What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
19 JUN 2008
Sony KDL-40W4000
Where incremental steps forward are becoming commonplace, the Sony is a giant leap – simply stunning
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Recently we’ve noted that although flatscreen quality is certainly on the up, the rate of progress is slowing. So while manufacturers' new ranges do offer better performance over the previous generation it's more incremental than revolutionary.
Quite simply, this Sony balks that trend by being a massive step-forward over its predecessor.
In terms of style you get funky additions like a lightly-glittered ‘midnight sky’ finish, and a badge that glows seductively. Neither is as tasteless as it sounds, and the badge light can be turned off.
Sony uses PS3-style menus
The real improvements though, are under the skin. The PS3-style menus look great and are a doddle to use, even allowing you to switch directly from an external source to a specific Freeview channel.
Talking of Freeview, the Sony’s digital TV performance is very good indeed. High quality broadcasts are clean and vibrant, and only very poor channels suffer from a touch of noise.
It's also worth noting that the 'W4000's out-of-the-box settings are surprisingly sensible, with only a little fine tuning necessary to get the very best from it.
And this TV's very best is exceptional.
An animated Blu-ray like Cars is simply gorgeous, with the Sony offering the punchiest colours and sharpest edges of any set on test. Leaving the backlight on about halfway provides brilliant, bright whites, without sacrificing black levels, so as you look around the stadium in the opening scene, the floodlights stand out magnificently from the night sky.
A spin of the Jesse James Blu-ray proves this TV is just as accomplished with live action. Colours are supremely natural, and the Sony's detail recovery is quite extraordinary.
Needless to say, the 'W4000's handling of 24fps motion is also spot-on - in fact by LCD standards this is a slick mover all round. We had to double-check this was 'only' a 50Hz set, as it outperformed several 100Hz rivals sat directly beside it with TV, DVD or Blu-ray - proof that you should never pre-judge a product by its tech-specs.
Switch to DVD and the Sony keeps on impressing.
Test favourite Training Day is presented with a really natural colour balance, loads of insight and great stability. There may be sets that offer just a smidge more fine detail, but none of them have the overall balance and poise of the 'W4000.
The overall performance is rounded-out by a sonic delivery that's very impressive by flatscreen standards. It's not the weightiest on offer, but it is very direct and involving.
There are a lot of extremely impressive sets available in the 37-40in size class, but only one with bags of wow factor, and that's the KDL-40W4000.
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