We reviewed Sony?s 46-inch XBR series Bravia a few months back and found it to be quite a charmer. This time, we take a look at the cheaper X-Series 46-incher to find out whether its lower price tag has a direct effect on its performance. Could this be Sony's best kept secret?
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The Sony Bravia X-Series is very similar to the XBR screen we reviewed recently. It has almost the same amount of connectivity ports (the X-Series comes with two S-Video In ports, while the XBR comes with three), a 10-bit panel with incorporated Motionflow 100Hz, a Full HD 1080p resolution, and comes with features like Bravia Engine Pro, Theatre Sync, and Photo TV HD.
The screen also worked well with various HD sources (Sony's Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD DVD player) and was able to remove motion smears with its 100Hz MotionFlow technology. The second generation Wide Color Gamut (WCG-CCFL), Sony's Bravia Engine, as well as its Live Colour Creation technology did its work and made movies look vibrant and detailed.
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| The Sony bezel available in five colours starting at $499. |
But what really is the difference between the XBR series and the X series? According to Graham Keogh, Sony's Product Marketing Manager for Australia, both the X-series and XBR-series are almost identical in this generation of Bravia. However, the main point of difference between the two units is the bezel on the sets.
The X-series has an interchangeable coloured bezel which is black out of the box, but comes in a variety of colours to choose from. If you want a different coloured bezel, you can buy another in black, blue, red, brown, or white. They carry an RRP of $499 for the 40-inch, $599 for the 46-inch, and $699 for the 52-inch model.
The XBR-series however, sports a fixed aluminium bezel that ?gives it that slight edge and premium feel.'
Conclusion:
There is no major difference between the Sony Bravia X-series and the XBR-series. The two screens perform well and sport the latest technology Sony has to offer. If you don't mind the black bezel of the X-series, then grab it, it's about $300 cheaper than the XBR-model, and it delivers exactly the same performance as the more expensive model.
There is also the element of personal preference. If you want a screen that has a fixed aluminium bezel, then go for the XBR-series. But if you want a more ?customisable' screen, then the X-series may suit your taste. Just remember with the latter option that you will need to add the cost of purchasing the additional bezel ($599 for the 46-inch) to the overall expense (if the colour black is not for you), making it ?more expensive' than the XBR series.
To read our review of the Sony Bravia XBR-series, click here.
