Sony KDL-32D3000 Review

Over the last two years it can be said that Sony have set the benchmark when it comes to LCD screens, indeed their Bravia Engine is probably the most easily recognised LCD TV brand currently available, couple this with their unflinching dedication to build quality and the aggressive marketing of the full HD 1080p technology it is clear that they could easily monopolise this area should they choose to. So what stops them? Well put simply, they can be a bit pricey. Which gives their rivals some leverage, and allows them to follow up this equally good, if not more impressive screens 6 months downs the line at a significantly reduced price - case in point the Sony KDL40W2000 debuted at a staggering £2000, only for its nearest Rival, the Samsung LE40M86DB so sneak in a few months later at half the price. So what do we have in the KDL-32D3000? Well it would appear to be a similar story. Launched in June 2007 with a price tag around £800, which can be considered expensive for a 32 inch screen, however we do have a set that is choc full of loveliness.

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Its list of features include:

• 32inch Widescreen LCD Panel
• HD Ready
• 1366×768 Screen Resolution
• Dynamic Contrast: 8000:1
• Brightness: 450cd/m2
• Response Time: 8ms
• Viewing Angle 178 degrees
• Freeview / analogue tuner
• Picture In Picture (PIP)
• Remote Control
• Teletext
• 2 x 10W Integrated Stereo Speakers

Connections

• Digital Audio Output (optical)
• 3 x HDMI
• 1 x PC Input (15pin D-Sub) + Audio In
• 1 x Component
• 1 x 4 Pin (Y/C) In
• 1 x 3.5mm headphone MiniJack
• 1 x PCMCIA Card Slot
• 1 x RCA Audio Out
• 1 x RCA AV Input
• 1 x RF In
• 2 x Scart

Other

• Dimensions WxHxD: 790×581x214mm
• Weight: 17.5kg
• Warranty: 1 year onsite warranty

If you bothered to read through the above list, one thing may have stood out. Yup, the screen resolution. 1366 x 678 it isnt a full HD screen. However, 1080p images are supported but they are down-converted to 720p. Fortunately if you own this TV then you probably wont really notice, not least because on a 32 inch screen it can be argued that 1080p doesn’t really make that much difference. But mainly because there is so much image processing going on that the resulting picture is damn near perfect. Equipped with ‘24p True Cinema’ the KDL-32D3000 is capable of rendering Hi Definition movie sources at their intended frame frame of 24fps instead of the slightly speeded up 25fps we normally get. Additionally we get ‘Motionflow + 100hz’ which is designed to improve the picture quality of fast moving images by doubling the frame refresh rate. This can be switched off if required. Combine this with the Bravia engine itself and we have improved scaling, vibrant colours, deep black levels, exquisite detail and much much more.

So regardless of price (to be honest its already starting to come down) the SONY KDL-32D3000 is quite simply a stunning 32 inch LCD TV. Highly recommended.

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