Sony KDL-40HX723

I think many people by now think that the 55D8000 from Samsung is the best LED Smart TV you can buy, but few know that there is some stiff completion from behind and one of those competitor is the Sony’s KDL-40HX723.

It’s elegant, with a spec that includes a dazzling array of smart TV and 3D options, Sony’s Motionflow XR400 processing and a stack of useful network features.

But fire the Sony up and you’ll find this TV’s image suffers from inconsistent backlight, no matter how much you play with its brightness and contrast settings.

If you manage to settle on a configuration that satisfies, the KDL-40HX723’s image is exemplary. A crisp Freeview HD tuner, beautifully smooth motion handling, terrific detail and assured upscaling make it a joy. But switch to 3D, and despite a refreshing absence of crosstalk and other picture nasties, the set ramps up the brightness to “cut through” the darkening effect of the 3D glasses, and the backlight inconsistency rears its head again. A shrill and uncomfortably hard sound doesn’t help matters, either.

It’s a dreadful shame, because in smart TV terms, the Sony can more than hold its own.  Its iPlayer, LoveFilm and Video Unlimited services work well. Add a Skype camera and it will cater for free video calls too.

The slim chassis reflects an equally lightweight sound. Sony’s SA-40SE1 soundbar designed for the TV is a good investment if you don’t have an alternative sound system- though it costs over 200$.

Sony’s Video Unlimited HD streaming is unbeatable for quality. It’s exceptionally consistent and sharp, although bandwidth-intensive: you’ll need 4Mbps broadband to ensure buffer-free viewing.



Price: aprox. 1200 $

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