TV Reviews

The Sony KDL-32EX500 1080p LCD HDTV uses advanced technology to ensure that images are clear and vibrant and motion is always smooth and lifelike, which can make watching HD television shows, HD games and HD Blu-ray movies more enjoyable than ever before.

The KDL-32EX500's panel resolution has the highest definition that is currently available, at 1920 x 1080p.

Sony's BRAVIA Engine 2 technology includes a full digital processor, which produces sharp, vibrant images.

The Advanced Contrast Enhancer ensures that fine details in shadows, as well as contrasts among deep blacks during dark scenes, are reproduced accurately.

An Ambient Sensor adjusts the color depending on what the lighting is like in your living room, or wherever you are using the KDL-32EX500.

The KDL-32EX500 uses advanced Motionflow 120Hz technology to ensure that both movies and television shows are reproduced with smooth, seamless motion.

Most TV programs are filmed at 30fps. Most 60Hz HDTVs can accommodate this by just by doubling the frame speed.

However, movies are usually filmed at 24ps.

24 doesn't easily divide into 60, so 60Hz HDTVs must use complicated video processing to show them. This tends to cause the picture to become jerky.

Because the Sony KDL-32EX500 can play videos at 120fps. Since both  30 and 24 can be divided into 120, the KDL-32EX500 can easily play both movies and TV shows without negatively affecting the picture.

The KDL-32EX500 has four HDMI inputs, which can be connected to HD satellites, HD gaming consoles and Blu-ray disc players.

There is a PC input in the rear panel which allows the LCD screen to be converted into a 32 inch computer monitor.

A USB port on the side allows you to connect the KDL-32EX500 to a laptop, portable audio player or thumbdrive/flashdrive.

With BRAVIA Sync technology, you can use the HDMI cable to transmit control functions via the HDMI cable when you combine the KDL-32EX500 with some other BRAVIA video or audio products.  "One touch-play" reduces operations that used to take several steps to only one.

Sony BRAVIA EX 500 Series 32-Inch LCD TV, Black

Sony's 52 inch widescreen edge-lit LED-based LCD TV weighs 79.6 pounds (36kg).

Everyone knows Sony make good TVs, so let's hit off with the bad points of this LCDTV, seeing as there are only a few.

For one it's quite expensive, not giving you much change from $1500, so it's squarely aimed at the serious enthusiast. Some movies show a slightly blue tinge to the blacker areas and the glossy finish to the screen reflects light from your room and windows - though most people would shut these I guess if they were settling down for a blockbuster movie.

The good points of the Sony KDL-52NX800 are many. As you'd expect from Sony the design of the TV itself is cutting edge, utilizing what they call monolithic architecture that is easy to see from its slim profile and how it rises from the base like a techno-henge..

The remote, an all too often overlooked device, fits nicely in your hand and allows you to zip easily through the no-nonsense menu system. One feature we really liked was the inbuilt WiFi connection to allow easy updates and wirelessly connect to Netflix and Amazon on Demand etc - though the Netflix streaming isn't the best we've ever seen.

All in all, this is a very beautiful TV and only the full on nitpickers will turn away from the Sony KDL-52NX800.

Over the past year Philips has managed to stand out, some would even say dominate the large screen Tv market. Not an easy feat given the falling prices and advancements in the industry- and yet they continue their success with the 40PFL9704.

This TV is one of Philips' 9000 series LED Pro range of TVs.

I could talk at length about the classy design of this TV, its brushed aluminium frame and three-sided Ambilight system, and its individual character. But these are not the features that make the 40PFL9704 one of the best LCD TVs on the market. That distinction is achieved by the superior quality of its hi-def pictures and the audio experience offered by its built-in speakers.

The Philips LED Pro is a backlight system featuring 224 LED lights arranged in a matrix behind the entire screen, which are switched on and off individually as required.Other manufacturers are using Edge LED systems, where frame mounted lights shine into the panel can have less effect at the middle of the screen. Sharp's recent sub-$1000 LED TVs use a similar LED system; so at $2500, the Philips LED Pro TVS have to offer something special to merit their price tag.

The 40PFL9704 has an abundance of HDMI ports, five yes five, included with a multimedia USB port and a built-in Wi-Fi module! There is a set of component video inputs, two scart inputs, an S-video port, a PC connection, analogue stereo i/o and a headphones socket. But unfortunately no digital audio output (for home cinema etc).

Although the 40PFL9704 supports most major file formats stored on a USB device, media playback is rather restricted; MP4, MPEG, WMV and some AVI video files (but not most DivX movies) play without any issues, as well as the usual MP3, WMA music and JPEG files.

Though primarily for powering the set's Net TV feature, the Wi-Fi module enables the 40PFL9704 to stream music, video and photos from a computer on the home network.The Wi-Fi streaming feature is markedly slow with video files, but works well with Net TV. Included are some applications giving you access to YouTube videos and Ebay, and are operated from the TV's remote control. Browsing Ebay is also slow, and much easier to do on a computer.

Ambilight Spectra 3 is a collection of yet LED lights around the outside of the TV that projects coloured light on to the walls behind, intended to reduce eyestrain. With lights around the sides and top of the rear of the TV. Philips' Perfect Pixel HD engine adds to the full HD quality picture, this is a 200Hz system with Perfect Natural Motion, a combination designed to rid Blu-ray playback of blur and judder. The 40PFL9704's performance with Blu-ray is excellent, great contrast, with dark areas of the image showing as good as plasma. The LED Pro system lives up to its promise and the screen exhibits stunning contrast all over its full area.

Whilst this TV's HD performance is superb, digital TV pictures appear soft, with processing evident across the picture; the 40PFL9704 does performs best work with High Definition.

The 40PFL9704 has a wide viewing angle, meaning it can be watched from anywhere without any loss of colour or contrast.

With its rear subwoofers, the 40PFL9704 sounds almost as good as a Loewe screen. The Bass is somewhat distanced from the overall sound, but dialogue is clear and full. The great performance does not benefit much from a 'surround' mode but it does give more depth and an impression of some rear effects. Although a litle bulky, the 40PFL9704's speakers are a success and easily able to replace a separate home cinema system.

Performance with Blu-ray discs is excellent.
Great stereo sound with good bass.
Versatile - blu-ray and HDTV and digital video.

Cons:

Sometimes the Perfect Natural Motion feature creates flicker.
Not so good with Digital TV.
Sound quality means abulkier unit.

This stylish powerful LCD LED set is good value if it's within your budget.

This is a great LCD LED TV but a plasma at half the price, is a very realistic alternative.