Never before has such extensive
functionality and top-quality picture performance been so affordable no matter
what the screen size
Product of the year
Best 40 - 42in TV
Sony KDL - 40HX853
Price: $1,500
Some sets go for bells, some for whistles
and others for both. But that doesn’t necessarily guarantee an Award for that
you have to add stellar picture performance to the mix. This Sony nails it in
every respect.
Like the other HX-series sets in this
section, the Gorilla Glass screen sits atop a full-width plinth, at a relaxed
angle. This plinth also houses the high-quality speaker system. But it’s with
picture performance that this Sony positively shines. Clarity and detail
definition are remarkable, the TV effortlessly bringing out subtle impressions
of texture and color where most rivals struggle. Put on the Blu-ray of JJ
Abrams’ Star Trek and it manages to pick out stars that were hidden on other
sets.
Clarity and detail definition are
remarkable, the TV effortlessly bringing out subtle impressions of texture and
color where most rivals struggle
Sony
KDL - 40HX853, the best 40 - 42in TV
3D capable, and smart with it
The Sony is an active 3D set, too, and the
smooth motion and sense of depth immerses you into the beautiful Victorian
world of Hugo.
The HX853 is also smart. Along with the
ability to play multimedia content from devices over your home network, there
are dedicated apps for on-demand music and video, plus HD movies from LoveFilm,
TV shows from BBC iPlayer and Demand 5, web browsing and game apps.
Other TVs might cost less, or offer more
smart features – but none can touch the KDL-40HX853 as such a jaw-dropping
all-rounder.
Best 32in TV
Sony KDL-32HX753
Price: $870
Last year it was Panasonic who dominated
this category but Sony’s TVs are proving to be some of the most desirable sets
of 2012, as a quick glance through these pages will attest.
Sitting just below the all-conquering HX853
range, the 32HX753 is no less desirable. This edge-lit LED panel certainly looks
the business, perched on its svelte ‘easel’ stand (which also allows you to
adjust its pitch), and it’s well equipped too. Sony has tweaked and polished
its smart TV platform for its 2012 models and it’s a much slicker, not to
mention better-specified, experience than last year.
Picture quality is excellent. The Sony’s a
200Hz panel (240Hz when running in 3D), and its motion handling abilities are
truly top-notch. Sport is a fantastic test of a set’s abilities in this regard
action is often fast-paced, cameras are a decent distance from the action
(meaning edge definition gets a thorough workout) and there are usually vast
swathes of uniform color. The Freeview HD tuner on this set handles all that
with aplomb. There’s breathtaking sense of clarity and excellent edge
definition afforded to the players, playing field and crowd, even when the
action is moving at breakneck speed.
There’s a breathtaking sense of
clarity and excellent edge definition to Freeview HD and high-def Blu-ray
pictures alike
Sony
KDL-32HX753, the best 32in TV
Fantastic in HD
Step up to Blu-ray and the quality go up a
notch. Inception looks fantastic, with excellent contrast levels on display. As
Leonardo Dicaprio and colleagues infiltrate the mountain base, snowy whites are
perfectly judged: bright without looking overdone. And without looking giving
away too much, the resulting theatrics are as vivid as you like.
On the smart side, it’s easy to flick
between content, and all your music, video and apps are split into tiled
sections so you can scroll by icon or artwork. There’s extensive streaming
support too, including BBC iPlayer, Demand5, and LoveFilm, together with option
of wired or Wi-Fi web connectivity.
The only negative is that the 3D glasses
are an optional extra, which might seem a retrograde step given that rivals
include a couple of pairs in with their sets for free.
Audio-wise, the Sony sounds a little on the
thin side, but by the shoddy standards set by some rival sets it’s listenable
enough. You can always alter the balance through the on-screen menus.
Big screens might be all the rage, but if
your sights are set on smaller fare then nothing can hold a candle to the
KDL-32HX753 this year.
Best 46-47in TV
Sony KDL-46HX853
Price: $1,875
So Sony has scored a hat-trick in this
year’s TV Awards. The company is past master when it comes to pride of
ownership, and the 46HX853 is a potent combination of svelte good looks, robust
build quality and exemplary finish.
Its sheet of touch Gorilla Glass gives a
seamless appearance, the full-width plinth that serves as both stand and
speaker array is both a functional and aesthetic plus-point, and the ‘relaxed’
stance (the screen leans back a little on its plinth) is a nice flourish, too.
Picture performance is as gratifying as the
looks. The excellent backlighting allows for detailed black tones to share
screen space with clean bright whites contrast perhaps lacks the dynamism of
some, but this TV bows to no rival where detail and cleanliness are concerned.
Color, meanwhile, are wide-ranging and
believe, with skin-tones a particular highlight, and the Sony handles even the
most vigorous movement without alarm.
There’s similar fidelity to the BBC’s
iPlayer when accessed via the HX853’s exemplary Sony Entertainment Network:
with a decent stream the Sony shows the same low-light prowess and
authoritative motion control as it does with the best TV broadcasts.
With iPlayer, the Sony shows the same
low-light prowess and authoritative motion control as with the best TV
broadcasts
Sony
KDL-46HX853, the best 46 – 47in TV
Fine detail with Blu-ray
Where 2D Blu-ray images are concerned, the
HX853 really shines. Inky, detail-laden blacks, smooth edge definition and
martial control over complex patterns and motion add up to a believable,
endlessly watchable picture. And if the Sony’s contrasts lack just a touch of
outright white-tone punch, well, the amount of detail on offer goes a long way
toward making up for it.
Switch to 3D and you’re rewarded with as
stable and unstressed an active-shutter 3D experience as we’ve seen. TT3D:
Closer To The Edge enjoys great depth of field, motion is dealt with
confidently and pictures remain bright and colorful.
Overall, there’s no disputing the Sony
KDL-46HX853’s case. And we don’t see anything shifting it from its throne any
time soon, either.
Best 50-52in TV
Panasonic TX-P50GT50
Price: $1,950
Panasonic’s TVs took nothing but praise
from us in 2011. Walking away with the TV Product of the Year Award and four
more best in class gongs to boot, the company’s all-round ability at putting
pictures on the screen did the trick and it’s no different this year with the
P50GT50.
Setup is a painless affair, but there’s
also plenty here for tweak-fans: this is a THX-certified the viewing mode. You
can still make adjustments to the rest of the picture settings once you’ve done
this.
The option of Freesat and Freeview HD
tuners ensures the set will appeal to everyone and both are excellent. With
standard-definition content, the picture is detailed and gives an impressive
sense of depth. Images are clean and reasonably free of blocking or noise, with
the Freesat tuner arguably just a little sharper. Switch to the HD channels and
edges are more cleanly drawn, colors are punchier, and black levels are
impressive.
Play a Blu-ray and the picture just gets
better. The image of Avatar looks stunning, even in 2D: it’s a brilliantly
vivid, detailed picture. In fact, every aspect of performance is handled
expertly. There’s no issue with fast motion, colors look vivid and dynamic but
still with solid, deep blacks, while the level of insight to faces and
landscapes is quite exceptional.
With a Blu-ray disc, colors look
vivid and dynamic, while the level of insight to faces and landscapes is quite
exceptional
Panasonic
TX-P50GT50, the best 50 – 52in TV
Advances in 3D
Panasonic’s active-shutter 3D glasses have
been tweaked and are now lighter, slighter and more comfortable to wear. The 3D
images seem more comfortable to watch, and the picture more robust, than with
previous generations. There’s very little issue with fast motion and the rest
of picture still looks punchy and bright.
The content available on the Viera Connect
smart hub is also better than last year thanks to the latest version of BBC
iPlayer, the addition of Netflix, a fully functioning Skype app and the likes
of Acetrax, BBC News, Eurosport, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
BBC iPlayer content looks great, too, especially
the ‘HD’ channel, which gives SD broadcast content a run for its money
(providing your network is up to speed).
Panasonic is back with a vengeance in the
TV market for 2012. Last year’s GT30 almost swept the board at our 2011 Awards,
and the TX-P50GT50 is the GT30 after going to the gym.
