The Sony KDL-40XBR2 is an impressive combination of style and quality. Although it will initially turn heads due to its very unique style, the 1080p resolution will blow them away. The outside of the Sony KDL-40XBR2 features a very unique pane of glass covering the whole unit with etched Sony logo’s and LED lights showing you the status of the TV. A gray bezel surround is standard with alternative colors available but not cheap. The futuristic style of this TV may not be for everyone but it definitely stands out from the competition. The unit is a little wider due to the fancy styling and quite heavy at 77 lbs. The KDL-40XBR2 comes with a regular stand but a wall mount kit is available.
KDL-40XBR2 Features & Specifications
The big draw the the Sony LCD is the 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) native resolution which is absolutely top of the line. Most HD programming on television is in 720p but this TV can handle HD movies (HD-DVD or Blu-Ray) and HD gaming systems like PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360. Another outstanding feature of this TV that you won’t find on many LCD TV’s are the deep black levels. Because of LCD technology, pixels can’t be completely shut off to show true black colors but the KDL-40XBR2 outperforms most LCD’s. For more information about black levels, read the differences between LCD & Plasma TV’s. The Sony LCD also has a pretty impressive viewing angle which is uncommon in LCD screens.
- HD Tuner: Built-in
- Contrast Ratio: 7000:1
- Resolution: 1080p
- Component Video Inputs: 2
- S-Video Inputs: 1
- Composite Video Inputs: 3
- HDMI Inputs: 3
- DVI Inputs: 0
- PC Compatible: Yes
KDL40XBR2 Downfalls
The Sony KDL-40XBR2 boasts plenty of features but there are a few issues to be improved upon; some small nuisances, some deal-breakers. First of all, the TV is a little bulkier than you’d like to see for a 40 inch and although the prices appear to be dropping, it’s definitely on the high end. It’s missing a simple feature like picture-in-picture which you’d expect for a TV in this price range. It’s 1080p high-definition picture quality is outstanding but its ability to display standard definition programming is not nearly as impressive which is an important feature if you watch standard definition broadcasts.
Summary
The style of this TV is very unique and something you may be in love with or hate. It’s high-definition quality is outstanding and features one of the best pictures available in LCD TV’s. It struggles a little with standard definition signals and some other basic features for its price. If you can find a good deal on the KDL-40XBR2, it may be worth picking up.
Read more about this TV from Circuit City or Best Buy.
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