Sony to stop making SXRD TV's

[UltimateFighter]

I'm really bummed about this. I was gonna get the 70 XBR5

It's unconfirmed at the moment, but we're hearing that Sony is planning to discontinue sales of all rear-projection HDTVs, including its 3LCD and SXRD lines, after current inventories are exhausted to focus on the hot-selling Bravia LCD line. We've been tipped on it twice today and now This Week In Consumer Electronics is reporting that a Sony spokesperson has told them that "We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that's what people really want." It looks like all backorders for the KDSZ70XBR5 are being canceled, as the unit will never be manufactured, and Sony's making a "no promises" effort to fill backorders for the KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000. The move isn't exactly unprecedented or even all that surprising -- Toshiba, Philips and Hitachi have all stopped producing rear-projection sets, but Sony's SXRDs were still extremely popular and it's strange to see them get dropped just like that. Check the full leaked email we got after the break.

From: [redacted]
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:01 PM
To: [redacted]
Subject: FW: Sony #-LCD and SXRD Announcment

To All-
I've spoken to some of you regarding Sony's announcement yesterday re: the discontinuation of all MDPJ sets including E-series 3-LCD, A and XBR-series SXRD. Here's an unofficial statement from our internal news:

Sony to Stop MDPJ Production
Dec. 17 - Due to the high consumer demand for BRAVIA flat-panel LCD televisions combined with the accelerating industry trend toward flat-panel displays, Sony Electronics will discontinue producing rear-projection televisions based on 3LCD and Silicon X-tal Reflective Display technologies.
- All backorders for KDSZ70XBR5 are now cancelled as this set will not be produced.
- We do expect to fill existing backorders for KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000 – if you need either of these models, LAST CHANCE, ORDER NOW and we will do our best to fill your orders – no promises!!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/19/s...focus-on-lcds/

[daisuke149]

while it sucks cus the a3000 is a awesome freaking tv.
I hope sony plans to lower their prices via this move especially in the 52" and up categories

[Blu As Hell]

Well damn!!!! Ah well I was wanting the 70" SXRD but I'll keep the Mitsubishi. I Hope they lower the prices on those flat-panel Bravias.

[mrtaber]

Man, I just bought my KDS60A3000...awesome television. I'll be sorry to see them go. Picture is gorgeous.

Mark

[Mr. Joshua]

After purchasing a new LCD flatscreen I think LCD flatscreen is the way to go. I like Sony but I hate the cabinet on the XBR4 and XBR5. Loose the glass around the screen and the tv will look so much better. I went with the new Samsung 71 series the cabinet is much nicer than the Sony and the picture is as good or better... Of course that messes things up for me because I have a PS3 and I like my electronics to match as far as brands... At least both have the black glossy look.

[daisuke149]

Originally Posted by wsciv123

After purchasing a new LCD flatscreen I think LCD flatscreen is the way to go. I like Sony but I hate the cabinet on the XBR4 and XBR5. Loose the glass around the screen and the tv will look so much better. I went with the new Samsung 71 series the cabinet is much nicer than the Sony and the picture is as good or better... Of course that messes things up for me because I have a PS3 and I like my electronics to match as far as brands... At least both have the black glossy look.

personally hate the glossy black cabinets. have any kinda light in the room and it reflects off there. great for when the tv is off and i wanna stare at the tv then.. but.. when the tv's on.. yeah no thanks reflective black. also the glossy screen itself i dont quite like.

[bluskiff]

I had the 46xbr2 lcd and the blacks sucked I took it back and got a 50 sxrd. I have not seen an lcd tv I would buy yet.

[Uxi]

I still love my 60XBR1 and was planning on a 70XBR5... damn them. I have no need for a "flat TV" and the clouds I read about on the Bravias are much more concern than the uniformity issues I read about (but never experienced) on SXRD...

Guess I'll be saving for a Black Pearl and a 123" Vutec Silverstar...

[BStecke]

This blows . . . I was hoping to get one of the 70XBR5's . . . I have no need for a flat panel TV, and even less desire to pay the premium for it, especially at the size I'm looking at.

[zepherman]

Well that definitely is some sorry move on Sony's part. Their line of SXRD TV's are considered some of the best on the market. I own a 70XBR2 and I love it! Sure am glad I got one when I did. Too bad, Sony had a great thing going with these TV's.

[FilmmakingFiasco]

Well, I just got a 60A2000 back in April, my first foray into Sony television. I love it. I guess I'll just have to move up to a front projector next time I upgrade.

[MadScientist]

I have two Sony 70XBR2 and enjoy them everytime I put on a Blu-ray movie. The Picture on these two sets are the best I have seen. This is truly sad if its true on Sony's part.

[bhampton]

As long as they don't stop making Sxrd front projectors.

The Sxrd front projectors get better and much cheaper with each new generation.

And who doesn't like the big screen you get from projection?

If I replace my Sony G70 CRT Front Projector I would consider a Sxrd front projector like the Pearl.

-Brian

[cawgijoe]

It's definitely not surprising if true. Most folks want a flat-panel TV. The hope here is that if Sony goes this way that they concentrate on lowering prices especially in the larger screen sizes so that folks who would have bought an SXRD RPTV buy an LCD version instead.

[Jim L]

My previous HD set (7 years ago) was a Pioneer Elite 53" CRT rear projection. At the time it was rated as one of the very best HD sets made.

Last year when I decided to replace it and go with newer technology I started looking around to see what was out there. I was very surprised to see that Pioneer Elite had completely gotten out of the RPTV market and decided to focus on plasma technology.

My needs for a display are for something in the 60-70 inch range.

Direct view technologies wouldn't work for me: too costly at that size and problems with the technology.

• LCD: blotchy artifacts, screen-door effect and poor blacks
• Plasma: heat output, burn-in, cost, display lifespan.

Front projection: it's overkill for watching television and I'd have to do some major remodeling to control ambient light to the degree needed for this kind of set-up. The new front projection systems are very nice and within my price range, but I'm not ready for that yet.

Rear projection: by far the best bang-for-the-buck. There are several display technologies to choose from. For the most part, they produce a high-quality image on a large display screen at an affordable price.

• CRT: old technology, being phased out
• LCD: poor blacks, refresh rate issues
• DLP:: excellent picture, has improved with successive generations. (RBE may be a problem)
• SXRD: excellent picture, and my favorite of the RPTV variations.

I can see that J6P wants the status symbol of the "flat-screen" which years ago were way beyond most folks' price range (when plasmas first came out). But J6P for the most part is reacting to a marketing gimmick -- the appeal of the slim cabinet and the concept of "hanging your TV on the wall." J6P doen't give a flip about image quality, suitability of application, or price/performance ratio. I'm afraid this is being driven by what's really selling in the marketplace.

Hopefully Sony is readying the next big leap in display technology (OLED?) and we will all forget about Plasma, LCD and SXRD in a few years.

Anyone else's thoughts?

[buckshot]

it is sad. the only tv I have seen that tops my current set IMO is the SXRDs. now I will only be able to buy them used.

[cawgijoe]

Just a quick comment on LCD.......a friend of mine just bought a Sony 52XBR4 which is fed by a Directv HR21 and OTA via a rooftop UHF Winegard antenna and a PS3 for BD playback.

The picture is in a word....awesome. It's bright and very 3D like.

My brother-in-law has a Sony 60A2000 SXRD set and it's picture is also awesome. It's not as bright as LCD, but in controlled lighting it delivers in spades.

With the right setup, source, and calibration, both technologies are great.

The real issue here is that if you want a large screen set, SXRD RPTV gives you much more screen for the dollars.......will LCD sets get as cheap especially in the larger sizes to satisfy the SXRD buyers?

[Jim L]

Originally Posted by cawgijoe

Just a quick comment on LCD.......a friend of mine just bought a Sony 52XBR4 which is fed by a Directv HR21 and OTA via a rooftop UHF Winegard antenna and a PS3 for BD playback.

The picture is in a word....awesome. It's bright and very 3D like.

My brother-in-law has a Sony 60A2000 SXRD set and it's picture is also awesome. It's not as bright as LCD, but in controlled lighting it delivers in spades.

With the right setup, source, and calibration, both technologies are great.

The real issue here is that if you want a large screen set, SXRD RPTV gives you much more screen for the dollars.......will LCD sets get as cheap especially in the larger sizes to satisfy the SXRD buyers?

I agree that the Bravia LCDs look great when you're watching an HD sitcom, NFL game or any brightly-lit program material.

Where they fall down is in their overall contrast ratio and blacks. Try watching a film like Dark City, any of the Star Wars, 2001, Blade Runner, etc.

On a film where blacks are very important, those displays look like sh!t.

[ottscay]

Wow, I own one of the first 50" SXRDs, and had planned on getting a 60" or 70" in a year or two. There hasn't been an LCD yet that I'd own (and I've seen well set up XBR5 LCDs). Maybe the adaptive backlighting will make their black levels tolerable, but for now movie watching just doesn't work in the dark on any LCD.

This blows, and screen size per dollar and good black levels are two of the most important things to me

I sure as heck am not going to sacrifice my movie watching for some companies idea of what they want to sell; unless there is a similar or better technology for low-light movie watching in the same price point over the next 24 months I guess I'll have to buy one used, and no CE will get my money

[ottscay]

Originally Posted by Jim L

On a film where blacks are very important, those displays look like sh!t.

+1