Sharp Vs. Sony HDTV
Two giant Japanese names in consumer electronics put out the very best in HDTV technology. Of course, many great 16:9 TVs are made by a variety of new and old players in the TV game, but Sharp and Sony have been leaders since home theater began.
Both make a wide range of HDTV products. Sharp is generally acknowledged as the leader in LCD technology. Sony is generally thought of as the best quality at a higher price.
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The Brilliance of Sharp
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Sharp, with its AQUOS line, has always been among the leaders in LCD performance and quality. It may have set the standard again with the introduction of its four-color LCD technology, adding yellow to the RGB mix. Sharp's LCD HDTV line is one the most extensive available. Everything from the 26-inch LC-26D6U to the largest LCD panel currently available, the 65-inch LC-65D90U, are always among the top-reviewed.
Unlike other manufacturers, Sharp has always produced objective, honest specifications for their sets. For example, when Sharp touts a contrast ratio of 800:1, it is an actual measure of contrast, unlike the soaring claims of dynamic contrast of up to 20,000:1. Sharp's black level has always been among the best, meaning that colors are vibrant, and the differences from extreme brightness to deep black are dramatic.
Larger Sharp LCD HDTVs, such as the 45-inch LC-45GD7U, come with true HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 lines, and a wide (and excellent) 170-degree viewing angle. Most recently, Sharp heralded the opening of the new Sakai LCD manufacturing facility in Japan with the introduction of the 60" ultra-thin top-of-the-line 240 Hz refresh rate, LC-60E88UN. The plant is projected to produce as many as 72,000 HDTVs per month and, as the Wall Street Journal reported last year, is co-owned with Sony. So what does this do to comparisons between the two brands? As it stands now, a good quality Sharp set will cost less than a comparable Sony. This can be dramatic in some instances, up to $1,000.
The Beauty of Sony
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Sony is the perennial leader in all things consumer electronic. Sony has long been known for its superior picture quality. Right now, their Bravia line is among the best in LCD flat screen TVs. Sony was long renowned for the warmth of its picture tubes, made so by a boost in red tones. It has regained that preeminence with with a line of HDTVs.
Sony has always put out a stepped line of products, akin to good/better/best. Both last year and in 2010, it has done the same. It's important for consumers to know, because all Sony Bravia HDTV's are not the same. With prices ranging from $799 to $4,000, there are big differences between the XBR9, V5100, S5100, W5100, Z5100, and VE5 series televisions.
S5100 Series: This is the low end of the Sony BRAVIA televisions. These entry level televisions feature 1080 p resolution, but the refresh rate remains at 60 Hz.
V5100 Series: This is the step-up up from the S5100 series. Rather than the 60 Hz refresh rate of the S5100, V5100 has a 120 Hz refresh plus the 1080 p picture.
Along with this, Sony adds Motion Flow to prevent dejuddering.W5100 Series: W series adds the ability to be hooked up to the Internet. Samsung and Panasonic already have televisions that can access e-mail, weather, and stock quotes; the W5100 series is Sony's competitive product.
Z5100 Series: The Z5100 series adds to the W5100 series features, and boasts the latest ultra-thin depth to justify the higher price.
VE5 Series: Focusing on the energy-saving benefits of newer technology, these sets include features that limit or completely remove power from the set based on how it's used.
XBR9 Series: Adds the presently popular, newest refresh rate: 240 Hz, to all the other top features.
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Shop Carefully
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There are fabulous values in HDTV for consumers everywhere. Knowing the subtle differences can make a difference in hundreds of dollars spent. Some things, like the difference between 120 Hz and 240 Hz refresh rates, are largely marketing hype to just keep prices at a premium. Other features, such as LED backlighting and wireless Internet capability, are substantive benefits.
Noting the difference between specious and real benefits makes for a savvy shopper who maximizes a return on investment (ROI). Make sure you're one of these people, and your HDTV experience will be a consistently happy and satisfying one.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Aleksandr Dorohovich
