Quote:
Originally Posted by
PathofNeo 
This is positive feedback. Can other owners agree here?
Yes, I'll agree. I bought the 55".
I was so paranoid about having problems or being disappointed with this set that I made the retailer write on my receipt that if the set had any problems, even problems that Sony didn't recognize as problems, I could return it, not for credit, but for refund.
I haven't had a single problem.
The set does have some blooming issues, but the only time it's really noticeable is when you have white on black credits. And the set is pretty poor off-axis. The funny thing about that is that when I would go to stores to check it out, it seemed fine off-axis, but in retrospect, it was probably because the set was in store blast mode.
It's not that the set is perfect - I'm sure that if Sony continues to make high-end sets (and there are some doubts about that) that there will be improvements in coming years. While black levels are certainly superb for an LCD, they could conceivably be even better. Audio quality using the set's built-in speakers is absurdly bad. I know with such thin sets, it's hard to produce a decent speaker, but other sets I've seen have better audio.
The web-based part of the set could use some improvements. The UI on the widgets and the web browser isn't very good. Some of the Sony-provided free content is absurdly bad. I wish there was a way to remove some of it from the menus.
One thing that does annoy me is that when I'm not using the A/V receiver, video and sound can be a bit out of sync. I can't tell whether this is a problem with the set, a problem with the cable box or broadcast or a problem with the source cable network.
The control functionality works pretty well. If I turn the A/V receiver on, the set automatically switches audio to the receiver via the HDMI audio return channel. If the set is already on and I switch the receiver to the Blu-ray input, the set will almost automatically change to the proper input. There are a few cases where switching inputs on the TV will toggle the receiver off if it's already on, but it's not a big deal.
But there have been many times when I'm watching this set and the PQ just blows me away (even on cable/broadcast) and I think, "I'm really glad I bought this". And I've never had the set professionally calibrated. I've used a few of the popular self-calibration discs and gotten it as close as I think I can. The reason I haven't gone the pro-calibration route is that I'm not sure the calibrators can get much closer. I attended the "shoot-out" at Value Electronics last summer and their calibrated set did not look better than mine. When I watch something like NBA sports and the skin tones of the players are just perfect, I love what I'm seeing. And of course, almost all Blu-rays, at least the ones I've chosen to buy, look fantastic.
There are certain filmed TV shows that look dull, but I think that's the source material.
Now having said that, it's not as good as a calibrated Kuro was. But it's damned close and less than half the price. There's no set that I'm aware of that I think I should have bought instead, although I do want to get a look at the new Panny VT-50 plasma (not that I'm considering replacing this set so soon - I kept my last CRT for over 25 years).
hate the new bezel on that tho and the UI seems totally goofy and the blacks I've seen so far don't even come close.
