David Katzmaier,
Senior Editor
October 20, 2008
It's been entertaining watching Sony and Samsung duke it out for the claim to fame for deep black levels. The Sony KDL-55XBR8 has won this round as a LED-backlit LCD, overtaking its Samsung rival, the LN46A950, but its also exorbitantly priced. That said, the Pioneer Elite Kuro still reigns as the best overall HDTV, and even at 60 inches its still cheaper than the 55-inch Sony KDL-55XBR8.
Superlatives like that are always worth comparing, so we've lined up the Pioneer and Sony next to a few of the other picture quality stalwarts, across a variety of TV types, that we've reviewed in the past year. None of these models is cheap, and all--even the Pioneer--have their flaws, however minor. But even if you can't afford one of these models, check out the review and live a little vicariously.
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| Product name | ||||||
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| Price | $3,849.00 to $4,499.98 | $1,743.99 to $2,499.99 | $5,288.00 to $6,999.99 | $1,279.95 to $1,899.99 | Check Prices | $10,998.00 to $14,999.99 |
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| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | September 30, 2008 | May 23, 2008 | October 16, 2008 | July 18, 2008 | June 10, 2008 | December 12, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | The Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD represents the pinnacle of flat-panel HDTV picture quality. | With the accuracy of its THX mode and great black-level performance, the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U is one of the best-performing HDTVs available. | Although not quite the best HDTV we've tested so far, the wallet-busting, LED-powered Sony KDL-55XBR8 comes mighty close. | Samsung's HL61A750 61-inch rear-projection HDTV delivers excellent overall picture quality, and, compared to flat-panel options, it's a real bargain. | The Samsung SP-A800B outperforms every projector in its class hands-down, and competes favorably with the three-chip DLP units that cost three times as much. | Although it certainly costs more than most of the 1080p competition, the SXRD-based Sony VPL-VW200 delivers one of the best pictures of any projector we've tested. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Sound Effects |
SRS Focus TruBass SRS WOW |
BBE ViVA HD3D BBE |
Info unavailable |
SRS TruSurround XT |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Lamp Life Cycle | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
2000 hour(s) |
Info unavailable |
| Input Video Formats |
1080p 480p 480i 1080i 720p |
1080p 480p 480i 1080i 720p |
1080/60i 1080/24p 1080/60p 480i 480/60p 720p |
1080p 480p 480i 1080i 720p |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Native Aspect Ratio | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
Widescreen |
Widescreen |
| USB Port | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
Yes |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Supported Flash Memory Cards | Info unavailable |
SD Memory Card |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Image Brightness | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
1000 ANSI lumens |
800 ANSI lumens |
| Multi-channel Preview |
Picture-side-picture (PSP) Picture-in-picture (PIP) |
Info unavailable |
Picture-and-picture (PAP) Picture-in-picture (PIP) |
Picture-in-picture (PIP) (1 tuner) |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Video Input | Info unavailable | |||||
