The KDL-V40XBR1 is the best LCD HDTV but is it worth it?(Reviewed 8/11/06) The Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 (1,366x768 pixels) is probably the best LCD HDTV yet it can not be recommended. It only has one HDMI input, has poor color decoding resulting in heavy red push (skin tones too red), no backlit remote, and like all Sony products it’s expensive. If you’re a home theater buff you’re still better off with a plasma TV.
Generally plasma TVs deliver more bang for your buck. If you’re into Sony and need to have the best LCD HDTV than read on. The Sony Bravia (the line used to be called the Wega) KDL-V40XBR1 has deep blacks and detailed shadows for an LCD. As followers of these reviews already know LCD TVs have trouble with deep blacks. Like most brand name flat panels today it has high tech styling with silver trim and a slim silver strip along the black border that surrounds the screen. This HDTV's dimensions are 40 (W) by 27 (H) by 5 (D) inches and it weighs 75 pounds. A silver pedestal comes standard with the TV but Sony makes an optional wall-mount bracket (SU-PW2). Notable Features: The Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1’s native resolution (1,366x768 pixels) deliver all the detail of 720p HDTV. All sources, including HDTV, DVD, standard TV, and computers, are scaled to fit the pixels. The Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 has a NTSC tuner for standard definition TV and an ATSC tuner for over the air HDTV. The QAM tuner lets you watch digital and HDTV cable without an external cable box. The best LCD HDTV should come loaded with features and this HDTV packs them in. It comes with PIP, a freeze screen feature and independent input memory. The aspect ratio options include: Normal (displays 4:3 sources properly), Full (displays 16:9 sources properly and stretches 4:3 sources evenly to fit screen width), Wide Zoom (slightly crops the top and the bottom and stretches 4:3 sources to fill screen width), and Zoom (crops the top and the bottom of 4:3 sources to fit screen width). These aspect ratio options all work with standard TV and HDTV sources. These are the color temp pre-sets: Cool, Neutral, Warm 1, and Warm 2. Do not use the Black Corrector, Clear White or Contrast Enhancer picture enhancing features. These do not enhance your picture and should be left off. The remote isn't backlit and doesn't include individual input-selection buttons. Although it is logically and intuitively laid out Connections: The Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 has three component-video, one S-Video, and three composite-video inputs, a stereo minijack headphone output, one CableCard slot, two RF inputs, and a PC-compatible RGB input with an accompanying stereo minijack audio input, one optical digital audio output and one variable/fixed stereo audio output and a USB port. Conclusion: Although the Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 is the best LCD HDTV it still does not rank among the best of the 42-inch plasmas reviewed. The KDL-V40XBR1 is loaded with features, wide-ranging connection options, and has the high tech sleekness that you’d come to expect with brand name flat panel TVs. The overall picture quality and its deep blacks are exceptional for an LCD TV. If you can get by its high price, poor color decoding (the red push) and if you have you need to have best LCD HDTV than consider the KDL-V40XBR1. This HDTV still can't outperform the best similarly sized plasmas.
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