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 There are few big questions in life… Why are we here? Is there a god? Should I get married and have kids? LCD or Plasma?
These are all good questions and far too complex for this little article to tackle, but if LCD is your path in life, then maybe the Sony Bravia X Series LCD TV might shed a little light on your destiny.
We have been testing the 40” Sony Bravia X Series LCD TV for about 2 months now and put it through its paces in a number of crucial areas. This review is not about number crunching stats comparisons with other LCD or plasma screens, but more about how the X series performs out in the real world under the varied demands from TV and movies to hardcore gaming. TV Viewing Performance: Right out of the box the Bravia did a great job of detecting all the free-to-air stations, both digital and analogue. The wizard style workflow made it easy to configure the channels and define favorites into two possible lists. Obviously, the picture quality of free-to-air is mostly dependent on the source signal, but as you progress through the range of signal qualities you can clearly see the superior quality that this Sony Bravia X Series screen brings to the game. HD signals were remarkably clear and crisp with a selection of pre-programmed picture styles to suit any taste as well as complete custom picture controls that allow you to tweak to your heart’s delight. The overall picture quality of the X Series does make you realise just how bad some picture signals really are. An LCD screen of this caliber reveals the flaws in poor source signals that would otherwise go unnoticed in lesser screens. The supplied remote hand control unit has a quality feel to it and is well laid out with primary channel and volume buttons easy to use. Moving through the channels was straight forward and the use of favorites in the TV channel listing makes avoiding all the complete garbage television out there a breeze. When switching between free-to-air signals we did notice some delay while the tuner locked on to the signal and there is no buffer effect in pushing the channel controls multiple times. This means you pretty much have to wait for the next channel to tune in before you can skip over it by pressing the button again. Blu Ray and DVD Movie Performance: When it comes to viewing Blu Ray movies and content, one would expect Sony to have the edge on most other LCD and plasma screens. The Bravia X Series LCD definitely does not disappoint in this area as the picture quality supplied by a Sony Blu Ray player produced such crisp and vibrant images that it took us a little while to become accustom to such a high level of picture detail. When you first see a well produced Blu Ray movie on a quality LCD the detail in the picture almost distracts you from the main object in the frame. In some cases you find yourself pointing at the screen and saying things like “You can even see Brad Pitt’s nose hairs…” Standard DVD viewing was good too, but after Blu Ray everything seems a little sub par and out of focus. In both formats the colors where outstanding with blacks being fairly pure and perhaps the best we have seen on any LCD to date. With a full range of detailed pictured controls available and a range of pre-programmed picture modes, you can adjust the image to your taste. One thing we did notice is a degree of “sparkle” when viewing some textures in Vivid picture mode. This can be very distracting, but can be rectified by adjusting the picture controls. Game Performance: If you are lucky enough to have a PlayStation 3 hooked up to your Bravia X Series screen, then you really are in for quite a treat. We tested the screen in Vivid picture mode playing a variety of games that ranged in resolution from 720p to 1080p. The results in all games were simply stunning. Games like Colin McRae’s DiRT for the PS3 become completely immersive while being displayed on this quality of LCD screen. Skate, a game that renders in 1080p was even more astonishing in the depth of colors and textures that were displayed on the Bravia. The screen does a great job of quickly detecting the various resolutions output by the gaming console and displays the rapidly moving gaming images with accuracy and no noticeable blur or ghosting. This screen was clearly made to accommodate the rigorous demands of gaming and it obviously works seamlessly with cutting edge game consoles like the Sony PlayStation 3.
PC Display Performance:
Many Bravia owners may not think to use the X Series as a PC monitor, but with the availability of streaming video on the net, hooking up a PC to this awesome screen can bring full net access right into your living room. We tested the screen’s PC display function by connecting it to a Dell laptop running some very high resolutions. The X Series handled the task amazingly well and actually proved to be a great monitor to use for all sorts of computing tasks. I am not sure I would start doing a lot of professional image editing using the Bravia as my primary screen, but overall it provided a clear working environment and made browsing the web through the TV a fun experience. Design:
Flat panel LCD or plasma screens have also become a big design statement within the home. Finding a screen that will compliment your living space and not look like a Vegas video poker machine in your living room is a priority these days. There has been a big trend in recent years toward flat panels with black glossy black bezels, but one look at the Sony Bravia X Series and you can see the careful interior design influence that has gone into the overall package. What makes the Bravia X Series stand out from the rest are design elements like the clear glass frame that extends about one inch from the bezel and is tastefully trimmed with a stainless steel finish. Touches like these help what would otherwise be a dominating object to blend into a variety of interior design themes and compliment the overall appearance of a room.
Sony Bravia X-Series Specifications:
Final Analysis: For those of us who really appreciate precision and quality in consumer electronic products, there is no doubt that Sony stands out from most of the other brands on the market. The Sony Bravia X Series range of LCD screens perfectly demonstrates why the extra few dollars invested in buying a Sony LCD is money well spent. The Bravia X Series offers outstanding picture performance across the full range of media categories and does it all in a beautifully designed package that compliments any living space. Whether you are a movie nut or a hardcore gamer, the Sony Bravia X Series should be at the top of your list when you come to invest in an LCD screen.
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