Sony BRAVIA KDL-40W905A Pro Reviews

Although we love its local dimming, its NFC linking and its clean interface, we can't help but think Sony is slightly behind the curve with its W9 Series KDL-40W905A. Although we totally agree with its firm focus on picture quality over everything else, we feel a bit short-changed by its rather dreary selection of apps and its single TV tuners. OK, so NFC is a glimpse into the future and does make smartphone pairing exceptionally simple, but shouldn't Sony's flagship TV have just a little more? It should, and we're therefore not convinced about its high price, but that doesn't stop the Sony KDL-40W905A from being technically the top performing 40-inch TV of 2013 so far.

While Sony hasn’t quite kept pace with the feature innovations offered by Samsung and Panasonic, it’s unquestionably stolen a march when it comes to image quality. This Sony W9 screen sets a new benchmark when it comes to motion clarity and colour performance. Be it movies or games, this set shines with them all. Factor in the high-end design, superior mobile integration and general usability, and you have an LCD TV that’s seriously impressive.

With its simple black brushed metal bezel, the 40W905 seems boringly traditional compared to much of the competition and even some previous Sony designs. The eye-catching semicircular chrome stand saves the 40W905 from becoming a complete wall-flower but the overall construction feels rather flimsy for a flagship model. We guess Sony had to save costs somewhere to hit a competitive price point but we actually like the 40W905's more classic design and a stand that actually swivels makes a welcome change. At the rear are an excellent set of connections including four HDMI inputs, three of which are downward facing - good to see someone's been listening. The 40W905 comes with two remote controls, one of which includes Near Field Communication (NFC) allowing instant mirroring of your smartphone. There are also two pairs of redesigned RF active shutter 3D glasses that, whilst effective, could do with more shielding at the sides.