Product Description

XBR series televisions represent the very best Sony has to offer in high definition viewing.The XBR line of Full HD 1080p televisions incorporates all of Sony's latest technologies (including HDMI v1.3 features such as x.v.Color and Deep Color). Additional features like Motionflow 120Hz enable smoother motion when viewing movies or fast-action sports. BRAVIA Engine PRO with Digital Reality Creation upconverts all interlaced and progressive video signals including HD signals directly to 1080p for amazing detail and sharpness. And it's only fitting that your XBR make a statement not only through breathtaking picture quality, but by taking your breath away with optional color bezels. Now your LCD TV can be as distinct as your own personal style.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23066 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sony
• Model: KDL52XBR4
• Dimensions: 144.00 pounds
• Display size: 52

Features

• 10-bit 16:9 Full HD 1080p Panel (1920x1080)
• Motionflow with FHD 120 Hz high frame rate capability
• BRAVIA Engine PRO & Live Color Creation system
• 1080p Inputs: HDMI (x3), YPbPr (x2), PC
• Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE)

Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description The Sony BRAVIA XBR KDL-52XBR4 52-inch 1080p LCD Flat Panel HDTV continues Sony's tradition of making outstanding televisions, and with a 52-inch screen, you'll be the envy of all your neighbors. Sony does not hold back with any technologies, and the XBR series is its flagship line--so with the XBR, you know you'll get the best quality home theater experience available.

The KDL-52XBR4 has vibrant colors and a 178-degree viewing angle. View larger. View product demo (requires Flash).

The XBR series delivers beautful visuals while incorporating all of Sony's latest technologies. View more details.

Top-Notch Video Performance
The XBR KDL-52XBR4 is a 1080p television with a full 1920 x 1080 resolution, the highest resolution available for the sharpest, clearest picture. The KDL-52XBR uses the most recent HDMI 1.3 interface, which houses both audio and video signals in one connector and has the bandwidth to support the data needed for the high resolution. Sony's Bravia Engine Pro Full Digital Video Processor upconverts all video signals to 1080p so you can watch all your old DVDs on this glorious display.

Sony complements the high resolution with the latest technology in color reproduction. The KDL-52XBR is a 10-bit display with 10-bit processing. Most panels are only 8-bit. The added bit depth here means a larger color palette for more faithful color reproduction and smoother transitions from one color to the next. Additionally, the display also supports the new x.v.Color standard, which dramatically increases the available color space. The end result is a picture that is so detailed, colorful, and vibrant, you'd have a hard time distinguishing it from real life.

The KDL-52XBR4 features Sony's Motionflow technology, which automatically adjusts for and applies the proper processing for optimal motion reproduction depending on the video input. This includes support for 24 frames per second (24p) video, which displays video content at the 24-frames-per-second rate at which it was originally filmed or recorded. With 24p, you get the most faithful possible reproduction of the original.

A Wide Variety of Inputs
This Sony television's wide variety of inputs ensures compatibility with your other home theater components. There are three HDMI connections for Blu-Ray, HD DVD, and other technologies requiring the high bandwidth, and two component video inputs, three composite video inputs, one S-Video input, one PC Audio and Video input, and five analog audio inputs. Even with a collection of legacy components, you shouldn't have a problem connecting to the KDL-52XBR4.

Stunning Looks
The KDL-52XBR4 not only displays stunning video but is itself a head-turner. It features Sony's unique floating glass frame along with a black bezel that can be interchanged with optional color bezels to match the display to your decor.

Outstanding Ergonomics and Simplicity of Control
Sony's Xross Media Bar interface is an award-winning, intuitive on-screen display that makes setup a breeze, with menus and controls logically laid out for quick access. The KDL-52XBR4 also features Theatre Sync technology, based on the HDMI-CEC standard, which means you can easily connect to and control compatible devices. For example, when the KDL-52XBR4 is connected to a compatible DVD player, you can turn on both the DVD player and the television and start playing a DVD with a single push of a button on the remote. When you're done, another push of a button powers everything down. With Theatre Sync, you can spend time enjoying the movie rather than waste time setting everything up.

More Than Just a Television
Because more and more people expect to view photos on their HDTVs, Sony developed a Photo TV HD mode that optimally sets the sharpness, gradation, and color to make digital photos look like printed photography.

The KDL-52XBR4 is backed by a 1-year limited warranty for parts and labor.

Full HD Quality HDTV provides up to six times the visual detail of the Standard Definition television. You need an HDTV set, HD sound and a source of HD content to make sure you're really getting HD.

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Customer Reviews

Xbr vs Sumsung Are you looking for an LCD???
I don't usually write alot of reviews, but I did a lot of research for this tv purchase. We were upgrading our family room tv from a 35in 720p toshiba tv. We were looking at the 52 inch mark, plasma vs lcd. In a quick review make sure you consider what room you will be placing your new tv into. You are about to spend big bucks make sure you are honest about where these tvs are going or you will be unhappy!
First Plasma vs LCD (This comes from my reading again at higher end plasma vs lcd at the $3000-4000 range 52in-61in)
Plasma
Good
-Clearly plasma edges lcd in contrast. If you are looking for the truest blacks plasma wins hands down
-Long life 80000+ viewing hours
-Some people complain of motion artifact in lcds. The "triple football" effect. Plasma does not seem to have this problem.
-Clearly cheaper than lcd at the 46in+ mark, Significantly cheaper if looking at the 60+ inch

Bad
-Heavy (don't think you are going to mount this baby on the wall yourself
-Screen reflection (Must be in a room with low light to no light to really enjoy) Great for dedicated movie room ...family room with windows not so much.
-Burn in for gamers---I think they are working on this but don't take a chance

LCDs
Good
Maybe not the best for true black, but truly excellent. You won't know unless you are a cnet reviewer.
Light- you can move this with your significant other
No chance of burn in
New 120hz refresh has made ghosting football effect no longer an issue
Now have big computer screen if you want to hook up a pc
No reflection from screen. Works well in rooms with light

Bad
If you are looking at 60+inch tv's the price is crazy for lcd--- go get a plasma or direct view
Not the truest of blacks if you must have the truest of true

Ok so that being said the sony xbr seemed like it fit the bill for me. I needed ~52inch, has to go in family room, must work with xbox/playstation. I also watch lots of football so I had to take that into consideration.

Armed with this I went out looking at tv's. LCD overall fit what I was looking for and as I said unless you are making a dedicated movie room go with lcd. As a note sony believes in lcd tech so much they stopped making plasma screens! Don't know if this is all that but sony usually knows their business.
So going out looking at 52 inch lcds you will run into a few choices---
Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, and Sharp.
Quickly I will note that toshiba and sharp are on the lower end. Less contrast, less hdmi inputs etc...however are usually less money! So be sure to look, but overall the samsung and sony tvs are far superior for a few hundred extra. So if you are reading this you are clearly looking at the xbr sonys. It really came down for me to Sony xbr4 vs the Samsung 71 series. These are really close or even almost the same tvs. The sony xbr4 has 3hdmi, 1:13000 contrast, and 120hz. The samsung 71 also 3hdmi, 120hz, but 1-25000 contrast. The contrast generally considered the amount of true black from the screen. Overall I would say that gave the edge to the samsung and if you read reviews you will see people raving about the samsung vs the sony xbr. However! and this is a big however! Samsung coats their lcd's with a coating that does have a moderate amount of reflection. I have no idea why as this killed it for me. And I am serious that you need to think about the lights in your room. If you have any windows or lights if front of the tv that is what you will be seeing in a plasma or samsung. It will drive you nuts! There is no NO reflection from the xbr4. So ultimately I purchased the xbr4 from amazon. The picture is amazing from my hd tivo to bluray, hd dvd, and standard is well standard. Although numbers say the samsung is better in the real world you will not notice the difference. So I am happy to say this is a five star tv.

Also of note:
Sony offers the xbr5 version of this tv. $400 for a piano gloss black rim. Not worth it to me for plastic.
Samsung also offers an 81 series, with 1:500000, and increased backlights. They are about 1G more than the 71 series and xbrs and if you are looking at high end plasmas, I would take a look at these too. However, same reflective coat.

Decide this isn't for you and want to go plasma... Well I looked at that too. Stick to Panasonic and Pioneer and you can't go wrong. Pioneer kuros hands down the best plasma to date!!!!
Good luck

PS-----I didn't have any problems with amazon white glove. TV was purfect. I was called and two guys unpacked with no problem, even helped move the other tv.

A Great Sony LCD-TV!
I love Amazon for allowing these reviews, they could censor them to edit out info about other companies and competing sources, but they don't. These reviews have helped me immeasurably in choosing the right TV and other items, so I'm posting this so others can likewise be helped by my experience.

We researched LCDs and Plasma TVs for one whole year, and we agree with most other reviewers who report that the new Samsung and Sony 46" and 52" LCD-TVs are the best. Up to this point Consumer Reports had placed the 50" Panasonic at number 1, but that is last years models. I'm confident that when they rate all the new models this and other Sony and Samsungs will be at the top of the list.

We visually compared all the latest models and every time we found the same thing: that the best HD picture was with the Sony (#1) and the Samsung (#2). The Sony had slightly better clarity and sharpness and color, and sound, and the Samsung had slightly brighter whites. We even created our own little weighted feature comparison chart, and when cost was considered, these two makes came out almost exactly the same.

You can tell by the reviews that many more people purchase (the 46" & 52") Samsung instead of the Sony. That is because the Samsung costs so much less, and goes on sale at a higher discount. The Sony is the best of the two, but the Samsung is the best value because of the price. We even compared them with the 50" Panasonic and the highly respected Kuro Pioneer 50" sets, and the Sony and Samsung came out ahead.

Conventional wisdom says that Plasma TVs have better market share, prices, blacks, contrast, and are generally speaking a little better than LCD TVs, but when comparing these two LCD brands (Samsung & Sony) with various Plasmas in regard to overall color, contrast, brightness, and clarity, our opinion is that the Plasmas have now met their match, and then some when all aspects of HD-TVs are considered.

Some reviewers have said that the automatic volume control (IMHO, a much needed feature) does not work on the Samsungs or on the Sonys. I can't confirm that this is true in regard to the Sony, because we use the Sony with a surround sound (Onkyo) system which automatically disables the TV speakers and the Steady Sound feature which only works when the TV speakers are being used.

last years TVs (even the Sonys) had relatively poor Standard Definition, but the newer 120 hz models with the faster refresh rate have excellent HD quality and VERY good SD quality. Some people like a glossy screen (like glossy photos) it seems to make the picture look deeper or better, but if you have a lot of light or windows in your TV room, then the Sony is for you. It has a coating that almost makes reflection a non-issue. And the Sony backlight automatically adjusts itself in bright / dark rooms.

We bought Onkyo HT-SP908 7.1 Channel Home Theater System, speaker stands, a Playstation 3 to play Blu-ray HD DVDs, a couple of the recommended Monster 1000 HDMI cables, and a wall bracket to mount the TV on the wall later.

So if you want the BEST PICTURE without regard to price- buy the SONY. If you want the BEST VALUE for your money - buy the SAMSUNG!

Very, very good TV
I previously owned a Samsung 46 inch LCD with 720p resolution and sold that to get something bigger and better. I mention that to set the context that I am used to HD TV and the picture quality.

I was not expecting that the picture would be noticeably better than a TV from last year but I was wrong. Having looked at every 52 inch LCD and many 46 inch LCDs it was clear that this and the Samsung 120Hz TV are the best at the moment. I went for this Sony and I am thrilled at how great the picture is. On HD TV it is very satisfying. Running off an HD DVD player (yes 1080p), the picture is breathtaking. The Planet Earth HD DVDs are incredible (the BBC full version). If you are hesitating as I was then I can only say that if you take the plunge and buy this then there will be no regrets regarding picture quality. The Samsung is also superb. If you see no difference between the picture on this in the store and something cheaper then save your money.

-update- after 3 months I am equally stunned by the picture, this is one of the best purchases I have ever made. To see a breathtaking image quality try Hot Fuzz on HD DVD.