Sony outs the wireless, but overpriced, XBR10 BRAVIA LCD

500x_sony_xbr10We knew that when Sony announced the beautiful ZX5 in Europe a US model shouldn’t be that far behind. And sure enough, Sony just announced the XBR10 which is pretty much a cloned version. It too rocks a wireless 1080p media receiver, edge-mounted LED backlighting, and 240Hz technology. We just wish that they weren’t so damn expensive or at the very least made with localized dimming instead of edge-mounted LEDs.

At $4500 for the 46-inch and $5000 for the 52-inch, they are in the upper-end of consumer LED LCDs. Both do rock standard features of this price-point too: DLNA media streaming, YouTube, Amazon on Demand, Netflix, Slacker Internet Radio, and Yahoo! Gadgets. But even those don’t make up for the high price. Sorry, Sony, wireless is great, but most would rather opt for a cheaper, but also more reliable wired, LCD. I would.

SONY ADDS SUPER SLIM EDGE-LIT LED MODELS TO BRAVIA HDTV LINE
New XBR10 LCDs Feature 1080p Wireless High Definition Leaving the Cables Behind

ATLANTA (CEDIA Booth # 1409), Sept. 9, 2009 – Sony today introduced a new line of ultra-thin BRAVIA™ LCD HDTVs featuring an advanced edge-lit LED backlight and exceptional contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1.

The XBR10-series models also deliver full 1080p wireless transmission of high definition signals from a separate media box to a receiver embedded in the TV, allowing source components to be placed out of sight.

“BRAVIA is on the cutting edge of television technology and the XBR10 series pushes the limits of industry-leading, innovative features,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of the television business for Sony Electronics. “Not only will this TV look striking when hanging on a wall, the wireless feature clears the clutter of components and messy tangles of unsightly wires, allowing you to hide components away across the room.”

The XBR10 models also feature an Ethernet connection allowing them to directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband network. The platform offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Slacker Internet Radio, and, later this fall, Netflix.

Bravia Internet Widgets, powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, also expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such information as weather reports, stock information, financial news, Twitter, and additional content.

The full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) models also feature Sony’s Motionflow™ 240Hz technology, which delivers exceptionally crisp and detailed images with natural motion. The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames.

The models are Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music, and video stored on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV’s remote control. They also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and music files from a USB storage device.

Other notable features include:

BRAVIA Engine™ 3
24p True Cinema™
xross media bar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen

BRAVIA Sync™
4 HDMI inputs
RS232C
Single PC, component, composite and component/composite selectable inputs

The XBR10 models exceed Energy Star® 3.0 guidelines for energy efficiency and use Sony’s Light Sensor® technology to adjust backlight intensity based on ambient room light helping to save energy and reduce the user’s overall carbon footprint.

The KDL-52XBR10 and KDL-46XBR10 models will be available this October at Sony Style retail stores, www.sonystyle.com and at and at similar authorized Sony retail outlets across the country, for about $5,000 and $4,500, respectively.