LCD TV Reviews

Full-On/Full-Off Contrast Ratio—1,401:1; ANSI Contrast Ratio—1,217:1

Measured Resolution with the Leader LT-446:
480: 480 (per picture height)
720p: 720 (pph)
1080i: 1080 (pph)

DC Restoration (poor, average, good, excellent): Excellent

Color Decoder (poor, average, good, excellent): Excellent

Measured Color Points:
Red Color Point: x=0.647, y=0.325
Green Color Point: x=0.289, y=0.607
Blue Color Point: x=0.149, y=0.069

The top chart shows the KDL46XBR2's gray scale relative to its color temperature at various levels of intensity, or brightness (20 IRE is dark gray; 100 IRE is bright white). The gray scale as set by the factory, in the Warm2 color-temperature mode and the Custom picture mode, measures a little cool with dark images, a little warm with upper midtones, and cool again with the brightest images. After making adjustments using the Photo Research PR-650, the gray scale measures similar, but a little closer to D6500, the accurate color temperature, across the entire range.

The bottom chart shows the gray scale (or color temperature) relative to the color points of the display's red, green, and blue color filters. These are somewhat off those specified by SMPTE. Red is slightly oversaturated and very slightly purplish-red. Blue is very slightly greenish-blue. Green is very slightly oversaturated and slightly bluish-green.

After calibration, and using a full-field 100-IRE white (127.5 ft-L) and a full-field 0-IRE black (0.091 ft-L), the contrast ratio was 1,401:1. Using a 16-box checkerboard pattern (ANSI contrast), the contrast ratio was 1,217:1. The best contrast ratio was achieved with Power Saving set to Off and the backlight set to 5. The brightest image was achieved with Power Saving set to Off and the backlight set to Max. In this mode, the TV produced 161.3 ft-L and 0.119 ft-L, which is a contrast ratio of 1,356:1. The best black level was produced with Power Saving set to Low and the backlight set to Min. In this mode, the TV produced 23.46 ft-L and 0.018 ft-L, which is a contrast ratio of 1,303:1.—GM