SONY KDF70XBR950 70-Inch LCD Projection TV

The set's liquid-crystal display frees you from having to make convergence adjustments or having to worry about image burn-in. Instead you get incredible detail (more than 3 million pixels), high contrast, and even, corner-to-corner brightness from the set's user-replaceable 100-watt UHP (ultra high pressure) lamp.

The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio to match the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and the KDF-70XBR950 offers compatibility with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i signals. Sony's Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital Circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source.

Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

The set's WEGA Engine system maximizes picture performance from any video source by minimizing the number of digital-to-analog conversion processes. This full digital processing engine includes Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver), which maintains the integrity of a converted signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process; and a proprietary optical engine, which employs a trio of Sony's wide-XGA, high-resolution LCD panels, 1 for each of the RGB signals (resulting in 3.28 million dots of resolution).

The optical engine also features a special 11-element lens system responsible for the lightweight, ultra-slim cabinet. The lens system bends the light path, creating an ultra-short focal point while maintaining high brightness. This proprietary system delivers vivid images from the center of the screen all the way to the edges.

TwinView PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously, even at different image resolutions, while the built-in Memory Stick media slot offers ready display of both JPEG images and MPEG-1 video. A DVI-HDTV input affords a direct digital hookup with a compatible DTV receiver or digital cable box. Top-of-the-line high-definition-capable component-video inputs minimize digital and line-scan artifacts from compatible video sources (480i, 480p, 1080i), while standard composite- and S-video inputs accommodate all DVD players. You can label the set's video inputs and channels for easy selection.

Channel Fix automatically sets TV to a specific channel (such as 3) for cable box control, letting you switch channels on the cable box via the TV's universal remote control without altering your TV setting. The Control S feature (input/output) lets you use the set with other Sony components, controlling all with a single remote control, and only ever pointing the remote at the TV--not each piece of gear.

What's in the Box
TV, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty information.

The Set: It is an LCD-projection system using a very bright lamp to project thru the LCD and onto the screen. It never needs converging. It is not affected by speakers or magnets. It has seven inputs for sources such as a DVD player, satellite receiver, etc.. Four inputs (one on the front) accept S-Video or composit video plus two channels of encoded audio. There are two inputs for RGB component sources, and one DVI input for the highest grade connection. The internal tuner will tune any broadcast tv channel, analog or digital, and offers picture with picture(side-by-side) and can adjust the size of the two pictures to maximize one and minimize the other.

The picture: It's like standing at a window and looking at the world. Simply breathtaking. There are several modes to take less-than-HD sources and fill the screen. With movies on DVD, it's better than the picture in a movie theater. and DVD players are only 480I/P sources. A 1080I source provides the best picture.

The Sound: The internal sound system provides excellent sound with several modes. The Trusurround(tm) mode will provide a very good impersonation of Dolby 5.1 surround, minus the sub-woofer. I frequently hear sounds behind me and turn to realize the home theater system is OFF, and I am listening to the TV's sound. For most people, the onboard sound will be enough. For those that want all of the theater experience, you will probably want a home theater system. I have a Sony DAV-FC9 home theater system for full enjoyment of movies.

Other: This set weighs 225lbs in it's carton. Sony recommends no less than 4 people to move it and has provided some hand-holds for that purpose. It needs a sturdy base to sit on. Sony's base is overpriced, in my opinion. I found a nice base from a home theater collection at a furniture store. It has room for DVD recorders, satellite receivers, or the home theater receiver. The screen protector is a solid sheet of tempered glass about 3 inches larger than the screen. It makes the set a bit front heavy. Read the manual for more info (www.docs.sony.com/release/KDF70XBR950.pdf). The glass has a front-surface anti-glare coating to cut down on reflections. It should not be touched, except for gentle cleaning. If you are watching a dark program(outside scene at night) you may still get some reflections from light room objects, but not overwhelming.

To Sum it Up: I am very happy with this HDTV receiver. I still have not found a better picture on anything bigger than 60 inches. I apparently am not the only fan. I had to order it from a local store by placing a 20% deposit and wait for the next shipment. My one complaint, if that, is that with this sharp of a picture, you can see the flaws in lesser programming.