Sony BRAVIA XBR KDL-32XBR9 32-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

Manufacturer: Sony
Customer Rating:
List Price: $999.99
Sale Price: $740.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Product Description

For consumers who want an HDTV that keeps pace with fast-action movies, sports, and game play in a great size comes the Sony® BRAVIA® 32XBR9 Flat Panel HDTV. This great TV combines Full HD 1080p performance and Motionflow™ 120Hz technology in a compact size, great for a dorm room, bedroom, or even a kitchen. Motionflow 120Hz takes both high-definition and standard programming a step further by increasing sharpness and detail in fast-moving images for more fluid, natural motion. In addition, BRAVIA® 32XBR9 HDTVs use proprietary Image Blur Reduction technology to further enhance the picture for even better performance. The HDTVs also feature BRAVIA Engine™ 2, which uses exclusive Sony algorithms to reduce visual noise and sharpen and enhance an already-striking dynamic contrast ratio. Additionally, they include seven versatile HD connections to ensure you get impressive image quality from all your HD components. Take advantage of four HDMI™ inputs, component and composite inputs, and a PC input, as well as a USB input that lets you play audio files from USB storage devices, or connect a compatible camera to your HDTV for a quick and easy slide show. Sony knows your home theater set-up doesn't stop with your HDTV, which is why the BRAVIA 32XBR9 HDTVs are compatible with BRAVIA Link Modules -- including the BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA DVD Link, and BRAVIA Input Link Modules. The HDTVs also support BRAVIA Sync, so you can control all of your compatible devices with a single remote. And all BRAVIA HDTVs exceed ENERGY STAR® 3.0 requirements for in-use and stand-by power consumption, meaning you don't need a lot of power to get a lot of performance.

Product Details

A 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel provides optimum resolution from any HDTV source that delivers 1080p content
Advanced Contrast Enhancer creates a dynamic contrast level of 40,000:1 to produce deep blacks in darker scenes and fine details in shadows
Motionflow 120Hz technology reduces judder and sharpens fast-moving images for a crisp, more natural picture
The BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor uses unique Sony technology to reduce visual noise, improve color, and sharpen image
Get versatile HD connection options with seven HD inputs, including four HDMI inputs and a PC input

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Let me clear up some misconceptions...

Review Date: May 6, 2009

Reviewer: hunter_aran,

This is a great HDTV. Hands down is one of the most beautiful displays in this size. You can buy a fancier ultra-thin 32" TV from Samsung right now but it's almost twice the price!

Pros: The blacks are black! When you start it up, the Bravia logo appears on a black background and it's as black as when the TV is off! People say that edge LED lighting will make the blacks truer with less backlight bleeding but this TV is already great in this aspect. The colors and settings are very good out of the box for a few of the styles but need adjustment like any TV. The nice thing is that when you change your input, the TV remembers all the settings for that input! So it's like you never have to re-adjust your settings unless you plug your stuff in differently.

The motionflow frame interpolation technology is astounding! 120HZ with the motionflow is worth every penny for bluray and other high-def sources. That's why I waited for this over the XBR6. I however prefer the lifelike "soap-opera" look, but that's me (I have to say PE or the Pirates movies look stunning with it on!). You can turn it off or have this appear more more subtle (the default). The motionflow is basically a side-effect of the necessity to combat blurriness and the staggering "judder" effect inherent to LCDs. It adds one or more frames in between each frame of your source by interpolating entirely NEW frames that were never there by the TV's processor. technology is amazing, isn't it? You have to see it in person to get exactly what this looks like. Other companies are following suit but I find others like the 32 TOC Samsung have more motion artifacts (basically errors ie grabbing parts of the audience behind a fast-moving player in a sports event and dragging them along for the ride). Sony's Bravia processor is second to none. For upconverted sources not originally in 1080 and compressed 1080 cable, the motion technology is less noticeable. So the overall effectiveness depends on how clear the material is.

This is important--with the game mode on, which turns off most processing, there is almost NO LAG. I am one of those demanding gamers who is very sensitive and complains about miniscule things like how much play there is in a joystick. So I can tell you that there is still a little lag but the game mode makes fast games like Smash Bros and shooters play like my CRT. So losing the motionflow in the game mode might seem bad, but it's only a small difference especially on something like the 480p Wii. And Wii games with anti-aliasing like Metroid Prime 3 still look AWESOME in contrast to what most say. The PS3 does look AMAZING either with or without motionflow anyway!

Cons: Not many but the sound is tinny. What do you expect from such small speakers? If you spent this much on a 32 TV and don't have speakers then you should not complain.

There is no headphone jack. I use a mixer with a control-room out to get around this and it works fine.

The autodim is annoying but mainly happens for me when the room is VERY dark. In normal light I do not see it. And you cannot turn it off but with as many people as are complaining about it, all Sony has to do is release a firmware update to allow the switching on and off of it (Sony, are you reading this?)...

CLARIFICATIONS-----

Here are some points that I thought were incorrect in some other reviews so I felt compelled to make this clear to potential buyers.

Okay some people just don't do their research in TVs. Sony's top line of HDTVs is the XBR line. The XBRs are split into the standard and then two higher end levels. Last year we had the XBR6s (standard XBR), XBR7s (larger fancier models) and XBR8 (larger still fancier models). This XBR9 IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR XBR8!! It replaces the XBR6 and the XBR8 was WAY more money and there was not even a 32" one available! The reviewer who complained about there being no LED backlighting is wrong in getting upset because the XBR6 never had LED lighting and the XBR8 is a higher end unit which is different that the XBR9s. Sony will undoubtedly release an XBR10 and XBR11 or something to replace those two higher lines. Maybe in the next few years Sony will add edge LED lighting to the standard XBR line unless something like OLED takes off...

Next the TV takes about as long to start up as my over 10-year-old Sony Trinitron 32" XBR CRT does. Some models take longer some don't but it certainly is not 30 seconds! That reviewer must have gotten a problem unit or need a firmware update or something. Also, to change input, all you have to do is push "Input" then push that arrows up or down and that's it. Wow if that is too much for you, then technology is not your thing. Maybe you should hire someone to push the buttons for you so you don't have to. Come on.

The thing has many inputs and, yes, some are on the side. On bigger TVs this would probably get covered up so on this one you can see some cabling if you have a thick cable that cannot bend easily. If you are clever you can use the cord-management strap to clean this up but my thick Monstercable does not bend that easily so I do see it. Oh well. So with thinner types of cables that bend back easily you should be fine. It's common knowledge that you get the same quality in a $5 HDMI cable as a $200 one because it is digital; getting a cheap thin one should solve the side cable-view problem. I wanted a more durable cable though.

This is a relatively high-end HDTV that means it's designed to be used primarily to view HD content over a HDMI cables. That's why over half it's inputs are HDMI. So if you have a ton of stuff in composite or component, sorry, but Sony is trying to cater to the people who utilize the TV primarily for what it was designed for. Get a splitter/switcher or upgrade your cables to HDMI because, again, no matter how crappy your HDMI cables are, there is NO signal loss. There's an advantage to update anyway.

Also contrary to popular belief numbers across different manufacturers ARE NOT EQUIVALENT. So comparing Lg to Sony to Samsung is not at all accurate. Think of comparing HP numbers in cars--measuring at the flywheel or tire gets you VERY different results and this often misleads consumers. Trust your eyes on a calibrated set with the same source. I can tell you this TV has more than enough contrast and is improved over last years model.

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So far I have not had any problems with the TV and it looks amazing. I would recommend this to anyone and if you are internet savvy and find a good company to work with, you can find it for only slightly more than the closeout or last-year's KDL32XBR6 model--about $850 (or less, as in my case) :D

EDIT: Thanks to other posters for mentioning this--Sony has released a firmware update that apparently makes the menus easier to navigate (faster?) and FIXES THE AUTODIM PROBLEM! I am trying to figure out how to install it now...

Sony has fix for backlighting problem in the advanced contrast section.

Review Date: May 27, 2009

Reviewer: Ara, Minnesota

We were unhappy with this TV and then found that Sony has fixed the back light issue so you can adjust it or turn it off and this has fixed the screen changing from dark to light with different scenes. It was easy to down load this onto a usb memory stick and the TV automatically did the update. The channels seem to change faster also. Here is the web site for downloading it from Sony - just make sure you follow all of the steps and read the info first. They will mail you the update on stick also.

[...]

Darlene

Excellent Crisp Picture Once You Upload Sony Updated Software

Review Date: August 15, 2009

Reviewer: Amazonian, Westport CT

Buying a new LCD TV can be a nightmare with all the choices. We had a Sony XBR4 which died 2 months ago after only 20 months but luckily I remembered that Mastercard doubled the one year warranty and got a check back for $1,080 to buy a new set. At first, I was drawn to the amazing $1,300 Samsung LED with what seemed to be the clearest picture (the store had the Samsung LED on it's own Blue Ray player which was deceiving). Then I went to a big box retailer and looked at all the LCD (and LED) sets on the wall. The Sony XBR9 had the blackest blacks and the best picture by far! Then I did some research and found out that Sony sends out a free USB stick with updated programing for an even better picture. The picture now is downright amazing and golf on HD looks like you are right there. If I only had $400, I would go with the Vizio at Wallyworld. But at a $700 price point, the Sony XBR9 is a great deal. Keep in mind that LCD's will only last 5 to 7 years given that LCD is less durable than the old tube sets. So if anyone knows where to get a cheap extended warranty please let me know. If you get the set, please remember to call Sony and get the USB stick to upgrade the picture!

Sony XBR9 is Good

Review Date: March 30, 2009

Reviewer: cc2009, Fullerton, CA USA

Sony 32" XBR9 is a good TV with great picture.
I have read review that this model dim in and out and got darker on a dark scene. I found out if you used HDMI line with a upconverting DVD player, this problem will happen. I think in the process of upconverting 480 to 1080 it causes the dimming and darken effect in the dark scene. If you used component and composite line, this problem will be solved. Try it and enjoy your Sony 32" XBR9.

First HDTV

Review Date: March 19, 2009

Reviewer: Dustin Schroeder, SD USA

Well there was no review for this item so I figured I would right one. I recently started doing internet research since I wanted a new computer monitor and something to watch my Blu-rays on that was high definition. I wanted 1080P for maximum resolution and to make my Blu-rays look the best so the smallest you can get that in is 32' right now. Also right now there are only like 5 TV companies I think that have 32 with 1080P. After looking at them for a while I would say if you want the best it is this one I think it is the only one I found with 120hz refresh all the rest have 60hz. Also it had the second best contrast ratio but I think the Lg's was only 10000 above and all the others were way below. I was also looking at the Sharp AQUOS mainly because it says it has a gaming accelerator thing which it was still 60hz so I doubt that it would make up for it.
So in the end I went to best buy and bought one mainly because I wanted the 4 year best buy warranty since it is my first HDTV and so far everything seems to work great. It has a an advanced contrast adjuster which 2 times now has made the image darken during a movie for a a couple seconds but I probably just need to adjust the settings or shut it off. Also I have had heard people complain about the sound which I think is good when you put a movie on with the simulated surround sound on you have to turn the volume way up but it works nice.
Anyway this was my first review hope I did ok.

Sale Price: $740.00

Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Posted in Sony

Tags: Inch, KDL, Lcd Hdtv, sony, sony bravia xbr, XBR

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