Pros
- SPVA panel and Backlight control allow for deep black level
- Exquisite high-definition detail from “Full Pixel” 1:1 pixel mapping
- Handles 1080p/24 video signal correctly without telecine judder
- Scaling of standard-def input is clean, without ringing
- Solid connectivity
- Settings can be saved independently per input
- Speedy and responsive EPG and channel navigation
- Table-top stand swivels and easy to set up
- Colour accuracy is relatively good
- TV menus and fast, and remote is easy to use
- Panel uniformity (in our test sample) was excellent, with almost no clouding/unevenness
Cons
- No white balance control in user menu for greyscale calibration
- Motion resolution not as good as on HDTVs equipped with MCFI/100Hz technology
- Fails to apply 3:2/2:2 pulldown to 480i/576i film-based content even with [Film Mode] set to “Auto”
- Doesn’t smooth jaggies from Interlaced content effectively
- Small amount of non-defeatable edge enhancement visible on 1080i/1080p input, which is unnecessary
Summary
The Sony KDL40V4000 is an aesthetically pleasing, affordable HDTV which puts out a very pleasing image, due largely in part to its fantastic calibrated black level. Colours are relatively accurate, and although it wasn’t possible to fully calibrate the display, the “Warm2″ greyscale preset will still please many. Gaming, too, was fantastic fun, thanks to the almost non-existent input lag.
A very slight forced sharpening of 1920×1080 feeds, underwhelming standard-def video processing, and a lack of user-accessible Greyscale control were a touch disappointing, but at the end of the day, the Sony KDL40V4000 ticks the most important boxes for High-Def users. It doesn’t redefine what we’ll all expect from a mid-range display, but on the whole it’s a solid, good-looking, affordable choice.
