Friday, January 4, 2013

Sony KDL-46EX524 Review

The Sony KDL-46EX524, a member in the Sony Bravia family and the largest of the new EX524 series. This seems to be one of the more value-conscious TV's that Sony is currently producing, with high quality screens and electronics at a reasonable price, making it a perfect buy for the mainstream consumer who isn't concerned with perfect studio-quality colouring or high-end aesthetics. The centralized multimedia functions, easy access to Wifi or Ethernet and Freeview HD, for this particular series is highly functional and desirable for anyone who wants set-top connectivity beyond that of their computer regardless of technological ability.
The two-tone gun-metal and glossy black bezels and large, smooth, 46 inch, matte screen are classic compliments to any home design and a style that Sony has been using regularly for the last couple of years and it appears very well built for the price. The LED on this model is extremely slim, being only about 3 cm in depth, this is mostly due to the lighted edges of the television as opposed to a back lit (or full array) style, with recent improvements in technology unevenness in color, due to the edge lighting, is very rarely an issue. The decreased environmental impact of the LED including it's decreased consumption of power and the ease of recycling the parts at the time of disposal makes this TV a very green choice. The factory standard swivel base is great for angling the screen in various directions depending on where the current viewer is seated and the standard size of the unit makes it easy to mount on the wall with a mounting kit however, because many of the connectors are on the back of the television this may limit their accessibility.
The remote control for for the Sony KDL-46EX524 is slightly curved with evenly spaced buttons that aren't overly close together, but is very pleasing visually and the dedicated media buttons help the consumer make use of the included media software. It requires two "A-A-A" batteries to operate. Pressing the home button on the remote control gives you the menus for access to settings and the incorporated media content. The menus are easy to read and intuitive to understand, appearing quickly along the bottom of the screen with a clean, modern look. For some menus you may need to cycle through options in order to find specific options that you are looking for. Picture-in-picture programming is very easy to use and even allows you to navigate menus while continuing to watch your current program.
The integrated streaming is an excellent addition to the features of this TV, instead of necessitating the purchase of additional hardware to make full use of the internet suite for people who want streaming productivity on their televisions. The Bravia Internet Video menu comes pre-programmed with streaming video selections such as Sony's Entertainment Television library of old TV series, health and fitness videos from Livestrong.com, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Sky News headlines, Demand 5, Love Film, blip.tv and other popular web destinations. It also has the functionality of a full web browser so that you can visit any of your favorite sites right from the comfort of your couch. Non-streaming options are also available, such as Sony's Qriocity, a refreshingly new video on Demand service for both music and movies that lets you pick what to watch and when to watch it without worrying about monthly subscription fees and service charges. MoshCam which features live concerts filmed in Sydney's leading music venues will allow you to see your favorite musical acts from the comfort of your home, without the expensive ticket price. Finally, access to Facebook, Twitter and Skype, for making free calls via web cam (however the web cam is not included and would have to be connected via the USB) are all integrated into the platform to help round out its robust assortment of useful and interesting applications while helping the user keep in touch with family and friends through the use of voice and video from the comfort of the couch, in front of the television, in their own home.

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