John-Michael Del Valle’s Blog

Sony XBR 8 vs Samsung 9 Series

Introduction:

The Sony XBR 8 is the latest in LCD LED technology. On paper it’s the best LCD in the market but Samsung has produced its own LCD LED model as well. I’m going to get a bit anal when it comes to this comparison. In the long run both of these sets are the best LCDs on the market without a doubt in my mind. The purpose is to determine which the best is in each category.

Design:

The designs of both these TVs are very different. The Samsung has very basic frame with a clear outer frame. It’s very elegant looking. It also has blue accent at the bottom center of the set like many other Samsung models have. The Samsung stays true to clean piano look all the Samsungs have had in the past. The Sony has a new look compared to all the other XBRs. It has a standard frame like the Samsung but extends on the left and right side for the speakers. I’d have to say from seeing the images online it wasn’t obvious that the set was the Sony XBR 8. It doesn’t have that same distinctiveness that the previous XBR 4 & 5 has. I will say it is way more elegant then the XBR 6 though. The Sony in the bottom center of the set is very modern and slick looking with a light behind it.

Picture:

Alright first off I’d like to say that these are the first major TVs with LED Backlighting w/ 120 Hz. I didn’t get to spend so much time looking at detail as I would have liked. Considering I checked them out at Best Buy both were NOT calibrated and on Vivid or Dynamic settings. Right away it is noticeable that the Sony is brighter which is a first when it comes between the two in previous comparisons. It is also worth mentioning that when you are at an angle with LED TVs that the colors seem to wash out. It is more noticeable on the Samsung over the Sony. These sets seem to have a sweet spot dead center in the middle. I’ll be honest it is quite hard to notice serious differences between both of these sets. The Tri-Color RGB LEDs don’t seem to be such a drastic change in picture compared to the standard White LEDs in the Samsung. The blacks seem to be very black in both sets. It seems like you get a bit deeper black with the Sony but nothing drastic compared to the Samsung. One thing that I found it interesting was when I was talking to the Magnolia Pro he mentioned that the Sony seems to have some hot spots he’s seen on the set (clouds). I laughed because Sony seems to not address the problem or not have an answer to problem. I wasn’t really looking for clouds but more so how much detail was given in the blacks. The Sony seemed to give a richer look to images compared to the Samsung. The skin tones seemed to be a bit more natural in the Samsung compared to the Sony. The major flaw that sort of gives a sour taste in my mouth was how noticeable the colors seem to flush out in an angle. Considering both were next to each other and with a gap of 12” I could notice how the colors faded out if I placed myself in front of the Sony. At the end of the day both the sets looked great. I did not see any more flaws with the 120 Hz or know if it was even on. The content was on a HD feed and not a Blu-ray player.

Price:

I was quite surprised when I saw the Sony 46” was on sale already. The price of the set is supposed to be $5,000 and it was on sale for $4,200 I believe. The Sony is extremely over priced and can’t be justified. Granted the Tri-RGB LEDs do cost more than the white but I don’t see a great different between them and the white LEDs. With the Samsung at a much lower cost and being on sale it seems like the Samsung would be the choice when it comes to price.

When I asked the associate how both sets were selling and if the Sony was doing well considering it was just released. He said that the Sony hasn’t been doing really well but not terrible. He says with both sets being next to each other and the Samsung at such a lower price point that the Samsung is in backorder even. I asked if people stick to their guns because they are Sony fans. He responded that even those who come in to check out the Sony go home with the Samsung because of its price. He also mentioned how Samsung makes the Sony panels and when people hear that it gives them faith in the Samsung brand. I was a bit worried about the comment because I use to tell customers this as well by explaining that it is ONLY the screen of the set and NOT the processor.

Conclusion:

As far as this review goes it covers the basics for the average consumer. If you’re particular about how the set truly performs you have to consider that I compared both in Shop mode and not calibrated. It is worth mentioning that both sets seem to lose its glamour while at an angle especially the Samsung. While these both sets are probably the best LCDs on the market it’s worth noting that they may be a bit over priced for the average consumer. The blacks are the serious advantage of these sets compared to the standard CCFL LCD TVs. The 120 Hz has been finally added to the LED backlight technology. While many people like the affects of 120 Hz it also has some who are not a fan. If you are dead set on an LCD these two are going to be the ones you’ll want to decide if you’re a visual aficionado. The true competitor is still the Pioneer Elite Plasma. Considering the Pioneer has been out for some time now you’ll find prices much lower than 6 months ago which lets you take them into consideration compared to the original prices. At the end of the day you should go see both sets in person. Try to haggle the employee to give you the remote and see how both of them look in Standard settings and not Vivid or Dynamic. If I had to choose between the Samsung 9 series vs Sony XBR 8, I’d take the Samsung based on price and how similar both look.

Technorati Tags: Best LCD 2008, Best LCD 2009, Samsung 9 Series, Sony vs Samsung 2008, Sony XBR 8, Sony XBR 8 vs Samsung 9 series

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