Sony's A2000 series 1080p SXRDs dated, prices slashed
Prices & Dates:
50" SXRD KDS-50A2000 - $2,799.99 (down from $3500 previously), shipping 8/2
55" SXRD KDS-55A2000 - $3,299.99 (down from $4000 previously), shipping 8/16
60" SXRD KDS-60A2000 - $3,699.99 (previously $4500), shipping 7/17
Maybe Sony can transfer some people form their HDTV department to the Playstation 3 and BDP-S1 Blu-ray player departments, nothing like a price drop and ship dates moving closer instead of further away to make both products easier to love. We'll wait to see if this cost-conscious Sony extends to the XBR version of their SXRD sets before we get too excited. The BRAVIA line of LCDs are still slated for September, no prices or specific dates announced yet.
[Thanks for the tip Carl!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Allen @ Jun 30th 2006 8:18PM
How soon do you anticipate actual 1080p TV broadcasts? Doesn't that require an enormous amount of bandwidth?
Perrey Z. @ Jun 30th 2006 9:08PM
This is good news! i hope their BRAVIA XBR flat panel series get the price drop treatment too! specially, their KDL-46XBR3.
mkaz @ Jun 30th 2006 9:51PM
If the 46" 1080p XBR can come in for 3500 or less, I may be sold. Otherwise, it's a Hitachi Director's Series for me!
Alan @ Jun 30th 2006 10:15PM
the 60 inch is suppose to go for $3699.99. I work for a electronics retailer and they have already order it and it says it retails for $3699.99.
Feech @ Jun 30th 2006 10:47PM
Why are there so many 1080p fan boys. As of now there is no broadcast standard for the format, it sucks up a huge amount of bandwidth, and there hasnt even been a whisper of any major network broadcasting the format. The only real benefit now is that HD-DVD and I think Blue Ray (not sure) use it. But most reports are saying that there is very little to no visual difference between 1080p and 1080i. I dont get why people are so excited right now about these sets. There just isnt enuff material to watch at its native rez so whats the point
James @ Jul 1st 2006 12:24AM
Well Feech - I love the SXRD, and I figure if I'm going to get one, I might as well get it with 1080p support.
My 34" XBR is ISF and may become a bedroom TV in order to make room for a 55" SXRD... that said - maybe I want to wait for LED bulbs.
Meh, I'm not normally a waiting type person though. :-P
GhostDoggy @ Jul 1st 2006 9:00AM
Todd, Feech, is the limit of your awareness for 1080P limited to OTA, DBS, or cable-delivered sources? How about the fact that there are those with Blu-ray High-Definition DVD players that output 1080P from their 1080P-mastered titles? And while the first generation Toshiba HD-DVD player can only output 1080i, the next generation will most likely be better technologically competitive with Blu-ray and offer 1080P output for those 1080P-mastered HD-DVD movie titles as well.
Also, it is a lot easier to accept and display at the imager (display) a 1080P signal than it would be to expect the imager/display to DEINTERLACE 1080i as that requires a heck of a lot of processing power, and there is a lot of 1080i content via OTA, DBS, and cable. Many videophiles have external processors capable of deinterlacing (the right way) 1080i, which most imagers/displays use a rather cheap/poor method resulting in problem artifacts.
If 1080P is not for you then that is fine. But why bother beating up on those that want it? I'd also use it as a computer display, but that is yet another use of higher resolution that you may not be aware of. :)
Ryan @ Jul 1st 2006 1:16PM
Why does it say "no price announced" for the 60"; it says it is $3699 on the Sony website.
Richard Lawler @ Jul 1st 2006 1:34PM
Didn't see a price listed for it yesterday, I'll update the post.
Jerry Champion @ Jul 2nd 2006 12:41PM
Does anyone know if Sony got rid of the green glob problem with these sets? Do the replacement bulbs last any longer?
Jeff @ Jul 2nd 2006 9:49PM
i just went to check one out.
It takes a lot to impress me and this one does. At 2800 bucks for 50" it is, at the moment, the best bang for the buck i have seen.
Mark @ Jul 4th 2006 9:02AM
I was ready to buy the Sony KDS R60 XBR1 and then heard about the new KDS-60a2000 which is not in the XBR line...does anyone know what the difference will be as far as picture quality goes? I like the new design with the bottom speakers, but I want to make sure I am not giving anything up as far as picture quality???
Thanks
Toby @ Jul 5th 2006 11:14PM
I was in the same situation and searched high and low to get the following info.... essentially the KDS-60A2000 is exactly the same as the KDS-60XBR1 except for the following... the speaker configuration (this was a point of concern for me as i liked the slimmer look but was concerned about sound quality... found out that the speakers are not only moved underneath but will also use better audio processing with SRS TruSurround XT Audio Effect... provides 3D sound kind of like Bose...how awesome is that?... a win win)Also the A2000 has NO Cable Card Slot, which for me is fine because I use Time-Warner Cable with DVR)and lastly, The A2000 accepts 1080p input (2 of them)... My conclusion is that the A2000 series is the way to go (I'm Looking at the 55").... the XBR2 will be more expensive but not really give you much more for the increased cost... it uses the new WEGA Engine HD for processing instead of the Regular WEGA Engine used in the XBR1 and A2000 series. this link gives the details of the WEGA HD Engine http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=KDSR60XBR2&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=hid_tv_newbravia
according to a Sony Style Rep I spoke with, the pictures are identical.... Also the XBR2 has the aforementioned Cable Card Slot that seemingly no one needs, an additional 1080p HDMI input, and it keeps the (in my opinion) unsightly speaker configuration of the XBR1 (albeit with the new XT audio).... Hope this was helpful.... I spent ALOT of time getting these answers... anyone with any insight on the 55", slightly concerned about getting the first year of a new screen size... any thoughts?
Thanks, Toby
Mark @ Jul 6th 2006 7:48PM
Toby,
Thanks for the info...I order the 60" A2000...hoping to get it by the end of the month...have you heard anything on shipping dates?
Toby @ Jul 9th 2006 3:20AM
wanted to clarify something.... just found out today that the video processors for the XBR1s and the A2000s are NOT THE SAME... the A2000s actually have a lesser video processor in the DRC-Mfv1... biggest impact will be on convert SD and non-1080p input... so for now it could be significant, can't be sure until we can SEE the A2000s. when more 1080p input becomes available, the proceesor should make less of an impact, according to a sonystyle tech i spoke with this morning as the A2000s can receive 1080p input and display it directly without up/down/up converting... hope this helps.... it just made my choice harder... ugh
roninm3 @ Jul 16th 2006 9:59PM
Does anyone know if the A2000s use the HDMI 1.3 standard?
Randy Winters @ Jul 24th 2006 5:31PM
if they are putting in this older generation processor in the 2000 series as mentioned, I would only consider the XBR, end of story.
What a difference in SD...
Bill @ Aug 3rd 2006 12:41AM
I just ordered the KDS-50A2000 from 1stopplasma.com for $1,999. It sure seems like a helluva deal, especially with all the good things I'm reading about the set. My big worry is 1stopplasma.com! Has anyone ever ordered from them?
Thanks!
Tony @ Sep 3rd 2006 11:51PM
I have the KDS-R50XBR1. I purchased it after numerous exchanges with Sony. I was misled by the HDMI connection on this unit. I was told it wouldn't change on the new unit. I have an upconverting DVD player that goes to 1080P. The HDMI input on this unit will only accept 720P. The componet imputs will take 1080i out of the same DVD player. I have written Sony and am waiting on an explanation on why the HDMI input won't accept 1080i. From what I have read from other sources the SD TV is better with this unit so be careful if you intend on watching regular TV. If this is just for movies you might consider the newer unit and then have true 1080P input.
Tony @ Sep 3rd 2006 11:57PM
Sony told me that the HDMI in both the older KDS-R60XBR1 and the new units are both HDMI 1.1.
Tony
Tony @ Sep 5th 2006 11:27PM
Additional HDMI information. I was told by Sony that the first generation of SXRD TVs had a 1.1 HDMI. They further stated that new SXRD have version 1.2. They made this statement to me on 7/31. I purchased a new KDS-R50XBR1 on 8/4 but still have problems with the HDMI being able to accept 1080i unconversion from a DVD player.