Sony Electronics has a lot to show at this week's 2013 International CES. However, nothing they have on hand at the show is as big as some of those big screens -- and the company plans to have plenty of them for 2013.
The spotlight for this year's Bravia selection goes to Sony's 4K UHD XBR LED TV line. The company launched its 84-inch model back in September, and plans to make 55- and 65-inch versions also available this year. In case you haven't been reading, Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TV has four times the resolution of your typical 1080p HDTV, for a total of 3840-by-2160 pixels.
The new XBR-X900A series of 4K LED TVs will come packing the 4K X-Reality PRO picture engine, as well as TRILUMINOS Display LED backlighting for stunning colors and subtle tones. It also has QD Vision's Color IQTM optical component with some of Sony's display technologies.
Other features include built-in WiFi and all of the streaming goodies that are currently offered through Sony's Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited services, as well as other web-based apps. One-touch mirroring and TV SideView also allow for greater control and better content options, by interconnecting media sources all around the home.
Also, Sony doesn't expect you to watch this eye-popping picture with typical TV sound. The XBR-X900A series includes the Signal-to-Sound Architecture, which basically means that it has magnetic fluid speakers and digital signal processing technology.
Sony plans to start selling the X series of 4K LED TVs this spring, alongside the lineup of Mastered in 4K Blu-ray discs (more will be coming on that live from the showfloor).
The company also has a 56-inch OLED TV on display, which features a 3840-by-2160 resolution, the latest oxide semiconductor TFTs, and Sony's own "Super Top Emission" technologies. Some of that tech allows Sony to overcome the challenges in making a large-screen OLED. Of course, they didn't do it all on their own. Back in June, Sony and Panasonic announced plans to team up on OLED TV production. Despite the partnership and the demo, Sony says that this unit is just a protoype. Right now, the company has no plans (that they're announcing) to mass-produce the product.
If you're not quite ready to jump with both feet (and eyes) into those 4K and OLED TVs, Sony is also showing two new LED lines, which are slated for a spring release.
The W series will include the KDL-W650A, the KDL-W802A and the KDL-W900A. Each of these models includes built-in WiFi, with the W900A adding in NFC features, the TRILUMINOS display, the X-Reality PRO picture engine and active 3D technology. It also has boasts the highest level of Motionflow XR, according to Sony, as well as a 1.2m speaker duct cabinet design with that audio hidden neatly under the screen.
Bravia customers can also expect to see the R series. Available in 50-, 60- and 70-inch sizes, the KDL-R550A LED HDTV will have both WiFi and 3D features, as well as RVU support. That means that this set is a nice complement to the DIRECTV Genie Whole-Home HD DVR. No additional equipment is necessary for that, as well as for the 3D -- because this set comes with four pairs of glasses.
The KDL-R520A is very similar to the R550A, except there will only be 60- and 70-inch screens, without any sort of 3D features. We also know that the KDL-40R450A LED HDTV and KDL-32R400A will be coming at some point, with One-touch Mirroring.
Sony has yet to announce specific release dates or pricing for any of its 2013 Bravia LED TV models.
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