Is the Sony Bravia HDTV 40 LCD HDTV the perfect size for your home theatre setup? When buying anything as crucial as an HDTV for your home theatre setup (let’s face it, the TV is the focal point), it is equally as crucial to consider screen size versus viewing distance.
Which is the most important factor? Simply put, your whole home theatre setup from the luxury leather recliners to the nostalgic popcorn machine won’t matter if you overlook the viewing distance. This is a 40 inch screen which is a little on the small side for most family or living rooms.
Regarding the whole concept of high definition, the devil is in the detail, as the cliché goes. Therefore, the stunning picture detail that makes HDTV so great will be altogether lost if you and your guests sit too far or too close. The latter will result in the picture looking like it is being viewed through a window with each individual pixel visible but with space bordering in between them.
Therefore, keep this in mind when checking out the Sony BRAVIA V-Series KDL-40V5100. From Sony’s venerable Bravia line, this model will certainly please high-tech consumers who are into movies, sports, and video games.
It features full-on high definition 1080p goodness with a 120Hz refresh rate that will accommodate all of the aforementioned fast paced visual delights. What’s more, the Motionflow 120Hz technology delivers even high speeds in fluid, natural details and optimized sharpness.
Blacks are relatively black (see complaint below) while colors have amazingly accurate levels. Bravia’s proprietary Image Blur Reduction further enhances the overall picture.
Furthermore, this model is “linked in” with full compatibility to Sony Bravia’s Link Modules like Bravia Wireless Link, Bravia DVD Link, and Bravia Input Modules, all as additional purchases.What did get us black and blue from the viewing experience is the noticeable blue tint of dark areas in the picture. It should just be black folks!
In addition, the TV does not transition gradually during darker scenes but can be rather quite jolting. You must also turn on the dejudder to be able to use the anti blur.
The Sony BRAVIA HDTV V-Series KDL-40V5100 also has a fairly uniform “LCD HDTV” look that is “seen it before” in style. While our technical qualms can be fixed by a downloadable firmware upgrade patch, the uniform design requires some digesting if you are looking for something more unique in looks for your HDTV home theater.