List Price: $2,099.99
Sale Price: $1,298.00
Today's Bonus: 38% Off
First of all this TV has fantastic features. Until now most of the Sony TVs are matte finish screens which are non-reflective. Although Sony TVs are the best but when compared to Samsung, Sony has been lacking a little crispiness and black levels in the picture. Now Sony with this OptiContrast panel has overcome the shadow of Samsung in picture crispiness and black levels.
The picture processing is amazing with brighter picture and excellent black levels. The black color is real black not blue black like before.
I have connected regular DVD player and Blu-ray player to this TV. I have compared 1080/24P (Blu-ray) picture vs 1080/60P (DVD). I have done this test with the movies Inception, The Dark Night and Shrek. The DVD picture quality almost matched with Blu-ray picture quality. Black levels, picture consistency and amazing crispness have been achieved through the OptiContrast panel and X-Reality Engine. Blu-ray movies are awesome with this TV but DVD movies are no less. You can rent DVDs from Redbox and enjoy the Blu-ray picture quality.
When I connected the TV to regular DVD player in Standard Definition mode, the TV has automatically upgraded the picture. I had some doubts over the SD contents before buying, but this TV came up with better SD content and picture processing than previous TVs from Sony. When I have compared this with my other Samsung LED 46D8000 TV, I could see that Sony has bettered the SD picture processing. The TV upgrades the SD content to HD content level. This is the best part of this TV.
Sony and Samsung have kept certain benchmarks (standards) for the TVs in their own path. Sony until 2010 did not venture into reflective screens where Samsung was outclassing the Sony's matte finish. With this NX720, HX820 and HX929 models Sony stepped into the reflective screens and achieved amazing black levels and brighter picture.
Another advantage for this TV is Corning Gorilla Glass. At first when I knocked the NX720 screen hard with my side first, the picture bloomed and came back to normal. When I knocked on Samsung screen lightly with middle finger, the picture shook very wildly and it looked like it might break easily. Sony scores marks over the other TVs with the Corning Gorilla Glass. I have seen ads from Sony and Corning about the strength of the Gorilla Glass but still need to see the durability although the glass on the TV appears stronger. Someone really needs to try breaking this TV and see how much strong this screen is. :)
I have tested the sound and the quality is good. One great thing about Sony is, it delivers 5.1 Channel Audio output. I have Comcast HD DVR cable connection. High Definition movies come up with 5.1 channel audio and this TV delivers exact replication. I have tested this with/without Home Theater connection. Still the sound is very good without the Home theater speakers. Another place where Sony scores marks over the rivals is it delivers 5.1 channel output through Optical Audio output. Other TVs deliver only 2 channel Audio through the Optical Audio output.
If you are too much into technical specs, NX720 TV panel is 120Hz panel by default. HX820 and HX929 panels are much more better with 240Hz refresh rate. Do not be confused with the panel refresh rate with motion blur processing. Both are separate. As per my knowledge all the TV panels are 60Hz panels and 240Hz motion blur or flow processing is added to the TVs. Sony is coming with better panel refresh rates 120HZ and 240Hz. Added to it 240Hz or higher motion flow processing betters your TV. I am impressed with the NX720 motion blur processing. The motion blur is getting better and better. There are no artifacts noticed so far surrounding the images.
The 3D picture conversion from 2D is very good. Still testing the feature with Blu-ray DVD but so far the conversion is at its best.
The original 3D movies are the best to watch. Looks like Sony dealt with off-angle view issues. The 3D effect in the off-angle view is better than the previous TV line up. But if you sit in extreme angles like corner angles then the 3D view looked bit uncomfortable. For any 3D TV the off-angle view is a problem and this TV scores marks in this too.
I tested the internet features. The internet content is good but there are lesser applications available for Sony when compared to Samsung. The Netflix and Youtube videos are very good to watch. We don't get the QWERTY remote like Samsung but you can handle this with media remote application from IPhone and Android phones.
Not to mention the best gaming experience with PS3! Fantastic 3D gaming experience on this TV.
This is definitely one of the best TVs with amazing crispy picture and better 3D processing.
NX720 is a thin TV but still the bezel is bit bulky but I don't mind it because this is an amazing TV for my living room. I like the Samsung D8000 TV because it has very thin bezel. Hope Sony concentrates on this in future.
Do not forget to update the firmware for NX720 model from Sony support or you can update it from the TV itself after you connect the TV to internet through WIFI. I did not test the Skype feature. It is cool to have it but I still use my computer or laptop for Skype. In future TVs should come up with Web Camera in built.
I will update my review if I find anything significant good or bad about this TV other than I mentioned in this review. Bottom line is you won't be disappointed with this TV.
I like both Sony and Samsung TVs. Both are the best in their own ways. I wish to share main differences after seeing both TVs closely. Picture, black levels and Edge LED local dimming are almost the same with minor differences.
Only very few things separate them.
1. Bezel Sony has bit bulky bezel whereas Samsung has very thin Bezel. Thickness wise both are the same.
2. Optical Audio output Sony produces 5.1 channel. Samsung produces 2 channel.
3. Corning Gorilla Glass If it confirmed that Gorilla glass is really tough to break then your TV is much safer with Sony than Samsung.
4. QWERTY keyboard remote for internet Sony does not have one but you can manage with media remote application. Samsung delivers QWERTY keyboard remote which is bit difficult to pair up with the TV but works better after that.
5. Internet Applications Samsung has more applications than Sony at present. You can buy Sony Google Blu-ray player to have Android applications but it is still expensive.
6. 3D Glasses Samsung is venturing with Bluetooth capable which is better technology. Pairing might be somewhat difficult sometimes but once you establish it then it is the best.
I might have missed somethings but these are noticeable differences between Sony and Samsung TV line up for 2011.
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