The Official Sony 2006 KDS-(XX)A2000 [NO PRICE TALK] SXRD Owner's Thread

[Al-berta]

I just saw one and have been boycotting Sony for a run of bad luck with other products failiing prematurely.

But they look great without the dumbo ears, the picture is amazing and I guess I can live with the silver cabinet if I have to. I was quoted a great price and might have a 60" before NFL season starts.



Anybody know the dimensions of the base of a 60" A2000??

I have one of the all black JVC stands(similar to link) with the rotating base and want to know if it will fit on that.

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?model...hId=112&page=1

[KRiS1]

Originally Posted by mbartok

I must say that if anyone wants the A2000 at the lowest possible price they should buy from the Outpost.com deal or use a price match with another vender while thay can. That price is rock bottom and more likely than not a mistake that will be fixed when they figure it out. Snooze you lose!

If the price is a mistake, I imagine that outpost will cancel all of the existing orders as soon as they find out.

[impronto]

I just went to one Sony store in Ottawa, the only place in the city that has it on display. I was going in expecting an awesome image. Here is my take:

The A2000 and the XBR1 were right beside each other with the same feed.

Biggest thing I noticed is the most important thing to me really, and that is the SSE. The XBR1 had minimal SSE compared to the A2000. I am Canadian and watch a lot of hockey. First thing I did was to put it on a recorded hockey HD broadcast. Wow, it looked like someone sprayed the A2000 with windex and forgot to wipe it off. The XBR1 definately has noticebly less SSE.

Also, the PQ was roughly the same, but I will give the edge to the XBR1 again. It just looked better; hard to explain it. They were both running the same feed. Side by side remember. The XBR1 looked smoother and nicer overall.

We fiddled around with the A2000's settings to see if we can get a better picture, changing the IRIS, colour, and sharpness, but we just couldn't match the XBR1. For the cheaper MSRP though, I would get the A2000. But overall, the SSE I see on whites kills the set for me as I don't want to see sparkles on NHL ice.

[yet2b]

Originally Posted by impronto

I just went to one Sony store in Ottawa, the only place in the city that has it on display. I was going in expecting an awesome image. Here is my take:

The A2000 and the XBR1 were right beside each other with the same feed.

Biggest thing I noticed is the most important thing to me really, and that is the SSE. The XBR1 had minimal SSE compared to the A2000. I am Canadian and watch a lot of hockey. First thing I did was to put it on a recorded hockey HD broadcast. Wow, it looked like someone sprayed the A2000 with windex and forgot to wipe it off. The XBR1 definately has noticebly less SSE.

Also, the PQ was roughly the same, but I will give the edge to the XBR1 again. It just looked better; hard to explain it. They were both running the same feed. Side by side remember. The XBR1 looked smoother and nicer overall.

We fiddled around with the A2000's settings to see if we can get a better picture, changing the IRIS, colour, and sharpness, but we just couldn't match the XBR1. For the cheaper MSRP though, I would get the A2000. But overall, the SSE I see on whites kills the set for me as I don't want to see sparkles on NHL ice.

When walking back and forth between the A2000 and XBR1 at CC the other day, I also thought I saw "texture" on the A2000 screen that wasn't on the XBR1 screen. However, it was discernable only at 2 feet or so, and shouldn't matter at ordinary viewing distances. I don't know if I would call what I saw the SSE, so we may be talking about different things.

[umr]

Originally Posted by JasonWW

Please do. I'm just rehashing info from earlier. I thought they said it was not very noticable.

ArnCapo, scan for Sopranoes or HBO as that was mentioned in the discussion.

I did work on an A2000 this afternoon. It does do inverse telecine on 1080i material, but not of very high quality. The display also has less than 720p/1080i resolution on component and HDMI inputs unless you do some service mode tweaks. The gray scale also did not track as well below 10 percent as the XBR1 model. All in all I would prefer the XBR1 to the A2000 from a picture quality standpoint without calibration on either. With calibration the A2000 is much closer, but still not as good as the XBR1. It is also pretty clear the A2000 is using lower quality processing than the XBR1 which enhances noise.

[RTK]

umr, thanks for taking the time to evaluate the 1080i processing on the A2000. While I'm sure this won't resolve the debate on the role of the DRC chip in processing, there must be something lesser within the A2000 for 1080i processing compared to the XBR series. Whether its the DRC chip, "HD Wega Engine" or some other circuit within the display, there is a difference.

[impronto]

Originally Posted by yet2b

When walking back and forth between the A2000 and XBR1 at CC the other day, I also thought I saw "texture" on the A2000 screen that wasn't on the XBR1 screen. However, it was discernable only at 2 feet or so, and shouldn't matter at ordinary viewing distances. I don't know if I would call what I saw the SSE, so we may be talking about different things.

lol, forgot to add, i saw it as far back as 10 feet. i guess i have good eyes, but the closer you got, the more intense it got. Its very similar to the shine found on the toshiba dlps and even the A10 sonys.

[schro5150]

Originally Posted by umr

I did work on an A2000 this afternoon. It does do inverse telecine on 1080i material, but not of very high quality. The display also has less than 720p/1080i resolution on component and HDMI inputs unless you do some service mode tweaks. The gray scale also did not track as well below 10 percent as the XBR1 model. All in all I would prefer the XBR1 to the A2000 from a picture quality standpoint without calibration on either. With calibration the A2000 is much closer, but still not as good as the XBR1. It is also pretty clear the A2000 is using lower quality processing than the XBR1 which enhances noise.

Thanks for affirming my decision to go with a 2005 SXRD. All I'm interested in is PQ. For $300 more than the A2000, I'm more than satisfied.

[TulaneDoc]

Originally Posted by umr

I did work on an A2000 this afternoon. It does do inverse telecine on 1080i material, but not of very high quality. The display also has less than 720p/1080i resolution on component and HDMI inputs unless you do some service mode tweaks. The gray scale also did not track as well below 10 percent as the XBR1 model. All in all I would prefer the XBR1 to the A2000 from a picture quality standpoint without calibration on either. With calibration the A2000 is much closer, but still not as good as the XBR1. It is also pretty clear the A2000 is using lower quality processing than the XBR1 which enhances noise.

So, I take it that the A2000 owners here are either returning their sets as we speak or shitting their pants...

[TulaneDoc]

Maybe the more appropriate model number is KDS-60XBR1-lite

looks like DirecTV HD has some company in the "watered down products" department.

[cmaxwell]

Originally Posted by TulaneDoc

Maybe the more appropriate model number is KDS-60XBR1-lite

looks like DirecTV HD has some company in the "watered down products" department.

lol but when my TV arrives tommorow i might invite you over just in time for FOOTBALL SEASON

[TulaneDoc]

Originally Posted by cmaxwell

lol but when my TV arrives tommorow i might invite you over just in time for FOOTBALL SEASON

thanks, but my 50 inch A2000 should arrive on Friday. And yes, I subscribe to DirecTV for the sole purpose of getting Sunday Ticket. Gotta love that -lite!

umr's findings aside, I can't wait for 8 pm Sept. 7.

[ragtop13]

Originally Posted by impronto

I just went to one Sony store in Ottawa, the only place in the city that has it on display. I was going in expecting an awesome image. Here is my take:

The A2000 and the XBR1 were right beside each other with the same feed.

Biggest thing I noticed is the most important thing to me really, and that is the SSE. The XBR1 had minimal SSE compared to the A2000. I am Canadian and watch a lot of hockey. First thing I did was to put it on a recorded hockey HD broadcast. Wow, it looked like someone sprayed the A2000 with windex and forgot to wipe it off. The XBR1 definately has noticebly less SSE.

Also, the PQ was roughly the same, but I will give the edge to the XBR1 again. It just looked better; hard to explain it. They were both running the same feed. Side by side remember. The XBR1 looked smoother and nicer overall.

We fiddled around with the A2000's settings to see if we can get a better picture, changing the IRIS, colour, and sharpness, but we just couldn't match the XBR1. For the cheaper MSRP though, I would get the A2000. But overall, the SSE I see on whites kills the set for me as I don't want to see sparkles on NHL ice.

allright...I'm stupid...what does SSE stand for? I must be in need of a mind meld...

[mode101]

SSE = Silk Screen Effect

[UxiSXRD]

Originally Posted by TulaneDoc

So, I take it that the A2000 owners here are either returning their sets as we speak or shitting their pants...

Funny, but hopefully not the predominant reaction. I mean this set is fairly cheap compared to the initial pricing on both the XBR1 and the pricing of the upcoming XBR2. After a few months at pasture, they should be discounted accordingly and will be quite marketable in a slightly lower segment than the XBR as the "nirvana" of Sony displays.

[4servants]

When I connect my pc using dvi to hdmi the tv says its an unrecognized signal. VGA works fine but only fills about 3/4 the screen. Is anyone else using a DVI to HDMI without passing it through a receiver first?
The manual says not to connect a PC to HDMI. If I can't get full screen on my pc the set is going back.

[ragtop13]

thanks for defintion of SSE...too many accronyms and abbreviations for th brain to handle....

ordered my 55" Saturday and now am waiting patiently for 2 weeks for delivery...

remember...after you buy it today, you'll find it for less tomorrow... so buy it and enjoy and forget the pricing crap...there's always a "better" deal to be found....

[skeeball]

Originally Posted by AVBill

No, many of us want a Rolls Royce that fits into a VW Beetle frame (and we're fine to pay the Rolls' price).

If Sony cut off the Dumbo ears on the XBR2s, you would likely see many of the 60" a2000 posters here going that way. As it is, the a2000 60" form-factor is much more convenient (and arguably attractive) than the XBR2 frame. There is no best 60" Sony TV this time around. Both the a2000 and the XBR2 require compromises for many consumers.

Bill, that is something you and I definitely can agree on. Who knows, after I get my 55" delivered and do some testing, if it turns out my eye is discerning enough to notice artifacts then maybe there is a TheaterSync in my future as well. Drat.

[cankster]

Originally Posted by mvita

So, I take it you disagree? Please, do tell. I'm dying to hear someone explain why the dumbo ear cabinet isn't a piece-of-crap design that should (and probably will) go the way of the Edsel.

Look, a 60" projection TV is a big enough piece of furniture as it is. Compounding the problem by unnecessarily making it 20% wider is just idiotic. It's a bad property for any large appliance. Would you buy a dishwasher that had 6" wings on each side, and didn't wash dishes any better, just had a marginally improved rinse-aid dispenser?

He can't. No one can. Their dumb, period. End of story.

IMHO LOL.

Cankster

[4servants]

Originally Posted by 4servants

When I connect my pc using dvi to hdmi the tv says its an unrecognized signal. VGA works fine but only fills about 3/4 the screen. Is anyone else using a DVI to HDMI without passing it through a receiver first?
The manual says not to connect a PC to HDMI. If I can't get full screen on my pc the set is going back.

Here's the exact error message: Unsupported signal. check your device output

My HP 60" works fine.

[JAY102269]

Originally Posted by 4servants

Here's the exact error message: Unsupported signal. check your device output

My HP 60" works fine.

I had the same problem when I first connected my ATI card last week. Problem is in your video card settings. I'm not home right now, but if I remember correctly I had to uncheck a box that had something to do with the connection. This was on ATI Cat Cont Center though. Not sure what kind of video card you have.

[umr]

Originally Posted by TulaneDoc

So, I take it that the A2000 owners here are either returning their sets as we speak or shitting their pants...

That is not necessarily the case. When I finished working on this one the people who saw it were very impressed. They were also happy before hand.

[4servants]

Originally Posted by JAY102269

I had the same problem when I first connected my ATI card last week. Problem is in your video card settings. I'm not home right now, but if I remember correctly I had to uncheck a box that had something to do with the connection. This was on ATI Cat Cont Center though. Not sure what kind of video card you have.

Your help would be much appreciated. I have an ATI 9600 Pro. It runs 1080P fine with my other display.

[miantosca]

Originally Posted by umr

That is not necessarily the case. When I finished working on this one the people who saw it were very impressed. They were also happy before hand.

How does it compare to the Samsung HLSx87 and x88's ?

I am contemplating returning my 3rd 6188 due to smudges.

I love the set but I am holding out hope the A2000 has the same quality picture with out the smudges and better geometry.

Do you know if the A2000 has 10 bit processing or 8? I can't find it an answer anywhere.

[umr]

The A2000 looked like 8 bit quality to me. This is consitent with the old DRC processing that Sony claims is in this display.

[mledet]

I think the main thing people need to keep in mind is that no matter what you buy today, tomorrows will be better. Furthermore, if you haven't trained yourself to look for faults etc. and aren't seeing good & better sets side by side all the time you will be very happy with what you have. Rewind 7-8 years and think about how your thought you TV was the great back then. Basically, don't sell the farm to get the greatest, just get what's good enough for you and enjoy it. I think most of us would rather watch content other than calibration disc anyway.

[JMCecil]

Originally Posted by mledet

IRewind 7-8 years and think about how your thought you TV was the great back then. Basically, don't sell the farm to get the greatest, just get what's good enough for you and enjoy it. I think most of us would rather watch content other than calibration disc anyway.

Actually, I think my 13 year old anolog 61" (at least I think I bought it in 93) set looks better on the vast majority of material than 99% of the digital TVs I see in the stores. It's only been in the last year or two that enough HD content has been available to really see a clear need to upgrade. I bought top of the line at the time and have never regreted that decision. I'll do the same again, and I'll most likely get 10+ years use again.

The fact that TVs are becoming computers may have a negetive affect on the life cycle of TVs though. The tech race will probably continue to accelerate just like it did in the computer biz. Todays uber tech is tomorrows disposable tech.

[AVBill]

umr,

So it sounds like the a2000 processing is a step back from the XBR1's. How does the a2000's processing (deinterlacing etc) compare to the other competitors on the market (Sammy HL-S etc)?

Thanks!

[TulaneDoc]

Originally Posted by mledet

I think the main thing people need to keep in mind is that no matter what you buy today, tomorrows will be better. Furthermore, if you haven't trained yourself to look for faults etc. and aren't seeing good & better sets side by side all the time you will be very happy with what you have. Rewind 7-8 years and think about how your thought you TV was the great back then. Basically, don't sell the farm to get the greatest, just get what's good enough for you and enjoy it. I think most of us would rather watch content other than calibration disc anyway.

Are you making this comment in response to UMR's judgement during calibration? Of course you are. Why wouldn't anyone say something (mledet's post) of this nature before? Almost all of you in this forum (including myself) just love to feel better about your own purchase, just love to hear that the item they got rivals all others, even if its some feature or stat that they can't even use or discern.

How many posts are there that pleaed to UMR that they can't wait till he lays down his assessment of the A2000? More than you can count on your hand. Now how many of those people have responded? The truth is, these people are shitting their pants as they frantically call ABT and J & R to cancel/attempt to return their sets.

[umr]

Originally Posted by AVBill

umr,

So it sounds like the a2000 processing is a step back from the XBR1's. How does the a2000's processing (deinterlacing etc) compare to the other competitors on the market (Sammy HL-S etc)?

Thanks!

Since Samsung's current models have the best processing I have seen in an RPTV to date it is a distant second to the HLS series. I expect the XBR2 to be much a much closer competitor much like the XBR1.