Product Description

Step into a world where high performance meets high style. Step into the world of the BRAVIA W-Series Full HD 1080p LCD TVs. Take all of the performance technology and great features from our V-Series televisions and add five more significant features ¿ x.v.Color, Deep Color, backlit remote control, a 3rd HDMI input on the side and brushed metal design. BRAVIA models push picture quality performance beyond the limitations of the current video sources. The W-series features advanced connectivity to answer this need. x.v.Color is Sony's name for the xvYCC option available in the HDMI 1.3 spec. x.v.Color greatly broadens the color space input capabilities to include 1.8 times as many natural colors as existing HDTV signals have and it is a perfect companion for select '07 HD camcorders. Deep Color (another HDMI v1.3 option) input capability works with the 10-bit processor and panel to deliver 64 times the level of color expression versus current 8¿bit systems and can help enhance your PlayStation¿ 3 enjoyment. Wrap all of this up with an elegant a new brushed metal picture frame design and there's nothing like W-Series HDTVs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21542 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: KDL52W3000
• Dimensions: 39.72" h x 54.84" w x 17.65" l, 164.00 pounds
• Display size: 52

Features

• 10-bit 16:9 Full HD 1080p Panel (1920x1080 resolution): Picture Frame Styling/Distinctive Brushed Metal Finish
• 24p True Cinema (24p Input Capability via HDMI)
• Live Color Creation system with WCG-CCFL backlight
• Connections: 3 HDMI; 1 S-Video input; 2 Component Video; 3 Composite Video Inputs; 1 RS232 Control; 1 Digital Audio Output; 1 PC Video Input
• 1,800:1 on-screen contrast ratio

From the Manufacturer
Sony's BRAVIA W series Full HD 1080p televisions take performance to the next level with advanced HDMI v1.3 features such as x.v.Color which greatly broadens the color space input capabilities to include 1.8 times as many natural colors as existing HDTV signals. In addition, Deep Color input capability works with the 10-bit processor and panel to deliver 64 times the level of color expression versus current 8-bit systems. Wrap all of this up with an elegant a new brushed metal picture frame design and there's nothing like W-Series HDTV's.

Full HD 1080
There are a lot of ways to define high-definition but BRAVIA Full HD means you’re getting the best resolution that high-definition has to offer consumers. With Sony BRAVIA W Series HDTVs, Full HD 1080 means 1920 x 1080 pixels5 and 1080p video inputs. Your lifestyle demands the best in high-definition and with BRAVIA Full HD 1080 products you get it.

1920 x 1080 Panel Resolution
1920 x 1080 Panel Resolution --- When it comes to high-definition TV the pinnacle of performance is achieved by using 1920 x 1080 display panels. And BRAVIA W Series televisions have them. Full HD 1920 x 1080 panel resolution with over 2 million pixels 5(more than twice that of 720p HDTV) is exactly what you need to reproduce the 1080p content that can be delivered by our cutting edge 1080p Blu-ray disc player.

10-bit Processing and 10-bit Display
While it's great to state that a TV is capable of creating billions of colors it's a whole lot better when you have a display that can actually display them. That's the logic behind Sony's 10-bit processor and 10-bit display. Sony follows 10-bit processing with a 10-bit panel, allowing 64 times the levels of color expression than an 8-bit panel. What that translates to is smoother transitions from color to color and subtle color changes faithfully reproduced.

BRAVIA Engine EX Full Digital Video Processor
The BRAVIA Engine EX full digital video processing system is based on Sony's famous BRAVIA Engine video processing system.

Live Color Creation System featuring WCG-CCFL
Decades of television know how allow us to realize that an LCD TV is more than just the panel; it’s actually a system. Uncompromised picture quality starts with combining carefully chosen components and circuits to optimize system quality, among these are the color creation and processing functions. That’s what Live Color Creation is all about. It starts with the BRAVIA Engine EX video processing system, which enhances primary colors and corrects half-tone colors for natural overall color. Next, a WCG-CCFL backlight using Sony’s phosphor formula delivers a specific spectrum of light designed to work with our specially formulated color filters. The combination of these three components creates deep, deep blues and natural greens for overall colors that draw you right into the picture.

Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) Function
Sony’s Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) builds on our excellent on-contrast ratio performance of 1,800:11. A Dynamic Contrast Ratio of up to 16,000:12 is achieved by using real-time image processing to adjust the contrast along with optimizing backlight levels. But rather than focus on the "numbers", Sony focuses on actual picture performance avoiding exaggerated blacks where detail can be lost. ACE translates to blacker blacks in darker scenes, as well as better shadow detail in other scenes for a difference that you can see.

x.v.Color technology
BRAVIA HDTV's performance has now advanced to the point that the color range can be defined by limitations in the original video source, rather than the TV. Thanks to the adoption of a newly approved international color standard called xvYCC (an option in the HDMI v1.3 spec and which Sony participated in creating), the color space has been greatly expanded. 1.8 times as many natural colors as existing HDTV signals will now be faithfully reproduced. x.v.Color is the name Sony has chosen to promote video products that include xvYCC capability. x.v.Color enabled products can now offer more accurate color reproduction and natural colors.

24p True Cinema (24p Input Capability)
Many movies are filmed at 24 frames per second (fps) and prime time TV programs are video taped at 24p. Seizing on an opportunity, some studios are taking a purist approach and encoding high definition video content such as Blu-ray Disc in 24p. Sony wisely takes advantage of this by including 24p output capability on their BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc player. It makes sense that select 2007 BRAVIA TVs will include 24p input capability. The benefit? Images are smooth and natural looking. Once you experience 24p video it will be hard to view video without it.

DMex - Ready (Digital Module Extender)
Sony's Digital Media Extender (DMex) ready televisions offer a digital connection path for the addition of the optional modules like the new BRAVIA Internet Video Link. 6 With innovative DMex expansion capabilities featuring the Emmy award winning XMB user interface, select 2007 models are not merely TVs, but powerful entertainment platforms that not only meet your needs today, but expand easily to meet tomorrow's needs as well.

Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface
When was the last time you saw an on-screen display that was fast, fun and easy to use? Sony's award-winning Xross Media Bar (pronounced Cross) provides a logical and fast way to access set up menus, user controls, and more. The on-screen display comes to life by pushing the XMB menu button on the remote. Navigation through the menus is smooth and fast.

BRAVIA Theatre Sync technology
Sony created BRAVIA Theatre Sync to go beyond basic digital audio and video transmission. Based on the HDMI-CEC function. BRAVIA Theatre Sync will be included on select BRAVIA Theatre home A/V systems and components. This useful function reduces the hassle and time consuming job of powering up, routing signals, etc. to the simple push of one button.8 Sony calls this nifty feature BRAVIA Theatre Sync. Here's how it works. Want to play a DVD on your Sony A/V system? Easy, just push PLAY on the BRAVIA HDTV remote and everything is taken care of for you. Even when the system is off! Want to change from TV sound to digital surround sound through your Sony BRAVIA Theatre A/V system? Just one push of the Theater Sound button on the remote and voila, surround sound through your system. Want to power down everything once you've finished enjoying it? Push one button and the TV and A/V system powers down. BRAVIA Theatre Sync helps make things a whole lot easier to operate.

S-Force Front Surround
Built around a sophisticated set of Sony algorithms, the S-Force Front Surround enhancement function generates realistic surround sound from the two speakers in the TV. Unlike some other "virtual surround" technologies, sound does not need to be bounced off of side walls or other surfaces to hear three-dimensional sound. No matter what the size or shape of the room it's possible to hear sounds from behind you.

Customer Reviews

Great choice
I spent many moths reading up on LCD and Plasma HDTVs and visiting every local showroom multiple times. Also reading all the posts on AVS for every TV of interest. I had held of purchasing a TV because I felt the 120Hz sets were likely to be the first ones I would consider due to motion blur. Those came out and I started doing live compares and reading the posts and reviews on various sites. It became apparent that a) the non-120Hz sets are doing very well with motion blur these days and b) 120Hz doesn't really help with motion blur to any noticeable extent (but adds a lot to the price). I argued with myself for a long time but decided even though 120Hz felt like "insurance" on image quality there just wasn't evidence to really support it. I looked at Sharp, Samsung etc. as well as comparing the 52" W3000 and XBR4. I ultimately settled on the W3000 from a local store so I could return it if I was disappointed after viewing it. I never once considered returning this thing as the picture quality is phenominal (on HD and good quality SD feeds). No clouding, no banding, no dead pixels, nor any of the other horror stories you read about in reviews on every brand. As one review I read some time ago said, the PQ on these sets is so high you can find yourself glued to the set watching some show that is of absolutely no interest to you but which has great HD imagery. I've kept following AVS posts on the main brands I considered and on the whole the W3000 maintains a strong positive set of feedback. I recommend it without hesitation. I have my paired with a Toshiba A20 for 1080/24p output and it is a great and troublefree combination.

Got HD? (Sony KDL-52W3000)
Strengths: Razor sharp 1080p and 1080i, wide viewing angles, vivid "Live Color Creation", many connectivity options, anti-glare screen, excellent value.

Weaknesses: No 120Hz refresh rate. No LED backlight illumination.

Summary: Buying a large screen LCD TV online can be daunting. Luckily, I've gotten a great holiday deal from an online merchant back in Dec. 2007 and CevaEagle Global delivered it quickly and without damage.

Like most informed consumers, I did lots of research online and visited local stores to compare different brands. I decided on mid-tier models for heavy-duty family room viewing and narrowed down to the Sony KDL-52W3000 and Sharp LC-52D92U. The Sharp has better contrast, black shade levels, and 120Hz refresh rate while the Sony has better color and stock audio. The Sony won because I use stock audio 75% of the time and costs less.

My KDL-52W3000 is connected to Directv HD DVR (HDMI), Sony Blu-ray Disc player (HDMI), Panasonic 5.1 HTIB (component and optical digital audio), and Wii(component). Satellite HD (1080i-interlaced) are crisp and detailed (can see one strand of hair sticking out on newscaster) Blu-ray discs (1080p-progressive) are just eye-poppingly, retina-scorchingly sharp. Stock audio sounds good set on Dynamic with S-Force Front Surround. However, not quite as good as the HTIB (which I'll upgrade soon for even better sound). My kids and I are happy with the Wii's 480p resolution set to Vivid. The downside to all this HD is all the SD(standard definition) channels look blurry but can be somewhat enhanced by using Vivid picture setting.

Being an avid NBA and NCAA hoops fan, I was a bit concerned with the lack of 120Hz refresh rate. However, I initially noticed some occasional blurring during quick movements and turning off Noise Reduction and MPEG noise reduction has made it a non-issue. The satellite HD-DVR is set to 16:9 standard format while the TV is set to Full (wide mode). This stretches out most SD channels but the HD channels are all in correct proportion with the occasional boxes on the sides (set by station). The Lack of LED backlight means some uneven lighting during dark scenes and fading to black. Turning off "Gamma" and "Clear White" in advanced picture settings has helped minimize occasional graininess / screen noise with varying shades of black. Also, LEDs last longer than fluorescent backlight but by that time I've already upgraded.

By no means a perfect large screen LCD HDTV, the KDL-52W3000 delivers a powerful punch with excellent value, above-average picture and sound, plenty of connectivity options, and lots of setting options for those who like to tinker with electronics to set personal preferences.

Yabba Dabba Dooo
I purchased the Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 52" TV from Amazon.com after reading reviews that this TV is as sharp as the XBR's and the Samsungs. I've heard and have personally experienced problems getting parts from Samsung. Even under warranty, you dont want to have to wait weeks for parts. So I bought the Sony and it blows away my expectations. Here is my setup:

Sony TV is plugged into an APC AV H15BLK Power Conditioner (also purchased from Amazon.com) because my home has substandard RG59 wiring which is susceptible to harmonic interference. I also have problems with minor power fluctuations. Even though the power conditioner is a surge protector, I plugged it in to a panamax Max 2 surge protector so it will take the hit in the event of a surge and not screw up my $380 power conditioner.

The picture is clean and amazing. I cant wait for the superbowl. HD programming is supurb. Regular programming is good as well. I use the vivid mode for cartoons, standard for regular TV, and cinema or my custom settings for football. Setting the TV on cinema or customizing it will smooth out the picture for fast moving sports.

The sound is great in custom mode. Just crank up the voice boost. It wont interfere at all in regular programming and it is absolutely wonderful when watching the news. The difference between the regular sound and custom sound is very noticeable so by all means customize it the way you like it!

Be sure to only use HDMI 1.3 Category 2 cables because this TV has the capability to separate the colors more for a better picture, but only if you use cables that are compatible.

I was concerned about late delivery because I had scheduled Eagle Delivery to come on New Years Eve and the installer was coming on New Years Day. When Eagle didn't arrive by early afternoon, I gave the local warehouse a call and they put me in touch with the delivery supervisor who gave me the driver's cell phone. I was able to do some shopping and made an appointment directly with the driver for 9pm. He showed up just after 9pm. I praise Eagle's responsiveness to my needs.

Eagle is now part of CEVA Logistics and you can track your package or call the customer service number for your local warehouse once your package gets there (www.cevalogistics.com).

My recommendation is to purchase from Amazon.com. I've read a lot of reviews that state that people spent the extra money to buy from a big box store. All you are doing is spending more money AND paying sales tax to boot. As for me, I will continue to buy from Amazon.com and have CEVA deliver it to my door. Yes I was fortunate that the TV has NO dead pixels, but then I've never seen a dead pixel in a Sony TV although I have seen some in the smaller Samsungs. I usually check all of the high end TV's when I'm at my local warehouse store and havent found a single dead pixel in any Sony TV of any size. It does happen according to the delivery driver, but Sony is pretty good about purchasing only the highest quality samsung LCD screens.

Stop your indecision and buy this TV. You will thank me for it! I've already received almost $120 back due to Amazon's 30 day price guarantee!