No less than 27 new Sony Bravia LCD HDTV displays were launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 in Las Vegas this week. As with last year’s models, the company’s 2011 top-of-the-line Cinematic range of HDTVs – which focuses on delivering the best picture quality – is denoted by the HX prefix. And sitting at the pinnacle of this year’s pile is the flagship HX923 series of 3D-capable LED-backlit LCD TV, which comes in three screen sizes:
| Screen Size | UK Model Number | US Model Number |
| 46-inch | KDL-46HX923/ KDL46HX923/ KDL46HX923U | XBR-46HX929 |
| 55-inch | KDL-55HX923/ KDL55HX923/ KDL55HX923U | XBR-55HX929 |
| 65-inch | KDL-65HX923/ KDL65HX923/ KDL65HX923U | XBR-65HX929 |
All three 3D TV models are equipped with rear-mounted local-dimming LED backlight technology (dubbed “Intelligent Peak LED” by Sony), Motionflow XR 800 (frame interpolation which purportedly renders motion at a rate equivalent to 800 frames per second), the new X-Reality Pro image processing chip, and USB-HDD recording functionality. Aesthetics-wise, the Sony HX923 LED TV sports the elegant Monolithic design, and is fronted by an OptiContrast panel made from Gorilla Glass.
Seeing that internet-enabled television (IETV) is all the rage at the moment, it’s hardly surprising to find Sony incorporating a host of web-connected features on the KDL-46HX923, KDL-55HX923 and KDL-65HX923. Users can watch YouTube videos, catch up on missed TV programmes through BBC iPlayer, social network with Skype, Facebook and Twitter, stream video and music on demand via the Qriocity and Music Unlimited services, and even surf the internet using the integrated Opera web browser – all directly on the flat-screen HD TV as long as it’s connected to broadband internet. There’s build-in wireless connectivity to reduce cable clutter too.
Unlike step-down models, the HX923 series of 3D LED-backlit LCD TVs ships with two pairs of the newly updated Sony TDG-BR200 rechargeable active-shutter 3D glasses (said to be lighter and more comfortable), plus a webcam and microphone for Skype calling.
X-Reality seems to be the next evolution of the various incarnations of Bravia Engine we’ve come to know over the years. The X-reality Pro image processing engine implemented throughout the Cinematic range of Sony LED-based 3D TVs is not to be confused with the X-reality engine found on lower-end or mid-range models. The former is a dual-chip video processor which the company claims to be capable of upscaling even low-resolution online videos to near-HD quality thanks to its 14-bit multi-frame analysis and processing, whereas the latter only employs a single chip.
The Sony KDL-46HX923 and KDL-55HX923 should go on sale in May 2011, while the largest KDL-65HX923 is scheduled for an August release. UK prices have not been announced yet.
Would it be possible for you to let me know the difference between the sony46 kdl 46hx923 and the older 46 kdlhx803.
I have seen the latter in John Lewis for just under £2000 and am considering buying it buy would be prepared to wait if there is a big difference and also if price is no more than 800 more.
Great if you could reply to me.
Many thanks
@ m spence
Great deals on the sony hx803 series at the minute.if your willing to drop down a size then M&s have the 40hx803 on sale for £899 and you can find it as low as £799 online.
Im thinking of either getting the sony 40hx803 or the panasonic tx-p42v20.
Is HDTVTEST affiliated with this lot here?
superlcdtvreviews.com/article.asp?articleid=110704&Sony-Unveils-Bravia-HX923-3D-TV-With-Local-Dimming-LED–14-Bit-Engine
They appear to have the same feature as you!
Thanks for bringing that to our attention Pete. No, we are not affiliated with them… they have simply plagiarised our article.
Warmest regards
Vincent
Wait actuall 14bit or dithering achieved?
First of all, I would like to know please know what happened to the Sony 46HX903? It is expensive & only available from a few stores & now the 903 has hardly been available & you haven’t had one for review test here, it’s already outdated due to being upgraded into a HX923. Was it ever to be release as a 2010 TV or did son y decide to cancel production while they upgrade it into a bigger beast for 2011?
What HiFi did a review & though it spectacular but they seem vto rather give sony a big heads up with a rather suspicious high rating aross the sony board room. Loads of people in sony centre agree the old HX903 has a great picture even with SD aswell as HD, sony people at avforums say so aswell. While Cnet & a no of others sites seem to think that the Panasonic is VT20 is much better standard def wise & that the sony is poor especially with SD.
Well The only different I can tell is a name change, Motion procession engine upto 800fps unlike the 903 400fps. And an X reality pro dual core processor chip that can upscale poor resolution internet videos into HD quality pictures. But did the HX903 have all of this or did it only have a single core X reality engine. What truly is the difference.
And why is no one mentioning the dfferences & short cut off of the HX903 & comparing it to the H9X23? I would appreciate if someone in the know could shed some light here. Also the fact that the sony HX903 older model is supposed to be using UV2A panel, does the newer HX923 also use the same panels which could possibly be from samsung & not from sharp.
Jamie
70% of Sony TV’s this year will be outsourced!
This means most will be done by the chinese market, very cheap panels being made and crap picture quality.
My understanding is that Sony came to Samsung again to ask them to do their panels & told them where to go. The same as Sony asking Samsung again to do something with their range of blu ray players too.
Don’t forget Sony are in 7 patent disputes with LG in court right now. Sony have lost their way & are trying to badge technology their own when it’s not. And then they have the cheek to turn around & say there are people out there infringing copyright with their PS3’s, Bollocks to Sony!
Thats the most ridiculous made-up load of cxxp ive heard in a long time.LOL. Wake up,Sony invented the Bluray player & you want people to believe they are begging Samsung to Quote “do something with their range of bluray players” The S-LCD Co. is jointly owned by Sony & Samsung,Get your facts straight before just posting nonsense.
An overpriced slab of junk from Sony yet again that morons like hdtvtest can’t call them to task on.
DO U HAVE ANY 14″ 3D TV ??
cost ==??
can i see in Pune ( Maharashtra – India)?
You guys really don’t have a clue about technology the HX923 is the best picture and build quality on the market, Sony TV’s are phenomenal go into a local shop and ask the staff to demo the child “distance alert” feature and the “position control” feature that works with the monolith sound bar, Sony are top of their game when it comes to leaders of innovation.
Also this thing with Samsung panels here is the truth…Sony and Samsung co own a factory together where Sony is the main share holder and together they make the same panels in the same factory, its the technology behind the panel that makes the picture. Panels are quite basic believe it or not its the processing technology that makes the picture so good and the motion system. Sony has the best motion system out of all the manufacturers remember Sony invented 200hz no one else done that!
Yes Sony are a little bit more expensive but you get what you pay for just like a BMW or Mercedes.
27th December 2011. I agree totally with Paul Carver. Having spent ages looking at all available HD 3D TVs, I have just bought a Sony KDL55HX823, as my pocket wouldn’t stretch to an HX923. The picture quality in 2D and 3D is exceptional, and by carefully shopping around it was not that much more expensive than rivals, which didn’t perform as well.
Paul is also correct in that since 2004 S-LCD Co Ltd is 50% owned each by Samsung and Sony. However an update announced today means Sony is selling its half to Samsung for 66 Billion Yen, about 845 Million US Dollars. Sony will then source its LCD Screens from S-LCD, (and OLED panels ?). So if Sony and Samsung will still share LCD panels, and if Sony still produce superior panel electronics, they could still be the best.