Everyone’s most trusted brand, Sony, in televisions has come out with plenty of new sets and models. It can become quite confusing even to people who work at retail stores on what the differences are between the four models. Trust me I dare you to visit any local retail store like Best Buy, Circuit City, or Sound Advice and ask them what’s the difference between the four models.
First I’ll start off with the S-Series. This is Sony’s entry level model with a decent price tag attached with it for a Sony. If you just want a basic set with nothing to fancy and you’re a Sony fanatic and refuse to look at anything else (trust me they exist) this is your best bet for your buck. This set features the standard high definition resolution of 720p, it also supports 1080i. The dynamic contrast ratio is rated at 8,000:1. I believe this is the only model of the four that has a lower 8-bit video processor and uses the standard BRAVIA Engine System. The frame is all black and is very similar in look to the V series so be careful. Overall I think this set would be great for someone who just plans on watching regular television broadcast and a few HD channels. In other words this set is nothing too fancy, just basic TV, DVDs, and some HD channels.
Next up is the V-Series. These sets are the bottom of the three 1080p sets Sony has. Many people would ask before what the difference between the V2500 and XBR2/3 were all the time. Honestly back then it was just contrast, backlighting, and BRAVIA Engine. For the price difference many people went with the V2500 compared to the XBR. I truly believe this is the set that is designed for the basic user who plans on getting a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player and don’t really want to play with it too much but want a great picture. The dynamic contrast ratio is going at 13,000:1 and static 1,800:1. This set does have a 10-bit processor which adds about 64 times more color than the standard 8-bit sets. It also has something Sony calls Digital Reality Creation Multi Function v1.0 (DRC-MF v1.0 for short) this allows for the picture quality to have more detail and sharpness. That helps for a lot of people who wish for a little crisper picture on standard definition. The set also supports 1080p24 which means that most movies are recorded at 24frames per second and this allows better sync with the image on the screen. Also this set has a BRAVIA Engine EX which is Sony’s mid range engine. One last note about the set is that the two HDMI inputs are NOT 1.3. The HDMI 1.3 spec adds a bit more color and high bandwidth of transfer. Sony’s Playstation 3 and many new A/V Receivers have this new HDMI 1.3 spec. Another thing that might be a turn off to this set compared to the W series is that the remote is not backlit. One last minor feature it does not have over its big brothers is the freeze frame option. Overall this set is for the person who wants the basic 1080p Sony set.
Sony’s W series is next and is the mid-tier 1080p set. The frame does set itself apart clearly from the rest of the series. It has a thick grey beveled looking border around the set. What really sets this model apart from the V series is the contrast ratio of 18,000 Dynamic and Static 2,000. Another thing that makes this series unique from the V series is that it has three HDMI’s that are 1.3. Still has DRC-MFv1.0, 10-bit processor w/ 1080p24, and BRAVIA Engine EX. Also includes the freeze frame feature and backlit remote. This set features some specs that are above the V series and a few features the XBR doesn’t have. To be honest with people who watch lots of DVDs & watching Blu-Ray or HD-DVD this is one of the better sets on the market for you without the really advanced settings.
Now we leave the best for last, the Sony XBR. This is Sony’s signature series. You can easily tell which model is the XBR due to the glass like floating frame around the set. Many people will easily say it is the best looking television they’ve seen. If you were to hang this set on the wall it would look as if it were a picture frame. Now let’s get on too what makes this set so amazing besides the look. The XBR has the same contrast level as the W Series: Dynamic 18,000:1 and Static 2,000:1. All three of the HDMI’s are 1.3. The set also features a 10-bit processor and ability to do 1080p24. Now to what makes the XBR so great. This is the only set that has Sony’s new Digital Reality Creation - Multi Function (DRC-MFv2.5). This allows for the best, sharpest, cleanest, and bearable picture of standard definition resolutions. Not only does it makes standard definition bearable but it also improves the clarity on 1080p signals as well. It is one of the best video processors inside of a television for the scaling of interlaced and progressive images. The set also has Sony’s best engine BRAVIA Engine PRO. What really makes this television different from pretty much any television that’s been out is the fact that it does 120hz. All projections, LCDs, and Plasmas only process 60hz. What this 120Hz does is clean up lots of the motion blur caused by fast moving objects. In other words it can do double the work that mostly all televisions do. 120hz allows for that 3D effect during viewing and adds quite a bit of depth. This is predominately makes the XBR different from the W series. If you were to turn off Motion Flow and DRC-MF you would get almost the exact same image as the W Series. It does also have a backlight remote with the freeze frame feature. The difference between the XBR 4 & 5 are mainly color. The XBR 4 is a dark grayish color and the XBR 5 has a black piano finish. The warranty on the XBR4 is the standard 12 months whereas the XBR5 has 18 months. The remotes are slightly different but not worth anything to write home about
One thing I’d like to clear up is that all these Sony sets use CCFL backlighting like all traditional LCDs and not a LED backlighting which Samsung has on its 81 series.
V – Dynamic 13,000 static 1,800
Digital Reality Creation Multi Function v1.0 (DRC-MF v1.0)
10-bit video processor & 1080p24
(BRAVIA Engine™ EX)
2 HDMI (non 1.3)
Non-backlight remote
No Freeze Frame
W – Dynamic 18,000 static 2,000
Digital Reality Creation Multi Function v1.0 (DRC-MF v1.0)
10-bit video processor & 1080p24
(BRAVIA Engine™ EX)
3 HDMI 1.3
Backlight remote
Freeze Frame
XBR – Dynamic 18,000 static 2,000
Digital Reality Creation - Multi Function (DRC-MFv2.5).
BRAVIA Engine™ PRO
10-bit video processor & 24p
120hz Motionflow
3 HDMI 1.3
Backlight remote
Freeze Frame
The Sony 2008 Line are slowly coming out now. By the end of the week-end I should have an overview of the Sony XBR 6, XBR 7, & XBR 8. Keep looking out for this. The XBR 2008 road map was leaked and plan on writing an intensive overview of the difference between the 3 new XBR lines due out this year.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 8:29 pm and is filed under Home Theater. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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You stated that the SONY W series has a 10-bit processor. When I called sony and looked on their web site, it showed that it only has an 8-bit processor. Is this a misteak on your part, because I cannot get a straight answer?