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#1 · (Edited)
UPDATED: 26-OCT-2014

Ok, a LOT of problems recently, mostly because of the new vBulletin system and that the website G O O . G L is now blocked by AVS. Great.



The 2013 Sony R550(A) series TV (2K, Edge-lit, passive 3D!) have been out since April 16th, 2013.

Centralized Settings
The following block is information about getting the TV settings suggestions offered by the dedicated members of this thread.​

  1. Editable Link Shut Down 30-NOV-2013 Due to Vandalism. Sorry guys, but protecting this thing ended up being absurdly tough; the google docs spreadsheet protections had bugs in them. Perhaps I'll recheck it at some point, but this TV model is aging anyway, and there are a lot of settings in the non-editable version.

    If you have settings you really want in there, please download the blank spreadsheet (link below), fill in your settings, and PM me back with them. I'll put them into the settings spread sheet.
  2. Here is the google docs spreadsheet to settings. You can't add anything to it, so don't try. It's completely write protected (criminey, I hope anyway).
  3. If you would like to have a blank sheet to print out and record your own values, you can get it here. I would suggest keeping track of your changes by putting the date at the top of the colum. Keep it near your TV. Trust me: you will not be able to keep track of things over time and you'll suffer the horrendously painful regret of saying to yourself "now WHAT was that setting that worked so well?"

Here is a rundown of the features of the R550A and R520A.
Sony BRAVIA® R550A-series LED LCD HDTV with 3D
• Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight
• Motionflow™ XR 240 and Clear Resolution Enhancer
• Passive 3D, with 4 pairs of glasses included
• Built-in Wi-Fi for streaming connectivity, including Sony Entertainment Network™
• Screen Mirroring via Wi-Fi
• RVU (ready for full DirecTV service and HD DVR functionality without additional receivers)- and MHL(ready for mirroring second screens) -ready
• USB playback
• Screen sizes include 70-inch (KDL-70R550A), 60-inch (KDL-60R550A) and 50-inch (KDL-50R550A)

Sony BRAVIA® R520A-series LED LCD HDTV
• Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight
• Motionflow™ XR 240 and Clear Resolution Enhancer
• Built-in Wi-Fi for streaming connectivity, including Sony Entertainment Network™
• Screen Mirroring via Wi-Fi
• RVU (ready for full DirecTV service and HD DVR functionality without additional receivers)- and MHL(ready for mirroring second screens) -ready
• USB playback
• Screen sizes include 70-inch (KDL-70R520A) and 60-inch (KDL-60R520A)


 
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#2 ·
Really excited about the 70" model. Hope I can find it for under 2.2k... (Saw an authorized Sony online retailer, B&H, with pre-orders up for the 70" R520 and R550 model for about 2.7k and 2.6k, I figure a sale should drop that a bit at some point.)
 
#3 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sodaboy581  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23017963


Really excited about the 70" model. Hope I can find it for under 2.2k... (Saw an authorized Sony online retailer, B&H, with pre-orders up for the 70" R520 and R550 model for about 2.7k and 2.6k, I figure a sale should drop that a bit at some point.)

The sony page I linked to doesn't even refer to the R520. What is it?

EDIT: Nevermind. I just found it listed here: https://blog.sony.com/press/sony-product-fact-sheet-ces-2013/ . Here's the fact sheet for the 550 followed by the 520. The 520 is basically a 2D only version.
Quote:
Sony BRAVIA® R550A-series LED LCD HDTV with 3D

Large room beauty

Available in Spring

• Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight

• Motionflow™ XR 240 and Clear Resolution Enhancer

• Passive 3D, with 4 pairs of glasses included

• Built-in Wi-Fi for streaming connectivity, including Sony Entertainment Network™

• Screen Mirroring via Wi-Fi

• RVU (ready for full DirecTV service and HD DVR functionality without additional receivers)- and MHL(ready for mirroring second screens) -ready

• USB playback

• Screen sizes include 70-inch (KDL-70R550A), 60-inch (KDL-60R550A) and 50-inch (KDL-50R550A)

Sony BRAVIA® R520A-series LED LCD HDTV

Large room beauty

Available in Spring

• Brilliant Full HD (1080p) picture quality with Edge LED backlight

• Motionflow™ XR 240 and Clear Resolution Enhancer

• Built-in Wi-Fi for streaming connectivity, including Sony Entertainment Network™

• Screen Mirroring via Wi-Fi

• RVU (ready for full DirecTV service and HD DVR functionality without additional receivers)- and MHL(ready for mirroring second screens) -ready

• USB playback

• Screen sizes include 70-inch (KDL-70R520A) and 60-inch (KDL-60R520A)
 
#4 ·

I have to say that one of the things I'm NOT psyched about is the silver colored placard on the bottom bezel. Those things can annoy folks by providing a distracting reflection.
 
EDIT: Now that I've owned the 60R550A for a while, I've never noticed anything distracting with this stand or placard. The placard does not reflect a thing (it can't reflect from the screen behind it, and I haven't noticed any room reflection in it), and the bottom lip of the stand can technically reflect a little, but I've never been bothered by it, and I notice everything.
 
 
#5 ·
I believe it's the same as the R550 but it lacks 3D. Smart TV features are still there.. but this information comes from http://lcdtvbuyingguide.com/sony-lcd-tv/sony-lcd.html which may not be a reliable source.


Still both were announced at CES 2013 and are up for pre-order at B&H.
 
#6 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sodaboy581  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23018093


I believe it's the same as the R550 but it lacks 3D. Smart TV features are still there.. but this information comes from http://lcdtvbuyingguide.com/sony-lcd-tv/sony-lcd.html which may not be a reliable source.


Still both were announced at CES 2013 and are up for pre-order at B&H.

Yep, scroll up----I edited my reply to contain the official sony product fact sheet.


Odd that they don't list the thing on their other page .
 
#7 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by tgm1024  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23018157


Yep, scroll up----I edited my reply to contain the official sony product fact sheet.


Odd that they don't list the thing on their other page .
Does passive 3D have the same ghosting problem as active 3D on LCDs? If refresh rates aren't fast enough with active 3D, there's a lot of ghosting. I already know passive 3D halves the resolution, but if these TVs can do 3D without ghosting, that'd still be OK for the occasional 3D viewing.


If the 3D is poor, though, I'd just save the money and get the 2D TV (R520). 3D has pretty much already been pushed to the side in favor of 4K anyway...
 
#8 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sodaboy581  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23018241


Does passive 3D have the same ghosting problem as active 3D on LCDs? If refresh rates aren't fast enough with active 3D, there's a lot of ghosting. I already know passive 3D halves the resolution, but if these TVs can do 3D without ghosting, that'd still be OK for the occasional 3D viewing.


If the 3D is poor, though, I'd just save the money and get the 2D TV (R520). 3D has pretty much already been pushed to the side in favor of 4K anyway...

Passive has less ghosting at the expense of resolution. That is why passive will work with Sony's X900 models since half the resolution is still 2K. On a 2K set? Then you get back into the active/passive debate which generally just goes in circles. If you think LG 3D is good, then you should be fine
 
#10 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sodaboy581  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23018241

Quote:
Originally Posted by tgm1024  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23018157


Yep, scroll up----I edited my reply to contain the official sony product fact sheet.


Odd that they don't list the thing on their other page .
Does passive 3D have the same ghosting problem as active 3D on LCDs? If refresh rates aren't fast enough with active 3D, there's a lot of ghosting. I already know passive 3D halves the resolution, but if these TVs can do 3D without ghosting, that'd still be OK for the occasional 3D viewing.


If the 3D is poor, though, I'd just save the money and get the 2D TV (R520). 3D has pretty much already been pushed to the side in favor of 4K anyway...

No it hasn't. The only time you'll hear something like that is when people were talking about how all the CES-2013 buzz was 4K because 3D was no longer new. It has nothing to do with 3D no longer being wanted, or viable, or any such thing. It has not "pretty much already been pushed to the side in favor of 4K", because the two are not exclusive and have nothing to do with each other per se.
 
#14 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by tgm1024  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23042597


I'm also confused about Sony's RVU. How compatible is that with folks like FIOS and comcast currently?

RVU is a DirecTV specific/exclusive technology. It's actually pronounced R-View. Oddly enough.
 
#16 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by steve1971  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23069560


Looks alot like a Samsung design to me which I dont like. Another thing I dont care much for is Sony has turned to Passive 3D which again I have no love for. But thats just me.

Not all their models. And passive is the only reason I'm considering them again.
 
#18 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JacobC1983  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23078165


Looking forward to the 70 inch version of this set. I wonder how it compares to the sharp 70 inch 847 model

Given the specs, I'm going to assume it'll fall more in line with the LE640, now LE650 from Sharp. Regardless, I felt as though both were/are solid FP's. The one thing I'm interested to see in the 70" version on the R550 is how well it handles temporal resolution. That's the one category which I felt the Sharps fell short in and their video processing was average at best, never impressed me. On the other hand I have been continually impressed with Sony's video processing/motion handling.
 
#20 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JacobC1983  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23079420


Looking at expected pricing of the unit, I hope it exceeds the 600 series of sharp's lineup

Do you have a link to their pricing schedules for the 2013 lineup?
 
#21 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by hoozthatat  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23078667

Quote:
Originally Posted by JacobC1983  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23078165


Looking forward to the 70 inch version of this set. I wonder how it compares to the sharp 70 inch 847 model

Given the specs, I'm going to assume it'll fall more in line with the LE640, now LE650 from Sharp. Regardless, I felt as though both were/are solid FP's. The one thing I'm interested to see in the 70" version on the R550 is how well it handles temporal resolution. That's the one category which I felt the Sharps fell short in and their video processing was average at best, never impressed me. On the other hand I have been continually impressed with Sony's video processing/motion handling.


.....and their off-angle viewing. I don't know what they're using here, but in the past their PVA have exceeded most IPS panels I've seen.
 
#23 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JacobC1983  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23080193

Quote:
Originally Posted by tgm1024  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23079596


Do you have a link to their pricing schedules for the 2013 lineup?

Just going off the prices on B&H preorders

http://m.bhphotovideo.com/mobile/detail?R=925532_REG&

INTERESTING. This is the first site I've seen actually throw prices up.


The 50" is $1200

The 60" is $1750.


Huh.


I hope this set holds up technologically.
 
#25 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by BSTNFAN  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70/0_100#post_23080688

Quote:
Originally Posted by JacobC1983  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23078165


Looking forward to the 70 inch version of this set. I wonder how it compares to the sharp 70 inch 847 model

The first thing I noticed was active vs. passive 3D. Your call as to which you prefer.

Passive is why I'm considering Sony again. And (God willing) they can do as good a job as LG did with it. LG's main problem was everything ELSE with their TV's.
 
#26 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by tgm1024  /t/1460590/official-2013-sony-r550a-series-tvs-kdl-xxr550a-50-60-and-70#post_23080819


Passive is why I'm considering Sony again. And (God willing) they can do as good a job as LG did with it. LG's main problem was everything ELSE with their TV's.

I too prefer passive 3D and have been waiting for a 70"+ display. The only other one I am aware of is the soon to release Vizio M701i (ignoring the overpriced 4K displays, for now). Are there others?
 
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