Sony KDL32W4000 Review

32in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

Solid performance in all areas.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1920 x 1080

Rating:

94%

Reviewed: 15 May 2008

Design

Recognizing that style sells, virtually every new LCD these days seems to have an innovative design feature aimed at attracting that group of consumers (and lets admit, most of us have an element of this in our psyche) for whom the 'look' of a TV is paramount.

With the KDL-32W4000 Sony have added a transparent Perspex strip between the narrow frame-length speakers at the bottom of the screen and the main frame of the TV. So that the wires protruding from the back of the screen are hidden from view, Sony have provided a fastener which gathers any connections and directs them down behind the TV's stand, thus out of view from the front.

Over embellishment or nice design touch? a few weeks of living with the 32W4000 would reveal the answer to that question.

Features

The KDL-32W4000 features another incarnation of Sony's Bravia picture processing Engine, Bravia 2. The thinking behind Bravia 2 is not entirely clear, although it seems to be more closely related to the Full HD optimized 'Bravia EX' engine found on Sony's high end 'X' series of LCD TV's. Enhancing picture contrast has been a feature of Sony LCD picture processing wizardry of late with Bravia 2 once again aiming to close the gap in this respect between LCD and Plasma technology.

Screen: 32in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Contrast Ratio: 33,000:1

Other Features: Sony Bravia 2 picture processing.

Sockets: 3 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input, USB.

Opinion is divided on whether a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution brings any tangible benefits to the performance of a 32in screen with many commentators believing that a 40in + screen size is required to realise the benefits of this configuration. It will be interesting to see Sony's implementation of Full HD at work on the 32W4000.

Sony makes great play of the KDL-32W4000's 10-bit video processing and its ability to display a 6.2 Mega Pixel resolution image. Of course, the on-screen picture is only ever as good as the original video source (given that various picture processing technologies can only do so much to enhance it).

Recognizing that USB photo viewer functionality, which incorporates an auto running slide show when you place your JPEG laden USB into the slot at the side of the TV, has proven to be very popular amongst consumers Sony have gone a step further with 'photo frame' functionality. The KDL-32W4000 can be set up to scroll through your favourite JPEG snaps (acting as a giant electronic picture frame) when the TV is not in use.

The Sony 32W4000 is equipped with '24p True Cinema' which enables the panel to display films at their intended 24fps (frames per second) rather than the standard (for tv) of 25fps.

Theatre Sync, which is Sony's name for CEC (Consumer Electronic Control), 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.

Performance

Comparing the black level performance of the KDL-32W4000 with one of Sony's LCD TV's from just a couple of years ago gives us a good indication of how far Sony and LCD technology has progressed. The greyish hues of darker areas on earlier Sony's have given way to strong blacks with subtle graduations across darker scenes.

The problem for Sony is that other manufacturers have improved apace, with the likes of Samsung and Panasonic producing LCD TV's that are approaching Plasma levels of black performance. The KDL-32W4000 is still excellent in this respect, just off the pace of the leading pack, but only just.

Maintaining its composure with fast sporting action is possibly the most impressive aspect of the 32W4000's performance. Freeze frame a long punt of a football during a match reveals an almost perfectly spherical ball suspended above the pitch. No trace of motion blur or ghosting reveals a TV which is one of the best we have tested for fast motion action. Of course, the relatively small 32in screen helps, and it will be interesting to see how the 40in model compares.

The vibrancy of colours on the 32W4000 benefit hugely from the excellent black levels, which provide a launch pad to show colours at their best. Given that colour accuracy is spot on, even with tricky facial tones, this is an area in which the KDL-32W4000 excels.

With a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, we could forgive the Sony for some minor inconsistencies with Standard Definition (SD) pictures, especially with terrestrial Freeview. The 32W4000 however was surprisingly impressive in that inconsistencies were minor even with the poorest quality input, with some video 'noise' apparent when close up. The fact is that at the viewing distance which most of us would feel comfortable watching a 32in LCD, this 'noise' is barely perceptible.

Slightly disappointing was the High Definition (HD) performance of the 32W4000. To be fair to the Sony, we couldn't help comparing it to our recently reviewed Panasonic TH42PZ85 which was still fresh in our memory, and which is quite possibly the best HD performer we have seen. Maybe the benefits of a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution just doesn't translate to a 32in panel and our expectations were too high. HD pictures as you would expect, produced a supreme level of detailed sharpness and vibrant colour, but not that real depth of picture that compels you to reach out and just check that this is actually an artificially generated picture in front of you.

While not detracting too much from the enjoyment of the 32W4000's fine all round performance, the very slim speaker system at the bottom of the screen produces at times an acoustic performance that verges on the 'tinny'.

Conclusion

Sony have created a flat panel TV that is very good in most areas and excellent in some. The new stylistic touches will alienate some Sony fans, but others will be attracted by the cutting-edge design and fine picture performance.