Official Sony XBR2 (60" & 70") Owner's Thread

are you using some kind of clip on stand for you center channel?

how does the SSE (Silk screen effect) compare to the XBR1?

WooHoo!

Congratulations and best wishes for a glob, blob and haze-free experience. Looks great without those side speakers, too.

Your willingness to keep us posted as you become more familiar with the set is very much appreciated.

That is exactly what I need..Thanx!

I am mostly interested in seeing how this set compares to the A2000's. Right now I am contemplating getting a 60" A2000 or XBR2.

Mix,

First, congratulations, and thanks for posting all this! Hopefully I'll have mine in this week.

If you get a chance, could you please measure from the set's base to the bottom of the screen? I need to figure how how tall a stand/platform I need under the set to line up with my cabinet. Thanks again!

eric

Nice setup! Looks good with the black stand and speakers.

what are those 4 input looking things to the left of the floating lights?

Congrats MixDoctor! Thanks for the pics and keep them coming!

That's my question as well.

The other thing I'd like to know about is how the black level compares to the XBR1 and A2000.

Mixdoctor (or any other new XBR2 owner who can take some of the pressure off MD):


A near-universal complaint with big screen microdisplay technology has been the relatively inferior quality of SD signals.

Your new 70XBR2 now has a dedicated mode for enhancing SD: "DRC Mode 2." Would you please experiment with this and give us your opinion? The function is described on or about P:50 in your manual.

Additionally, your new 70XBR2 now allows "DRC Palette" functionality for 480p and 720p signal sources, another thing the XBR1's couldn't do. Again, on or about P:50 in the manual. Would appreciate your checking this out too when possible.

Actually, any commentary you can provide relating to the new DRC2.5 processing would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

Mixdoctor,

Great Inputs on your new XBR2.
Could you look again at the base and see if it is not actually floating a bit above your table's glass surface. To do this slide a piece of 8x10 paper under the front and sweep it across the entire front. When I did this to the a2000 and my XBR1 I found the base is actually sitting on recessed and hidden feet.

Thanks
KT

I too feel the new v2.5 DRC should be of significant help with Standard Definition TV and 480i DVD sources.

So. .Mixdoctor.. Mr Foo ..and any other new owners. Here is my take on how the new DRC is intended to work.
I hope this additional explanation of the new DRC may be of some help.

DRC: The XBR2 is different from the earlier XBR1 and a2000. There are 2 modes available with their own Matrix adjustments. The trick here is to use these controls the way Sony intended when they designed V2.5 DRC. Based on limited tests on a new XBR2 LCD set quipped with the V2.5 chip I suggest the following:

For HD shows from Component or HDMI inputs (including for the first time 720P as well as 1080i) use Mode 1. Do not use Mode 2--it has filters that will degrade the high frequency response to something more suitable for DVDs (about 5-6 mHz).
DRC Palette: For high Quality HD shows like Conan O'brion or SNL or for HD DVD disks I suggest using about 50/1, or 75/1 (50 Reality and 1 Clarity). If the show is noisy or poorer in quality to those mentioned try setting the DRC palette to 1/1 (off)

For DVD 480i sources scaled within the player to 1080i and fed into the set via the HDMI connection use Mode 2. Note that this mode is only available when the input format is 1080i. This new -specially designed mode should reduce the presence of spurious noise and the sharpness behavior of the DRC matrix should be more suited to DVDs. DRC Palette: You will have to experiment with this- and it will be program or DVD movie dependent

For Standard Definition shows scaled from 480i to 1080i and fed to the set via HDMI at 1080i (or for SD programs with the internal tuner) -set the DRC to mode 2. DRC palette; Again, experiment with each source.

If you must use a DVD player with only component 480i or 480p output -use Mode 1. Mode 2 is apparently not available.

Hope this helps a little. As with others, I am looking foreword to your tryout comments on the new DRC with DVDs and SD sources.

KT

DaYam, MD... I love that TV.
Are you worried about the mount causing preasure on the rear cabinet and causing warping? Just curious. And this post will allow me to subscribe to the thread......

Thanks Mixdoctor. Your stand is not the designated Sony unit I see. Can you tell us the location of the TV inputs i.e. distance from the left or right edge of the cabinet and distance from the bottom of the TV. Some of us need to calculate what cable lengths are needed. My 70 XBR2 arrives next week. Appreciate your help and pics.

BTW: Where in the hell are you MR. Foo...... I wanna see that TV... Did ya get it? Alabama is losing to FL right now so you getting this TV and me seein' more pics is all I got to look forward to this afternoon.....

Thanks Mixdoctor for the photos. Looks really nice with the speakers off (darn I wish I had room for a 70" set instead of a 60"!)

Yes, these are the two biggest concerns out there for most potential-purchasers.
Comments, please.

Suggestion:
Use Toshiba HD DVD player for playing standard DVDs.
Connect player to XBR2 with HDMI.
Set the player to output 1080i.
Select the Toshiba input -the set will display briefly 1080i. Select DRC mode 2 and then go to the DRC Palette and try adjusting the the ball to 50/1. This mode may add some edge enhancement because it is designed for SD signals. Don't overdo it (bring it down closer to 1/1). You can further change the edge enhancement with the Sharpness control. Hopefully you will see high quality DVC playback if your disk is good to begin with.

KT

Mixdoctor, if I understand you correctly, sounds like so far the XBR2 is really not much of a step up in overall picture quality from the XBR1? Any impression in how it compares in picture (sd and hd) to an A2000 (60")?

Mixdoctor--

What set(s) have you had previously, other than the XBR1? It'd be nice to hear comparisons to other display technologies like RP CRT.

I'm moving from a Pioneer Elite 510HD, so I might be a bit spoiled when it comes to PQ and convergence. I hope the XBR2 comes close. (At least its deinterlacer won't have the annoying bug in the red channel.)