The Official Kd-34xbr960 Thread [Text View] - Page 15

synyster

02-18-06, 02:32 PM

Q of BanditZ

02-18-06, 02:39 PM

I just got my 34xbr960 yesterday and i'm loving the set, but I have a few questions

1. I bought some componet cables for my gamecube yesterday and games look WAY better than on standard RCA cables. When I set my game to display in progressive mode, the TV doesnt allow me to go back to interlaced. Is it actually setting my TV to display progressive or just setting the game to progressive?

Setting the game.

The reason I ask is because I can set the TV to progressive and set the game to interlaced, but it still looks the same(still using component cables) while allowing ,me to switch the TV back and forth between interlaced and progressive

I recommed you set the TV to CineMotion and leave it there forever. ;) Anything beyond that will be controlled from a DVD player, a game system, etc.

CineMotion does a nice 3:2 pulldown on film based 480i material. It's nice!

2. I must admit the standard def looks like garbage. Anyone sugget any settings to change to make it look a "little" better? If my tax return is nice this year I might just go ahead and get it calibrated, if not then I might be stuck using one of those Avia disks.

Avia is a great way to start.

YMMV, but go to Pro and Monitor right away for all applications. Color temp either neutral or warm. You'll want to experiment with this.

Contrast maybe in the mid 30's? Brightness? No more than the mid 40's or so. Sharpness...20 at most, thereabouts.

Try those ballpark settings for a starting point and see what you think. It's about what looks good to YOUR eyes first and foremost.

3. I dont have componet cables for my dvd player yet but I plan to get some soon. My question is do I have to set my TV for progressive in order for my DVD to play progressive? Or can I just set my DVD to play progressive without setting it on my TV?

No. Leave the TV on CineMotion and do everthing as you normally would with a DVD player, game system, etc.

4. Last question reguarding component cables. Is it better for me to buy seperate audio cables or should I just use the standard RCA audio cables that came with my DVD(without plugging in the yellow video cable of course)?

Those standard RCA's can be of suspect quality at times. You may want to consider getting some nicer cables after a point, once you're all settled in and satisifed.

Check out places like: http://www.ramelectronics.net/ and www.monoprice.com

Sonyboy

02-18-06, 04:10 PM

Q of BanditZ

02-18-06, 04:56 PM

I have a sony kv-30hs510 that is isf calibrated and it looks great. I can get a brand new 960 for $1400. From the set I have would this be a noticable upgrade pq wise or just minimal. I've heard so many good reviews on the 960 I have thought about upgrading. Any feedback is appreciated.

Right away, that extra 4 inches is going to be very appreciable for you. The Super Fine pitch tube at that size and for the price you're talking about? I'd do it!

Just make sure you're covered in terms of warranty, support, etc. etc.

Sonyboy

02-18-06, 05:01 PM

Thanks for the input

lsfrankel

02-18-06, 07:31 PM

I have this TV for a year and love it. One problem is that there is no 'ON' light. Sometimes my kids turn off the cable box but leave the TV on, only way to tell is in a very dark room there will be a glow. Anyone know any tricks to show some type of on light in the front panel??
Thanks

I've got a band-aid for you. I find it incredulous that this TV has no Power light. I too have blank screen situations arising and not being able to tell if the TV is on or not. Anyone else have a Sony TV with no ON indicator or is this the norm?

You can go into the Setup Menu and set the i.LINK Standby to ON. Now, when the Power is Off, the red light is ON. Just the opposite of logical thinking but it will do the job. This is assuming you don't have a use for this feature. I've got five pieces of Sony gear and between i.LINK, Control S, Control A1ll, I've got nothing compatible enough to make use of them.

JOENAMCO

02-18-06, 08:07 PM

The only reason I would buy a set like the 960 from a little known, not authorized Sony reseller is if I had money to throw around.

To me, anything like $1K or more is a serious investment. I want to be sure that if there's any problems, for any reasons, that my reseller will be there for me. Ony a Sony authorized reseller can offer that kind of assurance.

Sets purchased from non-authorized resellers are referred to as "grey market" merchandise. It's not illegal, but buying from these outfits is of the highest risk.

Sony is in no way obligated to honor its warranty when sold by one of these resellers, and will not do so almost 99.9% of the time. The reasons have already been stated above.

Value goes much, much further than the price paid. Like I said, if you have $1,500 or more to throw around then, by all means, go grey market - because under such circumstances it would be a waste to pay full price from a authorized reseller.
I bought a 960N from a "grey" and had Sony local service out to fix the HDMI input (not working) and they ordered a board and replaced it with no trouble, I paid less than 1550 with shipping last Nov.

Q of BanditZ

02-18-06, 09:19 PM

I bought a 960N from a "grey" and had Sony local service out to fix the HDMI input (not working) and they ordered a board and replaced it with no trouble, I paid less than 1550 with shipping last Nov.

That's good. You're very fortunate.

Mathesar

02-18-06, 09:37 PM

Really not worth discussing. Contrast (aka "picture") should never be maxed out. In fact, DVE describes setting contrast low enough so that blooming specifically does NOT occur. That's the determinant. Nobody who's got their set adjusted reasonably would ever do this.

In the case of my XBR960, for 720p/1080i inputs set at Pro and with 31 as "dead-center", I have picture set at 35. This goes along brightness of 32 and color of 31, hue at 0 and sharpness at MIN. And naturally there is no blooming at all. Of course these settings are for my tastes, and correspond to other underlying tweaks in the service menu.

But most important, contrast/picture should NOT be set as high as you saw it in the store. Way to destroy the tube.

Yea I would never run it that way anyhow in fact I should've known better being I've been through the DVE disc :o , I thought maybe something was wrong with the display model because the bloom was REALLY bad.

I went back to best buy tonight thinking they had the matching SU-34XBR3 tv stand in stock and on sale @ $150 (it was according to the online inventory check) but they didnt have it after all :mad: The sales rep said their inventory is messed up online (go figure).

Anyhow while I was there I decided to adjust the XBR960 they had on display this time(it was still in Torch mode) ,First I put the TV in Pro mode, turned the Picture down from full blast to 50 and changed Color temp from Cool to Neutral, Wow what a differance it made and the bloom was completely gone (of course), The picture on this TV is definately in a class of its own. My brother was with me and was also very impressed. I checked the geometry in the Memory stick menu and it wasnt TO bad , no severe bends or bows, but overall it did have a lot of 'wavy' lines...but who knows how may times that tv has been moved around in the store. Cant wait for mine to arrive next week!

DMP2722

02-19-06, 01:20 AM

Joseph Dubin

02-19-06, 10:04 AM

Yea I would never run it that way anyhow in fact I should've known better being I've been through the DVE disc :o , I thought maybe something was wrong with the display model because the bloom was REALLY bad.

I went back to best buy tonight thinking they had the matching SU-34XBR3 tv stand in stock and on sale @ $150 (it was according to the online inventory check) but they didnt have it after all :mad: The sales rep said their inventory is messed up online (go figure).

Anyhow while I was there I decided to adjust the XBR960 they had on display this time(it was still in Torch mode) ,First I put the TV in Pro mode, turned the Picture down from full blast to 50 and changed Color temp from Cool to Neutral, Wow what a differance it made and the bloom was completely gone (of course), The picture on this TV is definately in a class of its own. My brother was with me and was also very impressed. I checked the geometry in the Memory stick menu and it wasnt TO bad , no severe bends or bows, but overall it did have a lot of 'wavy' lines...but who knows how may times that tv has been moved around in the store. Cant wait for mine to arrive next week!
Mathersar

While you can't wait for your 960 to arrive next week, this is nothing compared to the agony you'll go through the day it is to be delivered LOL. If you're like me, you'll be consistantly looking out the window for the delivery truck! But not to worry, it will arrive and you will love it!

Many on this forum have recommended settings, including myself. They also recommended the HD set-up program broadcast on INHD at 7:00 AM each Saturday morning. I finally recorded it on my HD DVR and was able to make some more adjustments to my 960 (even after six months) and these are what I use for HD (connected via HDMI):

MODE: PRO
PICTURE: 27
BRIGHTNESS: 24
COLOR: 33
HUE: R5 (toward red)
SHARPNESS: 23
CLEAR EDGE: Medium
COLOR AXIS: Monitor
MODE MEMORY: On

I was happy with my picture quality before using this and my settings in Pro beforehand were: 32, 22, 38, R5, 36 so there were slight changes in picutre, brightness, color and big one for sharpness.

Different settings might be necessary for DVD. I've used the THX optomizer found on many titles for setting through component cables. These are used for my DVD recorder: Pro, 35, 32, 40, R2, 31, Medium, Cinamotion (DRC), Monitor, Mode Memory on and R87/C85 on the BRC Pallete. I also have a stand-alone player and the settings are slightly different.

VHS - PRO, 31, 27, 35, R2, 25, Neutral, Medium, Cinamotion, Monitor, Memory On, R87/C85 for BRC.

You can use these as reference points but as everyone will attest, the bottom line is what YOU find best.

Again, congratulations on your new set and hope you don't strain your neck to much waiting for that delivery truck! Sorry you were unable to find the matching stand - we have it and it looks beautiful. Just remember the set is 200 pounds so be sure it is placed on something durable enough to withstand the weight.

Joe

Pigeonest

02-19-06, 01:55 PM

Looks like gray is the way!

Q of BanditZ

02-19-06, 02:34 PM

Looks like gray is the way!

What are you talking about?

and from a page ago:

I agree - People are upset because they got grossed from places like Crutchurwalletfield.

Please stop trolling this thread with your useless and senseless threadcrap. You don't know what you're talking about.

JohnGZ28

02-19-06, 02:35 PM

Looks like gray is the way!

My grey market 960 blew up into a million pieces when I hit the on button. I still have glass shards in my arms and legs. Thank goodness my homeowners insurance paid for my neighbors fence when the back of the TV went through the wall and took out a 6 foot section of stockade.

When I got out the hospital I went to my local B&M and got one. I'll never buy grey again.

Q of BanditZ

02-19-06, 02:38 PM

My grey market 960 blew up into a million pieces when I hit the on button. I still have glass shards in my arms and legs. Thank goodness my homeowners insurance paid for my neighbors fence when the back of the TV went through the wall and took out a 6 foot section of stockade.

When I got out the hospital I went to my local B&M and got one. I'll never buy grey again.

I hope he's true to his word and follows his "gray is the way" mantra.

Hopefully, he'll have an experience like yours. That's the only way some people learn.

kny3twalker

02-19-06, 03:09 PM

Looks like gray is the way!

I just have to ask, are you an adult? or are you a child playing online.
cause no one would say such foolish comments if they had any common sense

we all paid what we thought was a good price at the time, and I doubt many of us paid MSRP without having to look toward the grey market, where there is a chance of being ripped off

then TVs just get cheaper the longer they have been around

even in the grey market you could not find a XBR960 a year ago for 1200 dollars much less 1500 dollars
the MRSP was originally 2199

then encouraging people from unscrupulous resellers online, makes me wonder if you are not one of these resellers
cause no one in their right mind would encourage such behavior with all the bad reviews for these grey market resellers

njt

02-19-06, 03:58 PM

For those that own this set did anyone look at Plasma, LCD or the Sony SXRD sets? I currently have a 60" SXRD that I am not really happy with for SD programs, 50/50 for DVD and other issues as well; anyhow I was thinking of this set or possibly a plasma. I am not to concerned going from 60 to 34 screen size as I was watching a 26" LCD while waiting on the repair of my 64" Pioneer HD710 and was pretty happy. Unfortunately the HD710 will not be coming back and I need something. The Sony 60 SXRD seemed like the correct choice based on all reviews but I am thinking that this CRT set will give me the best of all worlds great HD and equally good SD and DVD PQ. Any input...

Thanks

I did. I waffled between the 960, the 42" A10 and a few plasmas. I have not personally seen a better set (when it comes to PQ) than the 960 (esp. after getting it calibrated). We have a 50" plasma at work so i see that quite a bit. Regarding PQ, it doesn't come close.

I feel SD on the 960 is quite good, significantly better than the other technologies (e.g., plasma). However, it is only as good as the source fed. Note that there are just some channels on some systems that look awful. Most of my SD viewing has been on the HD or digital channels and I've been generally pleased.

I can only describe DVD viewing as beyond fantastic, and this with a measley regular sony player feeding over component cable, no less. My understanding is that several other owners have gone with good upconverting players and feel the quality improvement is significant.

My only concern would be size vs. viewing distance based on what you have posted. Quite a bit on that topic if you search this thread, but I have found 7' to be the ideal distance for me. There are a few downsides (highlighted throughout the thread), but the bottom line is that if PQ is your top decision driver... this is the set for you.

Good luck! :)

njt

02-19-06, 04:14 PM

Crutchurwalletfield

I think we have have intellegent discussion around sources for this set without resorting to pop shots. I for one, appreciated hearing about people's experience with different vendors, when i was weighing my options. Lots of good info in this thread on that. Honest accounts from a large group of people getting this set from different sources can be a real help to future purchasers.

No need to try "dis" a vendor. The bottom line is that you don't stay in business as long as Crutchfield has, accidenatlly. ;)

avnstf

02-19-06, 04:35 PM

I can only describe DVD viewing as beyond fantastic, and this with a measley regular sony player feeding over component cable, no less. My understanding is that several other owners have gone with good upconverting players and feel the quality improvement is significant.

Good luck! :)

I would have thought that the 960, as the high-end Sony CRT, would do a good job of upconverting...I know that on my Sony 32 incher, its up conversion of DVD material from a progressive scan DVD results in a PQ that is very slighty less than HD quality (and often indistinguishable, since HD programming varies)...

Q of BanditZ

02-19-06, 05:14 PM

I would have thought that the 960, as the high-end Sony CRT, would do a good job of upconverting...

It does!

I know that on my Sony 32 incher, its up conversion of DVD material from a progressive scan DVD results in a PQ that is very slighty less than HD quality (and often indistinguishable, since HD programming varies)...

The XBR960 does a really nice job upconverting.

njt was talking about those of us who bought fairly nice to higher end upconverting players and we saw even MORE PQ improvement. :)

Joseph Dubin

02-19-06, 05:20 PM

Hey guys,

Please be careful with criticisms because we already lost this thread once because postings were turning into personal attacks.

I also posted the incorrect settings for my 960 after using the INHD setting guide. I posted one of several experimental adjustments forgetting I continued on the other side of the paper LOL!

So for anyone interested, my actual setting for HD using HDMI is:

PRO, Picture-34, Brightness-22, Color-31, Hue-R5, Sharpness-30, Temperature-Neutal, Color Axix-Monitor (please don't think I was satisified with a picture set to just 27 LOL).

Regarding CRT vs. Plasma vs. LCD, I think LCD technology still needs to improve on lack level and Plasma, whose picture quality is closer to CRT, needs to resolve the burn-in and fading problem. Both formats however lack depth perception which gives a feel of a 3-D effect which the 960 certainly does.

DSperber

02-19-06, 06:00 PM

I posted the incorrect settings for my 960 after using the INHD setting guide. I posted one of several experimental adjustments forgetting I continued on the other side of the paper LOL!

So for anyone interested, my actual setting for HD using HDMI is:...Did you know you can EDIT your original post?

Just in case you didn't know that, you can correct anything you've posted on this forum by pushing the "EDIT" button at the bottom of your post, so that anyone who sees it subsequent to your correction will not see the unintended incorrect data but will now see your corrected data. Obviously anyone who's already seen and read the original has already seen the original, but EDIT certainly is a way to fix things that you know you don't want to leave that way.

I think you have about 3-5 minutes following your original post to EDIT without any visible indication that you've edited (to handle corrections discovered after reading the just-posted comments instead of proof-reading and correcting before pushing SUBMIT, caused by ordinary typos, simple oversights and omissions, spelling errors, etc.). After that, any EDIT will automatically show an "edited by... on..." annotation at the bottom of the post.

And of course you're free to add your own author's annotation, such as "EDIT: ..." to describe what you did, when, or why.

birdies

02-19-06, 07:03 PM

Joseph Dubin

02-19-06, 10:42 PM

Did you know you can EDIT your original post?

Just in case you didn't know that, you can correct anything you've posted on this forum by pushing the "EDIT" button at the bottom of your post, so that anyone who sees it subsequent to your correction will not see the unintended incorrect data but will now see your corrected data. Obviously anyone who's already seen and read the original has already seen the original, but EDIT certainly is a way to fix things that you know you don't want to leave that way.

I think you have about 3-5 minutes following your original post to EDIT without any visible indication that you've edited (to handle corrections discovered after reading the just-posted comments instead of proof-reading and correcting before pushing SUBMIT, caused by ordinary typos, simple oversights and omissions, spelling errors, etc.). After that, any EDIT will automatically show an "edited by... on..." annotation at the bottom of the post.

And of course you're free to add your own author's annotation, such as "EDIT: ..." to describe what you did, when, or why.
Thanks for the tip - I'm sure the opportunity for its use will come quickly LOL.
- Joe

Fellfromgrace

02-20-06, 01:30 AM

Sorry, I know I made a seperate thread for this but no one seems to even read it, much less reply. So afterwards I saw this was the "official" thread of the tv so I descided to post my story here to see if I could get help. Thanks guys :)

Ok, I have alittle short story to go along with this b/c I'm not sure what to do. Any help and or suggestions would really be greatly appreciated.

About 3 months ago I went to Tweeter and purchased a Sony XS955 (I believe thats the correct model #) for $1200, it was used, however I was told b/c that price it was a steal. Anyway I got it home and it had a few problems. One the darkness of the set was horrible, I mean ANYTHING that had shadows whether it be watching a DVD, playing video games or watching digital cable was just terrible. Completely black, you couldnt see anything. It could be fixed somewhat by adjusting the brightness, but you had to set the brightness extremely high thus making everything else way to bright and kind of "washed out" looking or getting pixalated like.

Another problem this set had (and sorry I dont kow very many techinical terms) was about 3 or 4 "dead lines" I like to call them. These were very thin completely black horizontal lines that went across the tv from one side to the other. It was like those lines of the tv had not been turned on, no matter what was being displayed on the tv, those would always be black. They were VERY thin as in you would really have to look for them in order to notice it. But since I knew they were there I always did.

Finally, every now and then (and only during certain times) I would notice a very weird red looking vertical line that would go down the middle of the tv. I really have no idea how to explain this but I think it might actually be the "cables" fault as opposed to the tv. It would show up only during different random scenes on TV.

Anyway, moving on, Tweeter was very nice about this and let me have this deal. They said bring that tv back and give us 400 more dollars, bringing my total to arround 1600 and we will give you a brand new Sony 34 XBR the "cadillac" of Sony Tv's the man said. Well anyway I said "ok"

Heres where the problem starts again. They call me up and say "well sir Sony is cutting back on these tv's so we dont have a new XBR ANYWHERE throughout our entire company to send you, so we would have to give you another used one, but its still good and you will still have your 5 year warrenty.

Well I said "ok" like a moron maybe?!?!

The tv gets to my house, I plug it in, fire it up and now it has ALL of the same problems. I mean its terrible it made me sick I feel like I've tossed 1600 bucks to someone just to screw me over.

But my question to you guys is, is this my fault? Is it possible (my house is alittle older) that maybe the tv's arent getting enough power to display properly? I was told by someone there that the Monster Cable Surge protector that cost like 150 bucks would give my tv the correct ammount of power it needed. Is this true? Could it be something in my house thats messing these things up, or is all thay a bunch of bull? No other tv in my house has any problems (none of them are HDTV though)

What should I do? I was thinking about trying to get my money back and going to Best Buy to buy a brand new 32 inch LCD HDTV, the Samsung LNR28

snatta

02-20-06, 01:56 AM

Well the people at Tweeter got you good. No way I would've paid $1200 for a used xs955 3 months ago, or even $1600 for a new XBR now. I find it hard to believe they couldn't order you a new XBR from Sony, even if they don't want to stock them in store anymore. I would try and get a full refund of your $1600 from Tweeter and return the used XBR. If you can't get your money back at least a Sony tech should fix the XBR since you have a 5 year warranty. Is Tweeter an authorized Sony dealer, or are they consider a "grey market" dealer?

Fellfromgrace

02-20-06, 02:42 AM

kny3twalker

02-20-06, 03:46 AM

Is Tweeter an authorized Sony dealer, or are they consider a "grey market" dealer?

you still are not done, are you?

got any potentially helpful information for others or you are still just going to keep spouting out your crap?

cause personally I sick of your BS

the tone of your post have been nasty ever seen you first posted in here
and even when given helpful information with proof to backup the claims made, you come off snide and inconsiderate

I do not know if you have been lurking for a while before posting in here, but maybe thats what you should go back to doing

DSperber

02-20-06, 05:40 AM

Another problem this set had (and sorry I dont kow very many techinical terms) was about 3 or 4 "dead lines" I like to call them. These were very thin completely black horizontal lines that went across the tv from one side to the other. It was like those lines of the tv had not been turned on, no matter what was being displayed on the tv, those would always be black. They were VERY thin as in you would really have to look for them in order to notice it. But since I knew they were there I always did.If I follow this description correctly, I think you are talking not about something which is the "absence" of a scan line from the electron gun of the tube. Rather, these are truly and actually very very thin wires which run horizontally across the back of the glass. The wires actually press the "aperture grill" (which you can't see) up against the back of the glass and hold it there.

These very fine wires are visible on EVERY Sony Trinitron tube made... going back what, 13 years or so? Whether it's a PC CRT of 15" up to 22", or a TV CRT right up to the XS955 and XBR families of Trinitron's... these very fine wires are present, and visible. They are unique to the technology used to build Trinitron tubes, and are sort of a "fingerprint" that you have indeed purchased a CRT device that uses a Sony Trinitron... the cadillac of consumer tubes.

But they're not visible if you don't sit 10" away! In other words, yes, they are clearly present and if you have a white or light background so that the black wires contrast against them, and move right up about a foot from the screen and look for them, there's no question you can obviously see them.

However with normal moving content on the screen, and certainly with dark content in the areas where the wires are located, and obviously sitting back at normal viewing distance, I would have to say that the wires are 100% invisible.

You are not alone in observing these lines. My guess is many millions of Trinitron tube owners (including myself), in various incarnations, have observed and questioned these... initially (but falsely) believing something's wrong with the set. They are all right in that the lines ARE visible under just the right viewing circumstances, and wrong in that there might be something wrong with the set. I assure you, all is well... even if you can't imagine that could be true.

My advice to you is just to move back from your 10" viewing distance. The 34XBR960 should be more appropriately watched from a distance of perhaps 5'-7' for maximum viewing pleasure. In my opinion, at that distance there are no situations in which those wires can possibly be seen... white background or not. Certainly not with anything other than a white freeze-frame on the screen can you possibly see these tiny lines at normal viewing distance. With normal motion, it's just impossible.

As far as "tuning up" your XBR960 for maximum viewing pleasure, well I agree that you might have been better off doing some online shopping if Tweeter couldn't deliver a "brand new in a box" Sony. I, personally, would not care to take someone else's return...for whatever reason, and even if there's nothing wrong at all with the set (except that maybe the previous buyer didn't know how to or didn't want to adjust anything using either the user-menu or service-menu, and felt the out-of-the-box state of the XBR960 was unacceptable).

However the set is under Sony warranty, so you should call Sony to get a free factory tech out to your house to see if it's just a matter of adjustment to address your other complaints, or whether there's truly something wrong with the set that justifies replacing it. Or, you could just return the set to Tweeter (assuming they will accept it back without requiring you to go through all of this) and shop elsewhere... online or in a real store.

Seems like the current going online price for a brand new-in-a-box 34XBR960, not including sales tax if any, is either around $1200 + $300 for insured white-glove delivery, of around $1450-$1500 for "free shipping", if you shop around. At least that's what appears to be the case, at DigitalCraze.com online and at ABT in Chicago (an actual giant appliance/TV/electronics store with great prices).

snatta

02-20-06, 09:22 AM

I dont really know what a "grey market" dealer means. I can only assume they are an authorized Sony Dealer.

But you dont think its possible its my fault at all? just crappy tv's? and if I can get my money back what would you suggest for arroune 1500 to 1600 bucks?

There are links to what "grey market" means a page or two back in this thread. I don't believe it is your fault, but that is just my opinion . Unfortunately a few people on this board who think they run it, can't handle other people's opinions. Like I posted earlier, I would try and return the set and get a full refund. You should be able to get a brand new 34xbr960 for under $1500 now. If you read the last 25 pages of this thread you will find out some people had to call Sony for a service call to fix minor problems and many also got their set calibrated. You can do this also if you decide to keep the set you currently have, but you will have to pay extra to have your set calibrated.

joebxr

02-20-06, 10:55 AM

I agree on the RETURN and REFUND, unless they can provide you with a NEW NEVER USED, NOT RETURNED 960. Tweeter is pretty reputable, and they should take care of you. Push the issue with Manager if needed...remember, you are the customer and they need you.

PeteH579

02-20-06, 12:03 PM

Hello,I recently purchased the 34xbr960 and I am really enjoying it. Out of the box I did not notice any geometry problems. If there are any they must be very slight. My question is if the TV does not have any of these bowing problems out of the box is it something that could show up later or is this something usually only seen initially? Great TV.

I enjoyed mine right out of the box also.

The imperfections that might show up later are usually due to reading about something and then looking for it. :D

Enjoy

greenland

02-20-06, 12:28 PM

I enjoyed mine right out of the box also.

The imperfections that might show up later are usually due to reading about something and then looking for it. :D

Enjoy

Precisely: If it ain't broke, don't go looking for reasons to fix it.

Some people would not stop until they found an off-putting blemish on the small toe of Scarlett Johansen.

birdies

02-20-06, 12:30 PM

Thanks PeteH579!!

Mathesar

02-20-06, 11:46 PM

Mathersar

While you can't wait for your 960 to arrive next week, this is nothing compared to the agony you'll go through the day it is to be delivered LOL. If you're like me, you'll be consistantly looking out the window for the delivery truck! But not to worry, it will arrive and you will love it!

Many on this forum have recommended settings, including myself. They also recommended the HD set-up program broadcast on INHD at 7:00 AM each Saturday morning. I finally recorded it on my HD DVR and was able to make some more adjustments to my 960 (even after six months) and these are what I use for HD (connected via HDMI):

MODE: PRO
PICTURE: 27
BRIGHTNESS: 24
COLOR: 33
HUE: R5 (toward red)
SHARPNESS: 23
CLEAR EDGE: Medium
COLOR AXIS: Monitor
MODE MEMORY: On

I was happy with my picture quality before using this and my settings in Pro beforehand were: 32, 22, 38, R5, 36 so there were slight changes in picutre, brightness, color and big one for sharpness.

Different settings might be necessary for DVD. I've used the THX optomizer found on many titles for setting through component cables. These are used for my DVD recorder: Pro, 35, 32, 40, R2, 31, Medium, Cinamotion (DRC), Monitor, Mode Memory on and R87/C85 on the BRC Pallete. I also have a stand-alone player and the settings are slightly different.

VHS - PRO, 31, 27, 35, R2, 25, Neutral, Medium, Cinamotion, Monitor, Memory On, R87/C85 for BRC.

You can use these as reference points but as everyone will attest, the bottom line is what YOU find best.

Again, congratulations on your new set and hope you don't strain your neck to much waiting for that delivery truck! Sorry you were unable to find the matching stand - we have it and it looks beautiful. Just remember the set is 200 pounds so be sure it is placed on something durable enough to withstand the weight.

Joe

Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to try the settings from your updated post. I decided to go with a Z-Line (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?c=1&b=g&u=c&catoid=-9798&qp=0&oid=69535&m=0) tv stand being it has more room for my consoles, Its actually very nice and didn't take long to assemble, according to the manual the top shelf is rated at 310 lbs. ,Circuit city's website incorrectly states 260lbs. (which would of been fine as well).

Does anyone here use or can recommend a Component video switcher? I've got 5 devices that could benefit from component inputs (Gamecube/PS2/Xbox/Xbox360/DVD Player) but of course the XBR960 only has 2 component inputs , Thanks.

DSperber

02-21-06, 08:33 AM

Does anyone here use or can recommend a Component video switcher? I've got 5 devices that could benefit from component inputs (Gamecube/PS2/Xbox/Xbox360/DVD Player) but of course the XBR960 only has 2 component inputs.You'll get several common recommendations on this one, but I went with a Zektor (http://www.zektor.com/) HDS4 several years ago. They have newer models now (HDS4.1 and HDS4.2), if you need their additional features. The Zektor is nice in that it supports either optical or coax digital audio input on any of its four inputs (of course you must choose only one or the other for each input), but it transcodes either digital audio input to feed BOTH optical AND coax digital audio output simultaneously (to feed any receiver).

I have my 480p DVD player feeding INPUT5. I have my other 720p/1080i input sources (two D-VHS VCR's, one 6412 DVR) going through the Zektor into INPUT6. That allows me to tweak INPUT5 for DVD source, and INPUT6 for true HD source. The component video output from the Zektor goes to INPUT6 on the Sony and the digital audio output of the Zektor goes to my receiver.

I use the fourth input on my Zektor as a spare or multi-purpose input, either for HD output from my PC (from ATI Radeon 9800 Pro via DVI-to-component adapter) when I need to, or as a spare digital audio input (e.g. the optical digital audio output from the XBR960's ATSC tuner can connect here, or the coax digital audio output from the Audigy/2 sounce card in my PC can also connect here).

These Zektor boxes are not cheap, but they are extremely high quality and as I've described have great flexibility (they can even be used to pass through analog L/R stereo audio from each input as well... not just digital audio). Many AVS forum members have them.

synyster

02-21-06, 05:35 PM

gigaguy

02-21-06, 05:39 PM

1) Don't know.
2). Vivid is too overblown and bright for my likes, plus it burns out the tube faster.

Mathesar

02-21-06, 05:45 PM

You'll get several common recommendations on this one, but I went with a Zektor (http://www.zektor.com/) HDS4 several years ago. They have newer models now (HDS4.1 and HDS4.2), if you need their additional features. The Zektor is nice in that it supports either optical or coax digital audio input on any of its four inputs (of course you must choose only one or the other for each input), but it transcodes either digital audio input to feed BOTH optical AND coax digital audio output simultaneously (to feed any receiver)..

The Zektor HDS4 looks ideal as I would also benefit from the optical inputs, Thanks for the suggestion :)

The delivery guy called today and said they'll have my tv here on Thursday,I cant wait :D

epicbloodline

02-21-06, 07:33 PM

hows the xbox360 on this set?

ANYONE

Q of BanditZ

02-21-06, 07:45 PM

hows the xbox360 on this set?

ANYONE

For probably the millionth time now: Amazing, just like everything else.

epicbloodline

02-21-06, 08:30 PM

For probably the millionth time now: Amazing, just like everything else.
:rolleyes: shut up :D

Q of BanditZ

02-21-06, 08:33 PM

:rolleyes: shut up :D

;)

Mathesar

02-21-06, 08:45 PM

hows the xbox360 on this set?

ANYONE

Im assuming excellent considering how good it looks on my Sony 32HS510 hdtv(besides the fact its a 4:3 set), Ill let ya know this thursday after I get it setup.

triumph66

02-21-06, 11:26 PM

For probably the millionth time now: Amazing, just like everything else.

millionth to the power of infinity

I don't understand how people constantly overlook the "Search this thread" option.

Joseph Dubin

02-22-06, 09:26 AM

Questions

1) The HD Cable Box I'm getting only has DVI, is better for me to buy an HDMI/DVI adapter with a HDMI cable, or just a HDMI/DVI cable. Will there be any quality loss using either of those 2 methods?

2) I thought I read somewhere that using vivid mode is bad for your TV? Is there a reason why(I'm a new owner).
Synyster,

We used an adapter because our HD cable box only had a DVI output. When we went to HD DVR we removed the adapter and continued using the HDMI cable. Suggest you do same because an adapter goes for about $20 and you will not need to purchase another cable (which will cost more than $20) and disconnect the old one from behind the set (should you decide to rent a HD-DVR).

You will also need to connect analog cables to your TV for audio, while, at the same time, using either an optical or coaxil cable to your digital receiver to hear 5.1. DVI only carries video while HDMI carries both video and audio.

I agree, Vivid is way too strong, even when adjustments are low the picture is still too bright and washed out.

regor13

02-22-06, 10:23 AM

Dean_KS

02-22-06, 01:01 PM

I had posted earlier and was informed that the second RF input (cable) could not receive over the air HDTV.

There are two long range antennae in the attic. Combining the two with a splitter killed most HDTV stations. The analog stations were not much different as far as multipath and phase issues. Got the $35 RadioShack remote control AB switcher and that works great. Used the add digital stations function on the menu and picked up the stations that were not available with prior setups.

Lots of HDTV stations which exceeds expectations.

Only downside is yet another remote... ;)

mortaldivine

02-22-06, 01:49 PM

I have noticed that many people have recommended the PRO setting. I would like to see if others like myself are in the minority with the Standard setting as the Pro setting is way to dark. Either everyone else has a very dark room or sits really close to their set. Ours is in our living room and about 8- 10 feet from most seating areas. Or there is something else going on with my set? I have not had the set recalibrated as PQ is GREAT! :)

You still have to adjust the contrast/brightness when using pro mode.

Q of BanditZ

02-22-06, 02:54 PM

millionth to the power of infinity

I don't understand how people constantly overlook the "Search this thread" option.

Laziness. They don't feel like it.

They'd rather be spoon fed everything, even if it's already been answered literally as many times as you've stated.

Want a good laugh and easy example? Do a search for xs955 vs. xbr960 and see how many threads and posts you pull up.

Chorgey

02-22-06, 04:48 PM

I have noticed that many people have recommended the PRO setting. I would like to see if others like myself are in the minority with the Standard setting as the Pro setting is way to dark. Either everyone else has a very dark room or sits really close to their set. Ours is in our living room and about 8- 10 feet from most seating areas. Or there is something else going on with my set? I have not had the set recalibrated as PQ is GREAT! :)

I use the Standard mode for watching my HDMI input 7 which is the Satellite Dish.
I have Pro setup for one of the component (input 5) for the DVD, everything else is set to Standard as well. Then again, I have the 960, not the 960N so I guess it is somewhat darker in the first place.

Q of BanditZ

02-22-06, 08:45 PM

kny3twalker

02-22-06, 08:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigeonest
Thought someone here might be interested - Sony Outlet is selling the KD-34XS955 factory refurbished for $699 + 5 year in home waranty for$89 . I don't know what color you all consider this market? (maybee a bluish-grey with a hint of violet) lol - but don't think you can beat that deal. Oh yeah the 34xbr960 is $899 but my store was all out.
http://www.sonystyle.com/intershopr...utletoffers.pdf

Retail is for suckers!

Our once a day troll post of bull*** from you? I guess we were due for it.

this is the only forum in which Alan allowing pricing discussion
so why don't you show a little integrity when posting pricing info

and I am tending to agree, you seem to be more a troll than anything with such comments
afterall these are used refurbed TVs not new

no one here would suggest buying a refurbed model, much less buying a refurbed model at MSRP

joebxr

02-22-06, 08:57 PM

Thought someone here might be interested - Sony Outlet is selling the KD-34XS955 factory refurbished for $699 + 5 year in home waranty for$89 . I don't know what color you all consider this market? (maybee a bluish-grey with a hint of violet) lol - but don't think you can beat that deal. Oh yeah the 34xbr960 is $899 but my store was all out.
http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/documents/rebates/outletoffers.pdf

Retail is for suckers!
Okay, I admit, I'm confused....the title of this thread is "The Official KD-34xbr960 Thread"...so what does a refurb XS955 have to do with that????

And maybe check this thread...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7184108#post7184108

PS - Call me ONE HAPPY SUCKER...'cause I didn't buy at MSRP, but I bought below REFURB!!!!

Vortex-IV

02-22-06, 11:04 PM

Sorry if this is a well known fact, but I was shocked (happily) to discover my 960 plays and monitors the HD PAL signal from my HVR-Z1U via iLink. I had not seen this ability mentioned anywhere before, but it's incredible -- this set is unbelievable! I will try the component inputs next.

Does anyone know, is it truly displaying the 50Hz signal, or is it converting on-the-fly 50Hz to 59.94Hz?

Still in shock...

V-IV

KMR

02-22-06, 11:23 PM

Q of BanditZ

02-22-06, 11:37 PM

I was planning on getting a 30XS955, but I noticed the 960N on Crutchfield. I am intrigued by Crutchfield's "No payments, no interest for 18 months" offer. Has anyone actually bought a TV using this payment method? Does the offer hold true, and how exactly does it work?

Exactly like it says it does. It will be a Crutchfield credit card of sorts, and the terms will be just like that. Pay it off in 18 months and you're clean and scott free.

Also, my entertainment center has 40 inches of width for a TV, and the 960 is listed as 39 1/4 inches wide. Is this cutting it too close? Maybe I should just stick with a 30-incher?

Whew. Very close. You can get away with it by the skin of your teeth. If you can get the 34 inches, you're going to love it, but this makes me a little nervous for you.

If you go through Crutchfield, they'll have the TV delivered and installed wherever you want it.

If the TV does not fit, and you cannot make a setup for it, you have 30 days return/exhcange no questions asked.

Obviously it won't even take you but a matter of minutes to figure out if that TV is going to make it or not.

If it doesn't fit, those delivery guys will probably take it right out of there and you send it back.

KMR

02-22-06, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the reply, QoB.

This is going to tear me apart from the inside trying to decide on which set to get now. If I only knew the width thing wouldn't cause any actual problems for me.

Edit: Q, I think I have read before from one of your posts that you have some kind of
"frictionless" doohickey underneath your TV stand? Was that you? Or maybe I'm thinking of someone else?

Anyway, supposedly there is some king of device you can put underneath the feet of heavy things (furniture, etc.) that allows said heavy thing to move fairly freely across the floor, as simple as sliding it around. I've seen these things on a TV commercial before, but for the life of me, I can't remember what they're called.

Anyone know?

Ladd

02-22-06, 11:50 PM

KMR

02-22-06, 11:57 PM

Re: 40" place in entertainment center vs 39.25" width of the TV

To paraphrase the immortal words Ernie Capadino, talent scout for the Rockford Peaches: "Well, that would be more, wouldn't it?"

:)

True. :p

But something THAT close may be a little too close for comfort. And, honestly, now that I think about it, I've not even sure if the space is an actual 40 inches. That's just what the box said. It may be 39 and some wierd fraction for all I know. I need to find a tape measure. :o

Ladd

02-23-06, 12:07 AM

But something THAT close may be a little too close for comfort. The width of the TV either fits in the width of the entertainment center slot or it doesn't, but as you've noted, time to measure and get a real number.

If it does fit, then your biggest concern* is space above and behind so the set will get decent convective cooling. The widest part of the set is about 2" back from the very front (albeit only wider by about 1/8"), then the case rapidly narrows around the neck of the tube itself. So there is lots of space on the sides for airflow, but the hot air has to go somewhere and UP is its favorite direction.

Note -- the depth of the set is a full 24", so I hope the back of the entertainment center (or better yet, the wall) is at least that far back from the front.

*your other "biggest concern" should be the just-shy-of-200 pounds weight of the TV added to the weight of all the other AV components to be held by the entertainment center. Will the center take that total weight? Will it tip over if a child pulls on it? Got earthquakes?

avnstf

02-23-06, 01:54 AM

There's also the little issue of reasonable access to the TV connectors when you need it...

KMR

02-23-06, 08:35 AM

2ntense

02-23-06, 08:43 AM

Well last night I bought mine! Check ABC Warehouse if you can. I got mine for $1400 w/tax. The TV is blurry in the bottom left corner and mis converged on the top right corner. Hopefully this can be fixed in the service menu. Can anyone point me to a link for that? Other than that the picture looks quite good using Clear QAM from cable which get all my local HD stations.

Thanks

Q of BanditZ

02-23-06, 09:00 AM

regor13

02-23-06, 10:43 AM

I understand a lot of your comments; those are severe things that need some thought.

Though, earthquakes aren't a problem in my area (at least, none in my lifetime, that I'm aware of). There is a 7-year-old child who visits us every so often, but she generally knows not to touch my stuff. If she did, I would have no hestitation to instigate an eye for an eye....

Also, I found some things called "sliders" on Amazon last night, and proceeded to order 'em. They are able to be placed under the legs of heavy furniture to make it easy to slide around. With these in place, access to rear inputs shouldn't be a big deal. All I would have to do is slide the entertainment center forward a few feet.

Edit: Also, my entertainment center is able to hold 250 pounds on the TV spot alone, so weight isn't really an issue.

I had the same concerns with my 960 but my 40" stand just makes it as it also goes back 24" to the back - like the shape of the TV but also the front feet of the TV are 3 1/2" wide on each side so mine is solid even though it is even with the edge and with plush carpet floor underneath its still sturdy. No earthquakes in 'cheesehead country' though!

pharmerphil

02-23-06, 06:51 PM

Joseph Dubin

02-23-06, 09:09 PM

Just got a good price from ABT for a 960N. $1,408 delivered plus $298 for the Sony SU-34XBR-3 stand. I just retired and want a good quality TV for my wife & I to watch. Everything I read here at this site is very positive towards the 960N. I thought about waiting for the XBR 970 but I hear such good stuff about the 960 that I'm afraid I'll miss out on the best TV ever if I don't buy one before they are all gone. I know very lttle about electronics and TV installation. My reception is via DISH satellite. I do have a DVD player, a VHS tape player, and a small Onkyo surround sound sustem hooked to my existing Toshiba 32 in. CRT(CF 32H50) TV. My big question is: can an amateur like myself connect up a 960 without major problems? Can I "tune" a 960 to my watching specs. or is that best left to a professional? I want to 'plug & play" my new TV without major problems or undue stress. Is this possible or should I expect I will need professional assistance? I will appreciate any and all help, suggestions, & info. that any of you can provide. I just don't want to get in over my head and spend a bunch of $ on something so complicated that I can't comprehend. Thanx.
Not to worry, you do not need a professional to make an expensive house call to connect your equipment, in fact, those who deliver it will probably make the connections for you. Just keep your wires connected to the components and have some paper scotch taped to each so you know which is for which (DVD, VCR, audio, etc.).

Same goes for setting up the picture for your viewing pleasure. Most of us suggest setting the mode to "monitor" for each input/ Descriptions appear on the screen for each advanced setting so you will know the reason for adjustment. It might take time to get final, precise settings to your liking but adjustments aren't difficult to make.

You can post any questions onto this thread - we'll all be glad to help you out.

Enjoy your 960 - we have the winter olympics on and the HD picture is absolutely gorgeous.

pharmerphil

02-23-06, 09:45 PM

Joe, Thanks for the vote of confidence. Rest assured that I will be asking you, and others on this site, for additional help, info. and guidance as time evolves. Thanks again for the quick response and for letting me know that hooking up a XBR960 can be done by a novice.

Mathesar

02-23-06, 10:17 PM

My XBR960N from Cruthfield was delivered today :D ,However as far as the "white glove" service goes only 1 person showed up and he had the TV sideways on the dolly (not sure if thats bad?) , He also said he doesnt install TVs and just left it in my living room and took off, But the box was in perfect condition with no dents / damage and the Drop indicator on the box wasnt tripped (pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/XBR_Drop_n_tell.jpg)). I called my brother over to help me get this beast on my tv stand (Very heavy indeed!).

When plugging in the TV it turned itself on (wasn't expecting that) and was showing a snowy / no signal picture (hadn't hooked up cable yet) but I noticed a small area on the left side of the screen was purple but it quickly went away after about 4 seconds (whew). The tv was defaulted to VIVID mode on all video inputs (which looked terrible), After trying various Xbox 360 games @ 1080i and a few dvd movies I've (so far) come to the conclusion that Yes this tv has superior color & detail however it's not the brightest CRT ive owned,it blooms VERY easily if you turn the picture setting up to high, With Xbox360 I cant have the Picture setting above 35 or it starts to blur text / bloom, is this common on the XBR960? or perhaps it gets better as it burns in? In comparison my Sony 32HS510 has a considerably brighter picture without blooming ,When playing games I always ran the HS510 in Standard mode / No VM / Neutral color with the Picture setting at about 70% and it was very vivid & clean with no blooming.

Sound quality from the built in speakers is good but to be honest it was alittle better overall on the HS510 ,especially in the midrange quality ..also the XBR tends to overdo the treble even with it turned down ,Bass output is the same on both which is a good thing.

Geometry is good throughout most of the picture (definitely better than my HS510) however on the extreme right side of the screen it bends downward in the lower right and bends upward in the upper right, especially noticeable when looking at the Memory stick screen. Im assuming a service menu setting might help this(?)

I havent tried over the air HD yet but my analog cable signal looks pretty much the same as it did on the 32HS510, which is what I was hoping for, Im not sure how to use the "Custom DRC" settings yet (HS510 lacks the ability to adjust each drc setting) but for now I have it set @ Interlaced / Default custom 1.

Guess thats it for now , if I sounded overly negative I didnt mean to be, This TV is definitely great and I havent seen any actual HD content yet (other than xbox360) but getting used to a darker picture might take some getting used to, I have 30 days to decide if I wanna keep it..Ive only had it half a day and im sure it could be adjusted better, Heres a pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/XBR960N_1.jpg) of it on my stand. I still need to sort out the wire mess behind it :o

EDIT: In case anyones curious the tv has a build date of November 2005 and was made in Mexico.

2ntense

02-23-06, 10:26 PM

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=531494

Use CTRL F to search for terms in that monster. It's all there if you're feeling adventerous.

Thanks! It's already come in handy as I have been able to take the 9500K temp to 6500 in PRO mode.

Q of BanditZ

02-23-06, 10:33 PM

Thanks! It's already come in handy as I have been able to take the 9500K temp to 6500 in PRO mode.

Nice!

snatta

02-23-06, 11:15 PM

Q of BanditZ

02-24-06, 09:51 AM

Did you contact Crutchfield and let them know that you didn't get the "white glove" delivery that was promised or expected, and I am guessing was included in your price of the XBR? If they charged you anything close to the $1899.99 that their web site list, I would think they owe you at least $100 for not performing white glove delivery. I also notice on the XBR page it says: Note: Free return shipping not available with this model. I didn't notice this before. This is a little suprising to me from a authorized Sony dealer that charges full price. :( Hopefully everything works out for you. :)

Good call.

Crutchfield can't control the actual delivery itself, but they definitely want, and NEED to be notified when things like this happen so they can terminate service with that particular shipping company.

There's just absolutely no excuse for this scenario to have happened. I'd definitely call Crutchfield and tell them all about it ASAP.

Ladd

02-24-06, 10:33 AM

Note: Free return shipping not available with this model. I didn't notice this before. This is a little suprising to me from a authorized Sony dealer that charges full price.I questioned Crutchfield about this prior to purchasing my 960 from them last September -- they said the "no free return shipping" is only if you decide that you don't want the set and wish to return it (they offer free shippping if you change your mind on most other products they sell). If there is a problem with the set and it end up needing to be replaced, they pick up the shipping cost to return it to them under those circumstances.

pharmerphil

02-24-06, 05:29 PM

joebxr

02-24-06, 05:45 PM

Need some info. ASAP about the dimensions for the 960N as I hope to order one this evening. The Sony Style site says it is 39 & one-eighth in. wide and 23 & seven-eighths deep. My table I plan to use is only 38 & one-eighth in. wide and 21 and one-half in. deep. Does this minor smaller size make a difference? I'm thinking (hoping) that the actual footprint of the TV, the part that actually sets on the table, is a bit smaller than the overall dimensions given by Sony. I hate to spend the extra $298 for the Sony stand (SU-34XBR-3) but if that best fits my needs I will do so. If anyone can please advise me with some info. I would certainly appreciate it.
As long as your stand can handle the weight, why not go with it at least for now. If you are unhappy with the appearance of it on the stand, you can take your time and find the best stand for the least money to better meet your needs. Personally, I bought a stand of $200 that's wood, made in Canada, grey match to color of TV, glass front doors and plenty of 2 shelf room for audio, etc. I prefer it to the Sony stand. Anyway, at this point I would make sure your current stand can handle the weight,,,that's VERY IMPORTANT!

Here's the link and web picture if you are interested:
http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/Tech-Craft-CABS41-TV-Stand.htm

Looks like price is $215 now, but shipping is free. Nice thing is that bottom is swivel base. I put ball casters underneath when I assembled it so it makes it easier to move.

http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/ProdImages/CABS41ll.jpg

Mathesar

02-24-06, 05:59 PM

Need some info. ASAP about the dimensions for the 960N as I hope to order one this evening. The Sony Style site says it is 39 & one-eighth in. wide and 23 & seven-eighths deep. My table I plan to use is only 38 & one-eighth in. wide and 21 and one-half in. deep. Does this minor smaller size make a difference? I'm thinking (hoping) that the actual footprint of the TV, the part that actually sets on the table, is a bit smaller than the overall dimensions given by Sony. I hate to spend the extra $298 for the Sony stand (SU-34XBR-3) but if that best fits my needs I will do so. If anyone can please advise me with some info. I would certainly appreciate it.

Hrm not sure about your current table, The TV is at its max 39 1/8 width only at one small point towards the front and then curves sharply inward towards the back, however it is the full 24" deep ,My tv stand is 23.6" deep and the back / bottom feet of the tv just *barely* start to hang off the back end of it. I bought the Z-line stand from circuit city for $179 but its on sale right now for $153 (link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?c=1&b=g&u=c&catoid=-9798&qp=0&oid=69535&m=0)) I bought that one not only for the lower price but the fact it has a lot more room for components vs. the Sony stand.

Mathesar

02-24-06, 06:12 PM

Lastnight I connected the Antenna that came with my ATI HDTV Wonder PC card and was able to pick up 6 digital stations on the XBR, I watched some of the Olympics and later Jay Leno and was blown away by the HD picture quality ,But I noticed in the upper right corner the convergence is pretty messed up on my TV :confused: , Its in the extreme upper corner and I doubt I'd ever notice it when watching movies , the only reason I noticed it so easily is because the NBC logo sits in that corner during the Olympics, Is this convergence error fixable through service menu or other methods? Thanks.

Q of BanditZ

02-24-06, 08:20 PM

Mathesar

02-24-06, 08:57 PM

Good call.

Crutchfield can't control the actual delivery itself, but they definitely want, and NEED to be notified when things like this happen so they can terminate service with that particular shipping company.

There's just absolutely no excuse for this scenario to have happened. I'd definitely call Crutchfield and tell them all about it ASAP.

I emailed them lastnight and got this response today:

"Thanks for your e-mail. I'm sorry to hear that you were disappointed with how the Sony KD-34XBR960N 34" 16:9 High Definition Television was delivered by Eagle Freight.

Our agreement with Eagle is that this item will be delivered and placed in any accessible room in your home. I am very sorry that this was not taken care of, and I have made our shipping coordinator aware.

Your feedback was much appreciated. I have made note of it, in the hope that we may improve our response to other customers in future.

Thank you again. Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Regards,

Gwen
Crutchfield Customer Service
service@crutchfield.com"

P.S. Thanks for the info on the Convergence issue, Would it be worth having a Sony tech mess with the convergence (being it free) or would they not even attempt to do the kind of quality adjustment an ISF guy might do in this area?

Q of BanditZ

02-24-06, 09:02 PM

P.S. Thanks for the info on the Convergence issue, Would it be worth having a Sony tech mess with the convergence (being it free) or would they not even attempt to do the kind of quality adjustment an ISF guy might do in this area?

Crapshoot.

If you CAN get a good Sony person to do it, then sure!

In my case, I realized very quickly, after calling Sony and talking to an idiot, that I would be better served simply going ISF, since I knew I was getting an ISF job no matter what, anyways.

kny3twalker

02-24-06, 11:58 PM

the servicer from Sony, I asked to adjust the horizontal alignment just a little, and he acted like if he got into the service menu, he would mess up something

he said, it looks really good but it you REALLY want me to, I can make the adjust
but it can mess up other things

its like what???

thanks anyways

Joseph Dubin

02-25-06, 12:07 AM

As long as your stand can handle the weight, why not go with it at least for now. If you are unhappy with the appearance of it on the stand, you can take your time and find the best stand for the least money to better meet your needs. Personally, I bought a stand of $200 that's wood, made in Canada, grey match to color of TV, glass front doors and plenty of 2 shelf room for audio, etc. I prefer it to the Sony stand. Anyway, at this point I would make sure your current stand can handle the weight,,,that's VERY IMPORTANT!

Here's the link and web picture if you are interested:
http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/Tech-Craft-CABS41-TV-Stand.htm

Looks like price is $215 now, but shipping is free. Nice thing is that bottom is swivel base. I put ball casters underneath when I assembled it so it makes it easier to move.

http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/ProdImages/CABS41ll.jpg
Joe,

I LOVE the way the 960 appears with that stand! Its similar to the one my friend has which Toshiba made for it's own 34" HD CRT. Unfortunately, because of its extra width it is a little too big for our area. We do have the matching stand from SONY and with the decreased width going to the back we're able to arrange the audio furniture a little bit better.

But that's a real nice stand!

DSperber

02-25-06, 01:31 AM

I LOVE the way the 960 appears with that stand!Unless this is the 960N and Sony changed the color scheme, this looks like an "artists conception" if it's supposed to be a 960.

The 960 is almost entirely dark gray when you look at it head on. Only the trim is a lighter gray, and almost none of that is visible when you look at it straight ahead. Is the 960N now all silver in color?

Also, the top edge in the picture is very different from the 960, which sort of rolls off downward. The top of the set is not flat, and is actually two-tone as the lighter gray trim begins halfway back into that top edge.

Nevertheless, that's a nice looking base.

georgegreer

02-25-06, 02:01 AM

I read in this forum the XBR960N is being discontinued and the 970 does not have the super fine pitch screen. I have been waiting for years for my 1987 SBR 25" to die, but the tube is still perfect. But I don't want to miss out on the XBR CRT with the super fine pitch screen, so now's the time.

So I go to the reviews at reviews-zdnet [I'm new so can't post this as a link yet]

and see some daunting comments, listed from worst to best on this link.

Here are three of the worst:
_____________________________

I have owned this set for 70 days, it worked correctly only for the first 20. If you buy this set, you'd better get a service policy with a "no lemmon policy". All I need is one more failure (it'll be the 4th) and I can exchange this piece of junk for something that works.

AND

Pros:amazing picture if you buy a set that works
Cons:3 out of ten people get a bad set on this model!
Full user opinion
3 hours after i bought it the tv failed and dident want to turn back on! waited a week just got the tv back tv was fixed for half an hour now it wont turn back on again! gona get another model. Ill never buy from sony again. they really killed me on this one! And its ashame too cause theres so many people out there hurtin from the same model.

AND

Pros:A BLESSING IF THE SET DIES OUT OF THE BOX
Cons:IF IT WORKS FOR THIRTY DAYS, YOU CAN'T RETURN IT.
Full user opinion
The XBR worked for two hours and then went into a perpetual sleep mode. It would not power up. After spending close to an hour talking to a Sony Tech., I was advised there was a tuner problem. One in five sets apparently had this problem. The tech's advice was "return the set to the store." If I wanted it fixed there was a two week waiting period for the part. Warning to all, if you buy this set make sure it is delivered and set up by a store tech. Get the extended warranty and run it 24/7 for the first month or return period. I am sure Sony knows this problem exists. Do not buy the set if the tv manufacture date is May 2005. I hope Sony realizes what this is doing to their quality product reputation.
Shame on Sony, buyer beware.
__________________________________

But I see nothing in this thread about problems.

Any suggestions? Should I ask them to test it in the store before delivering it. On the plus side, I have had only the best experience at my local, non-chain, store.

George

Mathesar

02-25-06, 03:45 AM

Unless this is the 960N and Sony changed the color scheme, this looks like an "artists conception" if it's supposed to be a 960.

The 960 is almost entirely dark gray when you look at it head on. Only the trim is a lighter gray, and almost none of that is visible when you look at it straight ahead. Is the 960N now all silver in color?

Also, the top edge in the picture is very different from the 960, which sort of rolls off downward. The top of the set is not flat, and is actually two-tone as the lighter gray trim begins halfway back into that top edge.

Nevertheless, that's a nice looking base.

Yea thats not a 960N in the picture , to me it looks like a HS420 model .. I just got my 960N a couple days ago and took this pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/XBR960N_1.jpg).

HDTVFanAtic

02-25-06, 03:55 AM

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7199335#post7199335

kny3twalker

02-25-06, 04:40 AM

my Sony has never had problems tuning a station with no PSIP data

and I replied to your post

joebxr

02-25-06, 07:34 AM

Joe,

I LOVE the way the 960 appears with that stand!
Just a std catalog pic...not the 960 or a shot of my setup....sorry, should have explained that.

Mathesar

02-25-06, 08:44 AM

Ugh.. I discovered a possible problem w/ my 960N lastnight, When playing Xbox360 I noticed a faint 'flicker' in the backround sort of like interference where the screen quickly alternates brighter / darker , I then exited back to the 360 dash and changed it from 1080i to 720p and it actualy made it worse, I then tried 480P and the flicker completly goes away (?) To verify that it wasnt my Xbox360 I loaded a 720P game on my original Xbox (which is on the Video 5 component input) and this interference effect is also present here ..so its happening on both component inputs on two differant consoles but not when using 480P, Any ideas?

Q of BanditZ

02-25-06, 10:08 AM

pharmerphil

02-25-06, 10:16 AM

JohnGZ28

02-25-06, 10:29 AM

georgegreer

02-25-06, 11:39 AM

I phoned my two local dealers this AM, after reading the bad reviews, which I posted last night. They report no returns at all of the 34XBR960N. The non-chain discount dealer had data on the last 10 sold since December, 2005, with no returns. The local audio/videophile store said they never get them returned, and said there could be a problem in how they are handled in shipping with the Internet orders. They said if it works at first, it should work "forever." Their price today is $1599, but they'll match the price of the discount dealer, who wouldn't give it over the phone.

So, I feel as reassured as possible and probably will take the plunge. :)

regor13

02-25-06, 11:44 AM

Yup, that is the way it works with every 'survey'... I mean Thread, as it tends to bring out the issues and the negatives others have, are pointed out as they should be. I mainly sifted thru the whole thread PRIOR to buying my 960 and since my purchase around Thread #96 I kept monitoring all the issues. This really prompted me to buy the TV as it was 'right for me' with all it's capabilities I needed and I learned from others experiences and comments....and mainly to get a straight answer! HDTV PQ IS GREAT. If you think the Cons on this thread are a - no confidence vote, just try buying a BreadMachine and researching that. :-7

pharmerphil

02-25-06, 11:46 AM

david4455

02-25-06, 12:07 PM

joebxr

02-25-06, 12:14 PM

Joe, I really like the looks of your Tech-Craft CABS41 stand. The review of it says it is 21.5 inches in depth but the XBR 960 is supposed to be 23 & seven-eighths in depth. Has that caused a problem for you? Does the rear center leg of the TV sit on the stand okay or does it "hang over" the edge?

Fits absolutely pefect in every way...little bit of difference in depth means nothing, since all the weight is upfront anyway. If you PM me with email I will try to take some pics and send them if you wish.

JOENAMCO

02-25-06, 12:19 PM

Okay....I am trying to record an OTA program today on a VCR I temporarily set up....I put some cables from the MONITOR OUT on the back of the TV and went into the VIDEO IN on the VCR but I can't get it to record ...I just get a black screen and lots of static....somehow the two are not communicating.... any thoughts.

Thanks....
Monitor out is not available with digital channels or 480i, 720p or 1080i and video 5,6 or 7. see page 16 of user manual. I wanted to use it to do the same.

Mathesar

02-25-06, 06:54 PM

What are your currrent settings on your 960?

1080i probably should be what you stick with, since the TV is going to convert that 720p signal anyways. Skip a conversion step. YMMV, though.

The 360 cables are of pretty darned good quality, so that shouldn't be any issue.

On my 360 / Xbox I have it set on Standard (Pro just seems to dark for videogames) / Picture 31 / Brigthness 34 / Color 31 / Hue 0 / Sharpness 35 / Color temp neutral / Clearedge VM OFF / Color Axis on Monitor.

It actualy looks like interference , dark bands are quickly scrolling across the screen which gives it a flickering effect ,if I turn up the brightness / picture it makes it a lot more noticable,It's not noticable in all situations but now that I know its there its driving me crazy, I hooked up the 360 to my HS510 and it looks fine.

I can see it easily if I load a movie trailer off the 360 hardrive and pause it on the first screen that comes up (The green screen with the 'Approved for all audiences' message).

Whats wierd is as I type this the interference is hardly noticable right now. I suppose it randomly gets worse / better.

Ladd

02-25-06, 07:12 PM

Here's the deal:

I have has friends two couples that I think would enjoy meeting each other. Inexplicably, despite being highly educated scientists, academicians and otherwise sophisticated and urbane people :), both couples enjoy and/or love NASCAR racing.

Since my lovely bride and I have never watched more than a minute or two of cars going around in a circle, we asked their advice on when was the first race they would like to watch with us and perhaps by osmosis pick up some finer points of NASCAR appreciation. Hence both couples will be coming over tomorrow (Sunday) for dinner and to watch the Auto Club 500 at the California Speedway.

Good friends, good food, possibly good car racing. Have I mentioned showing off the acquired-last-fall XBR960? :)

Using advice gleaned here previously, I've done the "monitor", "pro" and all the other settings one desires for getting good gray scale and nice blacks for movies and all the other good stuff.

But now I won't be going for the "cinematic experience"; I'm looking for a blow the doors off sports extravaganza experience. I ask advice of the assembled multitudes here as to what might be some settings on the XBR960 that would most likely be NASCAR-riffic.

Perhaps that is what "Vivid" is for? :)

njt

02-25-06, 07:45 PM

until I read thread #3593 (above) from George Greer. I researched some of the reviews he quoted and there does appear to be a whole lot of disgruntled buyers. A 30% failure rate scares the hell out of me.

A claim of 30% is obscene. Ask yourself this... with the cost of returns to retailers, how many would have sold the set for years, if 3 of every 10 came back??? Keep in mind that most reviews online (of anything), come from two types of people... people who love a model and rave... and people who had a bad experience (and thus, have an axe to grind). I've seen this with everything from TVs to cars.

Even this thread and forum (which I think are fantastic), are not balanced samplings. Because of the nature of the board (help/suggestions), many people that have problems are drawn to it. I would venture a guess that a large percentage of the owners of this set have never made post 1 (on any board). So, even looking at hundred or two owners in this thread, it's not representative of owners of this model.

That being said, there is some value-add from the "issues" reported in reviews and posts. It makes you aware of what could be wrong with your purchase. That, along with knowing the set's qualities, will help you make an informed decision. So take any rants with a grain of salt. Good info, but likely overblown and dramatic. Hell... I'd be dramtic too if I spent $xxxx.00 on something and it died in a few weeks ! So read up, filter out the devotees that attack anyone with a problem, filter out the conspiracy theorists that think Sony had built up it's reputation to con people out of their $$$ with this set, and make your decision. Take confidence that a set doesn't get the accolades the 960 has, accidentally, and that your are covered with a strong 2 year in-home warranty.

Mathesar

02-25-06, 08:10 PM

Can anyone here with an Xbox360 please test something for me, Im seeing a big differance in brightness and sharpness when changing the dashboard setting from 480P to 1080i (it's much brighter in 480p) , for example I had setup the picture to my liking in 1080i but when I switched to 480P the picture was so bright everthing was blooming and the sharpness was also overkill (to sharp) , so basicly 1080i is darker and noticably softer vs. 480p ,is it like this for everyone else? Thanks.

swankerme

02-25-06, 08:58 PM

I have the KD-34XBR960 and Oppo DVD combo going on, so far its been working out great but I have one issue. I know it comes up alot here, but I can't seem to solve the overscan issue.

Typical 16x9 movies fill up the whole screen without any frame loss when the TV is on "Full" and the Oppo on "Wide". However, with a movie 1.85:1 or higher, my combo STILL fills the whole screen - removing the black bars, and therefore cutting off some of the edges. I DO NOT want, unlike many, I do not mind the black bars.

However, no matter how I try, I can not get the black bars to appear, and I'd rather not have to resort to having it zoomed 50% just to see the whole picture. I have it connected 1080i via HDMI/DVI, and I have also tried the 480p and 720p settings. I have also tried every combination with the 960's "Normal, Full, Horiz Expand, Vert Expand, Zoom". No luck, every combination it still cuts off 5-10% of the sides!

So Im wondering: is this an issue with the Oppo player, or an issue with the scaling unit in the TV itself? It's sad that this is suppose to be the best widescreen CRT, but lesser 4:3 CRTs at least still show the full picture.

Mathesar

02-25-06, 10:11 PM

Wow I just noticed my 960N has quite the overscan going on , Just played Perfect Dark on it for the first time (Looks great btw) and noticed right away the ammo etc. status bar on the bottom right just starts to get cut off , when playing 360 on my Sony FW900 PC monitor theres plenty of space between the status bar and the edge of the screen, Suppose I can give it a slight adjustment in the service menu..

Couple comparison pics I took to show what I mean (check bottom right corner of the shots):

Sony FW900 pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/FW900/Xbox360/Perfect_Dark_level2.jpg)

960N pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/PerfectDark-960N.jpg)

P.S. The flickering issue still continues w/ videogames but its hardly noticable especially if I just ignore it ,What would you guys do in my situation ..See if Crutchfield will replace it, or have a sony tech come look at it?

regor13

02-26-06, 10:25 AM

Okay....I am trying to record an OTA program today on a VCR I temporarily set up....I put some cables from the MONITOR OUT on the back of the TV and went into the VIDEO IN on the VCR but I can't get it to record ...I just get a black screen and lots of static....somehow the two are not communicating.... any thoughts.

Thanks....

David, (check your private message I sent on OTA) - and also note the folder insert that came with the XBR manual shows how to set up the VCR and is the first example shown, but use a splitter off the OTA and go directly to the VCR and not thru the set. Cable as shown in the example and set up your VIDEO #3 or where ever you want to set it.

AHammer16

02-26-06, 02:04 PM

Hello again all,

I've got a 960. I have had the TUBE replaced 2 times within 1.5 years. The 960 is now doing the same thing it was doing before, color distortion in the corners with the new added bonus of not working at all occasionally. The techs have come out multiple times and keep telling me that the problem is a broken apeture grill in the tube. So sony replaces it and i get the unit back and it does it again. I do not have any sources of magnetism sitting around the TV and can not figure what is going wrong w this unit. What do you all think of the issue?
I have called sony to have the unit looked at again as well as mildly berating them for the problems I have had. They have told me that they will take back the unit and credit me the full amount of purchase. If i do this what sony brand TV should i get? I was thinking i should stay away form another tube TV but i love the clarity and dark blacks. They suggested going to a flat panel LCD unit. Pros and cons of a LCD flat panel?
Has any one else here experianced any of these problems with the 960? I would like some input from you all as current users of the 960.

Thanks again for your time.

Joseph Dubin

02-26-06, 05:19 PM

I am/was so close to ordering a new 960N from ABT for $1,408. That was until I read thread #3593 (above) from George Greer. I researched some of the reviews he quoted and there does appear to be a whole lot of disgruntled buyers. A 30% failure rate scares the hell out of me. I live in a rural area where authorized Sony dealers are few and far between. The one or two I talked with have never sold, seen, or serviced a XBR960. Plus, if you didn't buy the TV from them they tend to drag their feet if you need warranty work done. Is this info. just a "the sky is falling" perspective or does the XBR960 really have a high failure rate and more problems than one would expect with a new Sony? I'm really unsure what to do. Will the XBR970 have some of the 960's problems rectified or will it be basically the same? My bottomline question is: does the XBR 960 have more than its' share of problems and failures? I just don't want to spend that kind of money and get a barrel of headaches and problems. Thanx.
It is true, George is not alone experiencing problems with more than one 960 and while this is unfortunate they are the exception rather than the rule. Have found very few negatives by purchasers on independent webpages like this one.

In addition, the 960 was hailed as a reference set by "High Defination" magazine, received five stars from every individual reviewing the product on Crutchfield's website (Crutchfield does print negative reviews; I know because I submitted one for a DVD recorder) and on a recent HDTV website (I forgot which) was rated 8.1.

These are well-built units and the only TV backed with a two-year warranty. Don't be leary purchasing one.

Chorgey

02-26-06, 05:30 PM

In addition, the 960 was hailed as a reference set by "High Defination" magazine, received five stars from every individual reviewing the product on Crutchfield's website (Crutchfield does print negative reviews; I know because I submitted one for a DVD recorder) and on a recent HDTV website (I forgot which) was rated 8.1.

The 960 received an 8.1 rating on CNET, it is also their reference set. I just purchased one in early January and love it. Consumer Reports always has it at the top of their list, including this months current issue.

bobloblaw

02-28-06, 04:15 PM

What is the effective resolution of the 960? It's my understanding that it cannot display a full 1920x1080i image, is this correct?

Thanks for any info...

POWERFUL

02-28-06, 08:41 PM

Somewhere in the range of 1440X1000 or so lines, if you are only looking for resolution I would tell you to pick up a Westinghouse 19" widescreen LCD it's only about 400 dollars and has about the same lines. If your into PQ then you've come to the right place.

gigaguy

02-28-06, 09:05 PM

My 960 seems flawless, June 05 build. I'm very happy with mine. Only downside is it is not big enough! Olympics looked fantastic with the white background and colorful athletes. I'd love an LCD flat panel (am eyeing tghe Sony LCD sets) but they are so expensive per inch and not as great a picture as this tube.
Maybe environmental factors are causing distortion on your tubes? don't know.

KMR

02-28-06, 10:04 PM

Well, I guess so much for me getting a 960. I applied for Crutchfield's "no payments, no interest" plan, but... I didn't get approved. :(

It's not like I can't afford to pay the thing off in a 18 months. I just don't have two grand to burn all at once. >_<

kny3twalker

02-28-06, 10:31 PM

What is the effective resolution of the 960? It's my understanding that it cannot display a full 1920x1080i image, is this correct?

its 1401x 1080i (but understand with 1080i that only 540 lines are displayed at once) so its hard to say how much actual vertical resolution there actually is)

sphinx99

02-28-06, 11:02 PM

I'm led to believe from posts a few years back that the actual effective resolution (phosphor and grille resolution limited) is closer to 1400x800, give or take.

kny3twalker

02-28-06, 11:23 PM

yeah but it will not display 1400x800 if thats the correct resolution
it will only display 1080i making the vertical resolution much hard er to figure out rather than just counting the slits in the aperature grill

Garvey

03-01-06, 12:09 AM

KD34XBR960 actual wholesale cost: anyone know what stores pay for these? I know that the KV34HS420 wholesale cost was around 820 or so, which means that the MSRP of 1199 was 46% higher than cost (or another way to put it: wholesale cost is 32% off the MSRP).

If the profit margin is about the same on the XBR, then the cost is about 1300.

But perhaps the margins are higher on the XBRs, since they are the top o' the line? Anyone know what the story is?

Thanks!

Garvey

[P.S. I tried to find the forum "rules" that state what aspects of cost are allowed. Street prices not ok, but MSRP ok? Is it ok to talk about wholesale cost? BTW, where are these "rules" and why do they exist? Thanks.]

GmElliott

03-01-06, 09:44 AM

gigaguy

03-01-06, 09:53 AM

The Sony Outlet store had the 960 (and 955) at barn burner prices a few weeks ago, ouch.
it was down in the 3 digits.

GmElliott

03-01-06, 11:08 AM

Sony "Outlet"?........ Referbs maybe?

Q of BanditZ

03-01-06, 11:35 AM

Sony "Outlet"?........ Referbs maybe?

Very likely, if they went below $1000.

gigaguy

03-01-06, 01:32 PM

Yes, labeled refurb, with full Sony warranty and they sell ext warrs very cheap.
Many are just open box, damaged retail boxes, returns, etc. just anything that can not be sold as new in a retail store. they were almost a 1/3 of the orig retail price which was $2500 2 years ago.

Ladd

03-01-06, 02:41 PM

Other than the hour or so it would take for the TV to complete a re-scan, any down-side to once or twice a year doing a channel scan just to see if there is anything new out there?

kny3twalker

03-01-06, 02:48 PM

nope

swankerme

03-01-06, 04:55 PM

I got my XBR960 for $1119 from Circuit City, thats pick-up too, so no shipping cost. Therefore the profit margin for the TV must be lower than that.

Q of BanditZ

03-01-06, 04:59 PM

I got my XBR960 for $1119 from Circuit City, thats pick-up too, so no shipping cost. Therefore the profit margin for the TV must be lower than that.

A 34?!

Golly! We're getting into ski-mask and shotgun territory here, folks! :eek:

Nice! :cool:

swankerme

03-01-06, 05:05 PM

synyster

03-01-06, 05:09 PM

synyster

03-01-06, 05:18 PM

justsc

03-01-06, 05:21 PM

...I expected so much from this "great" TV, and what do I get? Terrible gaming quality, small 4:3 picture, geometry issues, and overscanning with movies. Or am I just mistaken?
Until you calibrate an input you can't really say what it's doing with your signal. Hook up your game console and run a calibration disc and get it properly calibrated. Use whatever cables give you the best PQ - then you can say the performance is good or bad.

theanimala

03-01-06, 05:47 PM

Not sure if this has been discussed before but here it goes.

I have had my 34XBR910 for 2 years now and loving it. I just had to get a new DVD player as my SECOND JVC unit died. I just ordered a HDMI upconverting player with a HDMI-DVI cable to replace it. I was wondering if I should have it output 480P, or go for 1080i. I know that the extra info is being made up, but I was wondering if anyone had noticed it looking better one way or the other.

Thanks!

JOENAMCO

03-01-06, 05:53 PM

Other than the hour or so it would take for the TV to complete a re-scan, any down-side to once or twice a year doing a channel scan just to see if there is anything new out there?
Yes if you just do digital no trouble, but a full scan deletes any channel info that you may have keyed in.

Mathesar

03-01-06, 08:45 PM

Alright, I am having serious issues with the gaming on this montser. Has anyone here tried gaming with the PS2 or Gamecube with progressive scan on the XBR960? I finally went out and bought component cables for the PS2 and Gamecube so I could activate P-scan on the systems.

IT MAKES IT LOOK WORSE!

After activating the P-scan, light-colored vertical lines become visible on the screen, and if I'm not mistaken there is 480 of them! The picture became VERY sharp, and the 3D objects in the game become very jagged (as if there were 0 anti-aliasing). Fast screen movement makes the jaggies appear worse.

Using normal 480i with the component actually produces a better picture, smoother without the vertical lines. However, I have noticed that gaming IN GENERAL with these systems on this TV is worse than it was on my old SD TV....is that just because its an HDTV, and they are not "visually compatible" with SD video game systems?

I expected so much from this "great" TV, and what do I get? Terrible gaming quality, small 4:3 picture, geometry issues, and overscanning with movies. Or am I just mistaken?

Im not sure what you mean by Vertical Lines but When running progressive mode dithering artifacts and color banding become quite noticeable in a few cube titles - especially in Eternal Darkness. I don't know what the developers did but the games look like they're using 16bit color depth when progressive is enabled ,this effect is noticeable on any hdtv and the dithering effect disappears when running in 480i mode. Xbox and Xbox 360 do not behave this way and look great when running progressive on the XBR960, Especially Xbox 360 running in 1080i mode.

I took a pic from Eternal Darkness to show what I mean: link (http://ded.zenblue.net/EternalDarkness_480P.jpg) ,notice the 'dots' from the sunglare on her face and in the windows ..it looks pretty bad.. but its much nicer in 480i mode.

Im using these picture settings with gamecube: video mode Standard, Picture 31, Brightness 32, Color 34, Sharpness 28, Color Neutral, ClearEdge VM OFF, Color Axis: Monitor.

As for the "looks a lore more jaggy" comment, yes videogames look more jagged on HDTVs due to the lack of scanlines and increased resolution, I noticed this right away when moving from an analog TV to my first HDTV (sony 32HS510 hdtv and now the xbr960)

Mathesar

03-02-06, 08:19 PM

Ack.. Im noticing a strange 'ripple' effect in some videogames , it's kind of hard to explain so I took pictures to show what I mean.. If anyone has any ideas what im seeing please respond.

Pic's were taken from the game Black on Xbox running in 480P mode,

The effect is easily noticeable on the health and ammo bars as well as other areas during gameplay.

Heres what it looks like on the XBR960, I tried it in 480i & 480P ,also 4:3 and widescreen modes but it still looks the same: pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/XBR960_Black2.jpg)

Notice how the bars start out thin then gradually get thicker then back to thin etc. ,the bars are also not all the same vertical length like they should be.

And heres what it looks like on my other hdtv, a 32HS510: pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/HS510_Black.jpg)

When I hooked up my Xbox to the HS510 today I was very concerned because of the fact it looks MUCH nicer on it versus my XBR, it was noticably more vibrant,colorful and sharper , Im seriously considering returning this XBR to Crutchfield for a refund.. I shouldn't be comparing it to a 3 year old non-XBR hdtv with negative results like this. As I've mentioned before If I attempt to get the XBR's brightness anywhere near the HS510's it starts to 'bloom' badly. Any ideas why the XBR's "contrast punch" is so subdued?

kny3twalker

03-02-06, 10:44 PM

Mathesar

03-02-06, 11:38 PM

the tighter aperature grill of the super fine pitch tube does not allow as much light output of the older style HS510/420 etc.... tubes

the cost of resolution and detail is a less bright image

but personally I have no problems blooming contrast or dim picture which many seem to complain about

try using default rather than monitor mode

Ah so its the finer pitch thats reducing the light output ..that makes sense and is unfortunate at the same time.. When you say you have no bloom problems how high are you able to turn up the Picture setting before blooming occurs on your XBR? Mine starts to bloom between 28 and 35 depending on the source, its most noticeable in videogames ,especially bright text or images on a black background, Thanks.

kny3twalker

03-02-06, 11:54 PM

Joseph Dubin

03-03-06, 12:02 AM

I read somewhere that there were issues with HDMI on the 960(previous models?) I was curious as if anyone was using HDMI for cable TV or gaming? How is the picture? Is the PQ that much better over component? Has anyone experienced any 'issues' with HDMI? Thanks for any feedback.
We have no problem with HDMI watching HD transmissions. It is best to use HDMI over component because HDMI is a pure digital path from the cable box to the 960 whereas the path through component cables is broken into three separate analog signals which are then upgraded back to digital by the set. The limitations of going from digital to analog back to digital produce slightly less picture quality as opposed to straight digital.

kny3twalker

03-03-06, 12:32 AM

avnstf

03-03-06, 02:31 AM

actually component is better to use with CRTs, if you noticed from the service manual, component at 1080i allows pass through with no processing of the image

where as HDMI no matter what the source is processed like every other non 1080i component input
where there is digital to analogue conversion for the source to seen the same as a component input then back to digital to be processed and then back to analogue for display
the processing effects mostly the color as I understand it
?the image has to be processed to analog somewhere, because it starts in your system as digital (whether from OTA or cable) and ends up in the CRT as analog voltages...right? I used to think DVI or HDMI would have to be best, because it kept the signal digital as long as possible...then I found for one of my receivers that DVI gave a distinctively poorer quality picture than component did, but I now have a newer unit that gives an excellent picture (I mean in terms of contrast and color depth) using HDMI...so on that one I use digital cable and on the older one (by a year) I use component...go figure.

kny3twalker

03-03-06, 04:16 AM

?the image has to be processed to analog somewhere, because it starts in your system as digital (whether from OTA or cable) and ends up in the CRT as analog voltages...right?

well yeah, but if it come in as HDMI apparently it has to be converted twice

component at 1080i no processing
component at other resolutions is converted to digital processed then converted back to analogue

HDMI is converted to annlogue then treated as component where it has to be converted to digital processed then converted back to analogue

at least thats what the service manual and other members have explained

so if you can get 1080i over component to the TV, it seems that would be the best option

I am not really sure of all this, other than there is a pass through in the service manual for 1080i component only

Mathesar

03-03-06, 09:18 AM

on my HD feed from over the air, its 40, on my DirecTV SD via composite, its 34
and from my PC via DVI to HDMI, it ranges from 40-48 (Vivid 40, Standard 45, Movie 48, Pro 44)

my PC is the only source which I have configured the setting differently
for I was able to use DVE in the PC drive

the other sources I did by eye, but my eyes usually get the settings pretty close to what DVE would resolve

I use standard for DirecTV, pro for HD, on the PC I use standard for recorded DirecTV, movie for ripped DVDs, and pro for recorded HDTV

I do not use Vivid but hate flipping through that overbright crap setting so I did my best to setup it up as well

What color temp do you use? , I tried 40 Picture with the Pro setting on HD over the air and it was blooming slightly but only if I used Neutral color temp, it looked ok with the Warm setting.

One other thing I dont understand is why 1080i looks 'softer' than 720p with Xbox360, Whenever I toggle back and forth between modes text is less sharp in 1080i, even if I max out the Sharpness setting I cant get text to show any ghosting , on my 32HS510 it was the other way around - 1080i was sharper than 720p in fact I had to turn the sharpness way down to prevent the 'ghosting' effect on text .. Top that off with the fact 1080i is darker in brightness vs. 480P, something my HS510 didnt do either, is my 960 in need of replacement perhaps?

georgegreer

03-03-06, 11:32 AM

I got my XBR960 for $1119 from Circuit City, thats pick-up too, so no shipping cost. Therefore the profit margin for the TV must be lower than that.

Last Saturday, I got the 34XBR960 for $1600 including stand and free delivery from my local audiophile dealer in Santa Fe, NM. The local discount store wanted $2200 for the same, TV & stand sold separately. Last one in the box, and only floor model left. They said the 970 (no SuperFine Pitch or other features) would be their only CRT.

It works perfectly and is amazing in picture and sound.

kny3twalker

03-03-06, 11:54 AM

What color temp do you use? , I tried 40 Picture with the Pro setting on HD over the air and it was blooming slightly but only if I used Neutral color temp, it looked ok with the Warm setting.

One other thing I dont understand is why 1080i looks 'softer' than 720p with Xbox360, Whenever I toggle back and forth between modes text is less sharp in 1080i, even if I max out the Sharpness setting I cant get text to show any ghosting , on my 32HS510 it was the other way around - 1080i was sharper than 720p in fact I had to turn the sharpness way down to prevent the 'ghosting' effect on text .. Top that off with the fact 1080i is darker in brightness vs. 480P, something my HS510 didnt do either, is my 960 in need of replacement perhaps?

I am using nuetral for all modes except movie which I leave at warm
and yeah you are right, I was checking out my hd feed and it is slightly blooming at 40
I may need to turn it down
but the brighter picture is nice for non hd content on those hd stations

about 720p vs 1080i, it sounds like the xbox's scaler is not as good as the TV's
I thought most TVs have sharpness disabled for hd sources
at least I thought this is what DVE said about most component inputs on TVs

the draker 1080i vs 480p? I am not sure about
I always thought SD sources were dimmer than their HD counterpart

if you think there is something wrong requiring replacement of your TV
consider at least having Sony in home evulate the TV first
before contacting crutchfield as you might be dissappointed if you get another set that has the same problems

OMG I just have to add this
they were just giving away a KD-34XS955 on the Price is Right today during the showcase showdown

Mathesar

03-03-06, 12:11 PM

I am using nuetral for all modes except movie which I leave at warm
and yeah you are right, I was checking out my hd feed and it is slightly blooming at 40
I may need to turn it down
but the brighter picture is nice for non hd content on those hd stations

about 720p vs 1080i, it sounds like the xbox's scaler is not as good as the TV's
I thought most TVs have sharpness disabled for hd sources
at least I thought this is what DVE said about most component inputs on TVs

the draker 1080i vs 480p? I am not sure about
I always thought SD sources were dimmer than their HD counterpart

if you think there is something wrong requiring replacement of your TV
consider at least having Sony in home evulate the TV first
before contacting crutchfield as you might be dissappointed if you get another set that has the same problems

OMG I just have to add this
they were just giving away a KD-34XS955 on the Price is Right today during the showcase showdown

Thanks for the reply, the sharpness setting still works in 1080 / 720 but the differance between the max & min setting isnt all that obvious, I actually have a tech coming out today to look at the flickering issue I reffered to here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7199652&&#post7199652) , I'll be sure to ask him about my other concerns as well.. but from what Ive been reading on this forum I'm not expecting this tech to be all that well informed. Hopefully he's at least familiar with how an XBR960 normaly performs..

kny3twalker

03-03-06, 12:47 PM

Thanks for the reply, the sharpness setting still works in 1080 / 720 but the differance between the max & min setting isnt all that obvious, I actually have a tech coming out today to look at the flickering issue I reffered to here , I'll be sure to ask him about my other concerns as well.. but from what Ive been reading on this forum I'm not expecting this tech to be all that well informed. Hopefully he's at least familiar with how an XBR960 normaly performs..

you are not by chance using Vivid mode for the xbox are you? its dynamic contrast setting with the picture setting at max by default will cause large fluctuations in the picture

and good luck with the tech, I had one come out to my home twice about fixing the minor goemetry pincushioning and horizontal centering of the picture
the guy never ended up fixing the TV either time, or even entering the service menu
and I still have the minor geometry problems

(the second time though he was mainly there for another Sony TV, which was recently replaced)

Mathesar

03-03-06, 01:11 PM

you are not by chance using Vivid mode for the xbox are you? its dynamic contrast setting with the picture setting at max by default will cause large fluctuations in the picture

and good luck with the tech, I had one come out to my home twice about fixing the minor goemetry pincushioning and horizontal centering of the picture
the guy never ended up fixing the TV either time, or even entering the service menu
and I still have the minor geometry problems

(the second time though he was mainly there for another Sony TV, which was recently replaced)

I use Standard mode for Xbox during the day and Pro at night. The person I spoke with on the phone sounded concerned that my 1080i output is noticeably darker than 480P as well, I have to use completely differant picture & brightness settings between the two.

Mathesar

03-03-06, 01:39 PM

Well the tech came by and connected an image generator to the component input ,when displaying a grayscale pattern the flickering was easily noticeable in 1080i,I then showed him the same thing on my Xbox360 and also how it disappears when changing the 360 to 480P mode, He then said it looks like a faulty M board (whatever that is) which he thinks is also why the brightness is lower in 1080i, he says its an easy Plug n play part so he'll be able to change it without taking the TV... Now I need to decide if I should wait for the part and have it repaired, or just have Crutchfield replace it.. what would you guys do? ..If I wait to have it repaired I'm pretty sure it'll be out of the 30 day exchange period from Crutchfield...

mortaldivine

03-03-06, 01:48 PM

I would replace it

kny3twalker

03-03-06, 02:24 PM

tell crutchfield thats its defective and you want another, let them deal with fixing it

Stinky-Dinkins

03-03-06, 03:35 PM

Could someone list the optimal settings for the XBox 360 when playing in a dark room?

Thanks.

Athanas2221

03-03-06, 04:00 PM

I'll second that

Q of BanditZ

03-03-06, 04:02 PM

Subjective to your own eyes, but I'd look at pro, monitor, and that usual set up. (Always, for all things.)

Maybe have your brightness in the low to mid 40's and contrast floating around the mid 30's?

Mathesar

03-03-06, 04:25 PM

I went ahead and called Crutchfield , They're going to ship out a new TV before they even get my old one which I thought was nice, (at least I wont be without a TV) the freight company that delivers the new one will be picking up the old one as well.

JohnGZ28

03-03-06, 07:06 PM

kny3twalker

03-03-06, 08:09 PM

archon333

03-04-06, 12:02 AM

No longer listed at Sony Style Online

JohnGZ28

03-04-06, 08:13 AM

No longer listed at Sony Style Online

That's unfortunate.

synyster

03-04-06, 01:25 PM

We have no problem with HDMI watching HD transmissions. It is best to use HDMI over component because HDMI is a pure digital path from the cable box to the 960 whereas the path through component cables is broken into three separate analog signals which are then upgraded back to digital by the set. The limitations of going from digital to analog back to digital produce slightly less picture quality as opposed to straight digital.

Thanks to you and kny3twalker for the info. Now I have another question and I maybe in the wrong forum for asking this....but what are some good quality cables for component and hdmi? Also does the PQ/Audio degrade when you use longer cables for component or hdmi? I'm looking at Acoustic Research cables on accessoriesforless.

justsc

03-04-06, 01:29 PM

Chorgey

03-04-06, 01:37 PM

I think you should be fine with AR cables.

On HDMI vs Component - many of us have found better PQ when using component cables. This is true for me as well.

I am using HDMI for my satellite dish and component cables for the DVD and Playstation 2. I really can't see any difference, then again, I didn't have my set calibrated yet.

justsc

03-04-06, 01:42 PM

I am using HDMI for my satellite dish and component cables for the DVD and Playstation 2. I really can't see any difference, then again, I didn't have my set calibrated yet.
Mine is just the opposite. I use an Oppo dvd player which requires a digital interface, so it gets the HDMI port and my cable STB gets a component connection as well as my PS2.

Keep in mind that the coming HD DVD/Blu Ray players will require a digital interface. On sets like our with one HDMI port, that'll put incoming HD signals onto component cables.

Joseph Dubin

03-04-06, 02:07 PM

julio388

03-04-06, 02:21 PM

The sony kd-xbr960 is no longer listed on sony website. Also there were other models delisted from the website.

LongRufus

03-04-06, 03:02 PM

Thanks to you and kny3twalker for the info. Now I have another question and I maybe in the wrong forum for asking this....but what are some good quality cables for component and hdmi? Also does the PQ/Audio degrade when you use longer cables for component or hdmi? I'm looking at Acoustic Research cables on accessoriesforless.

If I'm in a rush and have to run to the store for a cable, I usually go to BB and grab some AR's and they have always done a fine job. But if you have the time to order online, there is no better place to buy than monoprice.com. I have probably placed 5 orders with them in the last 6 months, all with good results. The one caveat I have with them is that I generally skip their rock bottom cheap cables(ie $6 for a 3' HDMI) and upgrade to the 2nd cheapest($18 3' HDMI). The $6 HDMI might be fine, I just can't guarantee it. I also highly recommend their 5 RCA Component A/V cables, with the 3 Component video and 2 audio cables wrapped as a single cable. Very nice for keeping the connection clutter to a minimum behind your set.

Like Justsc, I use HDMI for my upscaling DVD player and component for my Comcast 6412 STB. The PQ on the 6412 over component is excellent.

avnstf

03-04-06, 04:42 PM

If I'm in a rush and have to run to the store for a cable, I usually go to BB and grab some AR's and they have always done a fine job. But if you have the time to order online, there is no better place to buy than monoprice.com. I have probably placed 5 orders with them in the last 6 months, all with good results. The one caveat I have with them is that I generally skip their rock bottom cheap cables(ie $6 for a 3' HDMI) and upgrade to the 2nd cheapest($18 3' HDMI). The $6 HDMI might be fine, I just can't guarantee it. I also highly recommend their 5 RCA Component A/V cables, with the 3 Component video and 2 audio cables wrapped as a single cable. Very nice for keeping the connection clutter to a minimum behind your set.

Like Justsc, I use HDMI for my upscaling DVD player and component for my Comcast 6412 STB. The PQ on the 6412 over component is excellent.

I posed this question a long time ago in another forum (i.e., for the 32HS500, which is the Sony I have)...I thought that if you have a digital cable - like DVI or HDMI - it should either work or not work, not work poorly...that's supposed to be the advantage of digital vs analog. So I don't understand why anyone would pay big bucks for an HDMI cable!?

Am I thinking about this wrong?

(Component may be another matter, because that's analog...)

synyster

03-04-06, 05:23 PM

Thanks again everyone for their feedback. For my HDMI and Component cables, I was looking at gettting 3" to 6", nothing longer. One I get my HD service next weekend I will check the PQ of both component and HDMI. Being that this set only has 2 component jacks I had planed to use one for a DVD player(progressive...non-scaling) and the other for my gamecube/ps2. That would mean I would have to use the hd cable box for HDMI. Again if the PQ is better on the component then I just might break down and get a upscaling dvd player so I wont have to plug and unplug the cables all of the time.

mr2828

03-04-06, 10:08 PM

I posed this question a long time ago in another forum (i.e., for the 32HS500, which is the Sony I have)...I thought that if you have a digital cable - like DVI or HDMI - it should either work or not work, not work poorly...that's supposed to be the advantage of digital vs analog. So I don't understand why anyone would pay big bucks for an HDMI cable!?

Am I thinking about this wrong?

(Component may be another matter, because that's analog...)

No, you're not thinking about it wrong. With digital connections like HDMI that are only transferring bits of data, there is no point in spending more than the bare minimum, and also you don't have to worry about buying really short cables.

I'm using a 10 foot el-cheapo hdmi cable and it works perfectly.

Do you buy $100 monster cable ethernet cables to connect your computers? No? Then why spend more to transfer the same kinds of data between your tv and cable box.

avnstf

03-04-06, 10:56 PM

ok, thanks - that's what I thought...so the prices for digital cables (i.e., HDMI or DVI) at places like CC amaze me...

(on the other hand, I did let the saleman talk me into expensive component cables - at a reduced price - when I was buying my Sony HDTV, and I've always gotten good results with them, better than with the DVI cable that came with my LG 3410a receiver/HD recorder last year. But now, I'd say the PQ I get from my new Sony receiver/recorder is probably even better, using the HDMI cable that came with it. I was very happy to see that because I had to use the DVI input to my TV, since now I'm now using all three of its high-quality inputs!)

Leviticus

03-05-06, 01:44 AM

Just thought i'd pass along a good low price. American Electronics (www.americantv.com) newspaper ad for this coming week (3/5/06) in St. Louis has the 34xbr960 at $1099. If you live near a store thats a good price. Im pretty sure their extended service plans are a bit cheaper than elsewhere also. Dont know if anyone could pricematch this for anywhere else either.

jude82

03-05-06, 02:27 AM

ok, thanks - that's what I thought...so the prices for digital cables (i.e., HDMI or DVI) at places like CC amaze me...

(on the other hand, I did let the saleman talk me into expensive component cables - at a reduced price - when I was buying my Sony HDTV, and I've always gotten good results with them, better than with the DVI cable that came with my LG 3410a receiver/HD recorder last year.

i ordered some cables from monoprice after hearing good things on these forums. for some "name brand" cables, i've seen some people recommend the acoustic research cables at best buy. buy.com carries pretty much the whole acoustic research line of cables for waaaaay less than best buy has them for. just an fyi for anyone interested.

baller99

03-05-06, 06:38 AM

ChrisDog6203

03-05-06, 09:37 AM

joebxr

03-05-06, 09:51 AM

Hello.
I had my xbr960 for about three months and it's and incredible tv, but yesterday, my hdmi input stopped working for no apparent reason. I have a cox hd cable box hooked up to the input via a hdmi-dvi cable. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting it, but it still doesn't work. Also, the audio inputs for it aren't working either. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I would start with the box. See if you can get COX to test it online and see if there is an issue. If they can't, then see if you can swap for a new box. It may be the TV, but having the output via HDMI and Audio both out, I would think the box may be at fault.

Sonyboy

03-05-06, 11:04 AM

I am looking at getting the the xbr960 at a very good price. I have the sony 30hs510 model now. It's been ISF calibrated and it looks great. I've heard so many rave reviews on the 960 I am strongly considering buying one, plus the 4 extra inches would be nice. I am wondering does the 960 need to be professionally calibrated to look this good or is this good out of the box. I just fear I will get it and it might not be that big of a jump from my calibrated set. In Cnet's review they stated that the pro and monitor settings were about accurate for all viewing out of the box. Is that an accurate statement. Any feed back on these questions is appreciated.

ChrisDog6203

03-05-06, 11:23 AM

I would start with the box. See if you can get COX to test it online and see if there is an issue. If they can't, then see if you can swap for a new box. It may be the TV, but having the output via HDMI and Audio both out, I would think the box may be at fault.

I thought that it might be my cox hd cable box, but then I plugged in my HDMI out dvd player and still nothing. I guess I'll have to call Sony to get a tech over here to fix it.

Joseph Dubin

03-05-06, 12:21 PM

[QUOTE=Sonyboy]I am looking at getting the the xbr960 at a very good price. I have the sony 30hs510 model now. It's been ISF calibrated and it looks great. I've heard so many rave reviews on the 960 I am strongly considering buying one, plus the 4 extra inches would be nice. I am wondering does the 960 need to be professionally calibrated to look this good or is this good out of the box. I just fear I will get it and it might not be that big of a jump from my calibrated set. In Cnet's review they stated that the pro and monitor settings were about accurate for all viewing out of the box. Is that an accurate statement. Any feed back on these questions is appreciated.[/QUOTE
I've been debating since August whether to invest the more than $200 necessary to have my set callibrated. Many on this thread thought they had beautiful pictures beforehand then raved about even better PQ once their sets were callibrated. Another member, however, said he was told by a technician if the picture looks perfect as it is, not to bother having it callibrated.

I assume all sets are callibrated before being packed so it might not really be necessary if done properly in the factory and we're very happy with the PQ as is. Every Saturday at 7:00 AM INHD has a series of tests for properly adjusting HD sets. One of the tests included a test for (I think) conversion; if any color appears where there should be pure white then the set needs to be adjusted. Our's was pure white so we're leaving it alone.

With us it's a question of money. If $200+ is not the issue, then having it callibrated would be suggested for peace of mind.

Sonyboy

03-05-06, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the input. :)

greenland

03-05-06, 01:28 PM

That price is for the 970 after checkng it out. Nobody is going to give you a 960 for 1100.

Actually it was the price posted on their online site for both models last week. This week the online site only lists the 970, so they must have sold all the remaining 960 sets at a close out price. Notice that the 960 has also been removed from the Sonystyle site. Perhaps if someone is looking for a 960 at the 1099 price, they might want to check with the AmericanTV store in their area. They are not a very large chain, and have stores in just a few midwest states.

CCMOO

03-05-06, 02:37 PM

My xbr960 came yesterday. Went vivid to standard and tinkered a little with the settings, but nothing major yet. I'm blown away by the richness and depth of the colors. Just amazing. Can't wait until HD arrives Thursday.

justsc

03-05-06, 03:27 PM

...I assume all sets are callibrated before being packed so it might not really be necessary if done properly in the factory and we're very happy with the PQ as is. Every Saturday at 7:00 AM INHD has a series of tests for properly adjusting HD sets. One of the tests included a test for (I think) conversion; if any color appears where there should be pure white then the set needs to be adjusted. Our's was pure white so we're leaving it alone.

With us it's a question of money. If $200+ is not the issue, then having it callibrated would be suggested for peace of mind.
Joseph,

The calibration received at the factory falls well short of a customer's calibration with Avia, or an "ISF" level calibration. I wish we could assume that the final calibration in the factory were of a very good level, but that's unfortunately not so.

As for me, my own calibration with the disc is fine for me. I have the 34HS420 and I just have to wonder how much better an ISF trained type could make it look. And if the result would be worth the expense.

Joseph Dubin

03-05-06, 09:18 PM

Joseph,

The calibration received at the factory falls well short of a customer's calibration with Avia, or an "ISF" level calibration. I wish we could assume that the final calibration in the factory were of a very good level, but that's unfortunately not so.

As for me, my own calibration with the disc is fine for me. I have the 34HS420 and I just have to wonder how much better an ISF trained type could make it look. And if the result would be worth the expense.
Hi Justsc,

Yes, one never knows how much care went into calibration before leaving the factory. Besides the test patterns found on DVDs with THX optomizers and INHD, does the Avia disc include advance tests for what's in the service menu? And once completed would those calibrations be correct for all video sources?

Joe

ChrisDog6203

03-05-06, 10:24 PM

Hello.
I had my xbr960 for about three months and it's and incredible tv, but yesterday, my hdmi input stopped working for no apparent reason. I have a cox hd cable box hooked up to the input via a hdmi-dvi cable. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting it, but it still doesn't work. Also, the audio inputs for it aren't working either. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I was going to call Sony tech service in the morning, but I would first like to know if anyone else has had this problem and how it was resolved.
Thanks in advance.

jasMoney

03-06-06, 06:33 PM

I was hoping to grab this set from ABT electronics this week, but it seems that I was too late pulling the trigger -- their now out of stock. This is what happens when I try to include my wife on important decisions -- I wind up missing out on a great deal.

Anyway, B&H has the set at the same price that ABT had, but shipping and tax are pretty significant for me, almost an additional $300. Electronics Expo would be a bit cheaper (no tax). I've never dealt with either company, but I have heard that B&H is quite good -- I heard mixed reviews about ElectronicsExpo. I haven't seen the 960 in my area for a while (or for a reasonable price). Should I just order from B&H, or can anyone recommend a good online retailer that has a good price on the 960?

justsc

03-06-06, 06:47 PM

Hi Justsc,

Yes, one never knows how much care went into calibration before leaving the factory. Besides the test patterns found on DVDs with THX optomizers and INHD, does the Avia disc include advance tests for what's in the service menu? And once completed would those calibrations be correct for all video sources?

Joe
Yes - it does include test patterns needed to make many of the SM adjustments.

Each source should be calibrated independently of the others. Some settings are global, but each source should be calibrated on its own merits.

Joseph Dubin

03-06-06, 10:37 PM

Yes - it does include test patterns needed to make many of the SM adjustments.

Each source should be calibrated independently of the others. Some settings are global, but each source should be calibrated on its own merits.
Hi Justsc,

Thanks for getting back to me regarding the disc. I am confused about one thing: if some SM adjustments need to be calibrated for each source how would I be able to use these test patterns on video 7 (HDMI) which is connected to a HD cable box and not a DVD player? Is the disc copy-protected or could it be recorded onto a HD DVR? Or are those global settings enough for the HD input?

Thanks again,
Joe

Joseph Dubin

03-06-06, 10:40 PM

jasMoney

03-07-06, 12:41 PM

Crutchfield still has it for $1,899 which includes free shipping and no tax. Better grab one while you can!

Well, I got lured in by Electronics-Expo low price and placed my order there. They're an authorized sony retailer so I shouldn't have any problem getting sony to honor their warrantee.

I still have a couple of decisions to make though. The first decision is about getting an extended warrantee. I don't usually get suckered into the extended warrantee, but I think I'm a little nervous about having ordered such a big, heavy item online. How many people here went for an extended warrantee and (more importantly) does anyone wish they did?

My next problem is that this TV just isn't going to fit in my current entertainment center, but I don't want to buy anything too expensive until we know where we are going to be living. My wife and I rent right now, but I'm finishing school this semester and don't know where I'll be heading for work yet. Can anyone recommend a stand that can support this monster plus several components? A darker color would be preferred and I'm looking to keep it around ~$100.

lewis

03-07-06, 01:07 PM

I usually don't get extended warranties but decided it was worth the additional expense for 2 reasons. Firstly after much deliberation I decided the 36XS955 was the better option for me. This beast is HEAVY weighing in at around 230lbs. There was no way I would want to have to cart that thing over to my local Sony repair center. Second, unlike the XBR which has the 2 year parts/labor warranty the XS only has 90 days labor and 1 yr parts. The extended coverage gives me over 4 yrs in home repair service. Its also transferable which adds value to the TV if I decide to sell it in the next 4 years (may happen if SED is as good as people say). Bottom line is that I hope I never need it but its there if I do.

squonk

03-07-06, 01:20 PM

justsc

03-07-06, 02:41 PM

Hi Justsc,

Thanks for getting back to me regarding the disc. I am confused about one thing: if some SM adjustments need to be calibrated for each source how would I be able to use these test patterns on video 7 (HDMI) which is connected to a HD cable box and not a DVD player? Is the disc copy-protected or could it be recorded onto a HD DVR? Or are those global settings enough for the HD input?

Thanks again,
Joe
You pretty much have to copy the value(s) into the settings for that source and tweak to taste. I am not sure which settings are global and which are input dependent.

As for me, I used my Oppo upconverting dvd player to run Avia on Video 7. It came close enough for government work. ;)

hillyerm

03-07-06, 05:47 PM

jasMoney

03-07-06, 06:40 PM

ABT Electronics took it off their website but still had two in stock as of 4:45 PM CST Tuesday. Now they have only one left because I just purchased one for the price mentioned in the earlier thread that referred to Kevin Robles.

Congrats on getting one -- but I can't help but being annoyed that they told me that they didn't have any left yesterday.

edit: I just talked to Kevin and got the last one. I cancelled my order with electronics expo. Thanks hillyerm, you just saved me $100.

liquidneba

03-07-06, 08:51 PM

The Sony outlet store in Aurora Ill had Sony XBR960s on blowout last month for $699--you read that right--and now they are gone. They were factory refurbished but the Sony guy told me on the phone that they call anything discontinued, blemished, package dent etc "factory refurbished". Needless to say, I wish I had known about this sooner. You Chicago people who missed out on this have to be kicking yourselves.

Wow! I called both my local Circuit City stores, "out-of-stock," "discontinued". I guess I better hold on to the TV I have now. It's a shame, people who become enlightened to PQ now are pratically too late to own this beauty.

jude82

03-07-06, 09:08 PM

mine came today :)

BABA BOOEY

03-07-06, 10:01 PM

Mathesar

03-07-06, 10:25 PM

Set up my brand new 960N....placed in the corner of my room...with a definitive Technology Tower speaker approx 12 inches from each side of the TV.....Turned on TV and there was a great deal of electromagnetic inteference...turning sides of picture a wacky yellow or blue. What is odd is as I moved the speakers away from the sides of the TV ...the inteference actually got worse until I was several feet away. Unfortunately due to room layout, I can only have TV in corner within close proximity to my speakers. The resulting TV picture now has a yellow corner on the screen that does not go away...I have unplugged the set and let it sit for hours..only to turn it back on and see the yellow inteference still in the corner. Any help would be appreciated. Also as a newbie...is it just me ..or do the grey bars on each side of a 4:3 picture look terrible. Why can'yt they be black bars at least?

Sounds like the Landing needs to be adjusted in the service menu,this might get rid of the yellow corner, do a search in this thread for Landing and you should get more info. .. as for the bars being grey on 4:3 sources they're not suppose to be, 4:3 has black bars on the sides ..maybe you have the tv's Brightness set way to high?

I have this pic showing my 960N & Standard cable, 4:3 mode set on Normal (black bars on sides): pic (http://ded.zenblue.net/34XBR960N_43.jpg)

kny3twalker

03-07-06, 11:28 PM

Set up my brand new 960N....placed in the corner of my room...with a definitive Technology Tower speaker approx 12 inches from each side of the TV.....Turned on TV and there was a great deal of electromagnetic inteference...turning sides of picture a wacky yellow or blue. What is odd is as I moved the speakers away from the sides of the TV ...the inteference actually got worse until I was several feet away. Unfortunately due to room layout, I can only have TV in corner within close proximity to my speakers. The resulting TV picture now has a yellow corner on the screen that does not go away...I have unplugged the set and let it sit for hours..only to turn it back on and see the yellow inteference still in the corner. Any help would be appreciated. Also as a newbie...is it just me ..or do the grey bars on each side of a 4:3 picture look terrible. Why can'yt they be black bars at least?

uh?!*$#!???

its a CRT, you cannot have speakers(or any magnets) close to it, return it for another TV(non CRT) or move your speakers far away

Mathesar

03-08-06, 12:43 AM

Wow I jumped the gun when I read his post , didnt realise he had the speakers THAT close to the tv.

Stinky-Dinkins

03-08-06, 12:54 AM

Shielded speakers are OK to sit right next to the TV right?

Just double checking.... I got my 34XBR960 today and my speakers are right next to it (less than a foot away side to side.)

kny3twalker

03-08-06, 12:56 AM

shielded should be fine
unless you experience problems, then you will need to move them farther away

lzzy

03-08-06, 01:52 AM

joebxr

03-08-06, 09:26 AM

Well I've been lookin for a good stand for the Xbr960 what do you all think about this one http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/OmniMount-G242-AV-Stand.htm I like it because it's taller than most stands I've been looking at online. If anyone knows of a cool one post a link because I'll have mine coming in in about a week. :)
Look at the TECH CRAFT line on the same website. I bought the CABS41 and love it, because it has doors, shelves and the base actually swivels, too....and less expensive.

jude82

03-08-06, 10:49 AM

it got the z line stand from circuit city which has been suggested on here before. black with black tempered glass shelves. tv BARELY fits on it but it does. and plenty of room for about four components on the shelves. looks very sleek too. can be had for half the cost of the stand you linked.

hillyerm

03-08-06, 11:50 AM

Wow! I called both my local Circuit City stores, "out-of-stock," "discontinued". I guess I better hold on to the TV I have now. It's a shame, people who become enlightened to PQ now are pratically too late to own this beauty.
Check with Best Buy. The salesman I spoke with when buying a stand was willing to beat what I had paid ABT. I stuck with the ABT purchase.

synyster

03-08-06, 03:22 PM

Ladd

03-08-06, 03:38 PM

Ok, I maybe a little off topic, but I'm trying to get some decent componet cables to hook up my dvd player to my xbr960.I've had excellent experiences with a variety of cables purchased from the AVS sponsor Monoprice.com (click their teeny ad up at the top of this page). You will be shocked at how much less expensive the cables will be there, and they are good quality, too.

Stinky-Dinkins

03-08-06, 04:27 PM

Check with Best Buy. The salesman I spoke with when buying a stand was willing to beat what I had paid ABT. I stuck with the ABT purchase.

All the Best Buys around me told me that the 34XBR960 appears in their computer as "out of stock and discontinued" (I called around.)

Mathesar

03-08-06, 04:46 PM

I was going to buy the XBR960 in town being Best Buy had it on sale ,but when I went there they were out of stock and said they wont be getting any more. I ended up buying it from Crutchfield. I'm just waiting for my 2nd one to arrive ..the first one ended up being defective :(

jude82

03-08-06, 09:31 PM

Ok, I maybe a little off topic, but I'm trying to get some decent componet cables to hook up my dvd player to my xbr960. I'm looking at Acoustic Research audio/video cables and I'm wanting to know the difference between the regular blue cables and the silver pro cables. The only description difference I see is "Multishielded design with two 95% copper braids and 100% aluminum Mylar foil". My question is should I go pro(is paying more for multishielded cables worth it?) or stick with the standard cables. Accessoriesforless has very excellent prices for AR cables...has anyone ever ordered from them before?

i haven't been to accessoriesforless but if you want AR cables be sure to check prices on Buy.com as well. they carry all the AR cables for a VERY good price. it may not be better than what you've already found though. just a heads up. i ordered something from buy.com on saturday and it got here today.

i also ordered my cables from monoprice which also came today. they seem very well made and i can't wait to try them out.

JohnGZ28

03-08-06, 09:38 PM

Well I've been lookin for a good stand for the Xbr960 what do you all think about this one http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/OmniMount-G242-AV-Stand.htm I like it because it's taller than most stands I've been looking at online. If anyone knows of a cool one post a link because I'll have mine coming in in about a week. :)

Mine sits on one of theses

http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/BDI-Vector-9524.htm

center channel sits on the middle shelf angled up slightly, DVD and AVR on the bottom shelf.

JohnGZ28

03-08-06, 09:41 PM

Ok, I maybe a little off topic, but I'm trying to get some decent componet cables to hook up my dvd player to my xbr960. I'm looking at Acoustic Research audio/video cables and I'm wanting to know the difference between the regular blue cables and the silver pro cables. The only description difference I see is "Multishielded design with two 95% copper braids and 100% aluminum Mylar foil". My question is should I go pro(is paying more for multishielded cables worth it?) or stick with the standard cables. Accessoriesforless has very excellent prices for AR cables...has anyone ever ordered from them before?

Another forum sponsor is Better Cables. More expensive than monoprice but it's nice to support those who support the forum.

kny3twalker

03-08-06, 10:23 PM

the overall quality of the cables is better though from companies like ramelectronics, bettercables and bluejeancables

although people may not be able to tell the difference in picture or sound

its still obvious that the quality and materials used in these cables are much better

monoprice cables look like the entry level RCA (generic-looking) cables to me

nothing wrong with buying whatever you want though

Mathesar

03-09-06, 12:41 AM

I was comparing the new Xbox 360 game Burnout Revenge on my FW900 PC CRT (VGA cable set @ 1280x720) to my XBR960N earlier (Component cable / 1080i) and all I gotta say is I really hope theres something wrong with my XBR, (The replacement should be here next week sometime), No matter how low I set the Picture setting it's burying white detail (or is it referred to as "crushing" whites?) , These comparison shots show what I mean, Notice how the skull on the car is basically white with no shade details while in the FW900 shot its showing the subtle shades on the skull , Also the game is just overall sharper / crisper looking on the FW900 (and this monitor was manufactured in 2002!) , Am I expecting to much from the 960? Please comment and heres the Link (http://ded.zenblue.net/XBR960N_vs_FW900.html).

UPDATE: My replacement XBR960N arrived and does not crush whites or Bloom which allows for a brighter & sharper picture (I knew something had to be wrong with my previous 960!),Im very happy with the picture quality now http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon14.gif

triumph66

03-09-06, 01:06 AM

I was comparing the new Xbox 360 game Burnout Revenge on my FW900 PC CRT (VGA cable set @ 1280x720) to my XBR960N earlier (Component cable / 1080i) and all I gotta say is I really hope theres something wrong with my XBR, (The replacement should be here next week sometime), No matter how low I set the Picture setting it's burying white detail (or is it referred to as "crushing" whites?) , These comparison shots show what I mean, Notice how the skull on the car is basically white with no shade details while in the FW900 shot its showing the subtle shades on the skull , Also the game is just overall sharper / crisper looking on the FW900 (and this monitor was manufactured in 2002!) , Am I expecting to much from the 960? Please comment and heres the Link (http://ded.zenblue.net/XBR960N_vs_FW900.html).

720p IS sharper than 1080i.

Take a look at this: http://www.alvyray.com/DigitalTV/Naming_Proposal.htm

HDTVFanAtic

03-09-06, 01:49 AM

All the Best Buys around me told me that the 34XBR960 appears in their computer as "out of stock and discontinued" (I called around.)

I was at a Best Buy yesterday and out of curiosity had someone I know check their cost and inventory for me. I can confirm it shows discontinued in their computer.

lzzy

03-09-06, 01:49 AM

Crutchfields all out. The end is coming soon.... :(

DSperber

03-09-06, 02:36 AM

XBR960N still shows at DigitalCraze.

kny3twalker

03-09-06, 02:36 AM

Take a look at this: http://www.alvyray.com/DigitalTV/Naming_Proposal.htm

that person is smoking crack IMO

720p = 1440p, and 1080i is 540i

he clearly does not understand the difference between interlaced in progressive

I mean I can see 540i at 60Hz maybe, but 1440p at 60Hz????

I was comparing the new Xbox 360 game Burnout Revenge on my FW900 PC CRT (VGA cable set @ 1280x720) to my XBR960N earlier (Component cable / 1080i) and all I gotta say is I really hope theres something wrong with my XBR, (The replacement should be here next week sometime), No matter how low I set the Picture setting it's burying white detail (or is it referred to as "crushing" whites?) , These comparison shots show what I mean, Notice how the skull on the car is basically white with no shade details while in the FW900 shot its showing the subtle shades on the skull , Also the game is just overall sharper / crisper looking on the FW900 (and this monitor was manufactured in 2002!) , Am I expecting to much from the 960? Please comment and heres the Link.

how does the TV look for movies and TV? do you have the same white crush issues?

if not I would think the problem is the xbox
try letting the TV scale the 720p input

and really cannot believe you asked for a replacement (cause of a blurred face on a skull in a game)

Mathesar

03-09-06, 06:58 AM

how does the TV look for movies and TV? do you have the same white crush issues?

if not I would think the problem is the xbox
try letting the TV scale the 720p input

and really cannot believe you asked for a replacement (cause of a blurred face on a skull in a game)

It does it with the Xbox set at 720P or 1080i , I asked for a replacement last Friday because of the flickering / interference problems when running 1080i / 720P ,You can even see it when looking at the memory stick screen , This white crush issue I just discovered last night and the skull pics were just an easy way to show the effect I was seeing in a lot of areas of the game.

If the replacement is anything like this im just going to get a refund , this is not the holy grail of CRTs I was hoping for and honestly Xbox360 looked better on my Sony HS510 which is unacceptable considering the 960's cost. But I'm going to hook up the 360 to my HS510 after work today just to verify if its my 960 or Xbox causing this white crush.

UPDATE: My replacement XBR960N arrived which does not have the flicker issues ,It also does not crush whites or Bloom which allows for a brighter & sharper picture (I knew something had to be wrong with my previous one!),Im very happy with the picture quality now http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon14.gif

DaRiv

03-09-06, 12:53 PM

Well I've been lookin for a good stand for the Xbr960 what do you all think about this one http://www.audio-video-furniture.com/OmniMount-G242-AV-Stand.htm I like it because it's taller than most stands I've been looking at online. If anyone knows of a cool one post a link because I'll have mine coming in in about a week. :)

these are on sale for the next week:

http://www.boltz.com/productinfo.asp?item=36&deptcode1=503

Joseph Dubin

03-09-06, 01:27 PM

Crutchfields all out. The end is coming soon.... :(

If Crutchfield is out of it, that's the final nail in the coffin.

The retirement of the 960 is really sad but it also makes us a very elite group - who else can claim they have the set that is the standard for all others to compare to (while being less expensive than many Plasmas and HD rear projections)? Wonder how many will now wish they had the 960 after complaining about it's weight and bulkiness when compared to their flat panels? Don't like to gloat but it will be a source of vindication for us old-fashioned CRT aficionados. :p .

Q of BanditZ

03-09-06, 01:29 PM

If Crutchfield is out of it, that's the final nail in the coffin.

The retirement of the 960 is really sad but it also makes us a very elite group - who else can claim they have the set that is the standard for all others to compare to (while being less expensive than many Plasmas and HD rear projections)? Wonder how many will now wish they had the 960 after complaining about it's weight and bulkiness when compared to their flat panels? Don't like to gloat but it will be a source of vindication for us old-fashioned CRT aficionados. :p .

Man, it's really kind of hard to believe.

I'll echo a question Artwood asked in another thread: "Why is Sony so afraid of greatness?"

Sadly, I know the answer all too well.

Stinky-Dinkins

03-09-06, 02:16 PM

Crutchfields all out. The end is coming soon.... :(

Jesus.... guess I got in just in time.

I ordered mine from Crutchfield just a week and a half ago. Works perfectly so far.

Awesome set.

theanimala

03-09-06, 02:53 PM

Not sure if I have a bad DVD player, but I just got a new HDMI upconverting player and noticed that outputting 720P or 1080i results in a noticable loss of picture quality. Everything seems a bit blurred. Outputting 480P still looks sharp as a tack. Hidef through component on my HD cable box looks amazing. I expected 1080i from DVD to look similar to 480P, not several steps worse. I wasn't sure if I was alone with this...

Stinky-Dinkins

03-09-06, 03:07 PM

What player?

I'm using an Oppo set to 1080i, and it looks pretty damn good (not quite as sharp as the HD channels of course,) but it still looks better than the TV's scaler does when dealing with 480p.

njt

03-09-06, 03:53 PM

Jesus.... guess I got in just in time.

Sad to see what seems to be the end of the line... at least for now. Just this weekend I had a friend (who dropped quite a bit of moolah on a plasma) say that the 960 was the best PQ he's ever seen. C'est la vie... mp3s, mini speaker Bose soundsystems, and flat panel tvs... not my primary drivers in a home setup but I guess I can understand the trend.

justsc

03-09-06, 04:04 PM

720p IS sharper than 1080i.

Take a look at this: http://www.alvyray.com/DigitalTV/Naming_Proposal.htm
I completely disagree. I've read the linked article many, many times. In fact, I was an ardent supporter of the point being made until I got my oan 34" Sony HD set, which runs at 1080i. Interestingly, I saw almost none of the flicker and artifacts mentioned in this piece. What I see with 1080i is crisp, clean and smooth video.

720p is not sharper than 1080i. Granted, for films, PS gives a "film-like" finish to the material that interlaced cannot provide. This is as tru with 480p as it is with 720p, but it is NOT sharper.

As for the comparisons with the skull - are you sure it's the white level that's giving you grief. From what I see, the details you are describing are not white, or a flavor of white and I just have to wonder if it isn't the black-level that's in need of adjustment. You might adjust the black level a bit either way and see if you can't dial it in a little better. It could also be color decoding as in the picture the color of the details seems to be more blue than anything else - I wonder if your color decoder could use some adjustment.