A Review Of The Sony KDL32EX503

Sony's new Bravia KDL32EX503U is a 1080p LCD TV with a 32" (81cm) screen

. It's a smaller version of the KDL-40EX503U, Britain's first TV with native Freeview HD support. Aside from a smaller screen size, the Sony KDL-32EX503 shares most of the features included with its predecessor.

The Sony KDL-32EX503 is truly HD ready thanks to its built-in Freeview HD tuner. This service lets users watch ITV, BBC, and other terrestrial channels in HD without using a satellite. While the roll-out of the service began in 2008, some areas won't see these broadcasts until late 2012. Current users will only be able to watch HD shows on BBC HD and some of ITV's newer shows. Information on the roll-out can be found at http://freeview.co.uk/freeview/Switchover

The Sony KDL-32EX503 is WiFi "ready." This means WiFi hardware is supported, but an adapter doesn't come with the TV. An off-the-shelf WiFi device can be added via the USB or PCMCIA slot. This lets users upgrade their hardware throughout the life of the set to match the rest of their network. There is no place to plug in an Ethernet cable. The USB port can also read video and audio files. Users of the PS3 and PSP will be familiar with the TV's XMB media interface, which serves as the front end of Sony's Bravia Internet Video. The service supports streaming video from several partner sites including Youtube, DailyMotion, and blip.tv. DNLA support is included, making media sharing a snap with Windows PCs. AVC, AVCHD, DivX, MPEG4, and MP3 formats are supported.

The KDL32EX503U has two HDMI inputs on the back, and two more on the side giving easy access no matter how you mount it. Optical digital audio out, VGA-in, RCA in, and two Scart connectors are included, but most of these are on the back of the unit, limiting their use if the set is hung on a wall.

The Sony KDL-32EX503U displays video at 100Hz (frames per second) and uses the company's Motionflow processing to eliminate juttering. The set can also play video at 24FPS to match film frame rates. Input can be in NTSC, PAL, or Secam formats, so video in almost any format will work with this TV. Even the menus are available in twenty-three languages.

Brightness and contrast are automatically set using the Ambient Sensor, which measures the amount of light in the room. There's a little light bleeding at the edges of the screen, and colors aren't as bright as they could be, but overall performance is excellent for the set's low price. The price is kept down by using a more traditional CFL backlight. Despite this, the set only uses 66 watts during day-to-day use.

Front surround-sound is provided by two small speakers, but enthusiasts will want to add a multi-speaker system.

The Bravia KDL32EX503U is the smallest, cheapest model in Sony's new EX503 series of LCD TVs. It's a good value for those looking for a TV set that won't soon be obsolete. Support for the newly released Freeview HD ensures the set will be able to receive HD broadcasts, while being able to swap WiFi hardware lets you update the TV's connection to match your current network.

A Review Of The Sony KDL32EX503

By: Brett Richards

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