Hello everyone,

So here it goes, my first post on this forum. My dillema, as the title gives it away, has been debated on this forum an endless number of times, even so, after reading a gazilion number of posts I still need a fresh look on this matter.

So before I start with the question, I just want to point out that price is somehow an issue and that the price differences between the three sets at local retail stores around my area (which is canada, ontario) is 60A2000 + $700 = 60A2020 + $1000 = 60XBR2. (60 inch is what I'm aiming for)

From what I understand the differences between the A2000 and the A2020 are mainly cosmetic (i.e. no hardware changes), and the XBR2 brings in a slightly better picture quality and some extra features (that I'm not going to list, since I'm not that interested in them; let me know if im wrong). Another question is whether the 'green bulb' effect is still an issue with the A2000 (or even A2020? since no interior changes), and this being a reason to stay away from this model and go with a more recent one (like the XBR2). By the way, I'm pretty positive that I'm not going to buy the XBR2 because of the price, I'm just using it as a benchmark for the other two models.

So right now I'm inclined towards the A2000, but if it turns out that I should wait for XBR2 to drop in price, is it worth the waiting? Or should I move towards another set, that would offer similar picture quality for the same size and around the same price range? What do you think?

Thanks

HHGregg sales rep said that the A2020 had a faster refresh rate but everything I read on the web says only cosmetic changes btw the two.

Yes, the effective difference between the A2000 and the A2020 is the case.

That's "green blob" effect I assume you are talking about. It is a problem with both the A series and the XBR2 series, although it appears to have a lower incidence in the XBR2 series. With the A series, it doesn't appear to be a massive problem but it's also seems to occur more often than one would like (ie small but not insignificant %). If you do get the problem, it can be repaired or exchanged (if it occurs out of box).

I've had my A2000 for 10 months now and it's been perfect. Whether you buy or wait is up to you but just remember that you will always have to choice to wait because there will always be a better/cheaper thing coming.

Yes, the effective difference between the A2000 and the A2020 is the case.

That's "green blob" effect I assume you are talking about. It is a problem with both the A series and the XBR2 series, although it appears to have a lower incidence in the XBR2 series. With the A series, it doesn't appear to be a massive problem but it's also seems to occur more often than one would like (ie small but not insignificant %). If you do get the problem, it can be repaired or exchanged (if it occurs out of box).

I've had my A2000 for 10 months now and it's been perfect. Whether you buy or wait is up to you but just remember that you will always have to choice to wait because there will always be a better/cheaper thing coming.

Yea 'green blob', my bad. So your saying that the % of people that are getting the problem is relatively small? That was my theory, too. I mean, I would assume that if there would be a lot of people complainig (and not just on forums like this, we are kind of a minority compared to the total # of customers), then the reviews for the set and its popularity would be affected as well, right?

I wonder if anyone around here is keeping any statistics on the problem, but then again ussually people turn to forums when they have problems, so I'm not sure how representative that number would be.

Btw, do you know how helpful Sony is with fixing the problem?

Thanks

the xbr1 thread is riddled with color uniformity post. too many to count. sony has actually extended the optical block waranty on these sets and also have been replacing them with xbr2 and a2000 after multiple OB replacements.
the xbr2 has been fairly problem free. out of 902 post on the settings and tweeks thread and 6435 in the owners thread i can remember only 4 color uniformity post.
the a2000 threads have had a few more than that.
i have not been following the 2020 thread.

again you must realize that the forums are a magnet for people having problems, rarely does anyone post about not having a problem. this is but a small sampling of consumer sales.

would you maybe find plasmas more reliable? compared to SXRD

i really cant answer on the reliability of plasmas. personally i chose an sxrd over plasma because for the price and quality of picture you cant find a comparable size screen. to clarify, a 60" plasma that has the same or better PQ will cost twice as much. you can find 60" plasma for about the same price as an xbr2 maybe less but they cant compare to the PQ of an XBR2 or the much more expensive plasmas. I'm sure plasma owners may chime in at some point and declare me wrong but i have checked them out and i know what my eyes see. also i don't care for all the glare and reflections from a plasma screen. if i had found a 60"plasma that equaled the xbr2 in PQ and price i probably could have dealt with the glare and would have bought one. I'm not a plasma basher or a basher of any technology. i have seen some awesome plasmas but at 10k i had to walk away.

BTW if you wait until the new XBR's come out this year by then we should see some deep discounts on the xbr2.

I agree with strutter on the plasmas, to get an equivalent picture quality you have to pay more. It is easier, however, to hang a plasma on a wall.

It seems that every Sunday some B&M has the SXRD on sale. But, I have never ever seen the XBR2 on sale. It is always the 2000 or the 2020. Now, I have read several reviews of the XBR2 and they all point out the performance advantages including tweakability. I will never argue against paying for more quality but, don't you all get sick and tired of ridiculous up charges for mostly hype and actually very little return for your investment? I know, it's in the eye of the beholder but how about dropping the XBR2 and upgrading the 2020? FWIW, the Pioneer 6070 can be had for the same $$$ as the 60" XBR2. Spell check really freaks out with "tweakability".

the Pioneer 6070 can be had for the same $$$ as the 60" XBR2. ".
quotes from a few people who have owned both sxrd and panny plasma:

Take it from someone that followed the herd mentality of this forum and bought a Panny Plasma on the advice of the Panny herd and found it to be the most disappointing experience and hated the Panny plasma and it had ZERO wow factor on the identical HD material a week later and I mean ZERO Wow factor - yellow whites and daytime washout and reflectiive as a mirror. My wife hated the fat form factor of the SXRD and the is the only reason it's gone, but I am still haunted by it's HD PQ and level of details that MAKE you go WoW.

BTW there was no kid gloves required - you fed it HD and it kicked ass in a way the Panny could not come close and admittedly overall I prefer my Sharp 57" but at $6.5K it still cannot match those details of the SXRD but does blow away the Panny plasma which was a POS in a sunny room also. Perhaps if you buy the Panny blind without SXRD ownership you'll never know the difference but I'm speaking as an owner of both and if you want HT WoW factor the SXRD blows away the Panny PDP and IMO most panels will, yes it's a bargain ,but is it truly if the Panny fails in HT Wow factor immersion?
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Have you PRICED a 60" 1920x1080 Plasma? They are in a whole different pricing plane and lower res (cheaper) plasmas look, well, lower res. The heat that comes off a big plasma screen can be a problem for some people also. Then there's the issue of image quality... the only plasma screen I've ever seen that I would allow in my home are the brand new Pioneer Elite models - but the prices are way out there. There is no $3000 plasma, LCD flat panel, or DLP set that comes close to the image quality you get from a 60" XBR2.

Speaking of cheaper: today, I found an open box 60A2000 for $1600. It will be delivered tomorrow. I double checked Sony's web site and they list the refresh rates for both A20xx's as 2.5 ms. I passed that on to the HHGregg sales rep and he said that he was quoting their sales mgr. I also bought a 5-yr extended warranty. Now do I skip work for the rest of the day after it arrives so that I can play with it...hmmmm

Brett

Speaking of cheaper: today, I found an open box 60A2000 for $1600. It will be delivered tomorrow. I double checked Sony's web site and they list the refresh rates for both A20xx's as 2.5 ms. I passed that on to the HHGregg sales rep and he said that he was quoting their sales mgr. I also bought a 5-yr extended warranty. Now do I skip work for the rest of the day after it arrives so that I can play with it...hmmmm

Brett


Of course you do, that's a no brainer. How you could even ask the question is beyond me. :)

Read the review of the XBR2 at "guidetohometheater.com". He provides a very in depth comparison to the 2000.

Strutter: I agree with you, the SXRD vs the Panny plasma, however the message you responded to said "Pioneer 6070", not Panny.

The Pioneer is very nice, its also expensive. If someone gave me the Pioneer, I'd have no problem watching it.

Strutter: I agree with you, the SXRD vs the Panny plasma, however the message you responded to said "Pioneer 6070", not Panny.

The Pioneer is very nice, its also expensive. If someone gave me the Pioneer, I'd have no problem watching it.


my bad :D

Read the review of the XBR2 at "guidetohometheater.com". He provides a very in depth comparison to the 2000.


link?

I do not know how to send a link. However, I did just go to that web site and the review is there for your reading pleasure. Actually, I really like the way they do their reviews. Very professional.