FIRST TEST

Bravia Engine
As with all of Sonys Bravia TVs, the KDL-40S2530 sports Sonys Bravia Engine. This picture processing system combines a group of operations that improve colours, detailing and contrast, amongst other things.

Rival Buy

With very good standard-def and hi-def pictures, and speakers that outperform most others, the Samsung LE-40F71B is a good buy. Buy youll have to decide whether 1,700 is worth paying for this 1080p-compatible TV.

FEATURES

HD-ready; analogue and digital tuners; 7-day EPG; Bravia Engine; noise reduction; gamma settings; dynamic contrast; backlight adjust; clear white boost; colour space adjust; live colour creation Sockets Inputs: 2x HDMI; 2x Scarts; component video; composite video; S-video; PC VGA; stereo audio; PC audio Outputs: headphones; analogue audio Others: common interface; RF aerial Contact www.sony.co.uk
The KDL-40S2530 is more an upgrade of a previous TV, rather than the rst product of a completely revamped range

Sony KDL-40S2530

Sonys latest Bravia range are versions of their previous incarnations

FLAT FACTS

40IN LCD TV 1,100 HD READY: RESOLUTION: SPEAKERS:

1366 x 768

YES TV TUNER: ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL SCARTS: 2 (2 RGB) HDMI: 2
mpressive though Sonys recent Bravia LCD TV range has been, some models havent been perfect. So its good to see Sony taking some of the criticisms on board in putting together the KDL-40S2530. Aesthetically there isnt anything new to excite. While certainly not unattractive, the KDL-40S2530s slender screen frame is almost identical to other Bravias weve seen. There is a major benet with the KDL-40S2530s connections, though, as Sony has added a second HDMI to the single HDMI of the last Bravia S-series. A check of the KDL-40S2530s specs reveals two more signicant improvements for this new entry-level model. First, it employs the Live Colour Creation image processing system (for improving the screens red and green elements) that was previously only found on Sonys V-series LCD models and above. Second, it introduces a new Dynamic Contrast facility that sees the TV able to automatically adjust its backlight to boost black levels when it detects a dark scene. Thanks to this, while the original S-Series models quoted a contrast ratio of 1,300:1, the KDL-40S2530 claims 5,000:1. Other features retained from the original S models include a digital tuner, MPEG noise reduction, gamma adjustment, black correction and a white level booster.
The good news as we unleash the KDL-40S2530 on an HD DVD of King Kong is that its better than the KDL-40S2030. The biggest single area of improvement being black levels. The night-time scenes as Kong rampages around New York certainly suffer less with greyness over what should be black skies, and there seems more evidence of scale-creating shadow detailing in dark areas.
Sonys own range the KDL-40S2530s colours look a fraction subdued, and motion seems slightly blighted by smearing, particularly during standard-def viewing. Were also disappointed to nd signs of backlight seepage creeping in the screens edges, which sometimes negatively effects the achievable black levels.

Worthwhile upgrade

The KDL-40S2530 is more an upgrade of a previous TV, rather than the rst product of a completely revamped range. However, while were certainly eager to see where Sony might take its Bravia range once it really revamps it later this year, in the meantime wed certainly rather have the KDL-40S2530 in shops than not especially given how cheap it is (by Sonys standards anyway).

Subtle hues

Live Colour Creation also makes its mark, subtly, when it comes to rendering colours. This means that the KDL-40S2530s portrayal of the tricky palette on show during Anns Vaudeville Theatre routine near King Kongs start looks slightly more natural in terms of tone and colour blend nesse than the KDL-40S2030s previous efforts. A nal key strength of the KDL-40S2530 is its hi-def rendering, which is accurate enough to reproduce huge amounts of ne detail during highly textured scenes like any of those in the jungles of Skull Island. For all its good points, we cant shake the feeling that while the KDL-40S2530 improves on its predecessor, it doesnt quite go far enough to mix it with some of the latest LCD heroes from such brands as Philips and Panasonic. Compared to the best those brands have to offer and indeed the pictorial efforts of TVs further up

RATINGS

PICTURE SOUND CONNECTIONS FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE

VERDICT

Sonys revamp of its entry-level range delivers worthwhile results
18 WHAT PLASMA & LCD TV

ISSUE 40

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4/6/07 11:03:34