| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superb qua;ity sound and picture | remote control doesnt work in sunlight |
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5/5 |
| Durability | 5/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Service & Support | 3/5 |
| Value for Money | 5/5 |
| Recommend | 1/5 |
| Overall | 5/5 |
I purchased the Sony KDL 46W3000 in December 2007 as a replacement for my Sony 36in CRT and find it is an excellent HD TV. However for general SD viewing from SKY and Freeview which is after all 90% of what is available, the set suffers from it being only a 50 mghz panel. You will find that a close up image will distort as the actor turns their head even when viewed through a SONY DVD 160 upscaler recorder via HDMI or scarted directly from the digibox to the set. The sets software also has difficulty in controlling shadows with the result that on many occasions the shadow is not black but shades of blue and green and on facial images yellow. The retailers answer to these observations was for me to use very high quality (expensive) scart leads and HDMI leads ( didn''t help) or upgrade to the X series, at an additional cost of £400.00. Apparently the X series runs at 100+ mghz which will resolves the image distortion but they could offer no solution to the shadow colour problem. Sky was very helpful and suggested that I change my digibox picture setting from RGB to PAL - good idea but it did not offer a solution. If considering buying this model ask to see a normal digital transmission, say BBC1 or SKY 1 and not the HD picture retailers seem to use. Caveat emptor!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| HD very good | Only 50 mghz panel. Expensive |
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 3/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 |
| Style | 4/5 |
| Service & Support | 3/5 |
| Value for Money | 2/5 |
| Recommend | 1/5 |
| Overall | 2/5 |
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The Sony Bravia KDL46W3000 is one of the latest High Definition LCD TV’s that Sony has released. The Sony KDL W3000 series with a resolution of 1920x1080 promises to deliver superb results with excellent connectivity, crystal clear images with the most natural colour tones possible with thanks to the Bravia Engine EX (now with enhanced image processing stages, see below).
Design |
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The Sony KDL-46W3000 is an absolutely stunning TV. With its strong and sturdy body this set oozes class from every angle. The brushed gunmetal frame is unique and stylishly finishes the overall appearance perfectly along with the sleek and compact stand.
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| Features |
| The features that are provided with the HD Ready 1080p KDL-W3000 series are way up there with the best HDTV’s around and it would be fair to say that they are probably the most impressive features we have seen. Firstly, the Bravia Engine EX (as mentioned above) is an improved version of the Bravia Engine Picture Enhancement Technology and is specific to the Sony W3000 Series. The EX Engine has four additional image processing stage which is Composite Component Technology (for precise noise reduction), Image Format Technology (to create absolute image clarity), Flat Panel Display Driver Technology (for superb natural colour) and Digital Reality Creation (to make the image even sharper). So, with these improvements you can be assured that the image you receive is going to be of a consistently high standard. Other features of the Sony KDL-46W3000 are Live Colour Creation, a 24p True Cinema and Theatre Mode, x.v.Colour, a super wide 178 degree viewing angle and a Dynamic Contrast Ratio of 16,000:1. As we mentioned previously, the connectivity is excellent with 3 HDMI connection, a PC connection, 2x component and 2x SCART sockets. For extra convenience, one of the HDMI sockets is situated at the side of the screen. Sony’s S-Force Front Surround Sound is present from the integrated speakers located at the bottom of the screen and Voice Zoom has also been included which allows the user to increase/decrease the volume of voices without changing the background volume. |
| Performance |
| With such an impressive list of features and some unique and original technology we were expecting to see some fantastic images from the Sony KDL-46W3000 HDTV and we really did. Not only were the colours the most clear and vibrant of images we have ever seen but the black levels were the deepest and most detailed, the brightness and contrast are superb and the anti-glare of the screen worked brilliantly even in the bright location that we set it up. Talking of set-up, this HDTV was a complete doddle (although we admit, most are) and was a pleasure to sit and glare at while we were sorting out the cables, even without a picture on it! The sound is definitely worth mentioning with the front surround speaker as they worked really well by pumping out the volume forward and towards you rather than from the sides or below. We tried out the Voice Zoom which also works really well too. |
| Overall Opinion |
| The Sony KDL-46W3000 is a fantabulous TV with some amazing features that will knock your socks right off and into the wash basket! It displays stunning images in both HD and SD and the design is also outstanding. We would also recommend checking out the Sony KDL-X3500 and KDL-X3000 series as they provide many of the same features and an enhanced Bravia Engine Pro. Check ou the latest coupon codes. |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Bravia Engine EX 1920x1080 resolution HD Ready Live Colour Creation 24p True Cinema 3x HDMI Voice Zoom Feature |
| Factor | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5/5 |
| Durability | 5/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Service & Support | 5/5 |
| Value for Money | 5/5 |
| Recommend | 1/5 |
| Overall | 5/5 |
