Sony W5500 now available for pre-order on Powercity.ie

ADSLUSER

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-14-52W55

A bit disappointed on the price, I was hoping they would be at the 2K mark but appears to be the same price as the out-going W4500 models.

The main differences I can spot betwwen W5500 and W4500 models are:

- New Bravia 3 engine
- 4 HDMI ports (was 3 on previous model)
- Internet Widgets
- More energy efficient

Flaccus

Soundstores are getting it in from the 9th April. 24 for the whole country inititally.

Just read the review on what hifi and hdtv test.
Not impressed. Infamous backlight bleed/clouding from the 4500 series is back and worst off all with bravia engine 3 they increased the input lag. It's as bad or worse than the the new Panasonics and Samsungs now, whereas with the W4500 in game mode and the W4000 series they had lowest in class of 0-10ms.

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/sony-kdl-40w5500-kdl40w5500u-20090323144.htm

cbr954

I was in the Sony Centre in Dundrum TC today. They had a w5500 on display. They also had a w5710 for the same price. The sales person said it was a special model for Sony Centres but couldn't tell me what the difference was?

JoeA3

cbr954 wrote: »

I was in the Sony Centre in Dundrum TC today. They had a w5500 on display. They also had a w5710 for the same price. The sales person said it was a special model for Sony Centres but couldn't tell me what the difference was?

Both identical, purely cosmetic differences to the best of my knowledge. How much are they going for there?

Having seen a W5550, I personally think they've taken a backward step in the aesthetics, the W4500 (which I have) is a better looking set, biased though I am! Little things like the Sony Logo not being illuminated anymore... cost cutting me thinks. And the panel is now an 8-bit panel rather than 10-bit. Not sure what difference that makes but it does sound like cost cutting too.

Rsaeire

The W5500 offers more manual picture controls, so it's not all bad news regarding the 8-bit over 10-bit panel.

Flaccus

Considering there are no 10bit (deep colour) sources yet, except some camcorders, I think it makes no odds. Plus there was some talk about how certain 8bit sourced displayed on the 10bit w4000 series panels caused issues. For me the 5500 is a no go over the stupid input lag, and the terrible clouding/backlight bleed what hi fi reported. The new led screens are even worse for input lag.

Rsaeire

Flaccus wrote: »

For me the 5500 is a no go over the stupid input lag, and the terrible clouding/backlight bleed what hi fi reported. The new led screens are even worse for input lag.

I would take what What Hi-Fi say with a pinch of salt.

There will always be some TVs which have extreme backlight problems, but it is par for the course with LCD technology. Some users had issues with the W4000 series, but the majority were fine; of which I am one.

I would recommend anyone interested in the W5500 series to keep a close eye on AVForums for users’ feedback, if you’re worried about backlight bleed/clouding. In saying that, for me, I would skip this series, as the input lag would be too annoying since I play games as well as watch TV and movies.

Flaccus

I don't agree with dismissing what hifi completely though, although I don't understand how they can rate hdmi cables the way they do. Their forums are useful as are avforums. It seems the w4500 series had lots of clouding issues as reported by users, where as the w4000 seems much better. But like you the input lag puts me off the w5500. What's more the new led screens from Samsung and Philips seem even worse with up to 60ms input lag.

Rsaeire

Flaccus wrote: »

I don't agree with dismissing what hifi completely though, although I don't understand how they can rate hdmi cables the way they do. Their forums are useful as are avforums. It seems the w4500 series had lots of clouding issues as reported by users, where as the w4000 seems much better. But like you the input lag puts me off the w5500. What's more the new led screens from Samsung and Philips seem even worse with up to 60ms input lag.

To be honest, if a company can review and recommend exorbitantly higher priced cables over lower priced, yet equal quality, cables, then their reviews of other products hold no weight with me. If you find What Hi-Fi and their forums useful, then keep enjoying them; I know I will be looking elsewhere for an unbiased source of quality information and review content.

Hopefully input lag will become a thing of the past in general,but until then, I'll make do with my W4000.

ADSLUSER

The offer on Powercity now includes 3 Years Parts and Labour, same as the deal in the Sony shop.

cbr954

I ordered a 40w5500 from Power City today. It was €1,170 with a 3 year guarantee. The salesman was surprised at the low price, a 40w4500 was discounted to €1,120.

Keith186

cbr954 wrote: »

I ordered a 40w5500 from Power City today. It was €1,170 with a 3 year guarantee. The salesman was surprised at the low price, a 40w4500 was discounted to €1,120.

Model: KDL40W5500U
Producer Recycling Fund: € 8.00
Price Excluding PRF: € 1171.95

ONLINE Price : 1179.95
Guarantee :
3 Years Parts and Labour

Taken from powercity.ie

Make sure there's not a 'U' at the end of your model numberor this is a UK one and won't work if DTT ever gets the go ahead in IRL.

Let me know how you get on, I might get one of these, was hoping to get a bit cheaper though...

cltt97

I am thinking of getting a Sony W5500 or V5500 - only difference I could spot was a better contrast ration in the W series plus 100Hz technology. The price difference is somewhere around 200 Euros in powercity.
I have no idea what an input lag is, maybe someone could educate me? And does anyonw know if the W series in powercity has the right chips for irish digital? They specifically mention it for the V series, but there is no info on the W series...

Rsaeire

cltt97 wrote: »

I am thinking of getting a Sony W5500 or V5500 - only difference I could spot was a better contrast ration in the W series plus 100Hz technology. The price difference is somewhere around 200 Euros in powercity.
I have no idea what an input lag is, maybe someone could educate me? And does anyonw know if the W series in powercity has the right chips for irish digital? They specifically mention it for the V series, but there is no info on the W series...

A great explanation, with examples, can be found here. You might also be interested in the input lag of the W55500, as noted in the Console Gaming section in a review here.

cltt97

Many thanks for that. I'm not a mad gamer, neither is the OH, I did a good few price comparisons etc and decided to go for the W series, which I managed to get from komplett.ie for 800 Euros. Happy enough with that.

kellsum

Just a query I bought the Sony W550 and it comes with a three year Sony guarantee.

My query is should I have bought the extra insurance which the shop provides for an extra €180 for which I get a five year guarantee? I didn't buy it at the time but I have 2 weeks to go back? Should I go for it?

ADSLUSER

tbh 3 years is pretty good already, however paying an extra €180 for 2 more years insurance sounds expensive. I remember paying less for 5 years cover for a TV bought in Harvey Normans valued at €2600. If you prefer to buy, I would negotiate on the price of the extra 2 years cover.

kellsum

Ya the 3 years is from Sony and the 5 years is from Curry's which also covers accidental damage? As for negotiation they don't do it, they weren't even bothered whether I bought it or not and as it happens I didn't but I have two weeks to go back.