I bought this product because I wanted a high quality direct view set used primarily for DVD viewing. The Sony WEGA series appealed because of the flat, direct view screen and unrivaled picture quality short of digital-ready tv's.
An audio/videophile friend of mine at work has been using the big brother (36") model for a year, and I valued his positive experience with the WEGA series. The XBR is currently the top-of-the-line of the WEGA series, which offers wireless headphones, component video input, 3d digital comb filter, and vertical compression for viewing anamorphic DVDs. I did extensive research on the unit on deja.com and audioreview.com, as well as visiting several local stores such as Tweeter, Bestbuy and Circuit City. I had difficulty finding Internet retailers who had the unit in stock, but on my third try I found it for a discounted price at supremevideo.com in NYC. I bought the matching silver stand (designed for the Sony 32" WEGA) from a local Cambridge Soundworks for $149 and assembled before my unit was delivered.
The TV has performed flawlessly for the last month. While primarily used for viewing DVDs, basic cable tv signals look much better than I expected. At a minimum, I suggest renting the Video Essentials DVD and calibrating the basic color/contrast/sharpness settings for your new set.
As an added bonus, the remote control is one of the best I've used. There is a thumb operated joystick for easy operation of most basic features, and the menus are easily navigated.
My 32" WEGA set produces the best picture I've seen on an analog set. Watching the Matrix, Saving Private Ryan, or Starship Troopers provides an excellent viewing experience, and one that helps justify the WEGA's high cost. If you're not set on going digital-ready and want a flat screen that bests most other sets, you should consider the XBR250.



Recommended: Yes