Hello all, i need your expert advise as i lack the time to do the research(i take care of my autistic 4yr old son).

I bought the Sony XBR960 a couple years back and i could not be happier(i wish it was 50-100lbs lighter, that's all), but i'm wondering as of now, has any 42" or under flat panel(plasma/lcd..ect) surpassed this HDTV in overall PQ?

Also, i know this set is rated at 1400*1080i, and i have seen one 32" LCD (Sharp) that is full 1080p, does any one know how this stacks up to the XBR960?

Here's the link to that Sharp 1080p LCD:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sharp-lc-32gp1u/4505-6482_7-32306283.html?tag=txt

You see i'm using this set for HD Cable(1080i), Xbox360(Elite), and a PS3, but to connect all these i need a 4:1 HDMI converter box(aprox $150-$200)..which is inconvieneient, and i could go to that 32" Sharp or it's bigger 37", or a 42" Plasma, if the PQ is equal or better.(but i will not spend more then $2000)

For me, PQ is key especially for my gaming, in which most games are of course 720p native. So being that the XBR960 needs to upconvert to 1080i, is this HDTV still the best gaming set, in under 40"/42" class?

If it's still the best in it's class, i see no need to upgrade to a 1080p set, until the next generation of games fully use 1080p as well as HD broadcast tv.

Thanks so much for your info, because i have no time to do much research.

Phil

To be honest I don't know the answer to that. You have the 960 so you know what it can do. I would say the only way for you to know if it is bested by the newer flat panels is to see them in action somewhere and make a judgment from there. You will never know unless you see them. I think a lot has to do with subjectivity, what appeals to you personally about each of the display types.

Another thing will be price. I have seen budget flat panels that I don't think compare to my 910 for PQ, but if you are willing to put down the money I am sure you can find a pretty nice flat panel. I haven't seen the newer 1080p sets in action, they might look pretty good.

Hello all, i need your expert advise as i lack the time to do the research(i take care of my autistic 4yr old son).

I bought the Sony XBR960 a couple years back and i could not be happier(i wish it was 50-100lbs lighter, that's all), but i'm wondering as of now, has any 42" or under flat panel(plasma/lcd..ect) surpassed this HDTV in overall PQ?

Also, i know this set is rated at 1400*1080i, and i have seen one 32" LCD (Sharp) that is full 1080p, does any one know how this stacks up to the XBR960?

Here's the link to that Sharp 1080p LCD:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/sharp-lc-32gp1u/4505-6482_7-32306283.html?tag=txt

You see i'm using this set for HD Cable(1080i), Xbox360(Elite), and a PS3, but to connect all these i need a 4:1 HDMI converter box(aprox $150-$200)..which is inconvieneient, and i could go to that 32" Sharp or it's bigger 37", or a 42" Plasma, if the PQ is equal or better.(but i will not spend more then $2000)

For me, PQ is key especially for my gaming, in which most games are of course 720p native. So being that the XBR960 needs to upconvert to 1080i, is this HDTV still the best gaming set, in under 40"/42" class?

If it's still the best in it's class, i see no need to upgrade to a 1080p set, until the next generation of games fully use 1080p as well as HD broadcast tv.

Thanks so much for your info, because i have no time to do much research.

Phil

I think the only 42 inch or under set you will find is pioneer kuro 4280, but those are being discontinued. That's the only one I can think of that will be of similar quality. The new 42 panasonic plasma might be one to take a look at. I don't think that sharp will even come close to matching that 960. I have a ISF calibrated 960N and it is truly a sight to behold. ENJOY!!!

Well, in my opinion, you would just be wasting your money here all the way around. You are going to be trading up to a slightly smaller screen size + response time of an LCD in order to get extra HDMI ports on the tv.

For that price, you could find bigger and better models, I think Panasonic is coming out with a 1080p 42" Plasma for under $2,000.

Even then, that is not a good fit for you, because you play so many games. You are a higher risk than most people, as you could forget about the game and burn in your screen. Did I mention the response time, which is probably like 8 ms on the LCD versus technically no response time on the CRT?

You have a lot of researching to do before you make this purchase.

Well, in my opinion, you would just be wasting your money here all the way around. You are going to be trading up to a slightly smaller screen size + response time of an LCD in order to get extra HDMI ports on the tv.

For that price, you could find bigger and better models, I think Panasonic is coming out with a 1080p 42" Plasma for under $2,000.

Even then, that is not a good fit for you, because you play so many games. You are a higher risk than most people, as you could forget about the game and burn in your screen. Did I mention the response time, which is probably like 8 ms on the LCD versus technically no response time on the CRT?

You have a lot of researching to do before you make this purchase.

Your last statement hit the nail on the head, because even if i had $2000 to burn, i'm not sure where to put it.

For instance, LCD's have some response time problems, even though iv'e read the 120hz one's are better at solving these.

Also the LCD's have a weaker black level then the XBR960.

The Plasma's are prone to burn in troubles in the first 100 hours or so, which is something that concerns me since i'm a major gamer.

I cannot believe that now in 08', if my XBR960 bit the dust somehow(i'm praying it never does), i would not be able to find a HDTV that can give me no response time problems, no burn in worries, deep black levels, and of course, great PQ as well.

Actually i cannot even find the perfect second (32" or lower) HDTV for a den(gaming), as there is no clear choice in the 32" class and under.

My only concern about the XBR960(always has been) was how it compares when a 720p game is upscaled to 1080i, compared to a native 720p HDTV. I'm thinking eithier the 360/PS3 upscaler or the XBR960 upscaler will lose some PQ in the conversion.

Does anyone know a good site that has reviewed or compared the difference in upscaling vs native?

Anyway, thanks for the reply, i greatly appreciate it.

My only concern about the XBR960(always has been) was how it compares when a 720p game is upscaled to 1080i, compared to a native 720p HDTV. I'm thinking eithier the 360/PS3 upscaler or the XBR960 upscaler will lose some PQ in the conversion.

Does anyone know a good site that has reviewed or compared the difference in upscaling vs native?

Anyway, thanks for the reply, i greatly appreciate it.


That kind of stuff gets talked about ad nauseum on this site. The sad fact is, even if you had a 720p TV, 99% of them are really 1366 x 768 or some variation, so they will still do some kind of conversion on even a 720p output resolution.

If you go with 1080p, same thing. How many games are 720p in PS3? Cable and Satellite won't be broadcasting in 1080p anytime soon because they are just now getting the bandwith to have half their channels in plain old 1080i/720p :)

I personally just don't see how the PS3 or XBOX could look much better than it would on a nice CRT, upconversion or not.

That kind of stuff gets talked about ad nauseum on this site. The sad fact is, even if you had a 720p TV, 99% of them are really 1366 x 768 or some variation, so they will still do some kind of conversion on even a 720p output resolution.

If you go with 1080p, same thing. How many games are 720p in PS3? Cable and Satellite won't be broadcasting in 1080p anytime soon because they are just now getting the bandwith to have half their channels in plain old 1080i/720p :)

1)I personally just don't see how the PS3 or XBOX could look much better than it would on a nice CRT, upconversion or not.

So, it's not a pixel-pixel output on a 1366*768 set for 720p outputs(be it X360/PS3..ect)? I never thought the 720p sets would needed any conversion, but i guess i was wrong.

2)And i agree, there are not many games done in native 1080p..and none are graphically heavy such as say COD4, so 720p is the sweetspot this generation for gaming.

Cable broadcasts in 1080i but there are still very few (40 or so, around here) that so so, and still in 08' all are not even in digital.

And nobody broadcasts in full 1080p as i think 1440*1080 is the max right now.

So that leaves only a small library of Blu-Ray(and the now discontinued HD-DVD) movies to enjoy in true 1080p.

So if your buying a 1080p set right now, it's more for future proof in case you cannot due so in he next 5+ years.

The problem right now with buying a new HDTV is the technology changes so fast on these thin panels and each has it's own weaknesses, and what is top of the line in early 08' will not be the case in early 09' or maybe late 08'.

In late 05' when i got this XBR960, i knew it was the hands down best HDTV(under 40") so paying $1600 for it was a no brainer.

Right now there are no no-brainers, as even the highest rated Plasma has burn in concerns.

Heck, i cannot even find the perfect den HDTV(32" or lower), and if i can(be it Samsung or Sharp or Sony), i know the one i choose will probably pale next to this older XBR960.

At least this XBR960 has lasted 2+ years and is still one of the best HDTV around, and i know i won't be able to say that about the new flat panel sets in 2 years.

I think when the newer consoles arrive(Xbox's next and PS4) and channels broadcast all channels in 1080i..if not 1080p, then the technology will be at the point where you can spend $2000-$2500 and you'll have peace of mind knowing it won't be obsolete in 1-2 years.

I think then is the perfect time for those on a budget to grab the ideal 1080p set, but until then it's a gamble to put $2000 into any HDTV.

I believe when they first came out, the 720p TV's were really 720, but somewhere along the line, they adopted this standard of 1366 x 768 which they call XGA. I thought maybe it had to do with people wanting to integrate their PC's with their TV, and that 768 would look better for text and whatever, but Plasma also have this resolution and I don't think anyone is dumb enough to use their Plasma as a PC Monitor.

Around the time they made this switch, the prices came way down too, so I don't know what the deal is behind this resolution.

But, I think most on this section of the forum will agree that this is a terrible time to be shopping for HDTV's. LCD has flooded the market, and not only is it an inferior product, but now you have to make decisions on 768 vs 1080p and 60htz versus 120. It's pretty funny how the manufacturers never mentioned the refresh rate until they started coming out with the 120. Much like they never mentioned burn-in until they started making LCD's, and much like they never mentioned "big bulky CRTs" until they started making the lighter LCD rear projection.

They were perfectly content with making 250lb Trinitron's as long as people were buying them.

I believe when they first came out, the 720p TV's were really 720, but somewhere along the line, they adopted this standard of 1366 x 768 which they call XGA. I thought maybe it had to do with people wanting to integrate their PC's with their TV, and that 768 would look better for text and whatever, but Plasma also have this resolution and I don't think anyone is dumb enough to use their Plasma as a PC Monitor.

Around the time they made this switch, the prices came way down too, so I don't know what the deal is behind this resolution.

But, I think most on this section of the forum will agree that this is a terrible time to be shopping for HDTV's. LCD has flooded the market, and not only is it an inferior product, but now you have to make decisions on 768 vs 1080p and 60htz versus 120. It's pretty funny how the manufacturers never mentioned the refresh rate until they started coming out with the 120. Much like they never mentioned burn-in until they started making LCD's, and much like they never mentioned "big bulky CRTs" until they started making the lighter LCD rear projection.

They were perfectly content with making 250lb Trinitron's as long as people were buying them.

Great reply, you nailed it.

What's distrurbing for me, is i don't care how big or heavy the crt(or any other type) is, i just want the best PQ available, as i'm not looking at a picture on my wall here, i'm playing 60fps FPS's on my 360(and PS3) in which i demand no lag time..no burn in..and great black levels. Or i'm watching a great HD(in demand) movie in which i demand the scenes have accurate colors especially the darkest of darks.

But the zombie like casual customer will walk into any Walmart/Best Buy..ect, and buy up some garbage LCD at a low cost, just to hang it on his/her wall.

And because of these zombies, we(the one's in these forums) are looking at most of the HDTV market flooded with pure garbage, in terms of PQ.

A few weeks back i went into Walmart and said 'why not' to take a look at it's HDTV's and every one looked washed out or had severe ghosting and color imperfections, to the point where watching a persons face in HD, looked like blocky pixels, instead of a crystal clear face.(like on the XBR960)

And likewise of most HDTV's at Best Buy or CC, each time i'm there i'm thinking 'please, impress me!' and each time i leave thinking, "why the heck is it, if my XBR960..just dies out, i have no alternative?".

I'm tired of hearing how the new 120hz LCD's will get rid of the ghosting, when it's untrue, i'm tired of how i need to worry about Burn in, or different viewing angle..ect, and as a bigtime gamer who demands the best, it's been almost 2 yrs of seeing these new panels as a phase the casual tv buyer has caused the industry to be forced into.

And i lke the small design of these LCD's/Plasma's, however not when the technology is not ready to deliver upon coming close to the best CRT's(ie..XBR960 line) in terms of PQ.

PQ is the first and main thing any tv buyer should care about, and even the guys have turned into 'wussies?' in buying up the barbie like(with no brain-->PQ in the HT world) LCD's, without even thinking about PQ first.(or at all)

A few weeks back i had a TW rep reinstall serivice(i moved) and he bragged about his new flat panel and how it ran only $1400, and laughed at the size of this XBR960..that is until he seen me put on a few HD channels, then he looked shocked...lol (of which i just looked and said "sometimes bigger is better, you know")

I'm praying the new OLED's(of which Samsung just showed of it's new 31" full 1080p model) can _finally_ deliver on the combo of great PQ, as well as the thin/lightweight [barbie..lol] like size.

http://www.behardware.com/news/9444/cebit-samsung-unveils-a-31-inch-oled.html

Owning a 910 (the 960 precursor), I would say simply, "No". I have yet to find a flat panel that can match the picture quality when properly calibrated. There are some that come close, and I recently bought a 1080P Panasonic plasma for the basement (PZ77U). For me, plasmas come the closest, and we are currently contemplating selling the XBR in favor of another plasma (Costo has a GREAT deal on the Panasonic PZ700U right now). Honestly, if we weren't planning on moving in the next year I wouldn't be selling the 200-lb. beast (and the 300+ lb. oak entertainment center it sits in, lol). Bottom line, I still think the 910 (and by obvious extension, the 960) offers the best PQ. My leaning as an alternative is plasma, and I currently have a PS3 and a 360 connected to one with no "burn-in" issues. YMMV....

I have the 34xs55 and I use it for a bedroom tv--- In the living room I have a 143" optoma hd 70----- my friends look at the big screen and say wow

....


I look at the sony and say wow

I recently moved from a 34XBR960 to a Kuro 5080HD and couldn't be happier, The increased screen size and brighter output made a huge difference in my overall movie / gaming experience. It also offers the best black levels you'll find on a non-CRT (Its VERY close to my XBR960). I originally bought a Panasonic PZ77U plasma but it didnt come close to the XBR960's black levels and it had poor 480P quality.

Despite the 5080HD only being a 768P set the level of detail and sharpness is greater than the CRT, It's also nice having perfect geometry / convergence and corner to corner focus, I recently bought an DVI to HDMI cable for my PC and its unreal how crisp and bright it looks on the plasma.

The only advantage I see with the XBR960 at this point is slightly more accurate colors, the 5080 comes out of the box with a bit of Red push but it can be fixed via Service menu adjustments.

Would love to find the XBR960 for sale from someone! As great as my XBR970 is, I've heard the 960 is even better somehow. One day someone near me is going to want to sell theirs, and I will be there!!!

I recently went from a ISF calibrated XBR960 to a 50 inch Sony KDS50A3000(SXRD). While the sxrd doesn't have the black levels of the 960, it still has excellent black levels. This set on the other hand reminds me of the 960 with it's excellent color accuracy, color saturation, skin tones, and just overall natural look. It's not as sharp like some plasmas or lcd's, but I prefer the overall natural picture it produces just like the 960. The only other set that has really impressed me coming from the 960 is the Pioneer Kuro line.

Quote:" but to connect all these i need a 4:1 HDMI converter box(aprox $150-$200)..)..which is inconvieneient"
Try Ebay. I ordered a 3:1 auto switching one for under $30 shipped this week, for my Sony 34XS955. Not much inconvienence here.

Would love to find the XBR960 for sale from someone! As great as my XBR970 is, I've heard the 960 is even better somehow. One day someone near me is going to want to sell theirs, and I will be there!!!

Only main disadvantage of the 960 over a 970 is that it will have a noticabley dimmer screen vs. the 970, this is an unfortunate disadvantage to super fine pitch models.

I have both a 960 and an older HS510 model and the HS510 is considerably brighter.

we got a 960 back from service at my store (not isf calibrated mind you) and I was amazed at pq. I would stack it right up against any price point tv with any resolution. Sitting next to a kuro for a couple hours though the kuro held its own, and with the 33" 960 still ringing in at $1200 and the 42" kuro at 2k I could imagine any modern buyer taking the 33" with how close pq was.

I recently went from a ISF calibrated XBR960 to a 50 inch Sony KDS50A3000(SXRD).

Those are so cheap, like $1500, that I'm really tempted.

The 40" Samsung 81F really impressed me, saw a Pirates Blu-Ray playing on it, and it looked beautiful. But I think those TVs have some issues, i'd probably wait if I had a XBR960 (I have an XBR800).

As someone said though, a larger screen enhances your viewing experience.

Those are so cheap, like $1500, that I'm really tempted.

The 40" Samsung 81F really impressed me, saw a Pirates Blu-Ray playing on it, and it looked beautiful. But I think those TVs have some issues, i'd probably wait if I had a XBR960 (I have an XBR800).

As someone said though, a larger screen enhances your viewing experience.

They are amazing sets, especially for the price and all the features on the 50A3000. I just finished watching I am Legend and it was a sight to behold. Your comment is correct about a larger screen. As long as it's a quality set, it does give you a level of immersion you don't get with smaller screens. As much as I love my 960, it didn't give me this level of immersion when watching movies. To it's credit, if I had to go back to a smaller screen the 960 would be the only exception. If you can find an A3000 around I would say strongly consider looking into it.

Seconded on the A3000, I have one and it's amazing (and I'm the pickiest person I know when it comes to A/V quality)...I won't be able to compare it to the 960 until some time later this week once I buy Sonyboy's =)

I recently setup an A3000 at my father's house, and I prefer the Sony Bravia LCD over the A3000 (of course Bravia costs 2x more for even a smaller screen). The A3000 is very good, but I saw some glistening and Silk Screen. I did not however try to address the issue or do any type of complex setup, so it may just need some adjusting (it was using near factory settings).

For a larger 60"+ screen on a budget, I think either the A3000 or a 1080 DLP or LCD projector would be the way to go.

The new Sony Bravia LCD's are getting close to lower-end Plasma's black levels, but they cannot compete with the high-end Plasma black levels (like Pioneer Kuro). I saw some Sony Bravia LCD's at the store and was really really impressed by the black levels. I've never seen any other LCD come close to the Sony's, there may be some, but I haven't looked all all LCD TV's.

I think if you give LCD another 1-2 years, they are experimenting with some different ways of getting true near-CRT black levels. Hopefully they will find a way, but if I were buying a TV right now, I'd definitely keep the Sony Bravia LCD's as a good contender.

Plasmas are kind of power hogs, heavy, and are a pain to mount. I also dislike the glossy look that Plasmas give (maybe I'd get used to it if I owned one and watched it all the time).

I prefer LCD technology because of it's diversity and lack of issues (no lamp replacements, no burn in, good for comp monitor, etc...)

You should see the Samsung 81F, it's the best looking LCD, in terms of color and contrast. I think once they iron out the LED issues, that'll be the way to go.

The Sony Bravia LCD is about the same price, maybe slightly cheaper than the Samsung 81F.

In reviews, they rate the Sony's black levels higher, but I have no idea. At Fry's - the Sony looked the best, buy again who knows in real world setups.