Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsI HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS HDTV, BUT...
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2015
30 OCTOBER 2016 UPDATE
After a year, this HDTV is holding up so far. I have not had any further problems with it (yet?). Thus, as of now, I would recommend this TV, though with the reservations expressed below.
4 DECEMBER 2015 UPDATE
As an example of part of what I talked about in my review and updates below, I was just watching, on Netflix, STAR TREK: Deep Space Nine, an SD (standard definition) program in 480 resolution, and it looked awful. I have high speed DSL internet access and "power cycled", or reset, my modem-router by turning it off for 30 seconds and re-powering it, and that did not correct the problem.* (See postscript below.) Granted, 480 resolution won't look as sharp as HD, but it still should look at least as good and sharp as on an SDTV [standard definition (old style) television]; yet, on this Sony model of HDTV, it doesn't even look as good as that, and instead the picture is extremely "out of focus", "blurry" and "splotchy". But, again, pre-HD programs should look good on HDTVs, even if they are in SD and aren't upconverted and/or upscaled to HD (high definition).
If people can't enjoy older, pre-HD programs on their HDTV(s), it is partly defeating the purpose of getting a "new-fangled", modern-day HDTV. In other words, they should also be able to enjoy SD programs on their HDTV(s), even though it is not as enjoyable as watching programs in HD (720p or 1080p). Therefore, because of this (MAJOR!) issue, and all of the issues with this Sony HDTV, it brings this review down yet another star, to a total of three stars. As it turns out, my concern that I expressed early-on in this review that I expected this TV to be overrated, has very sadly become a reality, and I was right, and it is true, this hdtv IS indeed overrated just as I was concerned that it would be, much to my dismay. And it is quite a shame, too; because, as I wrote in the first part of this review, I had some hope that this TV would turn out to be quite adequate.
* [P.S.---I also ran an internet speedtest, and I was getting my full 8mb/s DSL download speed from my ISP at the time that I was watching the above-referenced Netflix program; and it was not at a peak internet usage time, but was at about 2:00 a.m. (M.S.T.) in the middle of the night.]
28 OCTOBER 2015 UPDATE
And for those who are interested and trying to decide which size of this HDTV to get [or any one(s) you're thinking of getting], the 40 inch model is perfect for laying on a bed only seven or eight feet from the screen. It doesn't feel like you're too close to it, at least for me. I tried a couple of 46 inchers and they were just a little too big for being that close to; making, me at least, feeling too close to the screen; leaving, if you respond in much the same or similar way as me, the 48 incher out. But to each their own. If you like being real close to a "huge" [or big (/bigger)] screen (the kind of people who love sitting down in front, or close to it, at the movie theater [theatre for you Brits and other "proper English dopes" out there :o) ], more power to you. Cheers, "Big-Ear 'Mates'"!
21 OCTOBER 2015 UPDATE
I received the replacement TV (twice as fast as when the original one was sent). This one arrived with the firmware update already installed, whereas I had to install the update myself on the original one that I received, leading me to believe that Amazon may be pawning off "refurbished" ones when replacing the TV(s) [or at least that they may have pawned a "refurbished" one off on me]. This one appears to have nothing wrong with the screen unlike the original one, and it also appears to be holding up so far. I have also since noticed that the stand appears to cause the TV to tilt forward a little bit [yes, I made sure that the rubber feet on the two ends of the back of the stand were all the way on (I noticed that they can be slid part or all of the way off), and that the TV is on a level surface], so I put some SD card holders under both the left and right ends of the front of the stand, making the TV sit straight up and down without any tilt (not a big issue).
Parts of the app picture (in Netflix) appear to "freak out" every now and then (which doesn't happen with my Roku 3 Player running Netflix on the same TV---or on any other HDTV for that matter), acting like it isn't receiving or portraying the full digital image in part(s) of the picture momentarily, making me think that the apps (or just Netflix) built into this HDTV may come to malfunction often or cease to operate entirely eventually (probably just after the warranty expires?!) [also leading me to believe that this replacement TV may be a "refurbished" one---but I seem to recall that the original TV did this too]. So, I am not holding my breath that this HDTV is going to hold up in the long run, at least with regard to the apps. We will see.
30 SEPTEMBER 2015 UPDATE
I finally noticed that there is a 3/8ths inch diagonal piece of thread or plastic, a scratch or a strip of bad pixels in and/or on the upper left-hand side of the inside of the screen/panel that is visible during viewing, so I will be returning the TV for a replacement in the next couple of days.
Further, as at least one other person has stated in the reviews for this Sony HDTV, I too have come to the conclusion that this TV is not truly a Full HD (1080p) TV, and is in reality only a 720p HDTV disguised as, or falsely claimed to be, a 1080p HDTV; but, since Samsung and Vizio HDTVs appear to be decreasing in quality and getting more and more bad reviews, and the other available models are all junk, too expensive and/or a ripoff in my opinion, and I don't believe I'll find any other HDTV model(s) in this size and price range that is and/or are truly any better, I will continue to obtain the replacement of this Sony model.
Also, I have had extremely bad luck with purchasing big screen HDTVs, and I am very tired of having to return them and live without one, so I'm not going to allow myself to be put through this anymore. Additionally, I tend to believe that what many if not most people believe is "excellent" high definition (HD) quality with many if not most HDTVs, is in reality inaccurate because they don't know just how "sharp" HDTVs that are claimed to be True and/or Full HD are supposed to be, and they are willing to accept "non-sharp", "out-of-focus", blurry and/or grainy picture "quality" in "HDTVs", or they don't notice it. But, if one is paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars for large flat screen TVs claimed to be HDTVs, one should get the full resolution, definition and/or sharpness, and the full experience, that HDTVs are supposed to have and/or provide, without any exception(s) whatsoever; as that is what we are (supposed to be) paying for.
In addition, I believe there are probably only a few companies manufacturing the panel/screens and/or other parts (motherboards, processors, etc.) for all or most of the "HDTV" brands (as someone else stated here in these reviews for this Sony model, Sony "support" has admitted that they don't make their own panel/screens for this TV); and they are "cutting corners" and manufacturing low(er) quality and/or defective merchandise. Thus, many if not most "HDTVs" are not true/full HDTVs with true/full high definition resolution/sharpness, that are made to last (because they want consumers spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars buying new ones at least every couple of years, pouring a great deal of their money down a black hole), and they are deceiving consumers into believing that they're receiving true/full HDTVs that are in reality not such, and/or (so-called) "HDTVs" that are of (extremely?) poor quality, both visually and otherwise. [Though, because, as I already said, many if not most of those consumers don't know what the true quality of HDTVs is, and how high their definition, resolution and/or sharpness are, supposed to be, they don't notice or realize that they're not getting the high definition (HD) that they're supposed to be getting, and that they're (supposed to be) paying for, thus accepting substandard definition, resolution and/or sharpness that defeats the true meaning and purpose of allegedly having, and paying for, HD.]
True/full HD is supposed to be so "sharp" and "lifelike" that, while watching it, you feel like you're looking out a window frame with the window open, or through an extremely clean, unblemished plate-glass window with the window closed, and like the picture is so "real" that you almost feel like you're really in the scene(s) and/or like you could reach out and touch the subject matter in and/or of those scenes. If HDTVs don't have this level of sharpness, and/or they're the slightest bit blurry, grainy and/or appear to be out-of-focus, you're not experiencing the true HD experience that you're supposed to be experiencing, and that you're (supposed to be) paying for, and they're not true/full HDTVs (either 720p or 1080p). But, as I already alluded to, if you're paying the kind of "big-bucks" that we are being charged for "HDTVs", you should be getting, again without any exception(s) whatsoever, true/full HD(TVs), or they aren't truly HD(TVs) at all and you're being ripped off [unless of course you've paid for the lower cost of "low-end", cheap(er) "HDTVs" and shouldn't really be expecting to receive true/full, high quality HD(TVs) in the first place].
But, when you are paying $100.00 or more dollars in the higher price(s) of top, name-brand "HDTVs" like this Sony model, and for the Sony name or the name of other top, name-brand "HDTV" models, you should without any doubt(s) and/or exception(s) whatsoever be receiving true/full HD(TVs), no "ifs, ands or buts about it"; and you should not accept ANYTHING less, period. Extremely unfortunately, though, I don't believe that is, in many if not most cases, what we are receiving [unless of course, and maybe if likely not even then, you are paying the "big(ger)-bucks" for the "high(er)-end" models]. In other words, we (far too) often DON'T "get what (we) pay for" anymore.
Lastly, in the case of this specific Sony "HDTV", unless it is only due to the TV not having a heavy internal metal frame to account for its low weight, it makes me wonder if this TV's low weight is not indicative of low quality and it being poorly made. I realize that today's micro-electronics are getting smaller and lighter as time goes on, but I tend to think that a truly high quality, top name-brand "HDTV" like this TV is supposed to be, would have more "heft" to it, and/or that it would weigh more. But, I admit, perhaps I am wrong about this point.
28 SEPTEMBER 2015 UPDATE
Pros
1.) Excellent picture quality when the source is truly 1080p, and/or internet access is truly working at high speed (5mb/s download or above) and the ISP (internet service provider)'s internet service is, and/or the streaming provider(s) is and/or are, reliable.
2.) Sound quality from the built-in down-facing speakers is pretty good for an HDTV; though, of course, not stellar (I upped the bass and all low to mid levels in the equalizer in equal sequential levels down to "0" from the highest setting at the low end, and left the upper sound frequency levels at "0", which appeared to make the built-in speaker "quality" better at least.
3.) Once the initial firmware update is completed successfully upon first power-up, a wide array of apps/channels becomes available and "smart" aspect of TV seems to work fairly well, though somewhat sluggishly.
4.) An Amazon Video app is now included and appears to work well, along with other primary channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Flixter, Crackle, Plex, YouTube, Pandora, Screen Mirroring, Media Player [sourced from your computer(s)], and a dedicated Internet Browser [non-name-brand (Sony browser?)], etc.
5.) There are a lot of adjustments for the picture and other things, including being able to save favorite apps to "My Apps" and move them around to where you want them in "My Apps".
Cons
1.) If video source is not 1080p and/or the internet speed access is too low, the picture is extremely grainy and blurry (from either the streaming apps or a connected streaming device like a Roku player), and this TV doesn't seem to "like" either 720p (also HD-high definition) or 480p [SD-standard definition (original picture standard of regular, old-style, "dinosaur" TVs)] sources, also appearing blurry and/or grainy (720p HD should appear almost as defined or "sharp" as 1080p, but it doesn't appear to be; and watching old-style TV shows that haven't been up-converted to at least 720i is not even as "good" an experience as watching them on an old SDTV, which it should be)---but, in all fairness, perhaps this is due to my unreliable, small-town (non-big-city) CenturyLink "high speed" DSL internet access (known, and admitted by one of their internet tech support technicians, to be a problem in my area), and/or problems with or unreliability of Netflix?
2.) This HDTV does scan for available over-the-air (OTA) TV channels like all or most HDTVs scan for, but it does not appear to accept anything but OTA HD channels, and appears to not accept analog SD channels [but all of my three other HDTVs (Samsung, Toshiba and Sceptre) receive ten (10) channels, and this Sony TV only receives eight (8) channels (attached to the same amplified HD antenna set at its highest amplification setting---TV station transmitter{s} is and/or are only twelve miles away to the south, with no obstructions between it and/or them and my TV antenna, which is mounted up high on top of a kitchen cabinet by my ceiling at the south-facing wall); and I've tried scanning twice to see if it would "catch" the other two, missed channels and add them the second time around, but it didn't)].
3. There is no Amazon Music app; not even through the Amazon Video app [and this is really surprising because Amazon Music and its app are just as popular as Amazon Video, Spotify and Pandora, if not more so---and there's no Spotify app either (perhaps Amazon Music and/or Spotify apps will be added later? {hint, hint Sony, please do so})---additionally, the provided web browser is extremely slow in loading webpage content, and I thought I read somewhere that the Opera browser was an available app on this TV, but it isn't (Sony, please add other, faster browser apps to this TV {and/or make the provided browser faster})!].
4.) The remote control for this TV is very poorly laid out, with the circular buttons around the outside of the circle being much too close to the arrow buttons, thus causing you to much too easily hit the wrong button(s) in the middle of doing something (extremely irritating---Sony, please correct this in future models!)---also, the Volume and Channel buttons are way down at the bottom of the remote, when they should be higher up on the remote; say, like, just above the circular buttons; and, in addition, this remote uses the same remote code as Sceptre TV remote(s), thus causing one to turn on and "adjust" the Sceptre TV(s) without meaning or wanting to; or, vise versa, turn on and "adjust" the Sony TV(s) when ONLY meaning to do so on the Sceptre TV(s); and there seems to be no way to correct this [I have my Sceptre TV in proximity to the Sony TV, and have no option but to continue to have it that way unless I unplug(ged) it and/or don't (/didn't) use it at all].
5.) The TV's adjustments are too vast, complicated and non-self-explanatory in too many cases, and the factory default settings seem to be the best for picture quality anyway, with perhaps a few exceptions.
As a result of all the foregoing, I have lowered my rating back to four stars; although, if this graininess/blurriness issue continues even when my DSL internet access speed is high, I will have to lower my rating even more, to two stars, and return the TV before the 30-days is up (in less than a little over one week).
11 SEPTEMBER 2015 REVIEW (UPDATED ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2015)
I'm surprised. I expected this to be a (highly?) overrated HDTV. But I have been quite pleased with it thus far. Right out of the box this HDTV has superb picture quality. Perhaps a little too "green", but that is typical. Maybe most peoples' vision doesn't see the "greenish" tint as I do, I don't know for sure. Anyway, I find that I usually have to adjust the picture on HDTVs to be more "red" in order to make it more lifelike. Either that or the picture is at least a little too "red", or doesn't have enough "blue". But the picture on this HDTV has great "blue" hue, at least according to my initial reaction to it.
We'll see how my experience with this HDTV develops over time, and I will try to remember to update my review after I have had a chance to use it a little longer; but as I have already conveyed, I am thus far quite impressed with the picture quality of this HDTV. Some of the other positive attributes of this HDTV, after I downloaded and installed the latest firmware update, is the extensive provision of apps. I was blown away and I never expected there to be such a thorough array of channels. Anyhow, there appear to be far to many excellent aspects of this HDTV to list, but it also makes an excellent HDMI computer monitor, without having to change any setting(s) in order to adjust the screen aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is correct from the get-go.
I don't know what all of the complaints are about regarding this HDTV's stand, as it is very sturdy in my opinion; and, other than it being too wide, the fact that it doesn't raise the TV up high enough as far as I'm concerned, and that I wish it had a bar all the way across in the back like on the front so I wouldn't have had to have a plywood board cut especially for it to place it on some objects in order to raise the TV up higher, including a two-drawer VHS tape "file" organizer and DVD player, it is aesthetically pleasing as well.
This HDTV is also quite lightweight for it's size and is easy to move around and setup. It was also very well packed and protected in its shipping container. Additionally, the audio sound quality from the down-facing onboard speakers is pretty good for an HDTV, too. Oh, and I also like the way the power light is built into the top part of the stand and that it is not too bright like many LED power lights on electronic products these days (in fact, the power light on this TV is quite dim and not distracting at all).
If anyone has any questions about this model of HDTV, please don't hesitate to ask me, and I will be happy to give you as specific answers as I can in a timely fashion.
Therefore, so far I highly recommend this HDTV, and I don't believe you can go wrong with it. If my initial impression of it continues, I will up my rating from four to five stars at a later date (as I did as of the 27 September 2015 update of this review).
