The Sony KV-40XBR800 : Bigger is Better?
Written: Feb 04 '03 (Updated Feb 04 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
|
|
| Picture Quality: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
|
|
|
Pros: Picture, connections, features, looks, reliable Sony TV build
Cons: Harsh price, still sounds like a TV, absurdly heavy
The Bottom Line: A great HD ready TV for those who simply can't wait another year or two for them to get a little cheaper.
|
|
|
| AVaddict's Full Review: Sony KV-40XBR800 40 inch TV |
A Little Background
This television is displaying images from various video sources including a Sony DVP-NS755V a Motorola digital cable box, Sony SLV-N99 , and an XBOX. The cable and VCR are being fed through a Sony STR-DA4ES receiver while the DVD and XBOX are both being run (video only) directly to the TV via component input. Although the VCR and cable box video signals are being run through the receiver, it is of very good quality as are the cables used such that I am sure the signal I am seeing is just as clear as it may be if they were directly connected. The XBOX and DVD player could have been run through the receiver as well, but it was decided that for the sake of picture quality the DVD should be run directly through the TV, the fact that the game console was connected in that manner was just chance.
First Impressions
This TV is heavy, so let me start now by saying OMG this television is heavy! I thought the box for my 36” Wega was big, but it was nothing compared to the 40”. Packing was more than adequate, not even including the cardboard, which was almost a full centimeter thick. The brads holding the box together were so strong that rather than try to get thing open neatly we just cut the box in about 10 different places and removed it bit by bit except for the bottom. All the materials included like directions and promotions were taped to the screen in a little bag, neat and clean. The remote, batteries, and a little warning sheet were included in a little cubby molded into the top of one of styrofoam supports.
One of the most major things that struck me once this behemoth was out of the box was the sheer size of the screen. We all probably have gotten used to rear projection TVs being big, all things considered though, 40” is a about middle of the road. More than anything else is the fact that it is a 40” tube and when it’s sitting next to a 27”, it appears gargantuan. Aside from this television’s girth, mass, and presence, this television has an excellent look too. Still possessing the silver finish that the started with the first Wegas (and has really come back into vogue in general for electronics), it also has a gloss black trim ring around the screen itself that is set away from surface. It is a nice mix in my opinion and works well in most rooms or dedicated theaters.
Features
This TV has a long and drawn out list of features and updated functions that quite frankly I will mostly touch on. We all know that a TV will change channels and has volume controls, almost all TVs have favorites lists and will allow you to block channels via a V-chip, etc, etc. What I will cover are the features that are unique to this TV, are unique to Sony, or are so good and/or effective that they really make this model stand out, and it does.
First off, this is an HD ready television, it does not have an internal HD tuner, but it is capable of displaying a true HDTV image with the proper input from an HDTV box. This is all kind of moot really, you will never see an HD image on this set unless you are in one of the few HD markets or have a D-VHS player, and considering the market and current viewer/ownership levels, that’s unlikely. Even so I will say that after seeing most of a HD movie on D-VHS as well as a recorded NBA game (also D-VHS), I can honestly say that the picture is nothing short of jaw dropping. Although it is not the best HD image out there, for the price it is in serious contention for first in its price point.
This TV can detect when a true 16:9 signal is input and will adjust the view accordingly. What I mean is that it will squash the picture in the TVs 4:3 frame to a 16:9 image with the ever so familiar black bars at the top and bottom. Enhanced Viewing Mode (used to be called just V-Comp) kicks in when said 16:9 input is detected, essentially digitally squeezing the picture without distortion to give a sharper image as a result by reducing the height of all the scan lines by one third.
Sony has made big noise about their video amplifier section as of late and in addition to the recent update of their 10-bit comb filter, I will have to admit that these together to produce a stunning picture. Although I have never seen them side by side, I would say the picture is substantially improved since my KV-36XBR250 was released, in respect to a standard NTSC signal. DVD playback however is shockingly improved, but more on that later. To get the signal there though, you need inputs and this TV has plenty.
There are a total of seven audio and video inputs. Located on the front of the TV is the video 2 input which features an S-Video video in as well, one of three. On the rear of the set are three more composite input sets, two featuring S-Video sockets. There are two component video inputs as well, both capable of 480i/p, 720p, or 1080i signals, though 720p is upconverted to 1080i. There is a DVI input. Although I was not able to personally test this with my own computer, I was able to fiddle with the one at the store hooked up to a decent little tower, and was mildly impressed. Memory Stick input can be clearer depending on your home computer.
Speaking of your computer, if you have a Sony home PC, a Sony digital camera or camcorder that uses a memory stick, or an adapter station for some reason, you can store images directly to a memory stick, which can be popped right into the front panel of this TV. Via a simple set of commands one can display the images in a variety of ways, and the navigation is pretty easy.
This television features CineMotion 3-2 pulldown processing does quite a good job of smoothing out some content in concert with these other features to top off the package providing a smoother more life like image reducing some of the jitteryness (I know it isn’t a word) inherent in some DVDs as a result of the transfer process and original format. In the case of NTSC sources and VHS, this TV uses all of the these features (excepting the Enhanced Viewing Mode) in addition to DRC (Digital Reality Creation, basically Sonys internal line doubler) to produce a very good standard picture as well. The DRC section has been upgraded as well, it is now known as DRC Multifunction V1.
Video
The overall video performance for this set is really very good. Whether the source is plain old cable TV, a video game console, or progressive scan DVD, the picture is great, relative to the source obviously. Speaking of DVD, this is really where this television excels, assuming you don’t have a $900 D-VHS unit. Progressive sources reveal how accurate DVD can really be. Movies take on a whole new feel and presence. Colors are richer, lines and borders are sharper, landscapes are vibrant, faces seem close and real. I did not test the performance of the S-Video inputs, but I have no doubt the performance would be more than satisfying.
The contrast settings are almost dead on from the factory, but a little tweeking is always beneficial. There are programmable modes for video, but they are specific to the input source, one has to change them as needed. One thing I can say about DRC that I have said in the past is that the colors are vibrant yes, they are almost (rather often) overly saturated and leaves the viewer finding themselves changing it back to a less enhanced form. Everything is adjustable from color temperature to tint to tilt can be modified to some degree. The onscreen menus are easy to use and straightforward. One also has the option of a bare basic menu or an advanced one.
Audio
Compared to the one-speaker hollowed-out sound some 27” comes with, this TV is leagues ahead of most tube sets out there right now. The sound is not exceptional, but there is a dizzying array of options to make the TV seem like more than it is when not using a separate receiver. I don’t know the size or the shape of the actual drivers, but they are located on either side of the screen for optimal imaging. This TV can get very loud if necessary, but say goodbye to any perceived quality in the sound. The bass extension is very good. This TV is hooked up to a decent receiver so my testing of its sound abilities were limited at best, but I would also venture to say that most folks that are going to pick up this set will undoubtedly have a home system already.
Remote
The remote for this television is very easy to use and is more intuitive than the flip remote I got with my XBR250. It’s a little free form as opposed to the older straight up rectangles they used to put out, but it’s an advancement and one I like except for the silver color. All the primary functions are easy to access and are located well with a hint of priority. The secondary functions are as easily executed and available with a flip or tilt. The joystick is immensely useful and certainly an expectation of die-hard Sony users at this point; it seems like everything they make has a dual function joystick. All in all, it's an easy remote to use, but as important is its ability to be programmed. This is a breeze too. I would challenge someone to name a brand not covered by this remote.
Final Thoughts
This is a great TV. It has a very good picture and impressive sound for a TV. The remote is a breeze to use and easy to learn. This TV is widely available on a local basis and even more so on the internet. At an MSRP of $3000 this TV is not really worth it, but as it is now available online for around $2300-$2400, it is a more reasonable option. Ultimately I feel that the picture on this TV was as sharp or sharper than the closest sized projection equivalents and merits close scrutiny as a result.
I have been looking at big screens for quite some time now and have been impressed and equally surprised by what’s available, some good, some bad (Grand Wega? Not impressed!). Most of those big screens have comparable picture quality, but I truly feel the XBR800 has a finer, more detailed image that seems to come closer to real in 16:9 mode. Although the screen is smaller it still fills the average room well and has the advantage of having full brightness and color at almost any viewing angle. There will be a replacement for this unit in September, that will soon be this price by the following January, most certainly with better components, so you need to ask yourself how important you bank account is and whether or not you can wait a little longer for a better product at a better price.
Most retailers are selling this TV with the matching stand. This is the way to go. The stand matches and complements the TV and puts it at an ideal level for viewing from a couch, for example. The TV is strong, but maintains a delicate look, I realy like it. There is a cable management corridor in the rear post, but because of the shape of the glass shelf you can really only put one component on each. There are little "nubs" on each of the three pillars to help anchor and seat the television. Hope this helped you in your search for a good TV!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2599 w stand
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
AVaddict
|
 - Top 200 |
|
Location: Texas
Reviews written: 139
Trusted by: 134 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.