Sony BRAVIA XBR KDL-52XBR9 – Top TV At A Great Price
Posted by hdtv buying guide on February 3, 2010 under HDTV Reviews, LCD HDTV, Sony | 
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The end of summer means a lot of things — back to school, back to the regular routine. But it also means the end of the model year is coming.
Electronics, cars and clothing are on an ever-rotating seasonal cycle. By shopping at the end of the season, there’s a good chance you can take advantage of retailers who want to clear out the old stuff.
The Sony BRAVIA XBR KDL-52XBR9 is hardly old, but now’s the time to go find one. With new models on the way before the holiday buying season, last year’s models are on the way out.
The KDL-52XBR9 is a 52-inch, high-definition, LCD wonder machine. It represents the pinnacle of Sony’s technology, both as a TV and as an entertainment unit. It’s specifications list is impressive: 1080p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate and internet connectivity (YouTube, news widgets and Netflix compatibility).
Of course, the KDL-52XBR9 is priced accordingly — $2,899 direct from Sony’s online store, but $1,977 from Amazon.com. It was originally priced at $3,299. If you’re in the market for a high-end TV, it’s hard to not take notice of that Amazon.com price.
On top of Sony’s top-shelf picture quality, the KDL-52XBR9 gets the benefit of better video processing as well. The 240Hz refresh rate means pictures will always be crisp and sharp under the heaviest action. Sony has several other technologies on board — it’s third-generation Bravia engine, along with its Advanced Color Enhancer system, which produces brighter, more vivid hues.
Perhaps most interesting of all of the features is the KDL-52XBR9′s internet functionality. Content can be streamed directly from Sony, and Netflix compatibility will be added in the fall. Rather than submitting an order and waiting for the little red envelope to arrive, KDL-52XBR9 owners will be able to stream some movies and TV shows immediately.
Other content includes offerings from Amazon.com, YouTube and Sports Illustrated. Additionally, the DLNA compatibility of the KDL-52XBR9 means content stored on computers within your home network can be viewed on the best screen in the house.
Like any high-end television, the KDL-52XBR9 has a wide range of high-definition inputs, along with wall-mounting compatibility. Sony’s Xross Media Bar (XMB) on-screen navigation menu makes things easy once the cables are attached and the power is on.
In addition to the money savings at purchase, the KDL-52XBR9 is also an Energy Star-certified television. At 52 inches, it’s still going to eat up a fair amount of juice while on, but it won’t be wasting much in standby mode — less than one-tenth of a watt.
At a little under $2,000, the KDL-52XBR9 is still an expensive proposition. But lovers of high-end gear will find it a bargain considering its capabilities.
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