Sony Bravia V-Series KDL-52V4100 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Product Description

Ready for HD done the Sony way? Sony's KDL-52V4100 brings 1080p picture quality home with amazing, Sony-exclusive features like the XMB (Xross Media Bar®) with 3D graphics, DMex capability so you can add functionality to your TV, and picture quality technologies like ACE (Advanced Contrast Enhancer) and BRAVIA Engine 2™. Add to that a sophisticated, piano black design, 24p capability so you can get the most out of the movies you watch on Blu-ray and DVD, 4 HDMI™ inputs along with three other HD-capable connections, and what you have is a television that can bring dreams to life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6220 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sony
• Model: KDL-52V4100
• Dimensions: 4.80" h x 49.80" w x 32.80" l, 71.00 pounds
• Display size: 52

Features

• 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
• DMex ™ compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
• BRAVIA® Sync™ (HDMI-CEC)
• Enhanced XMB™ with 3D graphics incl. TV Guide
• HDMI™ x2, HD Component x2, PC Input

Customer Reviews

Great value, super sharp image, good sound. Miss 120hz tho...
I used to think of a TV purchase as a VERY long term commitment, like marriage. And at $2k and up there's a lot of truth to this. However in this case I was faced with a difficult decision, one that I would probably repeat given the opportunity.

First let me say that I love just about everything about this set. The picture quality (as long as the scene or people aren't moving) is super, the audio is really good out of the bottom-front speakers (although an add-on stereo makes it even better), and the flexibility from an input/output point of view is outstanding.

All that being said, there are some compromises, and thus my quandary. I bought this TV fully knowing that for a *mere* $500 more I could have the 120hz scan mode. It just wasn't worth it to me...I think. I would have been better off if the 120hz model didn't exist, then I'd look at the set and be amazed. Maybe I'm nuts, but now I find myself looking critically at scenes where there's fast motion and wondering whether the "better" model would be noticeably smoother.

The fact of the matter is that over time I will just accept how it looks and allow myself to enjoy the many fine aspects to this set. Moving on, you probably want to know some of the other things that are also not so wonderful. Here goes.

1. Unlike some sets that have a base that allows rotation, this one just sits. No pivot at all, and very hard to move. I ended up making my own pivoting base out of a couple pieces of (nice) wood and a $10 rotary table. Wonderful, but took some effort.

2. Even though this set has the ability to have the screen turned off with the audio still on (nice!) it's buried down really deep in the menus (not nice!). I don't want to always burn 300 watts to listen to the music channel on our cable box, I wish it was easier. Yes, a very minor point, until you have to do it once or twice every day.

3. I'm not a fan of shiny ANYTHING on the front surface of TVs. At least the screen has a decent anti-glare finish, but the edge is the now-mandatory patent leather black shine. Why oh why!!!

4. The remote is a TV remote. Period. Which means either you have to use some other remote for your other stuff or buy and program a multi-function. Cheat, really cheap.

5. When switching between modes (1080i, 480p, 4:3, 16:11 or whatever) the tv and sound go dead. Seems like an eternity, but it's probably only a second or two. Should be faster.

I could probably come up with a few more, but those are the biggest ones for me. Not very big really. Nice set, now if they could only give me a way to upgrade it to 120hz without buying a new one...

Excellent picture, good sound and great value
I have waited a bit before writing a review on this television. I wanted the honeymoon period to phase out a bit before I made any comments on it. Also, I thought I give it some time to notice any downsides to having purchase this t.v.

First things first, I have read some reviews (regardless of brand) that complain about regular televisions (CRT's) looking better when watching shows transmitted without HD or analog.

This has nothing to do with the television, it has to do with the signal it receives. It is a television, not a magician.

I changed my account with dish network to receive HD as well as whatever else is digital and be able to stablish a comparison betweeen the two.

HD looks amazing. Period.

There is a firmware through Sony that would address the "sparkle" issue that has been addressed in other posts for Sony tv's.

Let me tell you that we have not had to download the firmware, there is no sparkle. I even called Sony to have them send me a usb adaptor with the firmware and they told me that if I did not have the issue, it would actually harm the tv to use the firmware. I'll take their work for it, because I believe that if something is not broken, there is no need to fix it.

Colors: Vivid setting is almost ridiculous in term of vibrancy. Nice feature to have and very appropriate for a lot of movies, shows, etc and maybe too much for other things.

Standard: Less bright but still sharp and well defined picture.

Cinema: Personally, I don't care for this feature. It recreates the "feel" of watching a movie in the theater, but theater colors and shapness are not much to talk about, so we don't use it.

Custom: Exactly what it means. You create it to your liking and change it as you want it.

Controls: Extremely easy to use.

Remote control: Nothing to brag about. It does what it is supposed to do and it is not a universal remote.

Sound: without hooking it up to external speakers, the sound is very good. There is no distortion and we have noticed that we can keep the volume low because everything is clearly understood. The front speakers do have a "surround sound" type of effect where you can actually hear things happening behind you as well as in front and sides while you are watching. It is not for audiophiles who like to hear every single thing that is going on, but it far surpasses the built in speakers on most t.v.s

HDMI and Analog inputs galore. Surround sound systems and consoles can be hooked up without having to purchase extensions and connectors.

Video play: Probably the worst game console in terms of graphics is the Wii console, it certainly cannot compete with the playstation .... or so I thought... After having played the wii for a year on a CRT, the same games are fantastic when hooked up to this t.v. I did not think it would make a difference, but even simple games like tombraider are sharper and clearer. Colorful ones like Mario are, in my opinion, seizure inducing but the kids love it.

60hz vs. 120hz. Honestly, we have watched Hockey and football and we see no blurring of motion. I honestly thought we'd have buyers remorse for not going for the W series, but the fact is, we don't. We are extremely pleased with this set and the price from Amazon at the time came under 1500k and feel that we got a very good price on a very large set.

My only complain now is that we need a second television and I can't see us going with anything smaller or lesser quality after having been spoiled rotten by this set.:)

PEACE

Great TV
Bought it from Amazon. Delivery was flawless.
First I got a Samsung A650, but I really did not like it, so I exchanged it for Sony 52V4100, and it was love at first sight. Great looks, easy menu, good remote, amazing PQ. To be fair - Samsung's PQ was VERY good, but the TV itself had way too many annoying little things for me to ignore.
I have my PS3 hooked up via HDMI, and also an over-the-air hi-def antenna. Like I said - the PQ is excellent, and I really like this TV.