Sony KDL32V4000 Review

32in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

Excellent all round performance let down only a little by motion handling ability.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1366 x 768

Rating:

89%

Reviewed: 03 December 2008

Design

Testament to the success of Sony's 'draw the line' design concept, a thin black strip above slim silver grille like frame-length speakers at the bottom of the 32V4000 and below the main frame of the TV seems to have gone down well with Sony traditionalists while attracting a new following of more style conscious consumers.

Features

Unlike the 40in model which boasts a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, the KDL-32V4000 comes equipped with a 1366 x 768 screen. Gone is the Bravia 2 picture processing engine (optimised for Full HD) to be replaced with the standard Bravia Engine.

Screen: 32in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1366 x 768

Contrast Ratio: 30,000:1

Other Features: Bravia Engine, Theatre Sync, Theatre Mode, Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE).

Sockets: 3 HDMI (v1.3), 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.

Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) is the name Sony give to their proprietary LCD backlighting technology. The system has been designed to deliver richer black levels, a more subtle graduation of detail across darker scenes while maintaining screen brightness.

Theatre Sync, which is Sony's version of CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) technology, is a control standard that functions over HDMI 1.3. The technology facilitates one-touch control over compatible devices and in practice means that if you fire up your compatible DVD player, the all connected devices such as your LCD TV will also spring into life.

Theatre Mode (not to be confused with Theatre Sync) has been created to give a more authentic 'Cinema' experience when watching films. Apparently Sony have worked with their film division to optimize light settings.

BBE ViVA technology has been designed to create an authentic surround sound experience from just two speakers. Along with most manufacturers Sony have made concessions to style over acoustic performance by limiting the size of their LCD speakers; BBE ViVA has been designed to redress the balance.

Elsewhere there are 3 HDMI (v1.3) inputs along with a claimed contrast ratio of 30,000:1.

Performance

Sony could lay claim to being the most improved LCD manufacturer over recent years, especially in terms of the black level ability of their screens. Gone is the murky greyness of products Sony were producing not so long ago, to be replaced by TV's while not matching the best plasmas, have reached levels of ability in this respect that have narrowed the performance gap considerably. Ultimately we would have liked to have seen more detail in darker scenes, but with rich deep blacks and no hint of greyness, the 32V4000 really is a revelation at this price.

Benefiting from an excellent rich black canvass, colours on the 32V4000 can present themselves in their full glory with some of the richest and most vibrant hues we have seen. It is not only the vibrancy of colours that impresses, but the natural and subtle way they are able to produce tricky areas such as facial tones.

Presented with such an accomplished performance up to this point the motion handling abilities of the KDL-32V4000 came as a slight disappointment. The 40V4000 was able to demonstrate a more accomplished performance when it came to fast on-screen action and we expected the 32V4000 to at least match its bigger brother in this respect. The 32V4000 is not a bad performer in this respect with minimal traces of ghosting even on faster on-screen action. The picture however is just a little too 'soft' for our liking losing a little sharpness and definition when the action speeds up.

The KDL-32V4000 is an excellent Standard Definition (SD) performer, with pictures virtually free from 'noise' with a better quality satellite or cable source. Inevitably things deteriorate a little on Freeview with an element of interference clearly visible especially close up. The noise reduction feature on the KDL-32V4000 is actually quite effective although at its highest setting this does seem to soften the picture to a degree which many will find unacceptable.

While the 1366 x 768 screen cannot match the draw droppingly detailed High Definition (HD) pictures we have seen from a number of Full HD screen, we were nevertheless more then impressed with the screens ability to produce a stunning HD picture. Our Blu-ray version of Bladderunner rewarded us with detail and sharpness that few screen of this configuration can match.

We are not really convinced with Sony's implementation of Pseudo surround sound in the shape of BBE ViVA. Saying that, the Sony is no worse than the vast majority of LCD TV's and its acoustic performance is solid enough for it not to become a concern.

Conclusion

Sony have produced another budget TV which raises the bar for overall performance for the price. In virtually every area the KDL-32V4000 is an above average performer.

Sony KDL-32V4000


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