Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 Review

What the reviewers like:
The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 has great picture quality and styling, according to expert reviews. The black levels are among the deepest of any LCD TV, making it a great choice for movie watching. The ultra-bright backlight also makes the KDL-46XBR2 a great choice for TV viewing in brightly lit settings (though some say owners should dial down the default brightness level). Reports say shadow detail is excellent, as is color performance. Screen uniformity is said to be better than most LCD TVs.

What the reviewers don't like:
The Sony KDL-46XBR2 is expensive compared to competing models. While reports say HD performance is first rate, the TV has a harder time handling standard definition signals fed to it via the A/V inputs. We have also read some complaints of a clouding effect on certain scenes and in certain sets if the backlight is at its maximum brightness, and some scenes exhibit false contouring.

Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 review highlights

According to reviews, the 46-inch Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 provides deep blacks, as well as excellent shadow detail and color performance. Though it’s expensive compared to the competition, the Sony KDL-46XBR2 is one of the best-rated 46-inch LCD TVs. However, we’ve seen reports of a clouding effect on some sets when the ultra-bright backlight is set to its maximum setting. Sony and some reviewers say that the issue is not visible in most program material, and Sony is offering a software fix for owners who request it. The 46-inch JVC LT-46FN97 (*est. $2,530) costs less and delivers an image that reviewers say is either as good as or nearly as good as that of the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2, but the JVC's features and ease of use don't match Sony’s in reviews.

CNet.com has published the best professional review for the Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR2, a 46-inch LCD HDTV. CNet measures the performance of each TV reviewed against a standard battery of performance tests for color, uniformity and other aspects. Consumer Reports also tests a large number of LCD televisions, but discussions about individual LCD TVs are short. A review of the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 at Ultimate AV magazine is long and detailed, delving deep into details that would be of interest to technically savvy videophiles. Home Theater Magazine reviews the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2, but the review itself is very short and not very helpful.

Also see full report: LCD TV

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. CNet.com
Sony KDL-46XBR2 review
Kevin Miller
Sept. 21, 2006

The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 gets a detailed report and rating at CNet.com, where reviewer Kevin Miller compares the Sony LCD TV to other tested televisions. CNet.com is one of the best reviewers of LCD televisions, because editors evaluate a large number of TVs against established benchmarks. Each set gets an overall rating that can be used to compare the TV to others in its class.

2. Consumer Reports
>> Details/Subscribe
LCD TVs
Editors of Consumer Reports
Feb. 2007

Consumer Reports' editors rate 67 LCD TVs, including the Sony BRAVA KDL-46XBR2. Unfortunately, each individual set gets only a few lines of commentary, far less detail than some other review resources. However, the magazine does update its ratings regularly, and those ratings are based upon thorough testing. For these reasons, Consumer Reports has become one of the better reviewers for LCD televisions.

3. Ultimate AV Magazine
Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 LCD Digital Color TV
Thomas J. Norton
Aug. 2006

This review of the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 at Ultimate AV magazine is one of the most detailed we’ve seen. Thomas J. Norton delves deeply into issues that are of interest to savvy videophiles -- such as color matrix adjustments -- yet writes with a style that makes the review accessible and of value to readers with differing levels of technical knowledge and interest. While Ultimate AV recommends which LCD TVs are best overall, no relative scores are given, which makes it harder to compare TVs directly.

4. Home Theater Magazine
>> Details/Subscribe
Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 review
Shane Buettner
Sept. 2006

While Home Theater Magazine recommends the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2, the review is very brief and lacks much in the way of useable insight. That’s a disappointment, as many of Home Theater Magazine’s reviews are detailed and well done.

5. AVSForum.com
LCD Flat Panels
Contributors to AVSForum.com

Sony XBR LCD TVs, including the KDL-46XBR2, have their own "official" thread on this audio-video discussion site that includes discussions of specifications, features, problems, fixes and more, including reviews. Discussion of the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 is also included in many other threads on the site. This site has lots of discussion about the cloudiness issue, including suggested fixes.

6. Amazon.com
Sony KDL-46XBR2 reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 is the subject of over fifty owner-written reviews to date at Amazon.com. Several reviewers have downrated the TV because of the cloudiness issue, but other owners report no trouble. Overall, the Sony TV gets a middling rating. Because there are so many reviews here, readers can get a good idea of prevailing high points as well as common issues.

7. CircuitCity.com
Sony 46" LCD HDTV reviews
Contributors to Circuit City.com

While the user reviews at Amazon.com are often longer, Circuit City.com gets more traffic. To date, the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 has been reviewed and rated by over 100 owners, which give us a good insight into real-world performance. Overall, this is an excellent site to find user reviews on LCD TVs, including the Sony KDL-46XBR2.

8. Epinions
Sony KDL-46XBR2 reviews
Contributors to Epinions

While Epinions also offers owners the opportunity to share their opinions about products they own, it gets far less traffic than either Circuit City.com or Amazon.com. This site currently has only a handful of reviews for the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2.

Also see full report: LCD TV

Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR2 Review