Tour & Design
The KDL-46XBR9 has a solid black glossy bezel that features the Sony logo in the center on the bottom edge with LED status lights to the far right. Small logos to denote the Bravia line and the XBR model line appear in the top left and right corners of the bezel, respectively.
The front of the KDL-46XBR9
We were unable to see the back of the KDL-46XBR9 as it was mounted on a wall and could not swivel out. The majority of the XBR9's ports will be positioned on the back.
The left side of the KDL-46XBR9 features easy ports for easy access, including, from top to bottom, a USB port, PC in RGB and audio, 3 HDMI ports, 1 S-video port, and 1 set of composite audio and video in ports. The right side features the power and other control buttons most often found on the front of flat-panel TVs, including, from top to bottom, the power, channel up/down, volume up/down, input, and home buttons.
The left and ride sides of the KDL-46XBR9
The KDL-46XBR9 on display was mounted on a wall and not on the stand with which it comes, so we were unable to photograph it. The XBR9 can be mounted on a wall, and it appeared to have the standard VESA-compatible mounting points.
In typical Sony fashion, the KDL-46XBR9 presents a streamlined face with its not-too-glossy bezel and minimalist text and LED indicators. It's a nice-looking TV that will complement your media or family room without drawing too much attention to it. If you're looking for a specific quotient of bling to add to your home media set-up, the Sony won't be your first choice.
Performance Features
Display Size & Technology
The KDL-46XBR9 has a 46-inch flat-screen LCD display, backlit with a CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light). 52-inch, 40-inch, and 32-inch display models of the XB9R will also be available.
The front of the KDL-46XBR9
Format & Resolution
The KDL-46XBR9 offers full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels in 1080p format. It will support other formats up to 1080p, though you should note that the primary source of 1080p content at present are Blu-Ray discs.
Brightness, Blacks & Contrast Ratio
The brightness, blacks, and contrast ratio specifications for the KDL-46XBR9 are not yet available.
Refresh Rate & Motion
The KDL-46XBR9 boasts Motionflow technology that yields a 240Hz refresh rate. Sample video shown on the display units were bright and smooth, showing no blurring, jitteriness, or ghosting. However, manufacturers tend to show sample videos that serve to showcase the capabilities of the unit on display. We'll be able to tell you how good it actually is when we get it into our labs.
Viewing Angle
The viewing angle for the KDL-46XBR9 is not yet available. Our impromptu check of the display unit's viewing angle yielded a slightly above average viewing angle of just beyond 45 degrees, after which colors begin to shift.
Connectivity & Media
Audio & Video Ports
A full list of all of the KDL-46XBR9's ports is not yet available and we were unable to see the back of the display unit, but we observed several ports on the left side of the unit placed for easy access, which included PC in RGB and audio, 3 HDMI ports, 1 S-video port, and 1 set of composite audio and video in ports. There should be a full complement of ports on the back and we look forward to seeing the full list.
The easy-access ports on the left side
Media & Other Connectivity
One of the easy-access ports on the left side of the XB9R is a USB port. The placard next to the display unit indicated that the XB9R also has an Ethernet port. Without the full specs, other media ports present in the XB9R are unknown.
Placement
With limited access to the display unit mounted against the wall, we could not get to the ports on the back of the unit. The ports on the left side of the unit were easy to reach and should pose no issues for quick connections to camcorders and other devices in a pinch.
Audio
The information available so far on the XB9R does not indicate its audio capabilities. However, we always recommend the purchase of even an inexpensive surround sound system if audio is important to you, regardless of what extraordinary sound capabilities a manufacturer may claim.
Controls, Menu & Remote
Remote
The remote for the KDL-46XBR9 on display was not available to us.
Controls
The buttons on the right side of the KDL-46XBR9 allow basic control of the TV, including the power, channel up/down, volume up/down, input, and home buttons. The buttons are on an angled panel to stand out from the rear panel of the unit, and are separated well enough that they can be operated by feel once you have the lay-out memorized. We were unable to operate the buttons of the display unit to prevent disruption of the display video.
The KDL-46XBR9's controls
Menu
We were unable to access the menu of the display unit to prevent disruption of the display video.
Conclusion
We anxiously await additional information on the KDL-46XBR9 to learn its full performance specs and capabilities. We are looking forward to seeing the 240Hz refresh, internet video and Bravia Widgets in action. Without pricing information, we can't peg the value of this unit, but Sony products do tend to be priced on the higher end of the range compared to other brands, and we don't expect the KDL-46XBR9 to be any different.
Meet the tester
Marianne Schultz
Editor
Marianne Schultz is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.
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