Sony KLV-40Z1XM Review
The Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M is one of the sleekest LCD screens yet. This set is on the cutting edge of technological advances in the LCD field, and thanks to an innovative new set-up involving the location of LEDs on the edge of the screen, the panel is roughly only an inch thick. As the first edge-lit screen, this set is very expensive, but that’s the price to pay for being one of the first people to have the honor of partaking in this stunning new technology. This is amazingly thin for a 40-inch display, though sadly there are quite a few categories where this set is sorely lacking.
Let’s start off with the good parts first. As mentioned previously, the screen itself is amazingly thin. You’ll be able to fit this set just about anywhere provided that you have enough clearance for its height. LED backlighting allows the Sony KLV-40ZX1M to display a picture quality rivaling that of high-end plasma screens. The design of the screen itself is without peers, though the base leaves much to be desired. The speakers are unfortunately built into the stand, meaning that you’ll have to invest in a speaker bar if you’re planning to mount the set on a wall. The base is also very awkwardly shaped and quite cumbersome, which is a pity given just how good the screen looks.
The overall aesthetic design is something that I’m very pleased with even with a bulky stand. Not counting the stand, the Sony KLV-40ZX1M’s measurements are 38.9 inches by 23.6 inches with a 1.1 inches thick screen. It weighs a paltry 27 pounds, which is amazing given the size of the display. It feels very sturdy though I’d advise against dropping or hitting it.
The colors in this set are great, and they can be tuned very easily. Temperature and gamut can be adjusted independently, and four pre-set gamma settings are available, ensuring that you will be able to reach an accurate setting for any type of media. Aspect ratio can be switched between 1080p and 1080i from the menu.
My chief complaints with the Sony KLV-40ZX1M aside from the price tag (which is justified by the fact that this is new technology) are the disappointing remote control setup and the inclusion of only a single HDMI input. The remote control has many buttons which are similar in size and shape, leading to confusion when first getting used to the set. There are many buttons which aren’t even for the Sony KLV-40ZX1M, and are meant for other Sony devices that you may or may not own. There is also no way to change aspect ratios through remote control, and there is no XMB interface option (which comes standard on most of Sony’s other sets).
Sony KLV-40ZX1M Features:
- 40 Inch Display
- 120Hz MotionFlow dejudder processing
- 1080i/1080p Display
- Screen Edge-Lit LED Technology
- 1 HDMI Input
- Internal Base Speakers
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