Sony KS-60R200A (60-inch rear projection SXRD)

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Common sights in the 1980s, rear-projection TVs are now becoming increasingly rare in our region. Blame it on Asians' fetish for sleek and pretty things. These bulky TVs are now facing an uphill task fending off the LCD and plasma invasion. This is despite ongoing efforts from backers overhauling these age-old giants with the latest visual technologies. These range from Texas Instrument's Digital Light Processing (DLP) to LCD and now Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS). Here, we take a closer look at the affordable KS-60R200A, Sony's latest SXRD-based offering, which has caught the eye of many of our readers.

Upside: From afar and facing the KS-60R200A head on, it's extremely difficult to differentiate this RPTV apart from its sleek flat-panel counterparts aside from the generous 60-inch screen. Sporting an equally stylish front that's on par with most Bravias, many consumers would have easily passed the set off as just another LCD or plasma model. But two factors are sure giveaways of its rear-projection roots. For starters, there is the affordable S$7,999 (US$5,683.13) price tag that's unheard of in the supersized flat TV segment. If this is not enough to arouse your suspicions, a quick peep at its sides is all it takes to dismiss the perceived "slim" illusion.

Unlike its peers in the market, this Sony is one of the new-generation models outfitted with its proprietary flavor of LCoS technology. At the heart of this TV is a three-chip Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) optical engine, first debuted in its US$20,000 QULIA 004 projector. This not only delivers a future-proofed 1,920 x 1,080-pixel native resolution and ultra-high 10,000:1 contrast, it also does not exhibit any rainbow anomaly common in single-chip DLP sets. Thats besides its latest complementary Bravia Engine Pro with Digital Reality Creation Multifunction version 2.5 video-enhancement engine.

If you have a slew of HD decks just like us, the KS-60R200A's beefed-up connectivity options will be a much welcome feature. There are three 1080i-enabled component-video sockets to go with your Xbox 360 and digital video recorders, while two all-digital HDMI terminals take care of the latest 50 and 60Hz 1080p-compatible gears, say, a Sony PlayStation 3 game console with Blu-ray player. Before you get overly excited, it is worth noting that one set of those component jacks is situated by the side which limits its practicality but facilitates impromptu hook-up with external boxes such as the Nintendo Wii.

Downside: Size matters, but in this case the mammoth 1,674 x 1,009 x 514mm and 51kg bulk is definitely working against the TV's advantage. Wall-mounting something of this magnitude is obviously out of the question. We would even go to the extent of suggesting a purpose-built Sony rack to go along with this heavyweight. After all, seeing your expensive investment tumbling down a cheap flimsy shelf is the last thing you would like to experience.

On a "lighter" (pun intended) note, do not expect a miracle on the brightness output from this SXRD set. While onsite evaluation in showrooms revealed a more than competent lumens, it's still nowhere close to the high levels put out by its flat rivals. This could explain the mysterious omission of any brightness rating from its official specs and modest light control is definitely recommended for optimal picture reproduction.

Outlook: This affordable S$7,999 (US$5,683.13) Bravia 60-incher is an attractive alternative for those who have ample floor space and modest light control. In fact, this particular series is a near-clone of the highly rated US XBR2 equivalent, according to the regional Sony office, less the three-two HDMI and component-video composition, an onboard digital tuner and Dolby Digital surround decoder, among other cosmetic differences.