Sony LCD TVs Fit Your Busy Lifestyle!

Image courtesy of Mark Krynsky

Sony LCD Televisions (Liquid Display Displays) are well known and Sony has been around for since 1955. You get much of the same leading edge LCD TV features such as 3D, LED backlighting and wired Ethernet connectors as other leading brands provide. They offer many popular features like built-in wireless and a Qwerty Keypad to surf the internet on your TV. Sony has a great reputation and has remained number one in the Harris poll's "Best Brands" survey for Five years in a row!

Have You Ever Wondered What "Sony" Actually Means?

Image courtesy of Tomotaka NAGATA

Sony's founders, Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka derived the name from the latin word "sonus", the word for sound, and from the English slang word "sonny", because they considered themselves to be "sonny boys", which means presentable young men. Now you know!

Sony LCD Backlighting Technology Shines a Light on It!

Sony LCD TV's offer four different types of backlighting technologies to improve picture quality. They use Cold-Cathode Fluorescent Lamps Backlighting (CCFLs), "Edge LED Backlighting", "Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting", and "Intelligent Dynamic LED Backlighting" methods to brighten the LCD display. I will stress here to only get the LED backlighting when you get your TV! LED's are the best method for backlighting because they produce brighter whites and blacker blacks then the older cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) technology.

CCFL Backlighting

A Sony LCD picture is made by filtering a white light through a microscopic shutter system, using cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) at the back of a flat screen. This is an older backlighting technology. Low-cost TV's use this technology and the downside is that blacks appear more grey instead of black. Unless money is a big deciding factor, get a TV that uses LED backlighting technology.

Image courtesy of Max Wolfe

Edge Led backlighting uses LED (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of the older cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) technology and uses between 20 to 30 percent less energy. Sony uses white Edge-LEDs positioned on the top and bottom of the TV. Light is evenly distributed behind the screen using a special diffuser and light channel which produces a uniform color. With this type of backlighting method, the LEDs remain on all the time while watching television.

Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting

Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting position LEDs along the top and bottom of the panel and uses Local Dimming to turn off LEDs in specific areas of the display to produce deeper blacks on the display. This technology improves picture quality by producing brighter colors and deeper blacks on the screen. All TV manufacturers offer LCD TV's that use CCFL backlighting, but if you compare the CCFL and LED backlighting, you will notice a better picture on the LED TVs!

Intelligent Dynamic LED Backlighting

Unlike Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting, the Intelligent Dynamic LED backlighting system uses hundreds of white LEDs and arranges them directly behind the display to evenly diffuse the light. By controlling the light intensity of individual portions of the screen, specific areas are lighted (turned on), while other areas are darkened (turned off). This provides an exceptionally high picture contrast by displaying the blackest blacks and brightest colors. At this time, I believe this to be the best backlighting technology available and urge you to get this with your new Sony LCD TV if available!

Quantum Dots: The Future of Backlighting Technology

In 2009, Nanoco Group signed a joint development agreement with an unnamed Japanese electronics company, and are planning to develop quantum dot LED backlighting for LCD TV displays. Quantum dots emit light in very specific Gaussian distributions (normal distributions) which accurately produces more colors then even the human eye can perceive! This technology uses less power then current backlighting technology and does not require a diffusion panel according to sources.

Sony LCD HDTVs

Sony LCD TVs are offered under six model groups and the top of the line models include 1080p resolution and Edge LED Backlighting. Whenever buying electronics, do your homework! If you understand what is offered and what you need, you will make a better decision and get the best product for your money.

The EX710 and EX700 series offers the preferred Edge LED Backlighting, while the EX600, EX500, EX400 and EX308 offer CCFL Backlighting. I have ranked the LCD TV series below from top of the line to lowest. For better picture quality in this class, pick a model that offers Edge LED Backlighting!

1. EX710
2. EX700
3. EX600
4. EX500
5. EX400
6. EX308

Sony LCD Bravia HDTV and 3D HDTV Features...

Understand Full HD 1080p Resolution

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• 1080p (1080 progressive scan) is a set of HDTV video modes that are comprised of 1080 lines of vertical resolution (1080 horizontal scan lines) of a non interlaced progressive scan video image. Progressive (non interlaced scanning) is a way of displaying, storing and transmitting a moving image in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence, from the top to bottom of a display. The widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 (widescreen) provides a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. Most older Tube CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs had a 4:3 aspect ratio, where the picture resembled a square.
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• Interlacing is the traditional method of broadcasting where the odd lines of each frame, then the even lines of each frame are drawn alternately on the display. The frame rate means 24/30/40/50/60 frames per second. The faster the frame rate, the better the picture quality.
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• In the United States, over-the-air broadcasts use either 720p60 (1280x720 progressive scan at 60 frames per second) or 1080i60 (1080x1920 interlaced at 60 frames per second) and do not broadcast in 1080p. To get 1080p, you either need a Blu-ray disc player or Satellite TV. Please note that most satellite content is 1080i and some is 1080p. 1080p provides a much better picture then 1080i, but 1080i is still very good.
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Edge LED Backlight

• Edge Led backlighting uses LED (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of the older cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) technology and uses between 20 to 30 percent less energy. Sony uses white Edge-LEDs positioned on the top and bottom of the TV. Light is evenly distributed behind the screen using a special diffuser and light channel which produces a uniform color. With this type of backlighting method, the LEDs remain on all the time while watching television.

Dynamic Edge LED Backlight

Image courtesy of AMagill

• Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting positions LEDs along the top and bottom the Sony LCD panel and uses Local Dimming to turn off LEDs in specific areas of the display to produce deeper blacks on the display. This technology improves picture quality by producing brighter colors and deeper blacks on the screen.

Intelligent Dynamic LED Backlight

• Unlike Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting, the Intelligent Dynamic LED backlighting system uses hundreds of white LEDs and arranges them directly behind the display to evenly diffuse the light. By controlling the light intensity of individual portions of the screen, specific areas are lighted (turned on), while other areas are darkened (turned off). This provides an exceptionally high picture contrast by displaying the blackest blacks and brightest colors. At this time, I believe this to be the best backlighting technology available and urge you to get this with your new TV if available!

CCFL Backlighting

• A Sony LCD picture is made by filtering a white light through a microscopic shutter system, using cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) at the back of a flat screen. This is an older backlighting technology. Many LCD manufacturers' use this technology and the downside is that blacks appear more grey instead of black. Unless money is a big deciding factor, get a TV that uses LED backlighting technology.

Motionflow Technology

• Motionflow offers a 240Hz refresh rate by inserting extra frames between pictures. This gives you sharper detail in fast moving content like sporting events. Slow refresh rates can cause motion blur and ghosting. As I've said many times before, you get what you pay for! If it costs less, you also get less.

Opti Contrast Panel

• By filling the gap between the LCD panel unit and glass surface plate with a special resin, instead of air, an integrated panel is created which reduces backlight reflections and outside light contamination. The front glass plate is then coated with anti reflective film providing a much clearer picture.

BRAVIA Internet Video

Image courtesy of Bruce Turner

• Connect your Sony LCD TV to broadband internet and stream your favorite TV series or movies in real-time to your television. There's always something to watch using sites like YouTube, Netflix and Hulu. Create your own personal radio station and listen to your favorite music genre with Pandora!

BRAVIA Internet Widgets

• Download widgets and store them on your Sony LCD TV screen to catch up on news or view local weather.

Wireless LAN Integrated

• Wireless Lan Integrated means that the TV has a build-in wireless N adapter. All you need to take advantage of this feature is a wireless home network with a 2.5 mbps to 10 mbps internet connection speed to stream your favorite content and 10 mbps is needed to stream HD content.

Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) Ready

• Wi-Fi ready means that you need additional equipment to wirelessly stream content to your Sony LCD TV. Sony offers the UWA-BR100 (802.11n) USB adapter to connect your TV to your network. Actually, there are many manufacturers who provide wireless USB adapters, but I have found that equipment manufacturers usually don't support other manufacturers equipment when there's a problem. If you are not the kind of person who is familiar with setting up wireless networks and doing your own troubleshooting, stick with Sony products that they support!

DLNA

• DLNA allows you to stream movies, pictures and music from your PC or server to your TV over your home network. You will need a DLNA compliant PC or server.

HDMI Inputs

• HDMI Inputs let you connect other devices to your Sony LCD TV, like a Blu-ray player or Playstation 3.

Scroll through the text box below to view the various Sony LCD HDTV models. The models closest to the top offer the most features with models at the bottom offering fewer features.

Sony LCD TV Models EX710 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Edge LED Backlight Motionflow Technology 120HZ BRAVIA Internet Video Wireless LAN Ready DLNA HDMI Inputs USB Port Models 55" Class (54.6" diag.) BRAVIA EX710, Model Number: KDL-55EX710 46" BRAVIA EX710 Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-46EX710 32" Class (31.5" diag.) BRAVIA EX710, Model Number: KDL-32EX710 EX700 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Edge LED Backlight Motionflow Technology 120HZ BRAVIA Internet Video USB Port Models 60" BRAVIA EX700 Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-60EX700 EX600 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Edge LED Backlight Models 32" Class (31.5" diag.) BRAVIA EX600, Model Number: KDL-32EX600 EX500 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Motionflow Technology CCFL Backlight Technology Models 60" BRAVIA EX500 Series HDTV Model, Number: KDL-60EX500 55" Class (54.6" diag.) BRAVIA EX500, Model Number: KDL-55EX500 46" BRAVIA EX500 Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-46EX500 40" BRAVIA EX500 Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-40EX500 32" Class (31.5" diag.) BRAVIA EX500, Model Number: KDL-32EX500 EX400 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution CCFL Backlight Technology Models 46" BRAVIA EX400 Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-46EX400 40" BRAVIA EX40B Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-40EX40B 40" BRAVIA EX400 Series HDTV, Model Number: KDL-40EX400 32" Class (31.5" diag.) BRAVIA EX40B, Model Number: KDL-32EX40B 32" Class (31.5" diag.) BRAVIA EX400, Model Number: KDL-32EX400 EX308 Series Features CCFL Backlight Technology Models 32" Class (31.5" diag.) BRAVIA EX308, Model Number: KDL-32EX308 22" Class (21.6" diag.) BRAVIA EX308, Model Number: KDL-22EX308

Sony LCD 3D HDTVs

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Sony LCD HDTVs offer 3D with several models and several accessories are needed to enjoy 3D HDTV content, the Sony 3D sync transmitter and 3D active glasses. 3D HDTVs include 2D to 3D conversion of 2D content!

I rated the 3D HDTVs below from 1 to 3. The HX909 series is my pick for the best TVs that Sony offers and this is the series to get!

1. HX909 series

• The HX909 series comes with the best backlighting technology and uses Intelligent Dynamic LED Backlighting. If you want the best of the best, then the HX909 series is what you want!

2. HX800 and HX810 series

• The HX800 and HX810 series has Dynamic Edge LED Backlighting and uses local dimming to create blacker blacks.

3. LX900 series

• The LX900 series comes with Edge Led backlighting and does not use local dimming, so the LED's remain on all the time when watching TV.

Scroll through the text box below to view the various Sony 3D HDTV models. The models closest to the top offer the most features with models at the bottom offering fewer features.

Sony 3D HDTV Models LX900 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Edge LED Backlight Motionflow Technology Opti Contrast Panel BRAVIA Internet Video BRAVIA Internet Widgets Wireless LAN Integrated DLNA HDMI Inputs Models 60" BRAVIA LX900 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: XBR-60LX900 52" BRAVIA LX900 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: XBR-52LX900 HX909 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Intelligent Dynamic LED Backlight Motionflow Technology Opti Contrast Panel BRAVIA Internet Video Wireless LAN Ready DLNA HDMI Inputs Models 55" Class (54.6" diag.) BRAVIA HX800, Model Number: KDL-55HX800 52" BRAVIA XBR HX909 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: XBR-52HX909 46" BRAVIA XBR HX909 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: XBR-46HX909 46" BRAVIA HX800 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: KDL-46HX800 40" BRAVIA HX800 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: KDL-40HX800 NX810 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Dynamic Edge LED Backlight Motionflow Technology Opti Contrast Panel BRAVIA Internet Video BRAVIA Internet Widgets Wireless LAN Integrated DLNA HDMI Inputs Models 60" BRAVIA NX810 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: KDL-60NX810 55" Class (54.6" diag.) BRAVIA NX810, Model Number: KDL-55NX810 46" BRAVIA NX810 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: KDL-46NX810 HX800 Series Features Full HD 1080p Resolution Dynamic Edge LED Backlight Motionflow Technology BRAVIA Internet Video Wireless LAN Ready DLNA HDMI Inputs Models 55" Class (54.6" diag.) BRAVIA HX800, Model Number: KDL-55HX800 52" BRAVIA XBR HX909 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: XBR-52HX909 46" BRAVIA XBR HX909 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: XBR-46HX909 46" BRAVIA HX800 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: KDL-46HX800 40" BRAVIA HX800 Series 3D HDTV, Model Number: KDL-40HX800

Sony Accessories for TVs and Home Theaters

3D Blu-ray Disc Sound Bar System

• The 3D Blu-ray Disc sound bar home theater system provides full-room audio without rear speakers.

Image courtesy of Jon Kristian

TV Stand with Built-in Speakers

• The TV stand and speakers are compatible with 46" NX810 Series 3D HDTVs and connects with an HDMI cable you your TV.

3D Deluxe Starter Kit

• This kit includes two pairs of 3D active glasses (TDG-BR100/B), a 3D sync transmitter (TMR-BR100), the Alice in Wonderland 3D Blu-ray Disc, and a 6'4" HDMI cable.

3D Active Glasses

• These adjustable 3D Active Glasses last up to 100 hours and block out annoying room light.

High Speed HDMI Cable

• Provides HDMI connectivity for 3D, HD and audio.

3D Sync Transmitter

• Provides a wider view angle and stronger 3D signal.

Alice in Wonderland 3D Blu-ray Disc

• Made by Tim Burton and Walt Disney Pictures.

3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi

• Get a player that's compatible with the 3D Blu-ray disc format to watch 3D content. Features include Standard DVD playback with 1080p upscaling, A USB slot and is DLNA certified.

PlayStation 3 160 GB System

• Includes a Blu-ray Disc player, built-in WiFi and a 160 gb hard drive.

3D Blu-ray Home Theater System

• Offers 5.1 channel surround sound with the BDV-HZ970W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. You also get wireless rear speakers and floor standing speakers.

5.1 channel Surround Sound System

• The HT-SF470 5.1 channel surround sound system includes a HDMI Repeater which lets you control HD or 3D components through a single HDMI cable.

My Conclusion...

Sony LCD TVs provide rich technology and makes some great TVs! Depending on what you need your Sony LCD TV to do, make sure you fully investigate the features you want and need. The top of the line LCD TVs are the HX909 series and is the only series that offers Intelligent Dynamic LED Backlighting which is the best backlighting technology. I really stress that you should get at the very least, LED backlighting and forget the models that don't have it if possible.

If you plan now what for what you want in your Sony LCD TV, you will save money and frustration in the future!

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