3D Tech Review

I was confused as to the difference between these 3 Sonys I posted about a few weeks ago. Here’s what I have been able to figure out.

The lowest line is the KDL-HX800. It doesn’t have 3d integrated, and it doesn’t have full-array LED. You’ll need to buy a 3D transmitter separately for about $50.

The next up is the XBR-LX900. It looks to be a KDL-HX800 but with integrated 3d transmitter. (Think of the L in LX as “3d is Lumped in”).

The top of the line is the XBR-HX909. This is the one with truly unique technology: full-array LED backlighting. But, in a move probably to save cost, this one doesn’t have integrated 3D transmitter. Full-Array LED backlighting deserves another post, but basically, it lights up the tv the way a marquee sign is lit – lots of little lights arranged in a grid. This allows what’s usually calling precision dimming – in darker parts of the image, both the LCD turns dark and the LED backlight is dimmed down. This creates really high contrast ratios.

By comparison, edge lighting is more like a florescent light in an office building – the light comes from a single (or small number of) bulb along the edge, but there are screens and filters to spread it out. When the image is supposed to be dark, these LED backlights are still on full blast. Only the LCD pixels themselves are used to try to dim out the image.

The Samsung C8000 series attempted to do a hybrid – the LED lights are along the edge, but they try to dim regions of the image as necessary. The Samsung C7000 does not: the LED lights are on at maximum intensity no matter how dark the image is supposed to be.

If cash were no object, get the XBR-HX909 and add on the 3D kit.

	3D Ready (requires additional transmitter) or 3D Integrated?	LED positioning
XBR-HX909	Ready	Full Array
XBR-LX900	Integrated	Edge
KDL-HX800	Ready	Edge

Tags: Sony, TV

This entry was posted on Monday, June 28th, 2010 at 6:01 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.