishable from the bezel, especially once you view from a excessive-quality source like a Blu-ray. It is the only TV of those I’ve owned with blacks as deep because the Panasonic plasma’s. These deep blacks make for glorious distinction, which (along with sturdy shadow element and excellent gamma) offers the picture pure intensity and that “pop” that impresses viewers so much.
Colours are each rich and realistic. Shadow element is excellent. Blu-ray movies I’ve watched on this set so far include Toy Tale three, Baraka, Master and Commander, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Rango. All appeared completely incredible (although I give the general nod to Toy Tale three). Greatest in-house theater stories I’ve ever had. I’m consistently “wow-ed” by means of the picture on this set.
Comparison with the Samsung UN55D6900 LCD. The colours on the Samsung were glorious (once I received the user-adjustable settings proper–which is relatively straightforward on the Samsung thanks to its RGB-only mode: one of many issues I love higher about Samsung than the Sony). Nonetheless, the Sony’s are at the least pretty much as good (I did not do a aspect-by means of-aspect, simultaneous comparability, so it is tough to say for sure which was higher). However, there’s one area by which the Sony clearly and, for my part, crucially bests the Samsung. The Samsung is an facet-lit LED-LCD (as are the entire upper end Samsung LCDs), which means that the LEDs that provide the light for the TV’s image shine in from the sides of the set–parallel to the surface of the display/LCD. Like many space owners of Samsung’s LCDs (see user forums), I was actually bothered by means of the flashlighting (whilst mild from the LEDs bleeds into a corner of the picture), clouding (areas of the display that seem lighter than they need to) and generally uneven darkish-scene efficiency exhibited by means of this set. The Sony’s full-array LED backlighting (by which the light producing LEDs are arranged at the back of the display, shining mild perpendicular to the surface of, or out by manner of, the LCD display) with native dimming is superior on this regard, hands down. Even my spouse agrees. (Although she did not assume the improvement was definitely price the heftier worth tag. Clearly I disagreed!) Utilizing the PLUGE pattern on the DVE calibration disc, I could never get the two%-above-black bars on either aspect of the valuable gray-scale bar to be similarly visible on the Samsung–whilst the one to the left of the center gray scale was simply visible, the one on the correct wouldn’t be. To improve this, I had to crank up the brightness, which advanced shadow element, but (clearly) hurt black levels. No such problem on the Sony. Each +2% bars are similarly visible while the blacks stay black and shadow element is preserved.
Viewing angles: A weakness, and one of many reasons I don’t give the set a five-celebrity rating. The Sony can not compete with the Panasonic or Samsung plasmas on this side of image quality. Nonetheless, the viewing angles will now not be as unhealthy as I feared from studying opinions and some other user comments. The image washes out worst as you progress away from entrance-and-middle whilst the material is darkish, but from my standard viewing distance of about 10 ft, I will be able to sit down on either aspect of my couch (a 3-cushion, 6.5ft couch) and notice little or no change within the picture. I would say that viewing angles are comparable to the Samsung LCD (although I did not do intensive assessments on this–I was primarily concerned with display uniformity whilst comparing those). For one thing like sports on ESPN, and most cable/ native declares, I will be able to stroll from one aspect of the room to the other without any bothersome loss of image quality.
Blooming (a “halo” of light that should now not be there surrounding a brilliant item on a darkish background): It happens, but once more, now not as unhealthy as I feared. (It is price noting that a few blooming is just about unavoidable on LED backlit LCD televisions.) With actual viewing materials (blu-rays, dvd movies), viewed from entrance middle, I examine infrequent blooming. Blooming is absolutely only obvious on end credit, and pictures like PS3 pause and quit screens, but that hardly matters to me.
Now, off-attitude blooming is a unique story. No longer only does the display wash out if you occur to view from too a ways off-middle, blooming turns into significant. Unhealthy enough that it is another excuse I don’t give the set five stars (panasonic sc-btt770). The ethical: watch from entrance and middle once you need that ultimate house theater experience!
The edge-lit Samsung LCD did not show off blooming to the same diploma, even off attitude–but I am going to take the off attitude and credit score-display blooming over flashlighting and clouding problems. (They’re associated problems, truly: all outcome whilst mild from the LEDs reveals up where it shouldn’t.)
Plasmas don’t (or shouldn’t) show off blooming, so once more, the transparent benefit is going to the Samsung and Panasonic plasmas on this side of image quality.
Dirty Display Effect (uneven image uniformity during pans that makes it seem like there is something on the display–form of like a thin film of grime): Yes, I notice it sometimes, but mainly on commonplace definition and pseudo-HD assets like Netflix streaming. I did not notice it on any of the blu-ray movies I watched (see above).
Video video games/response time: My check materials is Zen Pinball on the PS3. Excellent response times are essential for this sport (although now not as much as for fighting video games), since you need the “paddles” to maneuver the instant you hit the shoulder buttons. Response time is good. Considerably higher than on the Samsung LCD. I would say it is comparable or maybe simply barely worse than the Panasonic plasma, although this may also be a reminiscence-primarily based judgment of which I’m not terribly assured, so take it for what it is worth. Also: none of these units were on Recreation Mode. I’ve native dimming set to Normal on the Sony. Response times are advanced with native dimming set to Off and whilst the set is installed Recreation Mode. Nonetheless, I’m completely pleased with the response times, inspite of native dimming On (the picture is best this manner).