For HDTV screen sizes larger than 50 inches, rear-projection televisions (RPTVs) can cost less than half as much as similarly sized flat-panel displays. Also, RPTVs typically weigh less—consider it a back-saving bonus. The 55-inch Sony KDS-55A2020 SXRD RPTV ($2,299.99 list) delivered an immersive viewing experience complete with a detailed picture and admirable color quality. I was mildly disappointed that this TV's 1080p video input support didn't extend to all of its HD-compatible ports, but its decent video processor and friendly interface help offset this limitation.

After freeing the 55A2020 from its factory packaging, a cohort and I hoisted the 83-pound cabinet onto its new perch with relative ease. My first impressions were positive. The subtly stylish TV features a thin dark bezel that is matte-finished to minimize reflections. A thin strip of silver trim adds a nice accent to the bottom of the frame where perforated grilles conceal the TV's two 12-watt stereo speakers. The KDS-55A2020 measures 50.9 by 36 by 19 inches, and setup was as easy as connecting the TV to a power outlet and turning it on.

The KDS-55A2020's 55-inch screen is driven by a 1080p SXRD-based light engine (SXRD is Sony's version of LCoS micro display technology) that utilizes a trio of light-reflecting chips for independent processing of the primary colors. The 55A2020 provides a comprehensive set of picture controls within the user-accessible menus including white balance, iris, and power-saving controls that should prove useful to videophiles or professional calibrators. I found that the white-balance controls were unwieldy because they lacked fine granularity, but their presence was appreciated nonetheless. As with other Sony HDTVs I've seen, including the BRAVIA KDL-40XBR2, film-mode detection (Sony calls this feature "CineMotion") was disabled by default. I set this function to automatic prior to testing. And like the 40XBR2, the 55A2020 provides customizable video input labels up to ten characters long, and the color of the on-screen menus can be changed to any one of six hues.

The 55A2020's main selection of A/V ports faces outwards and sits on the rear of the TV. This array includes two HDMI inputs, two component-video inputs, a VGA port for PC use, and two RF inputs for cable and terrestrial TV reception, respectively. Concealed behind a fold-down door on the front of the TV is an additional component-video input as well as a set of on-display controls. I was mildly disappointed to discover that the 55A2020 supports 1080p input via HDMI only—the TV's VGA and component-video inputs do not accept 1080p video signals. Also surprising was that the maximum supported widescreen resolution when using the VGA input (1,360 by 768 pixels) left a large black border around the picture that could not be fully compensated for by using the picture stretch/zoom options. PC input using the TV's HDMI port, however, offered an almost perfectly mapped 1080p image with full dynamic range.

The remote control included with the 55A2020 is slender, with a tapered and textured back side which provided a solid, comfortable grip. Holding the remote naturally landed my thumb in the center of a directional pad that is encircled by five relatively large menu-navigation shortcut keys. The volume and channel buttons seemed out of place near the bottom of the remote's face, but good tactile feedback and generous spacing made up for the odd location. The remote offers no glow-in-the-dark or backlit functionality except for five device selection buttons near its top. These can be programmed, using codes provided in the manual, to control additional A/V components such as DVD players, cable and satellite set-top boxes, and VCRs. The remote's range and performance was exceptional, with an instant and precise response from typical distances and angles—in fact, I'd like to see more TV manufacturers mimic this basic functionality in their designs.

When I connected a Sencore VP-403 signal generator to the KDS-55A2020 and played a 720p multiburst pattern, the TV revealed excellent detail. Bumping the set up to 1080i resolution dimmed the finest details, but they still remained discernible. Testing with a crosshatch display pattern revealed a slight misalignment of the SXRD panels, as horizontal lines were tinged red on top and green on the bottom across the entire image. I corrected this to my satisfaction using controls within the service menu. Viewing-angle inspections showed an obvious loss of luminance starting at 30 degrees off center from the sides and 20 degrees off center up and down. Even so, the picture remained admirably discernible, even at extremely wide angles. Image overscan with HD video sources was 5.5 percent—typical for most RPTVs.

Color analysis using a Konica Minolta CS-200 chroma meter revealed excellent color accuracy and saturation. Green, though, was shifted slightly toward cyan. I've noticed that these bluish greens tend to make grass and turf stand out; this is likely an "enhancement" targeted at sports enthusiasts. Although grayscale tracking was above average, blues and greens tainted a few of the darker steps of the otherwise neutral-colored scale.

A checkerboard test pattern produced an average contrast ratio result of 288:1, with an average dark measurement of 1.5 Cd/m2. By comparison, when I ran my full-screen on/off contrast trials I measured a more impressive 2,152:1 ratio, with dark measurements dropping to a relatively low 0.18 Cd/m2. This was a good result for an RPTV, and further testing showed that the 55A2020 was also capable of very bright peak levels (about 520 Cd/m2), useful when ambient room lighting is uncontrollable. Enabling a power-saving mode and adjusting the iris setting to the minimum reduced peak luminance to the eye-friendly levels necessary for critical viewing in a controlled environment. Unfortunately, there was no simple way to switch between calibrated day and night viewing modes quickly without making several changes in the 55A2020's menu.

Screening standard-definition video (480i) using a Toshiba HD-XA2 disc player as the source showed the 55A2020 to be a decent performer with effective video-noise reduction (default medium setting) that allowed just a hint of film grain to remain visible in our film-sourced DVD videos. Light and dark detail representation appeared correct, with levels that didn't appear washed out or crushed. Running the HQV Benchmark test using the TV's default video processor settings (except for the aforementioned enabling of film-mode detection) produced average performance, with points deducted for inconsistent film-mode detection and for allowing some jagged edges to remain—especially in the test's waving-flag scene.

HDTV viewing results were generally pleasing, though I noted some exaggerated banding (posterization) when the KDS-55A2020 displayed certain fine color gradients. The TV's performance with video containing fast motion was satisfactory too, maintaining decent detail with no signs of smearing. HD gaming with the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 revealed no signs of A/V sync issues. The HD HQV test also pegged the 55A2020 as an average performer with some jagged edges noted in the test's moving-bar section.

Power-consumption measurements based on 8 hours of daily operation at $0.13 per kWh place the KDS-55A2020's monthly operating cost at $5.95. The 56-inch Samsung HL-S5679W RPTV consumed about 40W less on average than the KDS-55A2020, but the Samsung cost about the same per month to operate because it consumes more power in its standby mode—a by-product of the electronic programming guide, an amenity this Sony RPTV lacks. Replacement lamp modules for the KDS-55A2020 are available for $249.99 from the Sony Web site.

All in all, the Sony KDS-55A2020 delivered a satisfying viewing experience, with good picture quality and a friendly interface. No rear-projection HDTV can match the image clarity and detail of a quality flat-panel display, but this Sony RPTV provides big-screen enjoyment for about a third of the price of a comparably sized 1080p plasma or liquid crystal flat-panel TV. With new RPTV models arriving soon from major manufacturers such as Samsung, Mitsubishi, and Toshiba, it will be interesting to see if they can meet or exceed this set's image quality, usability, and value.

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Benchmark Test Results:
Factory default display settings
HDMI video input @ 1080p60

Compare the HDTVs mentioned above side by side