Sony BRAVIA KDL-46EX523 Pro Reviews

As the sub-$1000 price suggests, this isn’t Sony’s highest-end HDTV. Its refresh rate is only 60Hz, and it doesn’t have all the bells, whistles, and advanced picture-adjustment settings that hard-core videophiles may be looking for. However, it does offer a good blend of wireless connected features and decent performance for the price. Its interface and menus are easy to use, it has a built-in on-screen manual, and its ports are clearly labeled. On top of that, it sports a sleek design and a slim profile, so it should fit nicely into any living room. The overall picture quality is just about average, with muted colors, motion-blur issues in some panning scenes, and a moiré effect in some highly detailed patterns. But the set produces good, loud simulated surround sound. In short, the Sony Bravia KDL-46EX523 won’t win any prizes for design, performance, or picture quality, but it is an affordable model for users with basic needs who like to have a little Netflix as well as spending cash on the side.

At the moment, the sub-$1,000 television market is dominated by one TV: the Panasonic ST30. While there are a few nuggets here and there--the LG LV5500 and the Samsung 6400--they still have their problems. The Sony isn't quite able to compete with any of these three, but is definitely a better value than the Sony EX720, which is about $300 more expensive. The addition of onboard wireless makes the EX523 easier than ever to connect to online content, and picture quality is fine for the money.