Sony 40" KDL-40V2500 and 46" KDL-46V2500 HDTV Thread - Page 2

bluechunks: Thanks!
artVandelae: That's what I figure too. I'm guessing the reason the v2500's are the last that'll be available is Sony wants to clear out the xbr1's (and give the bb's and cc's a chance to clear them out).... they're still going for $3k on sonystyle... w/ the 1080p 40xbr2's going for $3.5k, something has to give... I'd expect deeper price cuts on the xbr1's to get rid of the stragglers before the v2500's ship sometime in Sept.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the KDL-46V2500 in person! I've been looking at TVs since last July and I've finally made up my mind!

If this TV is even marginally better than the current KDL-46S2000, then I think it's a definite winner. I spent countless hours examining 42-46" LCDs and the 46S2000 was the best by far (PQ, contrast, viewing angles). And adding 1080p and another HDMI input just sweetens the deal!

My two cents: Knowing that one of the most important features of an LCD is a non-reflective screen, why would anyone want one with a large, reflective glass bezel? I'm so glad this TV has a dark, matte and thin bezel to "disappear" into the background.


On a totally unrelated side note, I must say that poring over this forum just about every day over the past year has made me incredibly knowledgeable about HDTV! Now 720p, 1080i, DVI, 3:2 pulldown, CCFL and anamorphic video all make sense! Thanks, everybody!

Several coworkers and friends have asked me for my help in choosing a new HDTV. Ironically, three coworkers have actually bought new HDTVs before me in the past year, then turned around asked me what the heck I was waiting for! (Even a baby only takes nine months!) Perhaps a small part of me does not want to actually pull the trigger on a purchase just because of the exciting anticipation! Well, the wait is almost over!

Yeah. 2 more years until all the programming will be in HD, and who knows how many years until that will be real HD, not upscaled 480i. Good luck!

Hopefully these sets come sooooooooooooon!

What do you mean by all, is it Cooking shows, religious programming that you want in HD?
All late night network shows plus pbs, hdnet, discovery, outdoorlife, multiple espn's, sports and music galore appear in glorious HD for me any many others! Most people don't watch TV 24 hours a day so there is more than enough HD present to enjoy on an outstanding set like the one this THREAD is ABOUT.

Hey just an update, so I was in BB just talking to a semi-knowledgable guy, and he said they have the V2500 in the system but don't expect to see them soon. They are waiting for the S2000's to disappear, and I'm like this is a different TV (1080p etc) but he said he knows but thats just the plan. The final sale date on the S2000 is like March 07. I think its a load a crap but just what he told me.

On an unrelated note I was also talking to him about the 40XBR2 and they wont sell those till like September till the XBR1 is decommisioned, however the 46XBR2 was available, damn 49" wide POS =) kidding.

I'm with you on this. Not that the xbr2/3's don't look good... wall mounted would be best I think so the floating glass has some effect. But I'm not into ostentatious. It's about the pq... the screen, not the bezel. If the xbr2/3's came with detacheable side speakers and floating glass that could be removed, (and interchangeable bezels that cost $95 and not $300) then that'd be different.

What I'm just hoping is that drc 2.5 isn't any big deal. And that sony doesn't hobble the v2500's some way. The xbr2/3's have 1080p over vga along with hdmi, so these v2500's better too!

As for the BB guy saying they wouldn't have the v2500's till 2007, then that'd be too bad for BB. If they drag their feet having new technology for sale, then they're just hurting themselves. I'll get online (after one of you does first of course ). Sony says Sept, and they've been ahead of schedule so far. I don't doubt they'll want these out for football season and christmas shopping, along w/ the ps3.

Tapeworks Texas now has preorder pricing on the 40 and 46 kdlv2500. Assuming there's no fly in the ointment in terms of functionality beyond drc2.5 (which some people in the UK forum seem to be comparing it to another Samsung DNIE), I'm about ready to make my choice. The size and cost benefit of this set is very compelling to me, where otherwise I can't afford or fit the 46xbr2/3. The only other set that can possibly sway me now is the Syntax 742i if the Optix Realta shines and the glass screen doesn't. For a 4 inch hit on screen size over the 46v2500, it would have to kick holy ass to be a justifiable choice.

I'm also hoping they keep the ability to do 1:1 pixel mapping with 1080i/p over the HDMI inputs like the XBR can. The absence of that would be a deal-breaker for me.

the weight and dimensions are not yet finalized for the v2500's and could change because sony doesn't list the right specs sometimes, they will be finalized when you get the manual.

Hey LCD what kind of shipping time frame did they give you? When does the supplier expect to see them?

Like LCD1080 I have been considering buying the XBR2 and pulling off the glass because it is too wide for my hutch. The V2500 would be a much better solution, but I do not want to step down to inferior signal processing, especially the scaling circuitry.

We know that the XBR2 has DRC 2.5 and the V2500 does not. However, it seems to me that DRC is just some fancy Sony post-processing (like Samsung's DNIE) to reduce noise and artifacts. Indeed, according to the XBR2 manual it can be turned off.

I am more concerned with determining whether the XBR2 and V2500 use the same basic scaling circuitry for converting 480i/480p/720p/1080i to 1080p. It appears that the scaler circuitry in the XBR2 is contained within the "BRAVIA Engine Pro" whereas in the V2500 it is contained in the "BRAVIA Engine."

Looking at Sony's vague description of these two circuits, it appears that the only difference may be that the Pro Engine includes the DRC 2.5 while the basic Engine does not. For the XBR2, Sony's website says:

"BRAVIA Engine PRO Full Digital Video Processor Sony improved on the great benefits of the BRAVIA Engine by adding a picture quality enhancement circuit called Digital Reality Creation Multi-function v2.5."

This implies to me that the basic scaling circuitry is the same but the XBR's Pro Engine adds DRC 2.5, which is just the defeatable picture enhancement processing that I don't think I care much about.

Anyone have any other thoughts on this?

That's my interpretation too...but I always try to remember that the sales information is usually written by technical writers, with the emphasis often more on "writer" than "technical"

:-)

Agree - don't get hung up on specs.

the specs look a little better, design is the same--looks like I must wait till Oct and see the Sony and Sharp in person before making a decision as I don't believe spec write-ups.

Initially was going with the XBR3 but the extra glass and weight is really not needed, especially since DRC 2.5 doesn't seem to be that great.

badself and lcd1080: The first two to order!! And thanks for the heads-up... I'll check out the pre-order site. So far, the early xbr2 owners haven't said anything to convince me drc 2.5 is a must have (though they've barely unpacked them of course).

Just thinking out loud... scaling and interlacing are obviously of huge importance... but I've become cynical of other types of processing such as sharpening, noise reduction, color balancing or whatever. I'm no graphics artist but whenever I've used settings on a pc (various software) to enhance an image I've ended up not liking the result.

You two are taking a chance that the v2500 specs won't have any gotcha's... but I find it hard to imagine there'll be any -- sonystyle does state clearly 1080p thru hdmi... has the same blurb as for the xbr2/3's... and mentions pc input... it'd be ludicrous for it to not also support 1080p.

The weight may not be definitive, but sonystyle highlights that the v2500's are all the quality without the bulk -- so they should be significantly lighter.

I've just about decided to get a 40v2500 (I'm only going to be 6 1/2 feet away). In my particular circumstances, it'll be in a smallish room and I expect to move. Wall mounting is out. And I've long thought that one day I'd get a nice light lcd to replace my heavy and bulky crt. I want to be able to easily move it around a room... and put in the car... not worry about toppling over. I really do want light.

I think I'm repeating myself... but I'm also thinking... a 40v2500 is less expensive, and if I want to move up to a larger lcd in the future w/ better technology, it'd still be a great 2nd set for a br or as a pc monitor or game monitor. So there's less sense of spending the farm and making a once in several years' commitment.

I have nothing against the xbr2/3's and not raining on their parade... it's a question of what's best for individual circumstances. I'm single and my gf doesn't even like coming over my place that much... so I don't really need floating glass that'd I'd probably break or chip anyway (let alone clean)! I'm liking the "all the quality without the bulk" v2500's more and more.

No pre-order on sonystyle yet, but if things follow the same pattern, that other place lists it first, then sonstyle a week or two later... and people get a couple weeks after that or early Sept.

pliesj: good analysis -- makes sense.

okay, I'm overposting... but I've been being nice... I'll be blunt... I don't know what anyone's thinking who wants shiny piano black with floating glass sticking out an inch beyond that! I saw one of the pictures and the reflections from the bezel and glass were ridiculous. Why not put some cool flashing led's around the bezel too! How about giving the screen a nice mirror like surface?! Did I mention I'm really liking the v2500's?

Personally I think the XBR2's look really sweet in gray and dont have that much reflection. The XBR3's on the other hand don't suit my taste. I like the V2500's I just hope they show soon.

so far noone is liking drc 2.5, I have yet to see pix of it on/off, I will have to head to a store CC or BB and hopefuly i can see this xbr2 in action. from what i can see, the price diff is around $ 500 from most retailers when compared to KDL46V2500.

a decent saving. if the SONY KDL46V2500 has 1:1 pixel map. over Hdmi, its a great buy.

is it confirmed that its the same screen and besides the glass and drc2.5 is it pretty much the same set.

when is the SONY KDL46V2500 going to out. i hear sept. from most dealers so far.

It could actually worsen compression and artifacting. xbr2 owners are starting to disable drc2.5 in the same way samsung owners are disabling dnie on their 95's and 96's. The fact that drc2.5 can be individualized for each video source may be a plus.

Which online retailer is quoting August 15 ship? Do you have a problem revealing the dealer from which you preordered your 40v2500? How does your preorder price compare to Tapeworks Texas, who by-the-way is knocking off an additional $100 if you preorder the v2500 this week?

I've got all the normal concerns about the DRC, and have been encouraged by the initial reports on it . But I don't know what the 1:1 pixel mapping is. Can someone explain.

Also, is there some possibility of a third 1080p input, besides HDMI, on the v2500?

LCD1080: I'm sure those are sloppy editing errors. Nothing on the xbr2/3 thread impresses me about drc 2.5 so far. I'm more concerned about vga doing 1080p and having an audio l/r with one of the hdmi's (so can use a pc as an hd source). Fairly confident this will be the case, but manufacturers do crazy things sometimes.