By now, the Sony name is all but completely synonymous with “quality.” It’s often said that you really can’t go wrong with a Sony television, such is their reputation for performance and longevity. Despite increased competition from the likes of LG and Samsung, Sony is still regarded as the company that sets the standard. Their LCD televisions, in particular, are regarded as the benchmark by which others are judged.
Sony markets its LCD TVs under the BRAVIA name. Among the hallmarks common to all of the latest BRAVIA models is a sleek, stylish and minimal design – if you’re looking for a flat-panel LCD that would be suitable to hang on your wall, the BRAVIA certainly fits the bill. The latest BRAVIAs also offer full 1080p high definition image resolution, powered by the BRAVIA ENGINE 3 video processor, which adjusts image properties on the fly in order to maintain the optimal contrast and colour depth and reduce image noise for both high and standard-definition signals. They also use Sony’s Motionflow image refresh algorithm, which increases the number of frames displayed as the image progresses, resulting in the most natural-looking movement possible, as well as a number of networking, sync, and internet shortcut features designed to enhance ease of use.
XBR10 Series
The XBR10 is the top-of-the-line model, not only in Sony’s range of LCD TVs, but in LCD TVs in general. The XBR10 offers the best in performance and style, cutting down on the need for space both by being as small as possible and by reducing the number of wires used. It’s super-thin, and designed with wall mounting in mind. The XBR10 boasts a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio in tandem with an LED backlight system which adjusts to ambient light, ensuring that picture quality and contrast are ideal at all times. The XBR10’s 240Hz refresh rate with Motionflow is the best currently available.
Additionally, the XBR10 offers an astounding 7 HD inputs for your game consoles, Blu-ray player, PC, and so on. It also makes use of a wireless HD box that transmits directly to the television. The XBR10 exceeds Energy Star requirements, and is available in 46-inch and 52-inch units.
Z5100 Series
The Z5100 is nearly as thin as the XBR10, can just as easily fit into just about any room design, and still has 7 HDMI inputs. It boasts a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, as well as a 240Hz refresh rate with Motionflow. The Z5100 also exceeds Energy Star’s requirements for this type of device. In addition to the 46 and 52-inch versions, the Z5100 is also available at 40 inches.
W5100 Series
Representing perhaps the best dollar value of the latest BRAVIAs, the W5100 is highly competitive in terms of image quality, with a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 120Hz refresh rate with Motionflow. The W5100 has 4 HD inputs, and can be found in 40, 46, 52, and 65 inches, the 65-inch variety being the largest of Sony’s high-end LCD offerings.