The Sony KDL-55XBR8 is officially the best LCD TV CNET has ever tested. It can't overcome the picture quality advantages of the best plasma, however, and it still costs a mint.

We described the battle for "best" between hyperexpensive LED-backlit LCD televisions previously, and in our review of the Sony we compared it directly with the
Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the Sony KDL-55XBR8 in a completely dark room via the HDMI input with a 1080p, film-based source. Your settings may vary depending on source, room conditions, and personal preference. Check out the Picture settings and calibration FAQ for more information.
Picture menu:
Picture Mode: Cinema
Backlight: 2
Picture: 85
Brightness: 51
Color: 48
Hue: 0
Color Temperature: Warm2
Sharpness: 50
Noise Reduction: Off
MPEG Noise Reduction: Off
DRC Mode: Off
DRC Palette: [grayed out]
Advanced Settings menu:
Black Corrector: Off
Advanced C.E.: Off
Gamma: Off**
LED Dynamic Control: Standard
Clear White: Off
Color Space: Standard
Live Color: Off
Detail Enhancer: Off
Edge Enhancer: Off
White Balance menu:
R-Gain: 0
G-Gain: -1
B-Gain: -7
R-Bias: -1
G-Bias: 0
B-Bias: 1
Home>Settings>Picture menu:
Motion Enhancer: Off
CineMotion: Auto 1
Game Mode: Off
Video/Photo Optimizer: Video
Video Color Space: Auto
Photo Color Space: sYCC
Color Matrix: ITU601 for 480i
RGB Dynamic Range: Auto
Screen menu:
Wide Mode: Full
Auto Wide: Off
4:3 default: Off
Display Area: Full Pixel
General Setup menu:
Power Saver: Off
Light Sensor: Off
Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.