own a Sony 60" sxrd KDS-50A3000 ???

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by andyn1080

ok so im loving this tv so far just from looking at the specs. if you have this set let me know if it's worth it or not, i personally like rear projection hd sets over lcd's and plasmas. so here are a few questions.
1. do you set the motionflow or is it on auto detect like the sony style store says?
2. is bravia EX the top of the line bravia engine?
3. compared to a xbr4 is this set look the same, less, or better
4. is there really a game mode and what does it do?
5. what does the detail enhancer do? is this like Edge enhancement or like a sharpness thing?
and lastly what is the contrast ratio?


thanks again and i hope to own this set one day.

I don't have that exact model, but...

FYI the KDS50A3000 is a 50" model (hence the "50"). The 60" unit is the KDS60A3000.

I have the KDS50A2000 (one generation back), and I'm personally delighted with it. It's not as good as, say, the new Bravia XBR5s, but it's still a fantastic display. I really like the SXRD tech, as it's not prone to the same problems as an LCD display (stuck/dead pixels), but gets away from the problems that DLPs (which they most resemble) have like moire/rainbowing.

I believe the A3000s have 120Hz (Motionflow) functionality, but I remember reading someplace that the cadence and pulldown detection is still a bit flaky on those units, which means you'll still get some motion judder even on 24fps source content. Someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.

Sony claims their Advanced Iris tech can boost the contrast ratio up to 10000:1. In practice, even with Advanced Iris settings on, I don't think I see quite that level of contrast on my unit, but it's nonetheless noticeably better than a standard DLP screen.

Game mode works as advertised, by minimizing internal processing from the TV when feeding it direct output from a game console or other 100% faithful source (i.e. PlayStation 3).

Pros:
- Good color faithfulness after calibration
- Few problems with longevity
- Excellent viewing angles
- Excellent price value

Cons:
- Relatively heavy - cannot be mounted on a wall without some very elaborate bracing.
- Contrast setting can be tricky depending on your lighting situation
- Internal upscaler is capable but not spectacular for 480i/480p content
- Has some depth. My 50" unit is 17 inches deep, but that's plenty small enough to fit in my setup
- Requires occasional lamp replacement. I recommend getting a service plan for your unit, as the cost of a lamp alone will pay for the service agreement.