Sony explains its LEDs, doesn't lower the price

Sure the BRAVIA XBR8 series LCDs have been on the shelf for a few months now, but if glowing reviews of these good looking but pricey sets haven't convinced you, the magic of YouTube lets us experience the details of Triluminos technology without talking to someone on commission. Check out the videos, upped by Sony Canada, embedded after the break, but if you're having trouble picking the pricey BRAVIA over other LED, laser or plasma competition we're not sure if even Clarissa could help make up your mind.

[Via Sony Insider]

[mdntcallr Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:13AM]

aren't LED's less expensive to manufacture than CFL?

but they charge more for them? just asking

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:53AM]

Yeah probably cheaper, but you're not replacing a dozen CFLs with a dozen LEDs. Maybe a dozen CFLs for a few hundred, or maybe thousand, LEDs. I'm sure these are surface mount type LEDs, not the larger types you'd find in your mouse.

Also, using the LEDs the way they do would add a level of complexity to the system. It would need another controller to translate the the brightness of the picture and then turn on the individual LEDs on or off.

I don't see a problem if they make a bit more money on a TV. It looks like they are giving better picture, possibly a more energy efficient TV, for the same price as before. I like that.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:43AM]

Well prices did go down on XBR8 sets(up to $700 off, see sonystyle.com). And btw, the link Via Sony Insider brings you to LaserVue articles....

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:45AM]

Thanks, fixed the link.

[Darren Pillans Posted Apr 14th 2009 11:09AM]

I'm still not convinced by LED back-lighting.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying conventional back-lighting is great either. It actually kinda sucks.

I can't help thinking that Sony is trying to come up with different kinds of gimmicks to fix something that will always be flawed. ie: LCD technology.

[lee7n Posted Apr 14th 2009 11:11AM]

Saw that led TV in the Sony store and was less than impressed, looked no better than my XBR2. For that price it better blow you away but sadly it dosen't

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 11:51AM]

They could backlight an LCD panel with pure rays of sunshine, but last year's Pioneer Kuro and this year's Panasonic plasma would still look better.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 1:58PM]

Richard, how is watching an in-house Sony made video about Sony products really any different or for that matter in the preferable to getting the latest PR flannel from some paid Sony shill?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 8:10PM]

maybe the fact that you can sit on your @ss at home (or at work like me!) and get the same pitch.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 6:49PM]

I think this set is a technological marvel, along with the 81 and 950 samsungs. those sets propelled lcd further than i wouldve ever expected. I remember in 06' when those stinkin Aquos' were the cadillac of LCDs. If they couldve fixed the off angle/axis crap, the XBR8 wouldve been the set to beat....

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 10:53PM]

Hmm i saw the new samsung led edge lit tv's and they where better then all the tv's around them .

So sony has a lot of work to do to get the price down to Samsungs led tv levels.

I am just waiting on the samsung led 32 inch set to be released in june to buy one (i have an appt and 32 is the right size)

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2009 6:40PM]

Is Sony going to make a 40 inch LED model? I like the technology and am needing to upgrade my 8 year old 42 inch Sony 1024 x 1024 Plasma.