Buy Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-40XBR2 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTVSony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-40XBR2 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Product Description:
- 16:9 1080p HD Resolution Panel (1920 x 1080)
- BRAVIA Engine PRO Video Processor
- Live Color Creation System featuring WCG-CCFL backlight
- ATSC Digital Tuner with QAM capability
- Three HDMI (1080p) inputs
Product Description
Sony KDL-40XBR2 Bravia XBR LCD HDTV
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
183 of 190 people found the following review helpful.
By J. Steven
This television replaced a Sony KDL-40S2000 I had purchased. During my 30-day return policy I realized if I were to invest (ha!) in a LCD television I should get one with a full 1080 resolution. I returned the KDL-40S2000 and got this model.Out of the box the television is gorgeous, however, a bit wider and thicker than my previous Bravia. Not a problem for me, but check the measurements before you buy.Picture quality is phenomenal; previous to this set I've always been a tube/CRT guy due to their better picture quality when compared to plasmas and LCDs. I think the technology has finally caught up with CRT quality with this TV. Great (but not perfect) black levels and more detail than you really need in a 40" television. I will say there is a difference between a 720p panel and 1080p panel in my tests. Motion on high definition sources is also very good. The picture quality on standard definition sources could be better, but I am watching less and less standard definition every day.I was surprised by the amount of tweaks and features present on this television. A few notable features include: A full pixel mode which takes your high definition source and displays it pixel for pixel on your set, something I've never seen on a HDTV before. This feature does wonders for sources outputting a 1080 signal, including my modded Xbox which outputs the interface and DVD signals in 1080i. You can literally walk up to the TV and see the pixels 1:1 just like a computer monitor. This full pixel mode does have a caveat, some HD broadcasts have some extra pixels on the side or top of the frame that appear in this mode, but it's a fine trade off for the 1:1 resolution. The extra pixels are the result of the broadcaster and not the TV.The other valuable feature is the ability to adjust the wide viewing mode when viewing any sort of signal including high definition. My previous HDTV was locked into "Wide/Full" mode when watching 1080i content. The KDL-40XBR2 lets you choose which viewing mode when watching high-definition content. I use this feature when I watch inside the NFL on HBO-HD. They broadcast the program using a 1080i signal, but the show is actually standard definition displayed in a 4:3 frame (when is HBO gonna start shooting this show in HD?). The zoom mode allows me to zoom the picture and watch the program using the whole screen. I wouldn't have had this option with my previous HD sets.Because I don't like artificial sharpness or edge creation I always turn the sharpness down very low or off on my televisions. Most TVs look ideal when the sharpness is set low so no artificial edges are created. Don't do this on the KDL-40XBR2 because Sony has added some additional control with the sharpness adjustment. When I set the sharpness very low (Min - 10) I noticed the picture became very blurry, especially with text. At first I thought I had gotten a lemon, but later realized this is a feature. When the sharpness is low the TV seems to reverse the sharpness effect causing the picture to soften. Once I bumped the sharpness up to 35 the picture looked amazing with no artificial edges or blurriness. This functionality is different than most sets, but a perfect example of the level of adjustment the KDL-40XBR2 offers.Great looks, picture quality and enough tweaks to occupy hours fine-tuning the picture. This isn't a great set for someone who wants to take it out of the box and expect a great picture, but instead someone who is used to tweaking their A/V equipment to their preferences. Highly recommended if you've got the cash.
120 of 135 people found the following review helpful.
By Randy Nelson
Sony's XBR line of LCD displays are near or at the top of the most amazing on the market in terms of picture quality, but anyone considering a purchase of an XBR2/3 model display should be aware that there is a significant manufacturing defect with displays produced post-August of 2006 that results in extremely splotchy or "cloudy" backlighting. During playback of dark content, clouds of bright spots can be seen across the display. Sony has yet to officially acknowledge this latest stumble in their production quality control, but do a search for "XBR clouding" and you will find plenty of discussion about this very real problem.I have personally owned this display and the defect was significant enough to warrant a return. I opted not to get a replacement knowing that so many of these displays in the channel are affected. When (hopefully not "if") Sony is able to remedy the production problem and get non-defective sets to retail, I would easily rate it a five-star product and re-purchase one for my home theater.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
By Woots
I have owned a 46xbr3 for over a month now. I would 1st like to say that the image of this TV is awesome. The menu options you have to tweak the look of the image is very very detailed. It helps if you run component and HDMI signals and need to have different tweaked settings to optimize look and reduce pixelization. 1080p with your playstation 3, blu ray or hd dvd players. The tv does not run 1080p component, only hdmi and vga, so your xbox 360 will have to run in 1080i (still looks great). The xbox 360 does run 1080p through vga input on this tv but xbox360 makes the screen look washed out.Clouding Issue:There is however a manufacturing defect that is not officially published by sony and no recall is yet in effect. The Sony LCD flatpanels XBR2/XBR3 40"/46"/52" screens have a greater then 50% chance to have a defect nicknamed "clouding". I am one of those unlucky buyers. What "clouding" basically is, is white puffy looking background lighting, when screen is black. This is not to be confused with non uniform lighting often seen in PC lcd panels; This is much worse and much brighter and heavily blotchy. For most people with this problem (including myself) you can only see this clouding during times when the screen goes black. (credits at the end of the movies, transitions between commercials to tv shows, dark parts scenes in movies and shows.) During these dark scenes they stand out like a sore thumb and make viewing distracting; due to the fact they are very bright and whitish. My experience is the longer the TV stays turned on the brighter these clouds get. When you 1st turn on the Tv they are very faint. They also have an odd habit of shifting around the panel very slowly over the course of weeks. (as strange as this may sound) I have found the clouding does not discolor or overbrighten the screen when the TV has full colorful images on it. This is why this problem is tolerable and I did not demand my money back, its still not acceptable though. I have read a few users say their clouding is so bad it effects the colors and makes them washed out. Thankfully I have not seen that.Please do not take my word for any of this I encourage you to be a critical thinker and go out on google and seek this "sony lcd clouding" issue. I am doing my part for the small community of us who are stuck with this sad problem overshadowing what is otherwise an absolutely great HDTV.In closing this TV is beautiful looking but when you spend this much money you don't want things like this bringing down your morale over the product. If you buy this TV you could be one of the lucky buyers and get an untainted screen and most stores give you a 30 day return policy. I have also heard (not confirmed) that the newest manufactured models have fixed this issue. I gave the product 5 stars despite the flaw, because even with this flaw I love this TV.Best of luck with your HDTV purchases. Hope this helps.
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