Sony KDL-40Z4500 review now online

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:
It got a four-star rating on a performance-per-pound basis when we were judging it by the price Sony had supplied. The minute we clapped eyes on the real-world prices - vastly cheaper than Sony price - we amended the review. Apologies for the momentary confusion!

No problem Clare, i think a few of us were momentarily confused there judging by some of the similar responses, needless to say, it's been cleared up. This sounds like a new contender in my battle for a new tv... I was finally leaning towards Plasma after the recent Sony clouding outbursts, but after reading the review, this seems like a cracking LCD set which has NO backlight issues and rivals plasma's for black levels... It's certainly turning me back to the idea of LCD!! I've just to hunt down the 46" version at the right price!!

 

[Clare Newsome]

If you are in the market for a 46-50in TV this weekend, this offer cannot be ignored....

 

[Anonymous]

I bet theres no shadow detail though! i was watchin casino royal on the new sony w in comet and yep mr bonds tux was black but you couldnt see the lapels or pockets just a solid black shape...a typical lcd or im i wrong???
God im grumpy old git!

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:If you are in the market for a 46-50in TV this weekend, this offer cannot be ignored....

Sorry, perhaps i should have mentioned, i won't be buying until sometime in the new year, seems like a good price though!!

 

[matthewpiano]

Andy Clough:
UPDATE: Sony Centres are selling the KDL-40Z4500 for £1850, which is why we quoted that price originally, but Amazon has it for £1400 and Dixons for £1467.

John Lewis is selling it for £1850, but that's with a free Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player.

On that basis, we've just upgraded it to five stars.

Sony Centres are also offering the free BDP-S550 and, in many stores, the new Sony UK 5 year warranty (which is only available through Sony Centres). Its a package deal supported by Sony UK and makes the Z series sets very good value.

 

[Clare Newsome]

garethwd:I bet theres no shadow detail though! i was watchin casino royal on the new sony w in comet and yep mr bonds tux was black but you couldnt see the lapels or pockets just a solid black shape...a typical lcd or im i wrong???
God im grumpy old git!

So you missed the paragraph in the Z4500 review that reads:

"Another area where the KDL-40Z4500 excels is in black levels. The fact
that it's an LCD screen producing these blacks makes matters even more
incredible, given that plasmas usually have the edge in this area.
There's also a huge amount of detail in the blacks, which can be seen
throughout the dark, dank streets of London in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. "

 

[Anonymous]

If sony have managed to get shadow detail out of an lcd fair play them thats quite an achievement. A thousand pardons

 

[Anonymous]

Hey anyone looking for a good deal? Have a gander at Robert Whyte Ltd.

How about this for 1429.99!



: £1,429.99

Sony KDL40Z4500 AND BDPS550B
Sony 40" (102cm) Full HD 1080 / 200Hz BRAVIA LCD TV and Blu-Ray Player with 1080p*

FREE 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON BOTH PRODUCTS!!

*FREE CASINO ROYALE AND BATMAN BEGINS BLURAY Films when purchased before 15/01/2009 - product registration required.
Plus there's more packages and other deals to check out too

 

[Clare Newsome]

Good spot - i'll put that in the Hot Deals section, too.....

 

[Anonymous]

nice one Clare it's always good to share a good deal

 

[Davro83]

The z4500 is way too much!! Can get the 46w4500 for £1200 and the 46z4500 cheapest is atleat £1600! Extra 400£ for 200hz! Dont think so. Bring the price down Sony!

 

[Anonymous]

They have...

Got the 40Z4500 two weeks ago and blacks are amazing. No clouding either BUT the dreaded bleedin' is present in top right en bottom right corners... Anyone here getting the same result? I'm hoping the panel will improve over time as it did with some of the W4500 owners (as mentioned here), keeping my fingers crossed!!!

 

[VJ_007]

I have had this set since 25th Dec and have the same problems as you.. I have informed JL and they will be sending a engineer,,,, Apart from this issue the set is amazing (my first LCD)! I am still gutted about this issue. I am strongly considering the Panasonic TH-42PZ800 as i feel that nearly all LCDs have bleeding and backlight problems..

 

[Anonymous]

I have the same BACKLIGHT BLEED issue! Noticed it on second day in the top left & right corners, but thought this was just due to the settings being to high and adjusted them down. But more recently when watching a Blu Ray disk with cinema setting (low backlight) in dark scenes, with lights down, it is very noticible. Once you notice it it is very annoying as you always see it. There were no stories of backlight bleed I could find pre 2009....The logistics of returning a huge set like this is a nightmare. Just logged a call with my retailer they will check it in store & provide exchange or refund. They say mine is the first complaint. Fingers crossed just need to get this huge thing back in the box & back to the store!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I previously had the 40W4500 and changed it due to bad clouding for the 40Z4500. Fantastic picture generally and am sure this is worth every penny. BUT I too have the bleed on all four corners, more noticable from the top corners, this seems to be from the corner inwards at 45degrees. I have tried all settings but when you watch a dark movie in low light there they are again. If you want to find them tune to a satalite channel that is not broadcasting so you get a full dark screen and then adjust the backlight and you may see the corner lines get lighter and darker out of sinc with the rest of the screen with the lines always lighter than the rest of the screen.

I have been running the screen with higher than usual backlight and brightness to see if that runs the screen in as advised by the chap in the shop. Some comment about the filter between the backlight and LCD having a phosphor coating similar to plasma and needing to burn in. I think this is incorrect and that it is just a filter rather than phosphor - does anyone know for sure? Anyway the bleed is still there it is just whether I can stand seeing it or go through the hassle and change the set. Will any other be better and if not then is it back to the wonderful world of reviewing more sets. Will Plasma be the way to go after all and if so will the kids watching CBBies bring in the plasma nighmare screen burn issue!

 

[Anonymous]

The bleed issue in the 4 corners with the two top being worse is exactly the same as our was. Never heard of the theory of running the screen in. But we has the set for 20 days and didn't see any improvement we used mainly cinema setting with occasional game mode, so mostly backlight was actually low. We have sent it back what a hassle. I am just waiting on the exchanged set now may take a few days. Fingers crossed that is better. What a pain!

 

[Anonymous]

Greg P:
Hi there, I previously had the 40W4500 and changed it due to bad clouding for the 40Z4500. Fantastic picture generally and am sure this is worth every penny. BUT I too have the bleed on all four corners, more noticable from the top corners, this seems to be from the corner inwards at 45degrees. I have tried all settings but when you watch a dark movie in low light there they are again. If you want to find them tune to a satalite channel that is not broadcasting so you get a full dark screen and then adjust the backlight and you may see the corner lines get lighter and darker out of sinc with the rest of the screen with the lines always lighter than the rest of the screen.

I have been running the screen with higher than usual backlight and brightness to see if that runs the screen in as advised by the chap in the shop. Some comment about the filter between the backlight and LCD having a phosphor coating similar to plasma and needing to burn in. I think this is incorrect and that it is just a filter rather than phosphor - does anyone know for sure? Anyway the bleed is still there it is just whether I can stand seeing it or go through the hassle and change the set. Will any other be better and if not then is it back to the wonderful world of reviewing more sets. Will Plasma be the way to go after all and if so will the kids watching CBBies bring in the plasma nighmare screen burn issue!

As I mention on other threads no one can escape the backlight probs on the Bravias. They can deny it and make excuses all they want but deep down they know its there. First the V then the W now the Z's???? Come on guys think about this one, like the old cliche "Its NOT Rocket science"

 

[Anonymous]

So should I exchange if its is a lost cause. A friend of mine bought one at the same time as me and doen't seem to have the problem. but perhaps isn't as exacting about the picture.... and hasn't watched a dark lit film yet with the light down? Not sure what to do got one of the great deals in early new year £1499 mentioned on this forum, with the free blu ray bdp550 & 5 years warranty & 3 free Blu Ray discs ...so tempted to exchange & try again. Its a great deal. .....Is anyone happy with the screen with no backlight problems?

 

[Anonymous]

I returned my Sony LCD, the store picked it up for free...I decided to not take the risk of backlight issues again....and upgraded to a Pioneer Plasma LX5090....checked it out in store and it looked great...so took the plunge...got it for £1779 with 5 Year Warranty & free delivery...seemed a good deal to me. But you have to pay for all the extras like table top stand etc. Fingers crossed this one lives up to the reviews! 🙂

 

[Anonymous]

I got a 40Z4500 a few days ago from amazon and overall I am impressed with the picture and sound.

I do have one worry though and that is with the remote control. It sometimes appears very unresponsive andÿseemsÿto freeze in certain menus. This only appears to happen in the 1st hour or so then things seem to get back to normal.

I am finding it a little frustrating as turning theÿvolumeÿup involves holding down the button for some considerable time. admittedly Iÿhaven'tÿtried new batteries in the remote, but this has been an issue from day 1 with the batteries that came supplied with the set.

I there a chance I have a faulty remote or TV software or something else?

Cheers.ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:motley:
Andy, I bit the bullet and am setting up my Z46 today, I have run through the THX optimizer but would be keen to know what you had you test settings at for the review?? please

Cheers

Well of course we reviewed the 40in version, which may differ. But I'll get the test team to post their recommendations based on the 40Z4500.

Could we see those settings, as I did not see them posted to the forum? Much appreciated.

 

[stickboy85]

Hi,

I have the KDL-40Z4500 and I am having issues with the dreaded backlighting

in the top left and right of the screen,

does this mean I have a faulty set or is this a common issues with this set?

Does anyone out there have some calibration tricks to help reduce this??

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[staggerlee]

Just thought my search for the perfect LCD had ended and the backlight issue rears its ugly head - doh!