Review I wouldn’t give Sony’s troubles to a monkey on a rock. Horrible financial results, the PSN hacked to its knees, and now the distinction of producing the worst 3D TV I think I’ve ever seen. Yep, the KDL-40EX724 reviewed here is a three dimensional suckfest. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Sony’s KDL-40EX724 comes a cropper in the third dimension
Ostensibly, this 40in Freeview HD set should be a formidable proposition. The 724 designation identifies this model as the flag-bearer in Sony’s populist EX line. Aesthetically it looks great, and it has a list of desirables which includes net connectivity, Skype and low-running costs. The panel is also de rigueur thin at just 42mm and, tipping the scales at 11.2kg, weighs less than my cat. Read the rest of this entry »
Review Sony’s KDL-EX524 is a well-equipped flatscreen for those of us with scant regard for the third dimension. Resolutely 2D, this Freeview HD 40-incher with 32- and 37-inch alternatives, instead tempts with features like Internet connectivity, media streaming and USB HDD recording. It’s also relatively affordable.
Slimline LED casts a net: Sony’s Bravia KDL-EX524
First impressions are good. The TV is light but well-built, with a subtle two-tone finish. Connectivity is equally pleasing. It has three rear-placed HDMI inputs, plus Scart, component with Stereoaudio, Ethernet and digital optical out. Read the rest of this entry »
Review The W5810 range represents Sony’s first move into the Freesat market, allowing you to sample the delights of true HD broadcasting without coughing up any extra cash for a Blu-ray player or Sky HD subscription.
Sony’s Bravia KDL-46W5810 – one of the company’s first Freesat tellies
As the name implies, the KDL-46W5810 is the 46in representative of the W5810 range, although there are other models available that range from 32 to 52 inches in size. Sony’s press office prefers not to discuss anything as mundane as pricing, but a quick detour into our local Sony Centre yielded a price of £1300, and online prices seem to be much the same. Sony is never the cheapest of brands, but that isn’t a bad price for a 46in model that provides an impressive image, good connectivity and the Freesat option.
Still, it’s not the most elegant TV we’ve ever looked at, as the screen is bordered by a chunky 2in wedge of black plastic, supplemented by an additional 2in strip of speaker grille running along the bottom edge of the screen. This gives the unit a rather monolithic appearance, as it sits there waiting for you to turn it on. Read the rest of this entry »
Review Remember how flatscreen TVs used to look: dominated by huge side- or bottom-mounted speakers and with large silver or grey bezel frames? The latest models are positively anorexic in comparison, shaving centimetres off every dimension except the display itself.
Sony’s Bravia KDL-46Z5500: handsome
So this handsome 1080p model from Sony, the 46in member of the Z5500 family, has a reasonably slim profile. It’s not as super-thin as some, but even so, the frame is pleasingly small and there are no big speakers on display, with the gloss black bezel looking attractive, understated and neat.
All this dieting means the Z series is noticeably lighter than other, comparable 46in LCD screens, though with luck, once you’ve positioned it in your living room you won’t be lugging it around too much.
Set-up is simplicity itself: switch on, follow the on-screen instructions, then wait briefly while the TV tunes in to the available digital and analogue stations. And you’re ready, though obviously if you want to tweak the settings for picture, sound and favourite channels – does anyone actually tune favourite channels? – you have a little more work to do. Read the rest of this entry »
