Sony introduces X4500- and W4500-Bravia series LCD HDTVs in Europe

Sony KDL46X4500 Bravia LCD


Not content to leave its recently-announced V4500 LCDs to fend for itself in the European market, Sony has brought backup in the form of the X4500 and W4500 Bravia models. The X4500 series is available in 40-, 46- and 55-inch sizes and features a "floating" design that should compliment the optional colored speaker covers quite nicely, thank you. Meh -- we're personally more enthusiastic about the locally-dimming LED backlight, DLNA support and the sheer number of speakers packed into the cabinet (eight on the 55-inch model, six on the smaller ones). We're also curious to see Sony's "IB Reduction" in effect, combined with interlaced backlight dimming that promises to reduce motion blur without introducing flicker. The W4500 series seems like a modest step down the Bravia ladder and is available in 40-, 46- and 52-inch sizes. The W4500 series also has DLNA and LED backlighting with IB Reduction, but no mention of local-dimming. Full press release and more pics after the break.
EDIT: The W4500 models do not have an LED backlight.
Ultimate picture quality. Ultimate looks.
Introducing the state of the art BRAVIA™ X4500 and W4500 series

Aug 12, 2008
BRAVIA™ X4500 series
* Full HD 1080p
* Graceful floating design with translucent frame
* Best-ever clarity, colour, contrast and definition with BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 PRO
* Rich, deep colours, superb contrast and reduced power consumption from new RGB Dynamic LED backlight (46, 55-inch)
* Smoother, sharper fast-moving action with Motionflow PRO100Hz technology (46, 55-inch)
* Enjoy digital music and photos from networked DLNA devices
BRAVIA™ W4500 series
* Full HD 1080p
* Innovative styling inspired by new 'draw the LINE' design concept
* Superb clarity, colour and contrast with BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2
* Smoother, sharper fast-moving action thanks to Motionflow 100Hz with Image Blur Reduction technology
* Enjoy digital music and photos from networked DLNA devices
12th August 2008 - Whether you're into the latest movies on Blu-ray™ Disc, nail-biting PLAYSTATION®3 games or sparkling HD broadcasts, there's a mouthwatering choice of BRAVIA™ televisions for serious viewers who demand the ultimate entertainment experience.
"The unique blend of advanced technology and leading design of both the BRAVIA™ X4500 and slim speaker systems, mean that consumers can now view crystal-clear images with atmospheric sound without compromising on the look and feel of their home", explained George Damigos, General Manager, Marketing, TV Marketing Europe.
"Together with the feature-packed W4500 series, these two new BRAVIA™ ranges represent the absolute pinnacle of Sony innovation in bringing you the best-looking pictures and an unmatched home theatre experience."
BRAVIA™ X4500 series: the very last word for serious home theatre fans

The stunning flagship of the BRAVIA™ range, the top-of-the-range X4500 series represents the very last word in unmatched picture quality and breathtaking design.
Available in three screen sizes (40-inch, 46-inch, 55-inch), it's packed with state-of-the-art Sony technologies to deliver Full HD 1080p pictures and dynamic sound that effortlessly surpass anything you've seen before. With no less than 4x HDMI ports for connection with a wide array of HD sources, the X4500 series is the ultimate choice for discerning home cinema enthusiasts who demand an uncompromised theatrical experience.
Thanks to a unique new 'floating' design, the exquisite looks of the X4500 series are guaranteed to grab your attention before the TV is even turned on. In addition to the supplied sterling silver speaker covers, there's a choice of optional speaker covers (Ruby Red or Obsidian Black), letting you customise the X4500 series to complement and enhance your personal living space.
To get the absolute best out of your favourite movies, TV broadcasts and games, Sony's new BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 PRO filters, cleans and optimises image data before it's displayed on the Full HD 1080p LCD panel. As well as reducing picture noise, this powerful processor widens colour range and smooths motion while boosting contrast for deep, cinematic blacks.
For amazing results with any picture source like DVD, the latest-generation DRC (Digital Reality Creation) 3.0 boosts the resolution using advanced up-conversion-technology to stream a Full HD 1080p picture. This ensures detail-packed images that take full advantage of the highly detailed 1920x1080 panel.
A true cinematic experience in your own home demands rich colours and true, deep blacks. For the first time ever, 46-inch and 55-inch X4500 series models feature an energy-efficient RGB Dynamic LED backlight that momentarily dims in dark areas of the picture, reducing light leakage for enhanced contrast and deeper blacks. Clusters of red, green and blue LEDs provide a wider palette of colours than conventional white LED backlights. The result is stunning reproduction of Blu-ray Disc™, DVD and TV broadcast sources, just as the director intended.
46- and 55-inch models excel with smooth, lifelike reproduction of sports and other fast-moving action. Motionflow PRO 100Hz technology intelligently creates extra frames, inserting them into the signal and doubling the displayed frame rate. In addition, 'backlight blinking' successively switches off horizontal backlight portions of the frame with each frame. This significantly reduces picture blur without the fatiguing 'flicker' effect of conventional black frame insertion systems. The 40-inch screen size model also features new IB Reduction. This 'cleans' original frames before new frame insertion for a sharper image still with reduced motion blur.
Along with the W4500 series, the X4500 series is the first BRAVIA™ television that connects seamlessly with other networked devices via DLNA in your home. It's easy to access, share and enjoy digital photos and music with other certified devices around the home – like VAIO Blu-ray Disc™ PCs and other compatible media devices.
You can also view your pictures by inserting a USB Memory stick into the USB input on the side of the TV or by directly connecting your Cyber-shot™ or other digital cameras to your BRAVIA™. Enjoying your detail-packed photos in Picture Frame Mode on a 40 inch or even larger screen will bring your memories back to life.
The ultimate BRAVIA™ entertainment experience is completed by an innovative audio system with 6 main speakers and 2 woofer speakers on the 55X4500 and 4 main and 2 woofer speakers on 40X4500 / 46X4500.
Surround effects can be optimised for sports, live music concerts or movies, or customised for maximum enjoyment of any type of programme. The combination of the ultra-thin shape with the leading technology of the finger speaker and assist woofer produces a remarkably crisp sound quality without altering the style and design of the TV1.
BRAVIA™ W4500 series: incredible images with any HD source
Whether you're into sports, gaming or general TV viewing, the BRAVIA™ W4500 series delivers incredible picture and sound quality to get the very best out of your favourite HD sources.
Available in three screen sizes (40-inch, 46-inch, 52-inch), the set features effortlessly contemporary looks inspired by Sony's audacious 'Draw the Line' design concept. Sharing many of the same picture innovations as its X4500 sibling, the BRAVIA™ W4500 series is packed with latest Sony technology for the best-looking Full HD pictures you've ever seen.
BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 processing guarantees superb clarity, colour, contrast and definition, while Motionflow 100Hz technology keeps fast-moving action crisp and clear. In addition, new IB Reduction 'cleans' original frames before new frame insertion for a sharper image with reduced blur.
The W4500 series also lets you enjoy multimedia content from other devices on your home network that support the DLNA standard.

[Via: Broadcast Newsroom ]
[Tag: bravia,europe,lcd,lcdtv,led-backlit,ledbacklight,local dimming,LocalDimming,sony,w4500,x4500 ]

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