Sony 40" KDL-40V2500 and 46" KDL-46V2500 HDTV Thread - Page 3

Thanks for the information. From what I hear, the 40v2500 will be released shortly (perhaps a week or two) before the 46v2500. The dealer is reputable, and I'm pretty excited about the set itself.

badself: sounds good about the 40v2500... that's my model.

A couple of dumb verification questions: the screens on the v2500's and xbr2/3's and the new samsungs... they're the same from the same factory? That's been my belief from reading it somewhere.

And shouldn't the v2500 be compared to the current xbr1? I've read some comparing it to some lesser current model... but I figure this latest should be compared to last years best. Is the Bravia Engine (not the new Pro) comparable to what the xbr1 has now? This has been my thinking... xbr1 pq but with 1080p.

The glass on the v2500 and xbr2/3 does, in fact, come from Samsung's latest generation factory, and is presumed to be the same glass as the Samsung 95d /96d. I think you are correct in comparing the v2500 to previous xbr1 (with Bravia Engine), rather than comparing it to previous v2000 model. My understanding has been that xbr1 did an adequate job with SD. Further, toggling off drc2.5 may yield a less favorable result than the always operating but less intrusive Bravia engine. Sure, if information comes down the pike that Sony screwed this model up, I'll be the first to jump ship and buy the block-long 46xbr3 or even look at the more expensive Syntax 747i with the phenomenal Optix Realta processor that promises the most pristine SD picture available. Until such time, my first choice is the 46v2500 at a very justifiable price.

I'm fairly sure that's false - even the cheapest Sony LCDs have digital tuners now.

That press realease definetly makes me doubt about the tuner. But common sense says to me these have to have a tuner.

It says it has an ATSC tuner at this Sony site: (Bottom of Features page)
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...=feature&var2=

I assume it will have the same tuner setup as the S2000 series with only one coax connector and the ability to switch from analogue to digital.

Sony website lists atsc tuner for xbr2,3, and v2500. People seem to be waiting for the bottom to fall out regarding this set, I think for the person whose needs it fits (including 1:1), the set will ultimately deliver. Can the bravia engine (not pro) be toggled off? If not, I believe that SD with bravia engine is not a direct comparison to drc2.5 turned off, which presumes no processing of SD at all? Does someone have an educated guess on this?

Earlier I put together the argument that v2500 video processing should be compared to xbr1 and not bravia s2000. Upon closer observation, I learned that xbr1 has wega engine with drc-mfv1, whereas v2500 has bravia engine which is the same engine as s2000 family of sets. Based on the above, it would be presumptive of me to compare v2500 to xbr1. The more fair comparison is to the s2000. I don't think I feel so good about that.

The V2500 series TVs do indeed have an ATSC Tuner.

Actually you were probably originally right.

The new BRAVIA ENGINE TVs in all the (brief, in-store) comparisons I've done do indeed look better than the old ones with the WEGA ENGINE + DRC combo (even the S-Series models).

I did a lengthy comparison of a 40" XBR1 versus 40" S model today at Fry's in Arlington, Tx. My finding is that the S has a brighter more lifelike picture with better flesh tones and superior accuracy of depth than the XBR1. I would imagine the V2500 is a definite improvement on the S series.

Okay, now I'm confused. The XBR1 (the past year's gold standard for 720p lcd's) and which is a Bravia has some Wega engine, while S2000's have the same or similar Bravia engine as the V2500's...

So are the S2000's better than the XBR1's (seems I've read some posts that weren't too impressed)? If not, then is it because the Wega engine is better than the Bravia engine? Or because they have different screens? I don't really know anything about the S2000's.

The price diff between the xbr2 and v2500 is abt. 0.5k... nice, but not a big deal. I figure this is for floating glass, fancy bezels, better remote... and some extra tweaking noise reduction/sharpening stuff (and 1 less hdmi). BUT, absent the fancy stylistic stuff and w/ drc 2.5 off, I'm anticipating the same quality. After all, sony's OWN BLURB states: all the quality without the bulk (or somesuch).

I'm looking for the v2500's to be as good as the xbr1's but with 1080p; to be the same as the xbr2/3's with a 1080p source (and hopefully the same at 1080i and 720p with or at least without drc 2.5). It's hard for me to imagine Sony would do 1080p with the SAME screen as their top of the line, but hobble it w/ processing or lack thereof to make the pq for 720p and SD not as good as their last year's model.

Just looking at sonystyle. The xbr1 has a Wide Color Gamut (WCG-CCFL) backlight; there's no mention of this for the s2000; both the new xbr2/3's and v2500's have this.

It could be the v2500's are the replacements in sony's pecking order for the s2000's, and the xbr2/3's for the xbr1. But it _could_ also be that the v2500's are as good or better (outside of resolution) as the former top-of-the line model. We just haven't got it nailed down yet...

lyris: you're saying the new 1080p V series (that you've seen in the UK?) look better than the xbr1 (or last year's x) and s series? You also seem to imply the s is better than the xbr1 ("even the S-Series models"), yet the S is priced lower than the xbr1. Or are you saying the new X series look better than the old X and S (which would be expected)?

lcd1080: I agree, that picture looks great... and reminds me of the xbr1 (which you may have guessed I really like). I have inkjet prints of the models up on my wall (am looking at as I type), and the v2500's do have a two-tone appearance... a lighter grey where the speakers are, and dark grey bezels with a silverish outside trim... which fits with your picture. The xbr2 pictures are much lighter... even lighter than the speaker area on the v2500.

Abt shows mid-September arrival for 40v2500 and late September for 46v2500. Unfortunately, their delivered preorder price on the 46v2500 is $1300 more than the price I locked down from my dealer. In fact, their price is within $100 of the 46xbr2, which leads me to believe it is a misprint. BTW, I saw the 46xbr2 in person this evening at BB in Glen Burnie, MD at somewhat of a sale price. The silver is acceptable, as is the floating glass. It is lexan or plastic, not glass as a previous poster in the xbr2/3 thread noted. Viewing angle was phenomenal. Set was being fed from Toshiba HD dvd player, and was IMO comparable or marginally better than the Samsung lns4095d. The ultimate king of the hill was, however, the 1080p Pioneer plasma, period (msrp 10k). Back to the 46v2500, I still prefer its size and aesthetics over the xbr2, hands down. One word of caution, if you're on the fence between 40 and 46, I guarantee the 40 will shrink on you over time. Had I ordered the 40 prior to seeing the 46 in person, I would have been crying the blues. I nearly bought the 46xbr2 last evening at BB, but the damn thing is so long, and I'm still committed to the 46v2500 barring any adverse information that may materialize.

Is TapeWorks Texas an authorized Sony dealer? I checked out the sony site...but my search came up empty handed

Tapeworks works under a parent company that is Sony authorized, thus rendering them an authorized dealer. Brian Poole at tw can give you specifics. I actually remember reading a thread while back that posed the same question, wish I could locate it again. Bottom line, it will be an authorized purchase.

Thanks badself! I think I may give Brian a call and put a pre-order in on the 46v2500

Just happened to look at the manufacturer label on the 46xbr2 I saw yesterday at BB. The set was manufactured July, 2006 in Mexico. Will all the Bravias be coming out of Mexico? I assume every Sony and Samsung glass is manufactured in Japan, with the final assembly point being somewhere inside Mexico. I hope the build quality and reliability prove better than say, the xbr960n, phenomenal a set as it is in terms of PQ.

If I may, let me clear up some model confusion.

The S2000 is an S series set which will remain the entry-level LCD set. It is not being replaced by the V2500.

The XBR1 is a V series set. In every region except for the US/Canada it was known as the KDL-V1000. The V2500 is the direct sucessor to the XBR1 model wise.

The XBR2/3 is an X series set and the current top of the line.

From what I gather, the XBR1 used the Wega Engine because the Bravia Engine simply wasn't ready yet. The fact that every new LCD coming out uses the Bravia Engine / Bravia Engine Pro should say something about it.

As for the S2000 vs XBR1 comparisons I have a feeling that anyone who saw huge differences was either looking at a calibrated vs non-calibrated set or was simply blinded by marketing. There isn't that much difference provided both units have similiar settings.

LCD1080, seeing as you also reside in Baltimore, have you talked to any of the local brick and mortars regards the v2500? Aside from online, I'm not finding anything out there locally. Only other place I can think to check is Tweeter. Since they'll be handling the xbr3, perhaps they'll be handling the v2500 (although for a pretty penny, I'm certain).