“Great value, super sharp image, good sound. Miss 120hz tho…”
Reviewed By ‘Neil Rosenberg’
Review of Sony Bravia KDL52V4100 from Amazon.com
I used to think of a TV purchase as a VERY long term commitment, like marriage. And at $2k and up there’s a lot of truth to this. However in this case I was faced with a difficult decision, one that I would probably repeat given the opportunity.
First let me say that I love just about everything about the 52inch Sony Bravia KDL52V4100 television. The picture quality (as long as the scene or people aren’t moving) is super, the audio is really good out of the bottom-front speakers (although an add-on stereo makes it even better), and the flexibility from an input/output point of view is outstanding.
All that being said, there are some compromises, and thus my quandary. I bought this TV fully knowing that for a *mere* $500 more I could have the 120hz scan mode. It just wasn’t worth it to me…I think. I would have been better off if the 120hz model didn’t exist, then I’d look at the set and be amazed. Maybe I’m nuts, but now I find myself looking critically at scenes where there’s fast motion and wondering whether the “better” model would be noticeably smoother.
The fact of the matter is that over time I will just accept how it looks and allow myself to enjoy the many fine aspects to this set. Moving on, you probably want to know some of the other things that are also not so wonderful. Here goes.
1. Unlike some sets that have a base that allows rotation, this one just sits. No pivot at all, and very hard to move. I ended up making my own pivoting base out of a couple pieces of (nice) wood and a $10 rotary table. Wonderful, but took some effort.
2. Even though this set has the ability to have the screen turned off with the audio still on (nice!) it’s buried down really deep in the menus (not nice!). I don’t want to always burn 300 watts to listen to the music channel on our cable box, I wish it was easier. Yes, a very minor point, until you have to do it once or twice every day.
3. I’m not a fan of shiny ANYTHING on the front surface of TVs. At least the screen has a decent anti-glare finish, but the edge is the now-mandatory patent leather black shine. Why oh why!!!
4. The remote is a TV remote. Period. Which means either you have to use some other remote for your other stuff or buy and program a multi-function. Cheat, really cheap.
5. When switching between modes (1080i, 480p, 4:3, 16:11 or whatever) the tv and sound go dead. Seems like an eternity, but it’s probably only a second or two. Should be faster.
I could probably come up with a few more, but those are the biggest ones for me about the Bravia KDL-52V4100 i’ve noticed so far. Not very big really. Nice set, now if they could only give me a way to upgrade it to 120hz without buying a new one…
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Here is one more: I did not realize how thick the TV was until I got it. I also have 46 in panasonic plasma and my sony almost 3 times thicker then the panasonic one.