User talk:Ekit0005

In my humble opinion, a television needs to do one thing well by default:

Display an accurate-looking picture with tangible levels of shadow detail.

For ALL formats the set is claimed to support (HD, SD, etc).

Anything else is secondary, and I'll get to that in a moment.

This Sony is pretty much on par with the previous Sony I am replacing (KDL-32S3000). Once calibrated and ambient light sensor turned off, the display is bright, accurately saturated, and shadow detail is well above average. Of the three Black Friday 55 led tv I have analyzed, with having pros and cons, this KDL-40BX420 does THE best in displaying colors and shadow detail.

I found that turning off the ambient light sensor so I can have full control over backlight settings is necessary. In dark or moderately-lit rooms, the sensor still keeps backlighting low and rendering the display too dark while forcing me to increase the backlight setting. So, with that disabled, using backlight set to 7, contrast to 97, brightness to 52 (50-52), color temperature set to 'neutral' (or maybe 'warm 1'), gamma +2, cine 'OFF', and all black enhancement set to 'off' provide the best results. There are other features that will ramp up color and saturation, but quickly end up looking distorted. YMMV, and Best Buy's calibration procedure will do a much better job to bring out every delicious drop of detail, but out-of-box image quality is remarkably good. And I don't often get to say that. But it IS worth considering, as it is time-consuming to do and their process is thorough. No, I don't own stock in Best Buy. I just call things as I see them, from experience, repute, or inference based on both.)

Matte - unlike a previous set I looked at, this Sony has a matte panel. Glossy is okay, especially if you like looking at your own reflection. But I'd rather look at what's coming out of the TV. Not what's being reflected by it.

Viewing angle - as with the 32S3000, Sony is using a higher grade, probably a PVA panel. The previous sets I've looked at use MVA panels - which not only crush shadow detail too much for my liking when looking head-on, they have poor viewing angles where color washes out badly and brightness and contrast gets skewed. The Sony does a far better job from what I've seen. Color wash does exist, but it's nowhere near as prominent. As with the other sets, no major (if any) hue shift was noticed, so it's nice companies are avoiding the use of "TN" panels.

Weight - this thing weighs only slightly more than LED-backlit sets. That's amazing. I was hesitant to buy a CCFL-backlit set due to weight, but for this set it's a non-issue.

Sound - I use an external system, so the inclusion of a fiber optic pass-through is great. Sounds from the set are somewhat flat and nothing to write home about.

Connectors - the usual complement exists (2xHDMI, 1xComponent, 1xComposite, 1xVGA, 1xS-Video, 1xBunny-ears-Antennae, etc) but I was hoping for 3 or more HDMI connectors.

Power usage: Of the two previous sets I'd tested, one had cost $12/yr. The other $15/yr. This Sony is rated at $22/yr. That's still pretty darn good, as TVs in this class can suck up $45/yr.

More modern sets use LED backlighting (Edge-lit). The backlighting shaves off energy costs, which is a good thing. This Sony uses a CCFL tube. So it uses more energy.

This Sony is 60Hz only. 120Hz makes the screen look more fluid and reduce or eliminate ghosting from fast-moving objects. In some cases, it can turn film and make it look like a "soap opera". In worst case scenarios it won't process the image correctly, creating judder problems that render the feature disabled (and thus not worth the extra money). But the other reason is to reduce or elimination motion ghosting effects. Part of me likes it, but part of me loathes it. YMMV. But all the 120Hz sets I've looked at have poorer image quality. The Sony's output is fantastic, but at 60Hz ghosting can sometimes be seen. For me, I want the shadow detail and good viewing angles. Even if it means a slower screen. The ghosting is there, it's on par with my 32S3000, and isn't annoying. Especially having played the field.

Here's the kicker: Many modern HDTV sets put most processing emphasis on Blu-ray and HD media, while ignoring SD material (DVDs, streaming SD media, some broadcast). As a result, interlacing artifacts are often seen and stand out badly, and there is horrible judder during camera pans. Judder that is not corrected by 120Hz mode. This is due to the TV set's processor not handling the 480i signal adequately. One set I otherwise adored had MASSIVE judder and interlacing problems when playing SD material, forcing me to configure the player at 480i - and even then that Black Friday 60 inch tv still had problems, prompting a return. : I say all of this because most of us have plenty of DVDs in our libraries. Display quality, across all mediums, is important, and Sony - as usual - delivers. And, of any theater component, the least variable is going to be the TV set - therefore it should have the best quality processing circuitry. DVD players break far more often, and low-end ones definitely don't have processors to make the signal look good. It should be and is up to the TV to do everything right. This Sony does.

And just to make sure, upscaling 480i WILL mean a blurrier or jaggy display - regardless of brand. 480i has far less resolution/detail than 1080P. But judder (fluid motion during pans) and other issues are NOT concerns with upscaling. For any resolution. The TV should be able to play back ANY format fluidly, without judder. If my 4 year-old Sony could play 480i material without juddering during camera pans, no TV today should be having that problem. Especially if it costs $1000. The 32S3000 had cost $1000 and still is a rock-solid performer. It's nice to see the 40BX420 being in a similar league, yet costing 50% less.

Lastly, if you're concerned about longevity, even if it's a high-rated brand, individual units can wear out sooner rather than later (A 10 year "Average" means some sets will last 20 years, and for other sets they'll last merely 2. Always get the extended warranty. I had to make use of one once, and I only use such a thing if there's no other choice, but it is good to have.

The SONY KBL32BX450 with high definition 1080p is an entry level model with outstanding picture quality. This is a highly recommended HDTV for you.

I had researched purchasing HDTV for the bedroom and the SONY is better than the rest (LG, SAMSUNG, PANASONIC and budget models). You pay more for the SONY but you getting a SONY. It is worth the difference. Do not compromise.

This is a new 2011 model with basic features. There is no Wifi, this is 60Hz and is not an LED TV (however picture quality compares to LED sets). There are only two HDMI ports that may not be enough for some people. The only "complaint" is the sound quality. You will need to adjust the bass/treble and use the equalizer in Custom Mode. It is the same issue that flat screen sets just don't have great speakers. Regardless, this is an excellent television.

There are enough settings with options to calibrate and customize the picture to your liking. It is best to disable the ambient light sensor that restricts the brightness and vivid contrast of the picture. Once calibrated, the picture is awesome. The fleshtones are realistic. There is abundant contrast with the blacks are coal black and whites are bright white. The colors are vivid and vibrant. The set will require picture adjustment and calibration out of the box. Motion blur is almost non-existant for a 60Hz set.

The features and specs of this set are well documented. You have a USB port to view pictures and videos.

If you are very budget conscience then consider the SONY 720p model KDL32BX320. This is also a great set but you don't pay for the Full HD. If you won't do gaming or watch BluRay then this may be for you. If you are looking to install in your living room then look for a SONY with a larger screen.

I purchased this from a store with special grand opening sale but wanted to post review for Amazon folks. I would typically buy from Amazon.