Sony Bravia LCD HDTV Review

Model: Sony KDL-40XBR4 LCD TV
Description:40" diagonal LCD flat screen Television, Widescreen 16:9 Format
Resolution:1920 X 1080 (1080P)
Dimensions:With Included Stand: 43.75" Width X 28.25" Height X 12.75" Depth / Without Included Stand: 43.75"W X 26" H X 5" D

Includes: Speakers and table top stand. 3 HDMI inputs as well as the standard complement of component and other usual suspects

Color: Black speaker surround with "floating glass". Black stand

Reviewer: William Becker
Date:  November 2007

INTRODUCTION

The 40XBR4 LCD TV replaced the 40XBR2 in summer of 2007 as Sony's newest latest and greatest visual display. One of the key differences over the XBR2 is the advance to a faster 120hz refresh rate and the resultant decrease in motion lag. The pixels remain the super HD signal 1080p.

PICTURE: 92.5/100

Sony's XBR Bravia televisions are always loaded with features and the best technologies available for maximum picture performance. White Balance controls are normally found in the service menu of plasma or LCD televisions. With the KDL-40XBR4 any user has access to these controls - allowing for exact D6500K calibration without entering the service menu. We calibrated the Sony LCD TV using a Sencore color generator and analyzer. Following are instructions on how we got to D6500K color temperature:

First, press the Home button on the remote to get to the menu (you must press the left arrow key after accessing the picture setting). Scroll down to the advance settings menu and turn the edge enhancement feature to off. Next, change the preset picture mode from Vivid to Custom or Standard (the Sony XBR is no different from other LCDs that come tweaked to peak contrast and brightness for the showroom floor).

Next, change the color temperature setting to Warm 1. This will position you very close to D6500K. Then make the following adjustments in to the picture menu:

Using these adjustments will get the user to a post calibration color temp of almost spot on D6500K (note: This Sony Bravia XBR has discrete inputs, so these calibration adjustments must be made for each input that is being used). We used an ANSI checkerboard pattern to measure post calibration contrast at 340:1, which is an excellent improvement over the prior model. Black levels were extremely impressive when viewing the LCD television straight on. Black depth and never appeared soft or hazy as with the prior model XBR2 and many other LCD televisions. This adds to the 3 dimensional image effect that this unit exhibits.

Our testing occurred at 8ft. viewing distance. We enjoyed testing the new Sony LCD TV with the new Blu Ray version of 300. As mentioned above from straight in front viewing the first thing we noticed was the increased intensity of the black levels. The HD picture was stunningly clear and vibrant. We were especially impressed by the visual depth this LCD TV is able to produce as this trait is usually best exhibited by the plasma competition. As we moved to the side angle at around 30 to 40 degrees we noticed a decrease in the depth of blacks to mediocre charcoal gray/black. This also occurs with off angle viewing top to bottom. One other noticeable drawback was the loss of dark matter detail (shadow detail) when visual content was dark to black. Blacks are much better than prior models, but over-saturated in the end. This drawback was also evident in on the DVD Risky Business. All of that stated, this was by far the best picture we have seen on an LCD television! At present they don't get any better.

Director Zach Snyder intentionally left the film grain from 300 when converting to Blu Ray DVD and with this tiny pixels on this LCD TV it's easy to pick them up and see the resultant cinema effect. Color rendition was much more consistent and not as over saturated with this model than the previous Sony Bravia XBR2 models. Flesh tones were solid post calibration and overall colors were very vibrant but better restrained (still slightly oversaturated). Using the wide button on the remote, we tested the scaling functionality of the LCD with this 2.4:1 film transfer. All aspect ratios showed very well, and there was little to no visible stretching with the Zoom or Wide Zoom settings.

1080p, 1080i and 720p displayed superbly. The aforementioned couple of problem issues remain no matter what resolution or input is used. We tested a lowly 480p and 480i signal with the DVD Risky Business. The upconverting of the very mediocre film transfer was excellent. There was still visible 3-dimensionality even with these lowly resolutions.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: 96/100

Aesthetically described, the new Sony Bravia XBR4s have a black frame with the floating glass contained within a thin silver metal band - very attractive. The menu display is wicked cool and stylish and easy to use. Onscreen menu navigation is a pleasure. One small drawback is no discrete input selection buttons on the remote. Viewers must use the Input button on the remote to scroll through the different inputs to the hot signal input.

Audio functionality was very sharp from the dual 11 watt virtual surround sound speakers. The sound was crisp and discretely defined. The volume output seemed better than many dual 15 watt speakers I have tested. The remote control is backlit, complete and 4 device universal.

One really cool feature is the freeze feature which allows the viewer to freeze the a scene while the programming continues on the right side of the screen. The menu and functionality of this LCD TV will impress you as it did our review staff. It’s one of the defining characteristics of Sony XBR TVs.

There are plenty of inputs in this LCD including 3 HDMI, 2 Component, 1 S-Video, 3 Composite, and 1 15-pin VGA (a nice touch).

Sony calls their 120hz refresh rate Motionflow for smooth transition in fast moving scenes. I agree that for an LCD TV the XBR4 does a superb job with this as it has been a constant weakness for LCD televisions.

Two more features worth noting are parental lock, and seperately, closed caption. These are nice features and the Sony functionality works well.

VALUE: 84/100

As mentioned in other articles, it's just hard to justify extra expense for 1080p vs. 1080i (720p). To get the superb picture and functionality of this LCD television a person is going to pony up an extra 25 to 30%. It's a great TV with a stunning 3 dimensional picture, excellent functionality throughout, great scaling technology, not to mention the knock out looks. But it is pricey at around $2250 for a 40" LCD. The couple of drawbacks - decreased black levels off angle (which in turn decreases contrast ratio), and dark matter detail - are fairly common for LCD TVs.

OVERALL RATING (WITH PICTURE DOUBLE-WEIGHTED): 91.25/100*

Rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Rating Score calculation.