Last of it's kind - Why SONY?
Written: Jan 25 '08
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Pros: 3 HDMI, 120mhz motion cinema, silicone technology, price
Cons: Have to replace bulb after a few years, discontinued by Sony
The Bottom Line: Great PQ and ample inputs makes this a great purchase for folks that want a big screen at a little price.
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| sinatrax5's Full Review: Sony BRAVIA KDS-60A3000 60 in. HDTV SXRD TV |
Probably the best RPTV you will find on the market... I have been through 3 RPTVs (Mitsubishi, Samsung, and now Sony). Each had its ups and downs, but the Sony brand is very surprising. Most DLP's have an image quality that is fairly good, but at times you will see that rainbow wheel - though the newer models have resolved this... I was interested in JVC's silicone technology which SONY has incorporated within their SXRD. I did purchase the Sony E3000 and though I liked that unit... I just wanted the higher end A3000. (I got the 60 inch)
What the A3000 brings to the table are features that other RPTVs just can't provide or do, but do not do them as well as the Sony A3000. First off, Sony SXRD technology uses the silicone based technology to give a more fluid look to the image. The screen is sharp like an LCD, but has true blacks like Plasma. It is the best of both worlds. Another thing to keep in mind is that a 60inch RPTV will give you good Picture Quality (PQ), but will also cost A LOT less then a similar sized LCD or Plasma. But back to the features of the A3000.
HDMI (3) inputs (1.3 compatible) (xbox 360, PS3 for BlueRay, HDTV from COX)
* this is a key component as HDMI switchers can cost well over $100's of dollars for a quality one... Also, most theater setups will have at least a gaming console, blueray player and HD feed coming in for cable
Motion Enhancer @ 120mhz - mostly for blueray movies and video games that provide this option. The detail is truly amazing when you can watch a movie with this feature. It really gets a lot of detail and makes the image look that much better.
1080p support - the key here is that most TV's require HDMI to output 1080p vs 1080i, but the Sony A3000 can handle true 1080p output from COMPONENT video. I have verified this by hooking up the Xbox 360 using component and the Sony A3000 is able to output true 1080p!
Menu System - similar to that found on the Sony PSP. It is a great menu system mostly because it's easy to use and set your different options. Check this out at the store to see how integrated this menu system is.
Warm2 - this is the closest to true skin tone color that you can get right out the box. No need to tune it, but I did and can confirm that the Warm2 is very close to a professionally tuned TV. To be honest... I can't really tell the difference and I should've saved my money instead of hiring someone to tune my TV. But even the tech said that on other Sony A3000's he worked on... he is amazed that the Warm2 (with a few alterations here and there) comes really close to the real thing.
PC hookup - there is a SVGA hookup and it outputs your PC at 1366x768. Good enough since it's a 60 inch... also great when watching utube or hulu.com, etc... Just get a wireless keyboard and mouse and it's a great addition to have on a RPTV
Bulb life - this is good and bad, for the most part I like the fact that if I replace the bulb in 2-3 years, it's like getting a brand new set from a picture stand point. But, bad is that bulb life is based on usage and viewing patterns. I make it a point to keep my TV on for at least a few hours when I first got it and try to avoid turning the TV on and off within a short period of time. This will lessen the life of the bulb as opposed to just letting it run. My two cents - it's been pretty good so far.
Sony Warranty - you can get an extended warranty from Sony.com for much LESS then the retail stores. But Sony will not cover bulb life... however, you can purchase other warranties (JVC, MACK) and they do cover bulb life as well.
I figured I could continue going on about the great features this RPTV has, but the best thing to do is go out and check it for yourself. The PQ is the best on any RPTV and rivals many high end LCD's... it has ample inputs for all your video devices. It is very cost friendly as Sony has decided to focus on their flatscreen line and has discontinued making RPTVs. I wish they didn't do this, but the future is going towards the flatscreens, so my advice is if you can pick this up - do it as most of them will be on sale or drastically reduced to make room for the new inventory. But, don't sweat it if you think you are purchasing something less then a flat LCD. The bells and whistles on this thing are amazing and watching a movie in blueray - BLOWS you away! Seriuosly!
Check out my other review on the E3000... that's all for now... thanks for reading!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1499
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Epinions.com ID:
sinatrax5
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Location: Orange County
Reviews written: 14
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About Me:
Hi-Tech Gadget Junkie
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