Sony KDL-40VE5 Review: 40″ LCD HDTV

Up for review: Sony KDL-40VE5. The recently launched BRAVIA VE5-series models from Sony group offers substantial power savings provision without compromising performance. This 40” KDL-40VE5 LCD is the smallest of the VE5-series. The new Sony KDL-40VE5 has Sony’s exclusive micro-tubular Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL) technology which helps reducing power consumption by almost 40 percent as compared to other LCD HDTV models.

Another environmentally friendly feature of the 40 inch KDL-40VE5 is the zero-watt standby Energy Saving Switch, which means when the LCD is not in use, power consumption can be cut down to nearly zero watts by manually turning off the standby switch. Although Sony is yet to provide details of the color contrast ratio, the light sensor feature of the new Sony KDL-40VE5 is likely to adjust the backlight depending on the room light.

With a native resolution of 1080p, the Sony KDL-40VE5 is most likely to produce superior image quality. And the innovative Motionflow technology embedded with 120Hz processing is expected to make the picture quality sharper and crisper without any motion blur especially during fast action scenes. With 24p True Cinema technology, movies can no be enjoyed in its true 24 frames per second.

Slated to be available in market in spring 2009, Sony is yet to announce the price of its new KDL-40VE5 LCD model.

Sony KDL-40VE5 Features and Specifications Review:

• Screen size 40-inch LCD
• 1080p native resolution of 1920 X 1080
• Motionflow 120Hz technology
• Environmentally friendly features
o Presense sensor
o Zero-watt standby
o HCFL backlight (high efficiency)
o Exceeds Energy Star 3.0 standards
• BRAVIA Engine 2
• BRAVIA Sync, BRAVIA Link
• 24p True Cinema
• Spring 2009 release date
• Inputs: 4xHDMI, VGA, Component, USB
• 1 year limited warranty

The new BRAVIA VE5-series are most likely to set a new standard for HDTV energy efficiency. Sony’s Presence Sensor feature automatically turns off the picture when no one is present in the vicinity after a user-set timeframe. It seems to be a great feature as televisions are often left unattended by children and they forget to turn the set off. But with this feature, power consumption will be saved automatically. Just like Sony’s other 2009 LCD series, these VE5-series models also exceed Energy Star(R) 3.0 requirement standards.

The Sony KDL-40VE5 is equipped with 4 HDMI inputs and a PC, component, composite and S-video inputs. Hence there seems to be ample options for connectivity with external sources. The new VE5-series models are based on BRAVIA Engine 2 technology, which means they are compatible for BRAVIA Sync and BRAVIA Link technology based advanced video processing including Bravia Input link, Wireless Link, and Bravia DVD link. The environmentally friendly features are expected to be the highlight of the 40 inch LCD HDTV model when it’s available in market later this year.

YouReviewElectronics.com gives the Sony KDL-40VE5 9/10 stars!