Pricing on new Sony HDTVs leaked

The V-series is one of a number of new Sony LCD TVs with pricing leaked by HDGuru.

(Credit: Sony)

Next week Sony will hold its annual spring line show detailing new product rollouts for 2009 and supplementing its CES 2009 HDTV announcements with specifics like pricing and availability. A couple days early, HDGuru.com has an article spelling out pricing for a number of Sony's new lines of Bravia-branded LCD TVs.

On a series-by-series basis, the Guru also provides advice to shoppers facing the inevitable question of whether to buy now while the deals on 2008 models are very good, or wait for the '09 versions to come out. In general, given the price difference and closeout deals on '08 versions, he advises shoppers to get a good deal now and not wait. We tend to agree, at least for folks who don't care about Yahoo Widgets or 240Hz.

The Guru leaked prices and estimated release dates for most of the series below. Pricing is listed as MAP, Sony's estimated street price.

• KDL-L4000 series (end of February), entry-level 1,366x768 a.k.a. 720p
  • 22-inch KDL-22L4000 ($499)
  • 26-inch KDL-26L4000 ($549)
  • 32-inch KDL-32L4000 ($599)
  • 37-inch KDL-37L4000 ($799)
• KDL-S5100 series (late March), entry-level 1080p
  • 32-inch KDL-32S5100 ($799)
  • 40-inch KDL-40S5100 ($999)
  • 46-inch KDL-46S5100 ($1299)
  • 52-inch KDL-52S5100 ($1799)
• KFL-V5100 series (late March), entry-level 120Hz
  • 40-inch KDL-40V5100 ($1499)
  • 46-inch KDL-46V5100 ($1799)
  • 52-inch KDL-52V5100 ($2299)
• KDL-W5100 series, 120Hz with Yahoo widgets; no pricing or release date leaked.
• KDL-Z5100 series (early May), 240Hz with Yahoo Widgets; no pricing leaked.
• KDL-XBR9 series, 240Hz (except 32-inch model, which is 120Hz) with Yahoo Widgets and different styling
  • 32-inch KDL-32XBR9 (late March, $1099)
  • 40-inch KDL-40XBR9 (late April, $2799)
  • 46-inch KDL-46XBR9 (late April, $3099)
  • 52-inch KDL-52XBR9 (late April, $3699)
• KDL-VE5 series (early July), Eco-friendly; no pricing leaked.

While this lineup is extensive enough, we expect Sony to announce additional LCD TVs, namely ones with edge-lit LED technology similar to the 6000, 7000 and 8000 series HDTVs announced by Samsung at CES and shipping beginning in March. Perhaps Sony will still have some surprises when it makes its HDTV announcements Monday. We'll have full details then.

[dirty55409]

sorry sony HDTVs have always been way over priced for what they are. seriously.

[AladdinSane111]

I agree, dirty!!!

[make_or_break]

Sony sets aren't as "overpriced" as they once were. Frankly, Sony can't afford to inflate the prices of their gear anymore, not with their profits going to pot last year and bound to disappear altogether this year, and their longtime reputation as master TV builders long ago stuck in the 1980s. They need to sell in volume, not appeal to snooty videophiles who make up only a small portion of the television-buying market, ESPECIALLY during this economic downturn. Sony may be painfully arrogant, but they're not completely stupid or blind to the realities of the marketplace.

[heeroy7]

Dirty you and Aladdin are both wrong when it comes to Sony's tv pricing. Now as a company does Sony have some models that are very expensive? Yes they do and so does every other company. For example Sony has there 52" XBR6 listed on there site for 2999.99 and Samsung has the 52" a850 listed for $3299.99 so in this case your statement is false. Now when it comes to pricing YOU may say that there prices are too high but you and I both know that there are peole who would go and spend that kind of money with out even thinking.

[tcr071]

What makes a company be perceived as overpriced is the cost of their economy items. The cheapest television Sony sells is a 22" 720p for $500. For $50 less I can get a 32" 720p Sharp LCD. That is why Sony is considered overpriced.

Luxury brands are going to be in for a rough ride for the next year or so. Sony needs to figure out a way to reduce the cost of the cheapest televisions or they are going to keep seeing red. The TV's under $1000 are hard to tell apart because none of them are really "fantastic." Consumers buy the biggest set they can get for their money and Sony just isn't cutting it right now or even coming close.

[Chance_Stevens]

David, sorry to say but many of these televisions have been available on Sony's B2B site for a good while and some of the L4000 model are already on Sony's site.

Not saying HD Guru is completely wrong here but it wouldn't hurt to do some additional research before taking the opinion of one person to be the truth.

[HD Guru]

If you read my article at www.hdguru.com you will learn which "L4000" series models (and V4100 series) models are being "carried over" from 2008 into the 2009 line. This is why they are listed. There is also an update posted today (2/27/09) on specifications

HD GURU

[stuoke]

How can they charge so much for the XBR9 series if they don't even include LED backlighting? The XBR8 had LED backlighting. Yea they have 240Hz but it still seems like they are taking a step back.

[chief lw]

Sony is way over priced for me. When Sony lowers their price they lower the quality. So I am on the fence watching HD until things get reasonably priced to sell in this bad aconomy.

[baseclass]

After the XBR1 debacle (and yes i was a victim), i can't believe anyone would still consider paying the Sony premium for sets you can get from other manufactures for less money and comparible quality.

[kanstar]

I have been a TV viewer all my life. With CRT Trinitron technology Sony was the boss. Now with the LCD and Plasma, it seems that Sony has lost its edge. Today all TVs look alike in the commercial range and the picture depends on the input. I saw Samsung TV with blueray input which seemed so beautiful than a Panasonic or a Sony. Those bums were using cable :{ All the best. Trust David has lots to do, he just now follows the internet for scoops.

[Wes#1]

(Yawn.) Looks like more of the same... with OLED stalled at the gates of engineering hell and the latest LCD tweaks (LED & 240hz) bringing only miniscule improvements. Even sharp-eyed viewers would be hard-pressed to actually see any significant difference between an '09 model and an '08. If Sony wants it's "edge" back, they need to step out of the pack and provide something really tangible. How about SIZE, for one thing? Nothing in this lineup any bigger than 52". Big deal. HD puts more lines of resolution in front of us, but only the projection systems are really taking advantage of it. And how about improving the viewing angle? The new LED sets are actually WORSE in that respect. Gimme a 60" Panasonic plasma for the same money as Sony's top 52" dog and it will beat it in every respect: No motion lag, no contrast drop-off from any angle, and a HUGE image to really get immersed into the movie!

And, no, I'm actually a SONY fan and owner! I just want to see them get off their backward butts and make a product that gives the market something worth crowing about!

[l3ftant]

Meh. I am more interested in what the new Panasonic Plasma's will be like. Hopefully some reviews start popping up in the next few weeks. Sony 46in 120hz LCD MSRP $1799, 46in Panasonic Neo-pdp Plasma MSRP $1499. You tell me what you would rather have.

[rhettp]

I agree. If you look at almost every electronics review lately, Panasonic is on top and their prices are more than reasonable. I own a Panny plasma and there is no doubt that the technology is superior to LCD. I bet the new Neo plasmas will be much cheaper than these Sonys with their outdated LCD technology. LED might be helping LCD catch up to plasma, but have you seen how thick and expensive they are? Fugutaboutit. Sony lost out to Apple big time with the iPod and iPhone, and now with their bread any butter -- televisions. Also, Panasonic cameras and Blu-ray players review better than Sony. Sony is still number 3 in the HDTV game behind Panasonic and Samsung, but they need to get their head out of their ass and offer some reasonable prices. Afterall, they buy their displays from crappy Sharp.