Sony BRAVIA Z Series KDL-52Z5100 52-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV

January 21, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

Enjoy the latest in HDTV performance with the Sony BRAVIA Z-Series, featuring Motionflow 240Hz technology for maximum motion detail and clarity, plus broadband internet connectivity with built-in BRAVIA Internet Video capabilities, that let you view select on-demand movies and TV shows and listen to music and more, and even lets you personalize your entertainment experience by selecting and positioning widgets containing the latest news, weather, sports and more directly on your TV screen.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #11404 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Sony
  • Model: KDL-52Z5100
  • Dimensions: 30.87″ h x 3.37″ w x 49.00″ l, 57.50 pounds
  • Display size: 52

Features

  • 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920×1080)
  • BRAVIA Engine 3 fully digital video processor
  • Motionflow 240Hz
  • BRAVIA Internet Video/Widgets
  • XMB w/ enhanced 3D Favorites Menu

Customer Reviews

Great HD Picture w/o Glossy Screen Reflections5
Love the HD picture quality (PQ) of the Samsung 52B750, but don’t watch TV in cave and don’t want to deal with all those reflections off a glossy screen? Well, the Sony 52Z5100 is the answer. HD PQ with the Z5100 is excellent with great black levels, but without the “shaving mirror” reflectivity of the screen during dark or black scenes. We were looking at the 52B750, based on reviews and seeing it at UE, but after testing our viewing room at various times of day with a glass picture frame and our “bright screen” LCD notebook, it was obvious that the reflections would drive us crazy over the life of the TV. We have two older HDTVs, both with matte screen and we don’t miss the reflective glass screens of the old CRT TVs. The 52Z5100′s screen is best described as semi-matte. Un-powered, the screen is reflective though dull. Power it up and there are essentially zero reflections, even with very dark scenes. What ever Sony has done to defeat reflectivity and minimize glare, it works very well.

As to performance, PQ with HD sources (OTA DTV and Dish HD) is as good as it gets, absolutely excellent and easily equal to the Samsung B750 (we viewed the Z5100 side-by-side with the B750 and the XBR9 at UE and couldn’t discern any difference in HD PQ). Blacks are excellent and shadow detail is the best I’ve seen on a TV. No flashlights, clouding, or uneven lighting across the screen. Color realism and saturation are excellent. Viewing angle is average or typical of CCFL LCDs, which is about 45 degrees off center. Not bad and much better than the LED LCDs, which could be important if you plan to show off your new HDTV with a Super Bowl party next February (not everyone can sit right in front of the TV to see great PQ, like they have to with the LED LCDs).

We’re just thrilled watching Starz and Cinemax HD movies, prime-time HD drama on the major networks, any live HD broadcasts, and especially any live HD sporting even broadcasts. The WOW factor is back! Can’t wait for the NFL season to start. We watched the men’s and women’s French Open finals via live, OTA, HD DTV, with the Scene setting set to “Sports (MotionFlow on High, 240 Hz) and it was like we were standing behind Roger Federer on the court. BTW, the on-board ATSC digital tuner in the Z5100 is excellent. It is obviously of the latest generation as it is the most sensitive and most stable of any of our DTV tuners, including the Zenith CECBs we bought for our old, remaining CRT TVs. If you buy the 52Z5100, try hooking up an antenna to it and see what you can get. The uncompressed live HD from an OTA antenna is something to behold.

PQ from non-BD DVDs is excellent. Upscaled DVD movies on my Sony 1080p upscaling DVD player look as good as many of the HD movies on the pay HD movie channels. I don’t have a BD player yet and with the PQ of my upscaled DVDs, I probably won’t get one until the price drops substantially.

PQ from SD sources is a mixed bag. It really depends on the source. Decent 480i stuff comes across excellent, but some older video and movies look pretty bad and the MPEG Filter and CineMotion filter don’t do much to help regardless of which setting you use. I’d give this set Average to a little above average on SD PQ. Using the MPEG filter set to Medium or Low improves bad SD video over no filter at all.

I’d rate the on-board sound system as above average for flat panel HDTV sound systems, even though I typically us the sound from my DD7.1 sound system. I don’t do games, so I can’t comment on that.

As for the internet connectivity, I’m not impressed. I’ve surfed through most of what is offered and it isn’t worth much. A nice universal remote comes with the set. On-screen menu is poorly arranged (not intuitive, not logical, redundant in places).

Overall, I can’t see anyone being disappointed if they buy this LCD HDTV and your friends will be impressed as well.

Great LCD Television4
This display was sent to me by Sony to replace my KDS-R60XBR2. I had to have the optical block replaced three times. The bonus was that I got to keep it as well. The set arrived this past Friday and when I un-boxed it, I was immediately taken by its no-nonsense sexy look. I consider flat panel TVs to be a work of art, even when they are not running.

I placed a Blu Ray copy of Digital Video Essentials in my PS3 and an HD DVD copy in my HD-XA2. I calibrated the TV, which was a breeze since there are so many HD inputs and they can be set completely independent of the other. Also, surprisingly, the set was pretty close out of the box. Something out of the ordinary that I noticed, though. Out of all of the Sony TVs that I have owned, the Warm 2 setting seemed to be closer to 6500 K. On this set, I found neutral to be much closer to the desired color setting. Other than putting it in standard mode (another out of the ordinary setting for me, on other Sony’s, custom seemed to be the way to go) and changing a few things, it looked fantastic. The black levels, eye popping 3D effect and the razor sharp detail are awe inspiring.

Make sure you turn off settings such as Clear White. As far as Noise Reduction, that’s your personal preference, I turn most ‘enhancement’ circuits off anyway. On this particular set, I noted that Noise Reduction had very little effect on the picture, anyway. Also, turn off the MPEG Noise Reduction. It seems to actually decrease screen resolution but I could be wrong. On a set that can achieve a 100,000 to 1 contrast ratio, it’s easy to get carried away with Advanced Contrast Enhancer, so be careful and set it on low or off. The same goes for the Black Enhancer.

I have no complaints about the 1080p performance of this TV. It is top notch. Even over the air HD looks fantastic. I have actually ‘cut the cable’ and am only getting OTA content, IPTV such as PlayOn and TVersity Pro, Blu-Ray and HD DVD. Of course, SD looks awful but this is no fault of the TV. Garbage in, garbage out, as it where and the larger the set, the worse it’s going to look.

I cannot comment on the audio since I have a 5.1 surround system but I have read other reviews that the sound is acceptable. I would assume that most people who spend over $1000.00 on a display have at least a home theater in a box, anyway.

I would have absolutely no problem recommending this television. I see no reason to spend $300.00 more on the XBR9. When I saw them side by side, I did not notice any difference. I’m sure there is some benefit to the Wide Color Gamut backlighting, it’s just not perceptible to the naked eye. We have come so far with display technology, that with what would have cost thousands more for the same quality and feature set just a couple of years ago can be had for a very reasonable price now.

BTW, don’t let anyone tell you that the Samsung sets are so much better than Sony’s. In my opinion, they do so much video processing that the picture doesn’t even look natural. Sure, you can crank it up with the 52Z5100 but you certainly don’t have to. The glare with the Samsung screens is unbearable, in my opinion.

All in all…I couldn’t be more happy having this display in my home. The quality is absolutely jaw dropping. There are no ‘clouding’ issues and not a ‘flashlight’ effect was to be found.

One more thing…I really like the Cinemotion and Motionflow technology. I really don’t see much of a difference between this set’s 240 hz frame rate and TVs that incorporate 120 hz. I’m sure the same thing will be true about LG’s new 480 hz displays.

Another thing…I meant to give this TV 5 stars. I can’t figure out how to change it!

Awesome TV5
I got this model after some serious research on SonyStyle and reading some reviews here on Amazon. It is indeed true that this model is almost EXACTLY the same as the higher-priced XBR9. In fact I was looking at the XBR9 until I found out about this model.

I’ve had this TV for about 3 weeks and I am happy with my purchase. The quality is awesome, but admittedly I’m not a tech-freak so I don’t have gobs of HDTV experience to compare it to.

Also, the built-in speakers are rather dull, but when you invest in this sort of TV you are expected to buy a speaker system to compliment it, so this is really a moot point.

If you want to save $500 while getting an awesome model of a Sony TV, this is the model to get.

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Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W3000 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

January 20, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

Step into a world where high performance meets high style. Step into the world of the BRAVIA W-Series Full HD 1080p LCD TVs. Take all of the performance technology and great features from our V-Series televisions and add five more significant features ¿ x.v.Color, Deep Color, backlit remote control, a 3rd HDMI input on the side and brushed metal design. BRAVIA models push picture quality performance beyond the limitations of the current video sources. The W-series features advanced connectivity to answer this need. x.v.Color is Sony’s name for the xvYCC option available in the HDMI 1.3 spec. x.v.Color greatly broadens the color space input capabilities to include 1.8 times as many natural colors as existing HDTV signals have and it is a perfect companion for select ’07 HD camcorders. Deep Color (another HDMI v1.3 option) input capability works with the 10-bit processor and panel to deliver 64 times the level of color expression versus current 8¿bit systems and can help enhance your PlayStation¿ 3 enjoyment. Wrap all of this up with an elegant a new brushed metal picture frame design and there’s nothing like W-Series HDTVs.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #27186 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Silver
  • Brand: Sony
  • Model: KDL52W3000
  • Dimensions: 39.72″ h x 54.84″ w x 17.65″ l, 164.00 pounds
  • Display size: 52

Features

  • 10-bit 16:9 Full HD 1080p Panel (1920×1080 resolution): Picture Frame Styling/Distinctive Brushed Metal Finish
  • 24p True Cinema (24p Input Capability via HDMI)
  • Live Color Creation system with WCG-CCFL backlight
  • Connections: 3 HDMI; 1 S-Video input; 2 Component Video; 3 Composite Video Inputs; 1 RS232 Control; 1 Digital Audio Output; 1 PC Video Input
  • 1,800:1 on-screen contrast ratio

Customer Reviews

Great choice5
I spent many moths reading up on LCD and Plasma HDTVs and visiting every local showroom multiple times. Also reading all the posts on AVS for every TV of interest. I had held of purchasing a TV because I felt the 120Hz sets were likely to be the first ones I would consider due to motion blur. Those came out and I started doing live compares and reading the posts and reviews on various sites. It became apparent that a) the non-120Hz sets are doing very well with motion blur these days and b) 120Hz doesn’t really help with motion blur to any noticeable extent (but adds a lot to the price). I argued with myself for a long time but decided even though 120Hz felt like “insurance” on image quality there just wasn’t evidence to really support it. I looked at Sharp, Samsung etc. as well as comparing the 52″ W3000 and XBR4. I ultimately settled on the W3000 from a local store so I could return it if I was disappointed after viewing it. I never once considered returning this thing as the picture quality is phenominal (on HD and good quality SD feeds). No clouding, no banding, no dead pixels, nor any of the other horror stories you read about in reviews on every brand. As one review I read some time ago said, the PQ on these sets is so high you can find yourself glued to the set watching some show that is of absolutely no interest to you but which has great HD imagery. I’ve kept following AVS posts on the main brands I considered and on the whole the W3000 maintains a strong positive set of feedback. I recommend it without hesitation. I have my paired with a Toshiba A20 for 1080/24p output and it is a great and troublefree combination.

Yabba Dabba Dooo5
I purchased the Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 52″ TV from Amazon.com after reading reviews that this TV is as sharp as the XBR’s and the Samsungs. I’ve heard and have personally experienced problems getting parts from Samsung. Even under warranty, you dont want to have to wait weeks for parts. So I bought the Sony and it blows away my expectations. Here is my setup:

Sony TV is plugged into an APC AV H15BLK Power Conditioner (also purchased from Amazon.com) because my home has substandard RG59 wiring which is susceptible to harmonic interference. I also have problems with minor power fluctuations. Even though the power conditioner is a surge protector, I plugged it in to a panamax Max 2 surge protector so it will take the hit in the event of a surge and not screw up my $380 power conditioner.

The picture is clean and amazing. I cant wait for the superbowl. HD programming is supurb. Regular programming is good as well. I use the vivid mode for cartoons, standard for regular TV, and cinema or my custom settings for football. Setting the TV on cinema or customizing it will smooth out the picture for fast moving sports.

The sound is great in custom mode. Just crank up the voice boost. It wont interfere at all in regular programming and it is absolutely wonderful when watching the news. The difference between the regular sound and custom sound is very noticeable so by all means customize it the way you like it!

Be sure to only use HDMI 1.3 Category 2 cables because this TV has the capability to separate the colors more for a better picture, but only if you use cables that are compatible.

I was concerned about late delivery because I had scheduled Eagle Delivery to come on New Years Eve and the installer was coming on New Years Day. When Eagle didn’t arrive by early afternoon, I gave the local warehouse a call and they put me in touch with the delivery supervisor who gave me the driver’s cell phone. I was able to do some shopping and made an appointment directly with the driver for 9pm. He showed up just after 9pm. I praise Eagle’s responsiveness to my needs.

Eagle is now part of CEVA Logistics and you can track your package or call the customer service number for your local warehouse once your package gets there (www.cevalogistics.com).

My recommendation is to purchase from Amazon.com. I’ve read a lot of reviews that state that people spent the extra money to buy from a big box store. All you are doing is spending more money AND paying sales tax to boot. As for me, I will continue to buy from Amazon.com and have CEVA deliver it to my door. Yes I was fortunate that the TV has NO dead pixels, but then I’ve never seen a dead pixel in a Sony TV although I have seen some in the smaller Samsungs. I usually check all of the high end TV’s when I’m at my local warehouse store and havent found a single dead pixel in any Sony TV of any size. It does happen according to the delivery driver, but Sony is pretty good about purchasing only the highest quality samsung LCD screens.

Stop your indecision and buy this TV. You will thank me for it! I’ve already received almost $120 back due to Amazon’s 30 day price guarantee!

Got HD? (Sony KDL-52W3000) 4
Strengths: Razor sharp 1080p and 1080i, wide viewing angles, vivid “Live Color Creation”, many connectivity options, anti-glare screen, excellent value.

Weaknesses: No 120Hz refresh rate. No LED backlight illumination.

Summary: Buying a large screen LCD TV online can be daunting. Luckily, I’ve gotten a great holiday deal from an online merchant back in Dec. 2007 and CevaEagle Global delivered it quickly and without damage.

Like most informed consumers, I did lots of research online and visited local stores to compare different brands. I decided on mid-tier models for heavy-duty family room viewing and narrowed down to the Sony KDL-52W3000 and Sharp LC-52D92U. The Sharp has better contrast, black shade levels, and 120Hz refresh rate while the Sony has better color and stock audio. The Sony won because I use stock audio 75% of the time and costs less.

My KDL-52W3000 is connected to Directv HD DVR (HDMI), Sony Blu-ray Disc player (HDMI), Panasonic 5.1 HTIB (component and optical digital audio), and Wii(component). Satellite HD (1080i-interlaced) are crisp and detailed (can see one strand of hair sticking out on newscaster) Blu-ray discs (1080p-progressive) are just eye-poppingly, retina-scorchingly sharp. Stock audio sounds good set on Dynamic with S-Force Front Surround. However, not quite as good as the HTIB (which I’ll upgrade soon for even better sound). My kids and I are happy with the Wii’s 480p resolution set to Vivid. The downside to all this HD is all the SD(standard definition) channels look blurry but can be somewhat enhanced by using Vivid picture setting.

Being an avid NBA and NCAA hoops fan, I was a bit concerned with the lack of 120Hz refresh rate. However, I initially noticed some occasional blurring during quick movements and turning off Noise Reduction and MPEG noise reduction has made it a non-issue. The satellite HD-DVR is set to 16:9 standard format while the TV is set to Full (wide mode). This stretches out most SD channels but the HD channels are all in correct proportion with the occasional boxes on the sides (set by station). The Lack of LED backlight means some uneven lighting during dark scenes and fading to black. Turning off “Gamma” and “Clear White” in advanced picture settings has helped minimize occasional graininess / screen noise with varying shades of black. Also, LEDs last longer than fluorescent backlight but by that time I’ve already upgraded.

By no means a perfect large screen LCD HDTV, the KDL-52W3000 delivers a powerful punch with excellent value, above-average picture and sound, plenty of connectivity options, and lots of setting options for those who like to tinker with electronics to set personal preferences.

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Sony BRAVIA XBR Series KDL-52XBR9 52-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV, Black

January 20, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

Experience powerful performance and superior design with the Sony BRAVIA XBR9 HDTV, featuring Motionflow 240Hz technology for maximum motion detail and clarity, plus broadband internet connectivity with built-in BRAVIA Internet Video1 capabilities that let you view select on-demand movies, TV shows, music and more, and even lets you personalize your entertainment experience by selecting and positioning widgets containing the latest news, weather, sports and more directly on your TV screen.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #6587 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Sony
  • Model: KDL-52XBR9
  • Dimensions: 29.37″ h x 3.37″ w x 49.00″ l, 57.10 pounds
  • Display size: 52

Features

  • 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920×1080)
  • BRAVIA Engine 3 fully digital video processor
  • Motionflow 240Hz
  • Live Color Creation technology w/ WCG-CCFL backlight
  • USB to view photo/music/video

Customer Reviews

Impressive.5
This is a very impressive TV. It replaces a 34-inch Sony WEGA tube-based high-def television that I bought in 2003, and I have an XBR6 in another room.

Picture quality is very good. I’m not an expert and won’t quibble about technical details. All I know is that I can see the makeup that doesn’t completely cover the news anchor’s face, and I can examine his dental work. That’s probably more than I really need to see. :-) The picture seems to pop out into the room, and that effect is enhanced by the TV’s narrow frame. There’s a little bit of what I guess is called “mura” when there is no picture on the screen, but it’s hardly noticeable and vanishes completely when a picture appears, even if the picture doesn’t occupy the entire screen. Not an issue at all.

Sound quality is also very good. I use a separate speaker and amp system if I’m watching something where sound is especially important, but the built-in speakers here serve their purpose quite well and are amply adequate for routine use.

For me the most interesting thing is the ethernet connection, though this is not for browsing the ‘net. Sony is still in the process of updating its internet presentation, but I have used the TV to download high-definition movies from Amazon, and it worked very well. Some competition in that space would be useful. Why no NetFlix access? (8/4/09: After an automatic software update last night there’s a NetFlix logo and a message that NetFlix access will be available in the fall.)

With movies and TV programs available from Amazon and others, with the Bravia’s expanding internet access, and with local broadcast stations offering multiple digital channels with different content, this TV could compete with cable and DirecTV. DirecTV’s limited selection of pay per view movies just cannot compare to this. Also, the increasing capability for “a la carte” purchase of program episodes currently available only through DirecTV (or other cable or satellite providers) will reduce the value of my monthly subscription. Really has made me consider my DirecTV subscription.

The XBR9 can retrieve photographs (or music or movies) from my computer via my home ethernet network, or from a flash drive plugged into a USB port, so I’ll be able to make lots of people view my photographs and slide shows! (Of course, seeing your photos on this screen in superb color and detail will necessitate another visit to Amazon to upgrade your collection of photography paraphernalia.)

One little quibble: there’s a panel of switches located on the right side at exactly the position where I put my hand to move the TV on its mount (Amazon shows an image). Sure would have been thoughtful of Sony if they could have provided some kind of protective device to make it a little harder to accidentally flip one of those switches when I’m trying to adjust the position of the TV.

Finally, and this is important: I installed it using a Sanus wall mount Sanus Systems VMAA26B Universal Articulating Mount with Extended Reach for 30″ to 50″ Displays (Black). The TV has a lot of mass, and if the cables reach their limit while the TV is still moving, something has to give. So be careful to leave enough slack in the connecting cables to allow the TV to move freely throughout its range. That’s especially important with the coaxial antenna cable that screws into its connection and can’t merely be pulled out, but it seems possible that you could also damage other connectors, including the HDMI connections.

I love this television5
This is my first ever review and my first leap into the hdtv arena. I’ve been waiting for quite some time to purchase an “almost perfect” tv at a great price. Had my eye on the 55xbr8 which probably has a superior picture because of its LED backlighting. Also in the running was the super slim Samsung B8000. I ruled out the Samsung because of its limited connectivity and a review written by the owner of one which stated that the edge backlighting caused a halo effect around the tv in a darkened room. I decided to go with the 52xbr9 because of its moderate depth, hidden speakers, built-in internet video and widgets, and much more resonable price than the 55xbr8.

I’ve had this baby for 3 weeks and I’m still in the process of learning about how to get the best out of it. Out of the box, I was blown away by how great the picture looks. HD channels really come alive. SD channels are just ok. DVD’s look great, with a little added help from my Oppo dvd player. Haven’t purchased a blu-ray player yet. Built-in internet video quality ranges anywhere from outstanding to extremely poor. That all depends on the source content and your connection speed. Because of its florescent backlighting, this tv generates a lot of heat. The longer it’s on, the warmer the room feels. The owners manual warns against enclosed installations and advises a free air space of 4 inches on boths sides and bottom and 11 7/8 at the top to prevent heat damage or possible fire. If you’ve been thinking about putting this tv in a tight spot, please don’t.

I wall-mounted this tv in my bedroom above the dresser in place of the mirror. My bedroom is 12×12 and no, this tv is not too big. Keep in mind that probably half of all viewing on a widescreen tv will not fill the entire screen without distorting the picture, so the bigger the tv, the happier you’ll be. My favorite thing of all is the pc input. I have it connected to a pc in the next room which has dual monitor display capabilities. The pc display quality is outstandingly sharp. I’m now able to lounge in bed and surf the net on the big screen using my Gyration wireless compact keyboard and air mouse ( all purchased from Amazon at a great price btw). I’m also able to stream all the Netflix movies I want via pc at no additional cost than my $8.99 monthly membership. Surprisingly, Netflix streaming video quality is usually very good.

The bottom line….This is a fantastic tv. Sound quality is very good for a flat panel, especially in surround mode. Speakers are on the bottom of tv (not the back) and are of decent size. Amazon had the best price and more importantly, they can be trusted. Black levels aren’t quite as dark as with tvs with LED backlighting but the picture is still quite good. Shipping was fast. Amazon’s customer service kept me well informed with the status of my shipment and Pilot delivery service was very easy to work with. If you’ve been playing the waiting game to purchase a great HD television as I have…you need not wait any longer.

UPDATE…August 1, 2009…Netflix will be coming this fall to Sony Bravia. They’ve already added the Netflix icon on the internet video menu of my tv. That’s one more reason to buy this remarkable television.

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Sony BRAVIA V-Series KDL-52V5100 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black

January 20, 2010 — Led HDTV

Product Description

For consumers who want an HDTV that keeps pace with fast-action movies, sports, and game play, Sony BRAVIA V-Series Flat Panel HDTVs combine Full HD 1080p performance and Motionflow 120Hz technology for an amazing viewing experience. Motionflow 120Hz takes both high-definition and standard programming a step further by increasing sharpness and detail in fast-moving images for more fluid, natural motion. In addition, BRAVIA V-Series HDTVs use proprietary Image Blur Reduction technology to further enhance the picture for even better performance. The HDTVs also feature BRAVIA Engine 2 technology, which uses exclusive Sony algorithms to reduce visual noise and sharpen and enhance an already-striking dynamic contrast ratio. Additionally, they include seven versatile HD connections to ensure you get impressive image quality from all your HD components. Take advantage of four HDMI inputs, component and composite inputs, and a PC input, as well as a USB input that lets you play audio files from USB storage devices, or connect a compatible camera to your HDTV for a quick and easy slide show. Sony knows your home theater set-up doesn’t stop with your HDTV, which is why the BRAVIA V-Series HDTVs are compatible with BRAVIA Link Modules — including the BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA DVD Link, and BRAVIA Input Link Modules (all sold separately). The HDTVs also support BRAVIA SyncTM technology so you can control all of your compatible devices with a single remote. And all BRAVIA HDTVs exceed ENERGY STAR 3.0 requirements for in-use and stand-by power consumption, meaning you don’t need a lot of power to get a lot of performance.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #2888 in Consumer Electronics
  • Color: Black
  • Brand: Sony
  • Model: KDL-52V5100
  • Dimensions: 32.50″ h x 4.62″ w x 49.75″ l, 66.10 pounds
  • Native resolution: 1920 x 1080
  • Display size: 52

Features

  • 52-inch 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel provides optimum resolution
  • Dynamic contrast works in real time to produce deep blacks in darker scenes
  • Engineered Motionflow 120Hz technology further reduces blurriness and juddervideo processor uses unique Sony technology
  • Seven HD inputs, including four HDMI inputs, HD component and combo inputs (1080/60i capable), and a PC input
  • BRAVIA Link compatibility lets you expand your HDTV’s capabilities with BRAVIA Link modules

Customer Reviews

Amazing HD Picture, but first TV delivered was defective5
WHO TO BUY FROM: Amazon did not have this item in stock, so I waited for Amazon to have it in stock before buying – turned out to be the right decision. I bought another LCD tv last year from “ButterflyPhoto”, a seller on Amazon’s website, and it was a horrible experience. So I vowed never to buy a big ticket item from any other seller than Amazon on its site. Those sellers have such great reviews b/c if you get screwed like I did and the sale never goes through, you can never rate them. So only happy customers get to rate those sellers, hence the above-avg reviews.

DELIVERY AND DEFECTIVE TV: I ordered the TV on a Thurs and it was delivered to my house on Tues. Pilot (carrier) called to schedule and appt, brought it into my house, took it out of the box and placed it on my tv stand, then made sure it worked before asking me to sign. But by Friday, a 1/2 cm black line appeared in the screen (yikes!). On Sat. I called Amazon and they were great in shipping out a replacement TV immediately at no extra cost to me (they even gave me the option to replace with another make/model). The new TV arrived the next Fri and Pilot packaged and removed the defective TV. The new TV works fine (so far, fingers crossed). After mentioning my ordeal to several friends, a few mentioned they had defective LCD TVs also – so I guess its not so uncommon.

Dealing with Amazon is great. If I bought from those other sellers, I would have been left to deal with Sony via the warranty – No Thanks! Its worth the extra hundred dollars or so to go with Amazon.

PICTURE QUALITY: The HD picture is amazing. I had a 2004 42′ Sony WEGA that produced 1080i, but the Bravia is a much, much better HD picture (however, it seems Comcast broadcasts in 1080i, not 1080p). When watching sports on my WEGA, the picture could not handle fast action so well. The Bravia corrects this pretty well (via the 120hz) and there is definitely a noticable difference/improvement versus my old WEGA. The 120hz is well worth the money.

BOTTOM LINE, at $1,823, I am happy with the TV even after the first one was defective. I found the Samsung to be too glossy a picture and didn’t like the touch of red, so the 52v5100 was the perfect TV for me at that price. Buy from Amazon, not those other tricksters.

Excellent new model5
I just hooked it up yesterday, to replace my 50″ Samsung DLP that broke. I had a 32″ Vizio in its place for the past month, waiting for this model. Overall, I am very pleased with the set. As usual, the HD channels look spectacular and the interface is tremendously better than that of the Vizio’s. It is hooked up to a HD DVR cable box, but configuration was a breeze. The non-HD channels definitely take a huge hit, as they look pretty bad on this size screen. In reality I wish I could have just gotten a 50″ since the 2″ additional makes a big difference in the overall size, but I am still pleased with the TV and glad I waited for this model to get the improved contrast ratio and 120 refresh rate.

A Great “Idiot Box”5
I bought this with a PS3 (because it’s a blu-ray player) and haven’t looked back. It was super easy to set up with HDMI and optical audio cables and I am constantly blown away by the picture. The blacks are especially dark and I had heard that this might be a problem with LCD TV’s. The in TV speakers are fine, not tinny, although I elected to disable them and run the sound through my receiver for surround sound. I really can’t fault the TV in any way. Just try and get the best price you can!

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