Sony KDL-40D3000 – Faster than Sharp Soon?
Sharp has built its reputation in the TV market on the fast response times of its LCD panels. In several of our tests, we were able corroborate that this company indeed makes the fastest LCD panels bar none. However, Sony now seems to be nipping at Sharp’s heels! As you can see in the graph below, the response time of the KDL-40D3000 is even better than that of Samsung’s 226 BW.
In Practice
Video Quality
The colours are fantastic. The cold cathode technology is literally brilliant, making colours much richer and more intense. Sony’s 100 Hz mode, dubbed “Motion Flow” works flawlessly. Sadly, it is not available in some instances, depending on the input type used. VGA mode, for example, has to do without it. Here, it helps to use medium settings. If you use exaggerated settings, though, the system will start to suppress details, for example when the camera follows a moving person. We could find no image noise to speak of in the standard resolution, even without having to turn the digital image filters way up. Skin tones look very natural and the image remains very dynamic as long as you don’t overdo it with the contrast.
Resolution
At standard resolutions, Sony’s unit offers a very efficient image filter. Even using the simple Scart connector, this probably gives you the best LCD image you will be able to get from a DVD. Images are clear and clean and display only few compression artefacts. At its full native resolution, the panel renders beautiful images, although they are less detailed than those of a Full-HD panel. The picture is very clear and less smooth than on a plasma screen. However you need to be careful about which input you use. Although the panel accepts 1080p, downscaling the material to 720p is not completely problem free. For example, we detected a few deviant pixels whose colour had nothing to do with the surrounding image. It is also worth noting that this panel supports 24p playback, making HD-videos even livelier.
Video Games
Sony’s TV is a very pleasant display to play video games on. While Full-HD titles such as Gears of War are not as detailed as on a Full-HD screen, 720p games like Motorstorm are very lively.
PC Mode
PC mode is super clear. Colours are rendered with great precision, and working at the native resolution is not at all a problem.
Sound Quality
Sony didn’t neglect the Sound quality either. The S-Force Front Surround System produces an interesting pseudo-3D effect. Despite the fact that this is only a very simple 2.0 system, the sound is very balanced. The sound goes well with the panel’s image, providing a solid score all the way down to the bass frequencies. As long as you watch your movies at a reasonable volume, the panel will not disappoint you.
Conclusion
The price of Sony’s TV is a little on the high side, and it’s not a Full-HD panel. However, if Full-HD is not high on your personal agenda yet, then you’ll be able to enjoy exceptionally fine DVD playback on this model. Also, the 100 Hz mode is another definite feather in its cap, even though it’s not required for every movie. To summarize, in our opinion this is one of the best HD-Ready devices on the market – efficient, with a clear image and good finish.
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Unless you use your TV for gaming (which is a bit odd anyway), plasma's have far outstripped LCD TV's technologywise in all areas, but especially in picture quality. This is especially true as Full HD 1080P plasma's are now the norm at 42" and over. The only possible downside is the cost, being a little bit moire than these LCDs reviewed here. The only reason you would not use a plasma for gaming - in principle it outshines LCD here too - just as it does for movies and TV etc - is the burn in issue, which probably will not be resolved 100% for some time.
This reviewer needs to get with the program!
"Unless you use your TV for gaming (which is a bit odd anyway)"
Is it really 'odd' to use a TV for gaming? I could have sworn everyone I know who has a console, has it plugged into a TV.... lol
All I can say is OPEN YOUR EYES.
Plasma colour reproduction is much worse. When you see dithered colour gradients, the only solution is LCD.
I did some in-depth comparisons of picture quality w.r.t movies/tv signals/DVD, and a good quality LCD far outstripped the capabilities of Plasma's (that are more expensive).
FYI: I've got the Samsung LE-40M86BD, which could explain my bias!
"This reviewer needs to get with the program"
By your comments it sounds like you need to get with the program more than the reviewer.
LCD's are much better for gaming and for computer use. While Plasma is much better for watching standard defination TV, like freeview etc.
As for picture quality, they both have really good quality picture. The days of plasma having better black levels are gone with the M86 from Samsung already proven that it has deep black levels with some reviewers saying better than plasma. And now that samsung have released that F86 with black levels better than the M86, Well I guess LCD's have now got nearly all the advantages that plasma used to have without the burn in or the purple snakes!!
The one area plasma is on top at the moment colour reproduction. But even that isn't as clear cut as a few years ago. The new Sony W3000 has amazing colour reproduction with the samsung F86 not far behind. Oh, and plasma are still bigger.
Why does every review website and print magazine forget that you can hook up a PC to an HD TV via a DVI <-> HDMI cable (about $20). I have been running an HTPC this way for years. The VGA port on HD TVs may not be the best way to hook up a PC. I know that both Linux and Windows have support for 720p and 1080i modes. I'd love to know if 1080p works over the DVI port. Can you guys include this type of connection in your testing ? FYI: This type of connection often requires some adjustment of the overscan. THANKS !!!
What, your reviewing acer and sony, but not phillips, shame on you
1080p i think requres Dual link DVI HDMI connector for it (may be not right tho)
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Unlike America, however, where the switch from the ancient NTSC standard (often derided as “Never The Same Colour”
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got to love that statement but true
Hi, I think the 42x3030D has been treated a little unfairly in the review, I contacted Toshiba before I bought the unit and made sure that a DVI to HDMI 1080p connection was possible. Sure enough, the next day I get a reply from Toshiba's support department in the affirmative.
I bought the unit, with Toshiba's reputation of well made products in mind and I have to say I am totally delighted with the unit.
I turned down the red drive in the maintenance menu a bit, then tinkered around with the normal video settings till I was happy - wasn't too horrific to do.
The result is a set that can deliver my PC gaming at 1920 x 1080, progressive (1080p). With the 'Exact Scan' option enabled, 1:1 pixel mapping ensures no overscan.
Standard definition TV is great from the on-board freeview unit and Sky (SD I'm talking about) is acceptable - although picture quality does vary from channel to channel. Sky Sports I'm pleased to report looks fine.
Obviously it's not perfect, but an acceptable level for most, although I do reccommend you be at least 7ft away from the unit to get the best out of it. True for many 42" LCD's at SD.
At HD though, you might want to bring your chairs a little closer in...