So I picked up a 52XBR4 a few days ago to see how it stacks up to my Pioneer 5070 as I got bit by the upgrade bug. My sources are Motorola Comcast HD DVR (component), Toshiba HD-A1(HDMI), 360 Elite(HDMI), PS3(HDMI). Neither has been professionally calibrated but I've taken various post calibration setings of avsforum and then tweaking them to my liking.
720p vs 1080p. When I'm sitting up close, such as during video games, the 1080p really cleans everything up and the picture is quite crisp. I like it! At around 10ft, that advantage is not noticeable though.
White levels. Tie. The Sony has brighter whites but they don't seem as uniform as the Pioneer. It's like I can see color bleed into the white.
Brightness. Sony. My room is pretty dark so cranking up the brightness isn't a concern. The Sony can certainly go brighter if needed but after tweaking the settings the difference is not noticeable.
Black level. Pioneer wins. I have backlight bleeding issues on the Sony. Esp. the top left corner that seems like flashlight in the corner. Off axis, the blacks on the Sony turn to crap. The overall consistancy of the Pioneer makes it a winner.
Colors. Pioneer. Look at the Sony head on or within screen width and the colors look good but off axis, colors go bad like the black levels. The Pioneer colors are "smoother" if that makes any sense.
SD processing. Pioneer wins. I mean seriously wins. Watching the NE/MIA game on SD right now. It's terrible.
Additional Sony issues. Smoothvision is by far the most gimmicky thing in some time. Just completely ruins it for me. Luckily you can turn it off. I imagine the same people who like Vivid mode would also be drawn in my smoothvision. Blurring. I don't think I need to elborate much on this. It's clearly there for me. Yes, I've turned everything off that could be causing it.
Overall. Outside of the 1080, this isn't an upgrade to my 5070. I'll play around with it some more and let it break it for a week or two but unless something dramatic happens, it's going back. I'm going to wait on CES and see what comes out. If nothing major, I'll get a Pioneer Pro150 elite and call it a day for some time.
I know many people love this set and on it's own, it's very nice. It's just that I have something decent to compare it to and for me, it doesn't justify a new purchase.
720p vs 1080p. When I'm sitting up close, such as during video games, the 1080p really cleans everything up and the picture is quite crisp. I like it! At around 10ft, that advantage is not noticeable though.
White levels. Tie. The Sony has brighter whites but they don't seem as uniform as the Pioneer. It's like I can see color bleed into the white.
Brightness. Sony. My room is pretty dark so cranking up the brightness isn't a concern. The Sony can certainly go brighter if needed but after tweaking the settings the difference is not noticeable.
Black level. Pioneer wins. I have backlight bleeding issues on the Sony. Esp. the top left corner that seems like flashlight in the corner. Off axis, the blacks on the Sony turn to crap. The overall consistancy of the Pioneer makes it a winner.
Colors. Pioneer. Look at the Sony head on or within screen width and the colors look good but off axis, colors go bad like the black levels. The Pioneer colors are "smoother" if that makes any sense.
SD processing. Pioneer wins. I mean seriously wins. Watching the NE/MIA game on SD right now. It's terrible.
Additional Sony issues. Smoothvision is by far the most gimmicky thing in some time. Just completely ruins it for me. Luckily you can turn it off. I imagine the same people who like Vivid mode would also be drawn in my smoothvision. Blurring. I don't think I need to elborate much on this. It's clearly there for me. Yes, I've turned everything off that could be causing it.
Overall. Outside of the 1080, this isn't an upgrade to my 5070. I'll play around with it some more and let it break it for a week or two but unless something dramatic happens, it's going back. I'm going to wait on CES and see what comes out. If nothing major, I'll get a Pioneer Pro150 elite and call it a day for some time.
I know many people love this set and on it's own, it's very nice. It's just that I have something decent to compare it to and for me, it doesn't justify a new purchase.
