The Bravia XBR LCD will cost $33,000 when it ships to stores next month. For that kind of money, buyers get a full high-definition panel resolution of 1,920 pixels by 1,080 pixels, which provides the best viewing of hi-def content. Picture quality of standard DVDs can degrade on large screens, but Sony's latest LCD TV converts non-HD content for better viewing, according to Sony.
Sony credits picture quality and color enhancements to its Bravia Engine Pro, a proprietary video-processing system. The TV also features a 178-degree viewing angle. LCD screens usually lose picture quality when viewed from the side.
The market for high-def television is growing as prices for small screens drop. A large amount of high-def content, however, isn't expected to be widely available for a few years.