Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929 55-inch 3D HDTV Review

The Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929 has earned itself many accolades in various tech publications and if have ever had the chance to see it or use it, even for just for a while, it is easy to see why. The XBR HDTV series is Sony’s flagship line so you can expect to find the company’s latest features and innovation on them.

Sony has always placed heavy emphasis on the exterior designs, and this can be seen on the 55-inch Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929. The design focuses on clean looks and symmetry; as a result, out comes a expensive and classy looking HDTV set. On the front, the whole TV set is covered, edge to edge, with Gorilla Glass, which is not only very pretty to look at but also extremely durable. It gives the impression of a bezel-less TV when it is switched off. The screen has a very thin side profile and it rests on an extremely slim and flat rectangular stand.

The almost 10-inch remote is a little larger than usual because it houses 53 buttons for various controls. Depending on whom you talk to, this is going to be a blatant love it or hate it situation. While it does provide easy access to many manual picture controls, some casual users will find it a little overwhelming, if not slightly annoying. This model is built in with wi-fi connectivity where you can access a wide array of streaming online content from services such as Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand.

Experts have used pseudo scientific instruments to measure the black levels and contrasts ratio of the LED backlit Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929 and have come to the conclusion that they rival the performance of those found on the best plasma HDTVs. The colors were accurate and images were crisp, even when viewed from odd angles. It also did a great job in playing 3D content. The 3D performance may not match up to certain top performers from other brands, but it is more than sufficient for the average layperson. 3D glasses are not included with the TV so you have to pay extra for it (costing at about $69 each, we wish they were a tad cheaper too).

As you would expect from a high-end Sony product, it does cost a little more than usual. You don’t find the word ‘cheap’ and ‘Sony’ in the same sentence very often. With that said, industry experts have come to the conclusion that the 55-inch Sony Bravia XBR-55HX929 is an excellent buy if you have some extra bucks to spare. With its drop dead gorgeous looks and high-end performance, it would make a wonderful addition to any home theater system.