Review of Sony W4500

[admin_exported]

Given the glowing review of the Sony W4500, has the Pioneer 428 finally been beaten? The Pioneer 428 was still judged to be better than the Sony W4000 so I'm curious to find out what the WHF team thinks on how the newer Sony Model compares with the Pioneer?

To the WHF Team, whats the verdict on Sony W4500 vs. Pioneer 428? Thanks.

 

[Andrew Everard]

seakingadvice:To the WHF Team, whats the verdict on Sony W4500 vs. Pioneer 428? Thanks.

The Sony is a better buy than the Pioneer, in that you can actually buy it. The Pioneer is now discontinued.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
seakingadvice:To the WHF Team, whats the verdict on Sony W4500 vs. Pioneer 428? Thanks.

The Sony is a better buy than the Pioneer, in that you can actually buy it. The Pioneer is now discontinued.

The Pioneer is still widely available in many other parts of the world so the answer will help your international readers.

Also, it helps the current Pioneer 428 owners to shortlist models in case they are thinking of upgrading to Full HD.

So, Andrew, straight answer please? Just your humble opinion?

 

[Andrew Everard]

I'd still buy the Pioneer, but then I have extensive experience with the Pioneer, and much less with the Sony.

 

[Anonymous]

the fact that you would only just take the pioneer plasma due to how well you know the tv says alot to me about the sony lcd

its cemented in my mind 2 things,

1. im gonna get a sony 40w4500 at a snip 995 pounds

2. that sony has award winner written all over it

i know i know, will find out october 16th when the awards issue is out!

i think that tv and the denon 1909 could take awards people, you heard it here! although i wont be surprised if the onk 606 wins!

nothing like hedging your bets!

 

[Clare Newsome]

Still time for plenty of stalking-horse surprises ......

 

[Anonymous]

how big of a difference is the picture quality compared to the w4000 and v4000?

 

[Anonymous]

well i read this months issue and your summation of the yamaha 763 was that it pushes the denon 1909 hard, so its a toss up between the onk and the denon 1909,but the denon has better tech specs i think.

but its possible the onk will win, as the saying goes to be the champ you have got to knock out the champ.

as for tv winner its the sony, the review pretty much says one of if not the best picture ever!

plus the 40w4000 was a class leader the 40w4500 is just continuing that trend!

but i will buy the magazine anyway just to make sure!

 

[Clare Newsome]

bootstrapwill:how big of a difference is the picture quality compared to the w4000 and v4000?

the increase in quality between the W4000 and the W4500 is larger than that between the V4000 and the W4000, if you follow?

 

[Anonymous]

how do these compare with the PZ80/81/85?

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:
the increase in quality between the W4000 and the W4500 is larger than that between the V4000 and the W4000, if you follow?

Sorry to ask, but may you go into to detail about how it differers from to w4000? I intend to buy a new sony to replace my 2 year old panasonic, it would either be a v w or w45. main use would be games and blu ray. thank you very much.

 

[Clare Newsome]

bootstrapwill:
the increase in quality between the W4000 and the W4500 is larger than that between the V4000 and the W4000, if you follow?

Sorry to ask, but may you go into to detail about how it differers from to w4000? I intend to buy a new sony to replace my 2 year old panasonic, it would either be a v w or w45. main use would be games and blu ray. thank you very much.

More detail and a tighter grip on motion. Ideal for gaming and Blu-ray!

 

[Anonymous]

thehoss:
the fact that you would only just take the pioneer plasma due to how well you know the tv says alot to me about the sony lcd

its cemented in my mind 2 things,

1. im gonna get a sony 40w4500 at a snip 995 pounds

2. that sony has award winner written all over it

i know i know, will find out october 16th when the awards issue is out!

i think that tv and the denon 1909 could take awards people, you heard it here! although i wont be surprised if the onk 606 wins!

nothing like hedging your bets!

How did you infer that? I thought Andrew's view was that the Pioneer was still superior to the Sony. Andrew, care to clarify?

Clare, Andy, Simon, what would be your choice? Opinions?

 

[Andrew Everard]

seakingadvice:How did you infer that? I thought Andrew's view was that the Pioneer was still superior to the Sony. Andrew, care to clarify?

No, I think only our equine friend can clarify what he chose to infer.

seakingadvice:Clare, Andy, Simon, what would be your choice? Opinions?

Yes, it's not like they're busy trying to get an Awards issue to press or anything...

 

[Clare Newsome]

I'd dither between the two for quite a while. It's just such a shame Pioneer didn't carry that 42in model on/develop it further.

 

[Anonymous]

what i was basically saying is that if we are comparing this lcd to what is considered one of the best plasmas around that its a fantastic achievment,nothing more nothing less, i didnt infer one was better than the other, just that it running a top grade plasma so close is very special for an lcd.

now that i have answered, the whf staff can get back to making the awards special the best yet!

 

[Anonymous]

oh and this tv is available on the sound and vision website for 945 pounds delivered!!! bargin!!!

and if you buy it instore you get a 5 year guarantee!! bargin of the century i hear you cry!

shame its not a local shop!!

 

[Anonymous]

Found this tv for £888.98, 1 years warranty & free delivery from cheapelectricals, £975 for 5 year warranty

 

[Anonymous]

are cheap electricals a reputable and decent supplier?

has anyone has dealing with them good or bad? cause those prices are outstanding, hell its 100pounds difference between a 40w4000 and a 40w4500, you would be mad not to take the latter!

 

[Anonymous]

you best bet is go to price Runner and search there mate

 

[Anonymous]

From what I have seen on the web, the Sony KDL-40W4500U is available from £890 - £950 from several on-line shops:

BT Shop, Cheapelectricals, Digitaldirect, Laskys, Sound and Vision, dabs.com, Amazon, Teleworld, RGB-Direct and several others.

Anyone have any dealings with any of these, which one is the best / safest to buy from?

If you read the shop reviews on Price Runner or Kelkoo, they all have good & bad reviews?

 

[Bazzy]

Hi,

Maybe the WHF team can clarify something for me - upon reading the KDL-46W4500 review, I was very excited to read:

"Never before have TVs managed to create deep blacks and punchy whites as well as these Sonys do"ÿ

From that, can one assume that the black levels of the 46W4500 can match those of the very best Plasmas (Pioneer/Panasonic) out there? It was also great to read that the set handles SD stuff very well too - would it be considered to be the best LCD set seen so far with SD stuff and is it as good as the Kuro's with SD PQ?

Thank You!

Bazzy!ÿ

 

[Andy Clough]

All will be revealed in our Awards issue, on sale October 16th.

 

[Clare Newsome]

The key words in that quote are 'blacks' and 'whites' - the new Kuros would still go blacker, but not handle whites as, well, 'whitely' as the two W4500s we've tested.

Re SD - obviously doesn't handle SD as well as the HD Ready-spec 42in Kuro from last year, but it's in the same ballpark as the Full HD models. Certainly up with the very best LCDs we've seen (though i'd argue Panasonic's Freeview tuners - on its high-end models - have the slightest of edges).

As Andy says, let's see what Awards bring!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:I'd dither between the two for quite a while. It's just such a shame Pioneer didn't carry that 42in model on/develop it further.

So, after dithering for a while, which would be your pick? The Sony W4500 or Pioneer 428?