Sony BRAVIA KDL-40W5500 Pro Reviews

Besides offering media streaming (DLNA) and internet connectivity (Applicast), the Sony KDL40W5500 LCD television successfully addresses the few gripes we had with its predecessor the W4500 series: 1. White balance and gamma controls have been reinstated to the user menu; 2. Undefeatable edge enhancement on 1080 content have been eradicated; and 3. Standard-def upscaling and film mode deinterlacing have been improved. Even though the LCD TV's video-based deinterlacing continues to disappoint, and its primary chromaticities have been compromised slightly by a downgrade in backlight unit, the Sony KDL40W5500 still delivers one of the best picture qualities we have seen this year, due to its superb black-level response, razor-sharp fine detail presentation, and mature 100Hz motion technology.

In some ways this is an improvement over the outgoing W4500, but with such irregular backlighting it can't make that fifth star

Small caveats aside, the KDL- 40W5500 can be considered an above-average LCD that should give buyers pause for thought. If you want great-looking pictures served up with a raft of media functionality and money-saving eco goodness, you'll find it right here. No, concerns then about its AV chops, but if you want a better-performing set look to audition one of the brand's Z range.

The 40W5500 is not without its faults. For instance, the Applicast system currently feels half-baked, I'd like to hear more bass in its audio, and there's room for adding a touch more sharpness to standard definition broadcasts. But just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean that it isn't very good. In fact, even though I would dearly have loved not to be writing a positive review today on the back of so many others of late, the 40W5500 is very good indeed, especially once you've taken its unexpectedly aggressive price into account.