CNET Editor's rating: 8.3 out of 10
Reviewed by
David Katzmaier
Review date: 11/13/06
The good: Produces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; resolves every line of 1080-resolution sources; incredible amounts of picture control; excellent connectivity with three 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, dedicated PC input; includes spare lamp.
The bad: Expensive; inaccurate primary colors; disappointing VGA connection.
The bottom line: While the Sony KDS-R60XBR2 has a picture that's essentially identical to its less-expensive SXRD stablemate, the prodigious feature set on this 60-inch HDTV will attract buyers who must have it all.
The pricy but feature-packed KDS-R60XBR2, Sony's step-up to the KDS-60A2000, has some big shoes to fill as the company's flagship rear-projection HDTV for 2006. This 60-inch big screen costs substantially more than its non-XBR brother, yet a thorough read of the spec sheet reveals very few differences. The televisions share the same SXRD light engine, which provides full 1,920x1,080 (aka 1080p) native resolution, and offer the same sets of picture controls, among the most extensive we've ever seen. This combination adds up to picture quality that's almost identical. The only differences that affect the sets' respective images are a brighter bulb and supposedly improved standard-def video processing in the XBR model.
Well, we can tell you right now that the picture on the XBR is brighter, but the A2000 was bright enough for anyone, and the differences in standard-def processing are negligible. In other words, unless you truly crave the XBR's extra features--including CableCard with TV Guide on-screen; an additional HDMI input on the front panel; picture-in-picture; an extra bulb and side-mounted speakers--you'll be perfectly happy with the A2000 model. That said, the Sony KDS-R60XBR2 still scored higher on account of its extra features, and if you want to splurge, it's still one of the best-performing HDTVs available today.
Intro:
The Sony KDS-R60XBR2 is a 60-inch, rear-projection rear-projection TV.Compared to other rear-projection TVs on the market, it is midpriced at around $2,275.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 1920 x 1080 Resolution.This is more favorable than the average TV on the market today, but is to be expected for a TV of this price.Furthermore, this TV supports multi-channel viewing (PIP), note: a single-tuner PIP TV requires an external signal source, which may be an external tuner such as VCR, DVD player, or a cable box with composite video outputs.With HDTV compatibility, this product can display images that are sharper and more realistic than regular television when connected to a high definition signal.
Weaker Features:
None noted, given available product data.
Suitability:
A rear-projection TV, suited for home theater.In general, a wide aspect TV such as this one is ideal for DVD movies recorded in the popular 16:9 format, as well as high definition programming.Can connect to a computer via VGA (HD-15).
Value:
In general, this TV's features seem a bit weak for its price, compared to most other TVs.
Suggestions:
(1) For assistance in shopping for a new HDTV, read CNET editors' Ultimate HDTV Buying Guide.(2) If donating or repurposing your old TV is not a viable option, CNET encourages households to recycle their electronics.Please explore the following website to find a recycling center in your area Electronics Take Back Coalition.
Receiving HDTV broadcast:
The three common methods to receive HDTV broadcasts are via satellite-TV set-top box, cable system set-top box, and over-the-air reception from a digital HDTV broadcast station.
True HDTV:
True HDTV programming is now available in three resolutions: 720p, 1080i, or 1080p.
Tuner options:
An HDTV-ready satellite or cable box will act as an outboard HDTV tuner for your digital HDTV or EDTV set that lacks a built-in HD tuner.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great images, flexible, extreme 'wow' factor on high quality images.
I'm a super-picky videophile. Have waited YEARS for an HD display good enough to spend money on. This is ...
I'm a super-picky videophile. Have waited YEARS for an HD display good enough to spend money on. This is the first one I've seen that is "worthy". I' not willing to deal with a projector and screen, so I've been watching rear projection technology get better for the last 10+ years.
Personally, I don't think the A2000 is 'just as good' as the XBR2 - I played with an A2000 for 2 hours and never got images as good as the XBR2 within 10 minutes of adjusiting the XBR2.
The comments about standard def not being good but not great... I guess I can't blame the XBR2, when you look at how bad the SD images are from cable, satellite or broadcast on an SD TV, they look at least that good or better on the XBR2. Decent quality SD images like some of the colorful scenery shots in "Survivor" are really good. But cable and satellite compress the crap out of SD which is quite obvious when you look at the MPEG artifacts that are all over the place. Once those compression artifacts are there, I think it's not realistic to expect a TV to be able to do a whole heck of a lot with them. There aren't many SD cable or satellite channels with decent image quality and the ones there are vary from provider to provider.
Anybody with a 60" TV this good should be sitting about 9 feet away to get the full effect of the large screen. If you're a little farther back... MOVE IN. You'll freak out! Standard def will look worse (oh well!) but HD will knock your socks off. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", the Spiderman movies, "A Shark's Tale", "Finding Nemo", and "Batman Begins" are just awesome in 1080 HD sitting 9 feet back.
If you have local HD channels, you'll find the broadcast channels look better over an antenna than they do over cable or satellite. I noticed this one night while Tonight/Jay Leno was on. Over the antenna the image quality nearly brought tears to my eyes while the Cable TV box (a newer Motorola with HD DVR) produced merely great HD images. Can't wait for 1080p Blu-Ray to get down to $500 foor a player! Also can't wait for Cable TV and satellite providers to STOP COMPRESSING HD altogether, the results are subtly softer HD images. Time-Warner (Rochester NY) compressed HD more and more every time they added a new HD channel. Their HD service started out amazingly good when there were just 3 HD channels. As they crept up to 9 HD channels, all of them started looking more like DVD+ than true HD... kind of annoying.
Early experimenting indicates that SD programming looks better via component video (from Cable TV box) than SD looks via HDMI (from the Cable TV box). May not be worth it to everybody to have component and HDMI connections from a cable or satellite box, but worth trying to see if it does anything worthwhile for you. One advantage of this setup... it allows you to use different setups for the HDMI and component inputs so you can 'tune' the picture for HDTV on HDMI and use different tuning settings for the component input that are a better match for the Standard Def programming.
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by maxdb (see profile) -
November 25, 2006
40 out of 40 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular The best picture I've seen
I upgrade from the a2000 and I must say that this TV is as advertised. HD and SD is better ...
I upgrade from the a2000 and I must say that this TV is as advertised. HD and SD is better due to the drc 2.5 processing. The brighter lamp also seems to bring out more detail in the picture. VERY happy so far. Highly recommmended.
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by pkwiss (see profile) -
October 24, 2006
40 out of 50 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Stunning picture!
I've had this TV for a few weeks and absolutely LOVE it. For HD content, the picture is the ...
I've had this TV for a few weeks and absolutely LOVE it. For HD content, the picture is the best I've seen. Felt like I was in the stands at the World Series (there is NO WAY HD viewers are buying the story that the sticky mess on the pitcher's hand was dirt) and football on ESPNHD is incredible. Friends have been inviting themselves over for Monday night football.
With the size (and the stark contrast with the awesome HD picture), SD stations are only marginally acceptable. I find myself using the picture and picture feature to shrink SD to reduce the blur a bit. Still, I see that as more of a programming issue and less of a hardware issue.
The picture and picture (P&P) feature hasn't been particularly user friendly. I haven't figured out how to watch two programs at the same time using P&P. When searching for the second input, for some reason, the options have excluded the second tuner and the dvd player. So far, I've only been able to simultaneously view a tv program and a video game (or a dvd played in the video game console instead of a stand-alone dvd player). Could be "user error," could be the tuner, or could be the tv.... at a minimum, the P&P feature has not been user friendly. Still, all-in-all, I've been EXTREMELY happy with this TV.
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by bikerunark (see profile) -
October 31, 2006
30 out of 35 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular I waited, I saved, I bought
I had purchased the 60" A2000 at Sears for $1995. But then I saw the 70" XBR2 in another store ...
I had purchased the 60" A2000 at Sears for $1995. But then I saw the 70" XBR2 in another store and decided to cancel the A2000. I paid $4500 at the local store for the 70" Grand Wega XBR2 which is comparable when shipping is included, to most but not all on-line dealers . Also included in that price is a 5-year GE warranty.
Once I got this baby home, I needed two friends to help unpack and place it on a Bell O' stand. The Sony stand is overpriced and is too low; it can only hold a few components and is not worth the extra cost.
I hooked her up to my new TiVo Series 3 HD THX DVR (with it's two CableCards), LG HD upconvert DVD recorder, PlayStation 3 with Blu-Ray, and my Toshiba Qosmio 650 HD laptop, and finally a new Pioneer THX 7.1 A/V system. Yes, this gives me both HD and Blu-Ray, albeit in a somewhat complex set-up. I utilized gold HDMI cables either provided (two) or purchased from the web for about $22.00 each--don't pay the absurd store prices for these cables--around $100 to $120 each.
All of my components except the LG (not reviewed but received good consumer ratings) were top-rated from CNET. Once I got all of the connections made and fired her up, look out! The TiVo HD on the Sony is spectacular! The DVD's look amazing. I do not yet have a PSP3 game yet but I will on the 25th. My Qosmio looks awesome using a DVI (adaptor) via the HDMI connection. The web across 70" of beautiful picture. Stunning.
Very impressed so far. I am far from wealthy--I will take a couple of years to get this stuff paid off but now I have a dream home theater and entertainment system, all anchored around the Sony 70 XBR2. Shop for the best price, check the BBB (www.BBB.org)on any merchant you might purchase from. Most, if not all of the lowest priced merchants have bad ratings and should be avoided. Do not reward these bottom dwellers. My dealer agreed to match the shipping price from the only on-line retailer that did not have a bad BBB rating.
Very happy so far--great picture, great features, and a beautiful cabinet that looks great in my living room.
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by djpdx1 (see profile) -
December 24, 2006
25 out of 25 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 out of 10 - Perfect Best Picture quality availible PERIOD!
Been researchin this tv since the technology appeared in the 25,000 dollar front projector model. I was esctatic when ...
Been researchin this tv since the technology appeared in the 25,000 dollar front projector model. I was esctatic when they finally brought the prices down to earth for us non extremely wealthy or spoiled folks.
Last years model was great but too many bugs and a steep price still kept me from buying so I waited for this years model and let me tell you it was worth it.
First the improvements are minimal in pic quality but the added assurance of build quality makes up for it. This thing is built solid but is still very light and thin for the size. I gotta say the minor complaints with the pic quality like inacurate colors and shimmering whites and a little overscan. But those annoyances still dont dent the fact that youll be buying the best technology for picture quality availible right now.
This type of television is perfect for people who watch all types of TV and have the space and for people who love games and computers. The feature set is awesome but the limited Vga input bothers me and people with Pcs and and Xbox wont be able to see this TV in its full glory due to sony's laziness.
25 out of 25 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Do not order from BestPriceCameras.com!
I placed an order last week for this TV on their site, mainly because they had the best price. I ...
I placed an order last week for this TV on their site, mainly because they had the best price. I got a call the next day saying I had to order another package and cables with the set, even though I had a bill of sale confirmed that the transaction was finalized. I declined the additional package and after a 2 minute discussion, they cancelled my order. They use the bait and switch to get you to buy there. If you have similar issues with them already, I'd report them to the Better Business Bureau if I were you. They will always show up first in Froogle when you search for best prices for this TV.
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by Co-bdk (see profile) -
December 14, 2006
25 out of 30 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 out of 10 - Perfect top notch 1080P television-excellent picture and sound quality
This is by far the best 1080P television in the market in the 60" size range. It beats all others ...
This is by far the best 1080P television in the market in the 60" size range. It beats all others with superb picture and sound quality and finally Sony produced this model with true 1080P picture. You have to see the picture to appreciate this Television. I looked at Samsung and Mitsubishi and Panasonic and this tv was hard to beat. Sony has a winner and the only television that was better was the 70" modelm but only because it was bigger.Buy this with the Sony Blu-ray and you will have the unltimate picture quality and sound. Don't beleive the negative stories about the Blu-ray. It works great with the right TV with 1080P and this model fits the bill.
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by Roy Rothstein (see profile) -
January 14, 2007
15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Question: Does it support HDMI 1.3 ?
Does this TV's inputs support HDMI 1.3? Now that the Sony Playstation 3 is out, you have a ...
Does this TV's inputs support HDMI 1.3? Now that the Sony Playstation 3 is out, you have a player that has has HDMI 1.3. Are there any tv's out there that support 1.3 yet?
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by Brubeck888 (see profile) -
November 17, 2006
15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular The Picture Quality is so Good it Makes You Laugh...
First of all I'm no video expert. I'm an average TV user. Our previous TV was 27 inch ...
First of all I'm no video expert. I'm an average TV user. Our previous TV was 27 inch Gold Star tube we've had for about 13 years. I've been shopping for about 2 years for this TV since my wife and I agreed to buy a Big screen after our 15th anniversary. You might think that we were easy to impress considering what we had before but not so. I've looked at just about everything over the last 2 years. Plasmas were still too expensive and DLP still has that irritating sweet spot viewing problem (where is you're not in the screens sweet spot the picture brightness is diminished). I would have bought last years XBR1 but by the time we were ready to buy, I couldn't find a good deal on the internet. This set, however, is spectacular. The combination of picture quality and screen size makes TV viewing a whole new experience. Standard def was probably my biggest concern. Standard definition is a mixed bag. Some local access channel highschool football games are simply terrible quality. Other standard def stations are really great looking - nothing like the high def channels but everybit the clarity that my tube TV was getting on these channels.
Sound quality is fine. I'd even say really nice on some high def music channels. I've not seen a set that puts much emphasis on sound quality however. I highly recommend a surround sound system with any big screen.
The remote is very intuitive and seems well layed out. I bought this set over the A2000 for several reasons. I wanted the cable card slot to free me from the set top box, I wanted what Sony described as a better step up system for SD viewing and I wanted PIP. Unfortunantly the cable card was a bust. Not because of the slot but because of the poor state of cable card technology. My cable guys all but refused to put one in and said that they are constantly going out or needing retuning so I'm stuck with this box. CNET's long awaited review of this set tells me that SD quality is essentially the same as that in the A2000. The PIP is also dissappointing. Two small pictures in a large black boxed area - Sony calls it Picture and Picture. No cool 50/50 viewing or inset picture viewing. Overall I feel like the A2000 might have been a better purchase. The brighter lamp in the XBR2 may have been a determining factor if I had viewed the two side by side though. The vivid setting on the XBR2 is fantastic. Unlike the CNET review, Sony told me 6000 hours at a minimum on the Lamp for this set. They were very adament about it.
I've not purchased an HD-DVD player or Blue ray yet. I'm still waiting to see how the technology battle will develop.
In all I'm very happy with the set. It's beatiful to look at and spectacular to watch. If you, like I was, are torn between the XBR2 and the A2000 I highly recommend viewing the two side by side before you buy. Pay special attention to picture brightness. Good luck.
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by joats5 (see profile) -
November 16, 2006
15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular 4 Words: I LOVE THIS T.V.
I've been waiting for this TV to come out for a while. I saw the great reviews of the ...
I've been waiting for this TV to come out for a while. I saw the great reviews of the XBR1 60", but was scared off by the "green glob" issues people were having.
I bought this TV at ABC Warehouse in Michigan for $3200 after some negotiating. It's an upgrade for me from a 35" Sony CRT. The TV signal: Analog cable & HD Antenna
Ft. from seating: About 12 ft.
I was worried about the analog signal. I knew HD would look great, but what about a basic analog feed? Well, it's good, not great, but good. Definitely I can live with the quality and save $20/month for not paying for digital.
The real magic happenend when I hooked up an antenna to get the HD. Totally in love now with this TV. Looks perfect.
DVDs look only OK. I thought it was my crappy S-video cable, but i upgraded to component cables, and it still only looks OK. I don't think this a TV problem though. I'm playing DVDs through a Sony DVD recorder that's not too impressive as a player.
The direct VGA hookup to my laptop is great too. Turning on G-Force while winamp is playing really looks great on this TV. However, I can't get the FULL use of the screen size when going from my PC. The display is large, but I can't get away from black bars below and on the sides of the display.
As far as styling goes, I like the dumbo ears. It seperates itself from the standard look of all the other DLPs.
Comparing it to LCDs and Plasmas, I went with the DLP cause it just looked better to me. It seems brighter and the 1080P helps me when Blue-Ray may becomes the standard.
I still need to buy myself a receiver and speakers. The TV speakers are OK, but not spectacular. A reciever with HDMI & video upconversion is on my shopping list now.
Also, TV included an extra lamp. Not sure if this is a nice gesture from Sony, or their lack of confidence on how long a lamp would last in the TV.
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by Drapes33 (see profile) -
October 22, 2006
15 out of 20 users found this user opinion helpful.
Auto power off,
Energy save,
Auto power on,
Gamma correction,
Black level expander,
On-screen menu,
On/off timer,
3:2 pull down compensation,
WEGA Engine Picture enhancement technology,
Live Colour Creation,
Video noise reduction,
Clock
TV Tuner
Multi-channel Preview
Picture-and-picture (PAP)
Stereo Reception System
MTS
Digital TV Tuner
Digital TV Tuner
QAM,
ATSC,
8-VSB
Video Features
HDTV Ready
Yes
Analog Video Input Signals
NTSC
Input Video Formats
1080p
Memory Card Reader
Supported Flash Memory Cards
Memory Stick
Remote Control
Remote Control
Remote control - Infrared
Audio System
Sound Output Mode
Stereo
Surround Mode
Yes
Sound Effects
SRS TruSurround XT
Audio Controls
Treble,
Bass,
Balance,
Sound mode
Additional Features
Bass & treble control,
Mute button
Connections
Connector Type
1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Rear,
1 x VGA input ( 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) - Rear,
2 x Composite video input ( RCA phono ) - Rear,
1 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Front,
2 x Component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear,
5 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear,
2 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Rear,
1 x Audio output ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear,
1 x Composite video input ( RCA phono ) - Front,
2 x Control S - Rear,
1 x Digital audio output (optical) - Rear,
1 x S-Video input ( 4 pin mini-DIN ) - Rear,
1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Front
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