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Home Page - LCD TV Reviews - LED LCD TV Review: Samsung vs. Sony (3)


LED LCD TV Sets: Samsung A950 vs. Sony XBR8 - Part 3

Which is better - Samsung or Sony?
The Battle of the Giants


Both LED LCD HDTV lineups from Samsung and Sony are solid performers thanks to the latest LED backlighting technology.

So the issue is: Which is better - the Samsung A950 with its white light LED backlight, or the Sony XBR8 series with the so called Sony Triluminos three-LED backlight technology?

And if one is really better than the other, would it be worth the extra expense over standard CCFL-based LCD HDTVs? More information in this LCD HDTV Review article.



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An easy-to-follow e-book on how to research, design, and build your
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by Duncan McClelland
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Article Date:

24th November 2008

     
 
Samsung new LED LCD HDTV - The 55-inch LN55A950

Samsung LN55A950 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTV with 120Hz refresh rate & LED backlight

 

It is all Samsung vs. Sony...
Is the more expensive Sony XBR8 series of LED LCD TVs better than the Samsung A950?

It is more than natural that many would tend to compare Sony and Samsung HDTVs.

These two major brands represent the world's largest TV makers in the LCD TV industry.

Despite the presence of a third contender to the 'BEST' title in LED LCD TVs, yet for whatever reason, LG with its 47-inch 47LG90 did not spur much interest - at least among videophiles and home theater communities.

It is not because LG is not worth considering as a TV brand. We have already expressed our views on LG in the first part of this article. We believe that the heavyweights in the industry need to keep an open eye on LG as it will surely pose some serious competition in the not so distant future.

Rather, this whole interest in Samsung vs. Sony is more a consumer loyalty issue. There is the tendency among Sony and Samsung customers that if either of these TV makers happens to be your brand, then it is unlikely that you will opt for the other.

In addition, Samsung and Sony are the two world leaders in the field of HDTV - so it is logical that one would tend to compare products between these two brands.

And to continue fuel up this Samsung vs. Sony debate, there happens to be a significant difference in the pricing of their respective LED LCD TV lineups.

So... It is more than natural that one would ask if Sony's extremely expensive XBR8 series is better than the cheaper Samsung A950 series of LED LCD TVs?

In other words, is the expensive price tag associated with the Sony LED LCD TV sets a true indication of their picture performance, and does it reflect the difference in picture performance - if any - between the two brands?

And if price reflects performance, is it really worth paying an extra $2000 more for a Sony 46-inch LED LCD TV, or $3000 more for the Sony 55-inch than a Samsung A950 equivalent?

The fact is that here we are dealing with innovative technology and as always, there is a price to pay for the latest and greatest. But to what extent it is the greatest? And does it make sense to enter into this new technology at such an early stage?

Here is what we think...


The Battle of the Giants - Samsung A950 vs. Sony XBR8

If we were to summarize the performance aspects highlighted in our discussion on these Samsung and Sony LED LCD TVs, it would soon become clear that both HDTV lineups are capable of exceedingly deep levels of black for an LCD TV - something which is so much important for a great picture and rich saturated colors.

The latest Sony XBR8 Series Triluminos LED LCD HDTVs

Also, both LED LCD TVs come with highly accurate colors, solid video processing, loads of picture controls, superb connectivity, an attractive design, and equally important at a time when energy prices are so high, very low power consumption thanks to their LED backlight.

Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8 46" 1080p 120Hz Triluminos LED LCD HDTV

On the negative side, both LED LCD TVs suffer from similar picture performance issues. Blooming - though subtle - is common to both. In this respect, the Sony can do a slightly better job but the difference becomes noticeable only in a side-by-side comparison.

However in our opinion, this subtle blooming issue is not much of a concern. Instead, what really matters is the deterioration in picture quality with off-angle viewing. These big screen LCD HDTVs are not made just for personal viewing - yet their picture deteriorates considerably just moving three feet away on either side of the best seat.

In other words, it is normal to expect to have your family and friends joining in. The problem here is that anyone not within the optimum viewing position would never enjoy the best picture that these LED LCD TVs may offer.

The hard truth is that some of the latest premium CCFL-based LCD HDTVs can do a better job with off-angle viewing than these cutting-edge LCD TVs! However, if one wants to differentiate between these two giants, the Samsung LED LCD TV takes the upper hand - but just slightly, in that while both sets exhibit discoloration with blacks as one moves away from the center seat, yet colors on the Samsung remain more neutral than those on the Sony.

There are other significant differences as well between the Samsung A950 and the Sony XBR8 LCD HDTVs. The black levels on the Sony are just a bit closer to the absolute black level than those on the Samsung. At the same time, the Samsung video processing is just a bit better than the Sony with fewer artifacts. On the other hand, the noise reduction on the Sony is rated as superb and is a bit better than that on the Samsung...

And this ping pong game may continue forever!

The Sony is not capable of deinterlace 1080i film-based content correctly while its standard definition performance is average for a flagship HDTV from a top brand. The Samsung here pass both tests with flying colors.

In favor of Sony, its matte-screen can do a much better job when viewing takes place in a brightly lit room; the reflective screen surface on the Samsung may turn into a mirror-like surface when viewing dark content under a brightly lit environment - which can turn out to be extremely annoying.

Samsung comes with a host of interactive features which the Sony lacks. In addition, the A950 has better file support over its 'supposedly' DLNA compatible network connection than that available on the Sony. We say 'supposedly' because the Samsung DLNA feature works only with the supplied Samsung DLNA server software. In contrast, that on the Sony is truly DLNA compliant despite its limitations in that one can only use it to retrieve JPG files over the home network from compliant DLNA devices.


Concluding Remarks ...and discussion

Well, the difference in picture performance between the Sony and the Samsung LED LCD TVs is... insignificant. Ultimately, it is the picture that matters most - and in this respect, both Samsung and Sony LED LCD HDTVs are great performers by any standard and irrespective of display technology.

Admittedly, the image deterioration issue with off-angle viewing on both the Samsung and the Sony is preoccupying and should be taken into account when taking your decision. The fact that this is common with both is a clear sign that there are still a few issues which need to be resolved by LCD TV makers before one can say that LCD LED backlighting technology is truly the greatest display technological development since color television.  

We are not saying that this is not the right time to buy an LED LCD TV - after all, when it comes to picture quality, LED LCD HDTVs can really deliver exceedingly deep black levels and accurate colors that surpass any CCFL-based LCD HDTV. It is just that these are issues which one needs to be fully aware of before plunging into such a heavy investment.

This just leaves one significant difference between the Samsung and the Sony LED LCD TVs, and that is their price tag.

So... Will you pay $2000 to $3000 more for a Sony XBR8 LED LCD HDTV? Maybe yes if Sony is your brand, otherwise...

And if Sony is not your brand, will you opt for an LED LCD TV like the Samsung A950?

It all depends on what are your requirements. If what you are after is a top-performing LCD HDTV for your home theater, Samsung gives you with a great picture at an expensive but somewhat more affordable price in comparison to the competition.

Would you like to let us know what you think?

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What Others Have Said

Click below to read what others have said on this hotly debated issue.


Screen/Pixel Burnt-out  I would like to know if a comparison was made between Sony Led TV vs Samsung Led TV regarding screen/pixel burn-out issues that is common in LCD TV particularly ...

Service Life of Led Lcd TV as compared to CCFL Lcd.  Thanks for your information on Led LCD. But what about the life comparing of Led/Lcd as against CCFL LCD. Also Samsung advertises that there Led LCD ...

Real Life Viewing of the LED TV's  In the store they have a pre-recorded disc playing very vibrant colors and crisp clear pictures.

What will these LED screens look like in real life ...

Image Deterioration with Off-axis Viewing  Effect on image quality with off-axis viewing on edge-lit Samsung and Sony LED LCD TVs

Excellent reviews, if only I knew WHAT DATE THEY WERE WRITTEN!  Hi there,

I am in the market for a TV and used your site a lot for reviews and professional opinion. It is however extremely difficult at this day ...

What about Tosbiha LED LCD TVs? 
I understand that Samsung and Sony are the "Big Dogs" in the HDTV world (and the most expensive); But what about Toshiba LED/LCD HDTV with local dimming?...

Matte Finish Screeens 
Do you think there will be more Matte Finish Screens in the future since this option enables you to see a better picture in natural lighting?
...

Is Quality a Factor?  On the basis of response from Sony on a 42 inch LCD costing over twenty two hundreds (of dollars) to a Blue Blob manufacturing problem, I say ney to ...

Sony LED v/s Samsung LED LCD HDTV  This is very informative wrt to led/lcd tvs. It has cleared the doubts that Sony is not that better than Samsung.

May be there are some technical ...

Sony has lost it's glory days....  After reading this article, I would like to make a comment.

Back in the 70 & 80's, the Sony brand was considered as a "Mercedes" brand in motor vehicle ...

LCD LED TV SAMSUNG VS SONY  I viewed both TVs with an open mind for an hour with my 18 year old who has excellent vision.

We both agreed the Samsung A950 edged out the Sony ...

Sony or Samsung - Which LED LCD TV is better?  Just want to thank everybody worked on this really its helpful..

You mentioned everything that the customer wants. But at the end, both of them are ...

Input Lag  HDTVtest mentions that the Samsung has a major amount of input lag. Due to the lack of reviews on the 55x4500/xbr8 I called Sony's helpdesk and they ...

Contrast Ratio: Is it worth paying more for a 1,000,000:1 CR LED LCD HDTV?  Does the picture deterioration from off angles of these two LED LCD TVs justify paying more money for a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio? Would a CCFL ...

3D Support on the Sony XBR8  I evaluated both TVs and noticed that the Sony picture had a 3D quality. The sales rep said that was because the XBR8 intensified the outline around ...

Product Warranty  I guess that there is another important consideration that needs to be taken into account, and this is the 1 year warranty on one as opposed to 3 years ...

Old Geezer's opinion  Why spend a bundle on something that deteriorates from day one? If they are that close in all but price...even more reason to go with the lowest price....

Excellent reviews, if only I knew WHAT DATE THEY WERE WRITTEN!  Hi there,

I am in the market for a TV and used your site a lot for reviews and professional opinion. It is however extremely difficult at this day ...

Wow that was great info, Thanks !  Just wanted to thank the reviewers for their expert info and for giving me a better idea on what is exactly the differences and the respective strengths ...

Overall value - Sony LED TVs can't compete  Sony has simply missed the price point on their LED/LCD tech. Maybe they invested more trying to invent or enhance their own technology for LED displays;...

Sony LED LCD TV is better than Samsung 
Sony is better than Samsung because you can see more picture. It is more clear than Samsung. Samsung's picture is all scracky (not clear).

I would ...

I will go with Samsung LED TV!  Thanks, very good reveiw, I will go with Samsung

Conclusion   Newer model and technology will be available very soon, therefore based on the above comparison and price difference, Samsung seems to be more of a logical ...

LED LCD TVs - Price Matters 
Since both Sony and Samsung are clear leaders in the industry, technologically it is pretty hard to say who has the upper hand. As a consumer however,...

Sony's Mat Finish surface wins over glarely Samsung  
I'd pay 50% more for Sony's Mat Finish LCD Panel than a Samsung's glarely LCD TV if all other specifications are similar. When comparing the picture ...

Samsung LED LCD TV is Better 
I believe the Samsung is better. As a sellsmen I prefer to show the two side by side and many customers pick the samsung because the colors seem so ...

Sony Bravia still the Best  I have studied these two brands, but I buy Sony because the 100 Hz Motionflow is 100% better than Samsung Motionplus which does not work naturally at ...

Sony has crummy customer service and warranties  I vote for the Samsung. I am in the process of replacing a Sony 55" rear projection TV with an optical block problem that plagued many other Sony ...

Plasma or LED LCD TVs? 
So have LED LCD TVs supplanted plasma TVs?

Sony LED LCD Overpriced But Does Have Better Picture  After just spending considerable time closely looking at these sets in person only a few minutes apart, I can say with an educated and experienced opinion ...

Cost of Sony LED LCD TV ...too much to bear  I've typically leaned towards the Sony products in the past, but with the closeness in picture quality, I could not justify the extra cost. I would ...

Sony vs Samsung LED LCD HDTVs: Informative Article  Very good article. This clarified a lot of the confusion over the various technologies between Sony and Samsung. I can definitely make a more informative ...

MR. LCD - Sony XBR8 is Better but Expensive  I am the owner of 2 Samsung LCD TVs. I own the Led 46 inch 950 and I also own the 46 inch 750.

If I did not have to fork over any hard earned $$ for ...

 


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Would You like to get the best out of your new LED LCD HDTV?

There is no better way to make the most out of your new LCD panel HDTV then to invest in a good set-up DVD.

A great calibration disc is the Avia II Home Theater Set-up DVD, an exceptional AV calibration tool for both the novice and the expert.

Another interesting calibration disc is the Digital Video Essentials HD, but this is more suitable for advanced users.

For more information, please check our Guide to HT Set-Up DVDs.