Sony TVs made a strong comeback last year and the most popular model is no other than its flagship Bravia X. This combines high-fashion aesthetics with brilliant picture quality, garnering worldwide accolades from reviewers as well as home consumers. The time has finally come for their well-deserved retirement and the Japanese are planning not one but three lineups for this year. What we have in full detail are the X300 and X350, while a 70-inch X3500 is in the pipeline scheduled for a late October launch. Here's our quick take on the full-HD X300 against its popular predecessor.
Pros
Why fix something that isn't broken? This somewhat sums up the overall outlook of the new generation. You will still get the familiar "floating glass" design that has wowed both ladies and geeks alike. Add to that interchangeable front bezel in seven different colors, ranging from white to blue and red. For those into bling, there is also gold which is newly introduced for 2007. If the highly perforated LCD frame doesn't work for you, there is a solid equivalent as an alternative. This is offered by the X350 counterparts which sport identical specifications and form factors.
New and currently exclusive to the X-series is the Bravia Engine Pro, its latest and most advanced video-processing system to date. It shares many features such as advanced noise reduction of the EX iteration plus enhanced function which further improves HD signals. Other debut technologies worth mentioning are Motion Flow, Advanced Contrast Enhancer and PhotoTV HD. Comparing the X300 against the X200, there's more than a two-fold increase in dynamic contrast, up to 18,000:1. That's besides a slight improvement in brightness at 500cd/m2.
Connectivity-wise, there are now one HDMI by the side and two on the rear. These have extensive 1080p signal compatibility including support for the 24Hz variant (24P True Cinema). This promises judder-free visuals by bypassing unnecessary frame rate conversion, delivering smoother motion theoretically. Picture quality aside, there is also Bravia Theater Sync, Sony's inhouse implementation of HDMI-Consumer Electronics Control. This allows, among others, automated shutdown of companion Sony A/V equipment at the touch of a remote button.
Cons
Like the past X-series, these new Bravias are shipped with a fixed pedestal stand which is a little less forgiving when it comes to installation. Even if it's set up for optimal viewing from a certain sweet spot, you can't simply tilt the panel if you're catching a show from another corner of the living room.
Lastly, we would like to highlight its rather conservative static contrast of 2,000:1. A more accurate representation of the actual performance, it's nowhere close to the above tantalizing figure. Nonetheless, this is measured using Video Electronics Standard Association's standard which adds weight to the rating.
Conclusion
So far, everything does indicate a promising HDTV which is more than just a mere rehash of its predecessor. Expectations are running high here and the X300-series has a lot more to deliver both in performance and value. This is taking into consideration the debut W-series and its equally impressive paper specifications. We have already requested for a review unit, so do check back on this space for an indepth review.
Pros
Why fix something that isn't broken? This somewhat sums up the overall outlook of the new generation. You will still get the familiar "floating glass" design that has wowed both ladies and geeks alike. Add to that interchangeable front bezel in seven different colors, ranging from white to blue and red. For those into bling, there is also gold which is newly introduced for 2007. If the highly perforated LCD frame doesn't work for you, there is a solid equivalent as an alternative. This is offered by the X350 counterparts which sport identical specifications and form factors.
New and currently exclusive to the X-series is the Bravia Engine Pro, its latest and most advanced video-processing system to date. It shares many features such as advanced noise reduction of the EX iteration plus enhanced function which further improves HD signals. Other debut technologies worth mentioning are Motion Flow, Advanced Contrast Enhancer and PhotoTV HD. Comparing the X300 against the X200, there's more than a two-fold increase in dynamic contrast, up to 18,000:1. That's besides a slight improvement in brightness at 500cd/m2.
Connectivity-wise, there are now one HDMI by the side and two on the rear. These have extensive 1080p signal compatibility including support for the 24Hz variant (24P True Cinema). This promises judder-free visuals by bypassing unnecessary frame rate conversion, delivering smoother motion theoretically. Picture quality aside, there is also Bravia Theater Sync, Sony's inhouse implementation of HDMI-Consumer Electronics Control. This allows, among others, automated shutdown of companion Sony A/V equipment at the touch of a remote button.
Cons
Like the past X-series, these new Bravias are shipped with a fixed pedestal stand which is a little less forgiving when it comes to installation. Even if it's set up for optimal viewing from a certain sweet spot, you can't simply tilt the panel if you're catching a show from another corner of the living room.
Lastly, we would like to highlight its rather conservative static contrast of 2,000:1. A more accurate representation of the actual performance, it's nowhere close to the above tantalizing figure. Nonetheless, this is measured using Video Electronics Standard Association's standard which adds weight to the rating.
Conclusion
So far, everything does indicate a promising HDTV which is more than just a mere rehash of its predecessor. Expectations are running high here and the X300-series has a lot more to deliver both in performance and value. This is taking into consideration the debut W-series and its equally impressive paper specifications. We have already requested for a review unit, so do check back on this space for an indepth review.
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