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Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8

Discontinued
Reviewed
November 2009
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Sony KDL-46XBR8

Pros
  • Great blacks
  • Great colors
  • Good sound quality
Cons
  • Very expensive
  • Widely spaced speakers won't appeal to everyone's taste
  • Some picture smoothing modes look unnatural
  • Not as energy efficient as some other LCD TVs
 
 
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Reviewers heap praise on the Sony XBR8 series of LCD TVs, which includes the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8, though almost everyone balks at their price. Still, if you can afford the very best in picture quality, these TVs are superior to most current TVs except Samsung's well received UN46B850 ($3,240), which costs even more. The Sony XBR8s use an LED backlight and local dimming to produce black levels that are the deepest of any TV short of the Samsung TV and the now discontinued Pioneer Kuro plasma TVs. Colors are also first-rate, and there are loads of picture controls for those who like to tinker. A faster refresh rate (120 Hz) to reduce motion blur and anti-judder circuitry for smooth playback of movies are among the many appealing features. The wide-spaced speakers provide sound that's above average, but some people don't like the fact that they can't be detached and make the TV appear wider. Energy efficiency isn't terrible, but it's far surpassed by most current LCD TVs. If you have a more modest budget, the Samsung LN46B750 (Discontinued) uses a conventional backlight but still delivers great colors, deep blacks and an even faster (240 Hz) refresh rate. Sony also offers the XBR8 in a 55-inch screen size as the Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8.

Reviews of Sony's XBR8 series of TVs are plentiful, led by PCMag.com, which offers an in-depth and testing-based report of the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8. ConsumerReports.org also includes the TV in its latest round of tests. Other reviewers -- including CNET, Sound & Vision and Playback magazine -- provide nicely detailed reports of the 55-inch version of the TV, which should perform similarly. A small handful of user reviews are available at Amazon.com.

     
 
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Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV with Charcoal Grey Touch of Color
Average Customer Review:  
  
 
 
 
Where To Buy
 
 
Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR6 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

 (44 reviews)
Buy new: $2,699.99   5 Used from $800.00
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. PCMag.com

PCMag.com subjects the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8 to a battery of tests and comes away completely impressed. Robert Heron says that "picture quality is second to none" and names the LCD TV an Editors' Choice. Cost, wide width and limited networking abilities are the only notable negatives.

Review: Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8, Robert Heron, April 20, 2009

2. CNET

CNET doesn't review the Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8, but it does assess the 55-inch Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 and says the two should perform the same. High points include the best black levels of any LCD TV tested and great, accurate colors. On the down side, the TV is said to be "mind-bogglingly expensive" and off-angle viewing, certain anti-judder modes and the wide spaced speakers are criticized.

Review: Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8, David Katzmaier, Oct. 16, 2008

3. Sound & Vision Magazine

Sound & Vision also looks at the 55-inch version of this LCD TV. In granting it a Certified and Recommended award, Al Griffin writes, "Though pricey, Sony's LED-backlit XBR8 establishes a new performance benchmark for LCD TVs." Griffin was particularly impressed with the picture sharpness, color accuracy, and the screen uniformity. He admits that the Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 is not perfect -- he notices problem with off-angle viewing and finds the 6-inch cabinet depth too bulky.

Review: Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8, Al Griffin, Feb./March 2009

4. Playback Magazine

In recommending Sony's XBR8 TVs, David Birch-Jones says that LCD backlighting combined with local dimming is the "best thing to happen to LCD technology, ever." Picture quality that meets and even beats that of plasma and lots of picture controls are just some of the pluses.

Review: Shining In All The Right Places, David Birch-Jones, June 2009

5. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org reports on the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8 in its current update. Testing is competent but not well detailed and discussion is briefer than at sites we rate higher.

Review: LCD TVs, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

6. Amazon.com

Though there are relatively few user reviews of the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8 to date, most are pleased. The lowest rating is three out of five stars, but that user has no qualms with the TV itself; the complaint stems from the steep price.

Review: Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR8, Contributors to Amazon.com

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