List Price: $4,999.99
Sale Price: $3,498.00
Today's Bonus: 30% Off
I rated this television 5 stars after making a few picture adjustments that seemed to literally POP the picture out possessing a depth-of-field approaching 3D; however, I now must downplay that review.
In addition to my 4K I own a Sony XBR-HX929 (a year old set), and found that making similar picture adjustments produced a near identical picture.
This realization was disconcerting given the vaunted 4K technology in which I made a significant investment was reduced to me having to stand a few feet away to attempt to see something, anything, that was different (i.e., better than my year old set). Knowledgeable of the return policy of the vendor from whom I purchased the 4K, I found myself thinking more and more of divesting myself of this...underwhelming yet significantly priced new innovation.
In hopes that perhaps seeing native 4K from the media server (just made available) would sway me, I purchased one and enthusiastically hooked it up and awaited my appointment a week later to deal with the HDMI circuit board swap to allow the television to communicate with the server (I guess Sony forgot that communication with the server was necessary?). The technician showed up and did his work (upgrading to HDMI 2.0). Upon pressing the power button I was immediately rewarded with a 4K symbol fading in and out showing signs of life for about 30 seconds...before morphing into a black screen with an error code.
The technician couldn't do anything about it and referred me to Sony phone support to rectify the problem. I started that process the following night attempting various fix suggestions that didn't work and waited fifteen minutes after my case was escalated to the higher level before hanging up. I called back later and that "higher level" support department was already closed. Apparently they think so hard at that level they need more rest and leave at earlier hours.
I tried again the next day telling Sony that I wouldn't wait for more than a few minutes and requested that they call me when I would be available in front of my television. The rep said they could and made the notation in my file, but the call never came. I called Crutchfield, the retailer, and requested a return. As I type these words my 4K is back in its box and the 4K Media Server is in its (i.e., they'll both be soon headed back from whence they came).
I'm a Sony fan, but this 4K roll-out was rather...ham-handed. After paying $5500 for the television and server to have a combo that doesn't work together and requires technician and phone support (to no avail) is NOT a good use of my money and certainly doesn't engender near or longterm confidence in the health prospects of the equipment.
I opted to divest myself of the 55" 4K and invest in the 65" XBRHX950 (Sony's last pre-4K XBR). The picture quality, outside of 4 feet, will be indiscernible with that of the 4K, I gain 10 more inches and pocket $1500. I'll take it!!!
Plus, the picture difference really is not anything to hoot about. Sony says it themselves that one must be within 4 feet of the screen to appreciate the difference. If you plan on setting this set up in a bedroom and make a habit of sitting on the edge of the bed to enjoy the higher definition, this television is for you. However, if you plan on setting it up in a larger room where you're likely to be more than 6 feet away, there really is no sense in buying 4K.
Also, another thing that is and always was worrisome about this roll-out are the 10 movies Sony sought to be the flag-bearers of native 4K prowess:
Bridge on the River Kwai, Bad Teacher, and The Other Guys to name a few. I think if I were rolling out something revolutionary I would seek to kick down the front door with blockbusters people want to see, not sneak in through the back door to catch people looking the other way.
If money is no object and you haven't purchased a television in 5 years...I still won't get this television, get a XBRHX950 or XBRHX929. But if you have a 2 year or younger set, wait until there's a reason to upgrade. This, unfortunately, is no reason to upgrade...not yet.
Why did Sony go ALL IN on 4K that doesn't yield obvious benefits to the end user? I can only imagine that Sony envisions economies of scale rendering the cost of building a 4K about the same as building a conventional 3D HD and the only televisions that will be available in the very near future will be 4K so they want to be the first to throw their hat in the ring.
Don't be a pioneer, it's expensive and time-consuming. Wait for the price drop.
0 comments:
Post a Comment