Finally ... My first TV ... Sony Bravia 32BX350

[aercy]

After months of asking around for feedbacks and suggestions, I have finally bought myself Sony Bravia 32BX350, 32 inch LCD 720p. I have used it for 1 week and what a beauty it is. I will review it once now and once after 2 months.

But first some photos ...

Review coming in just few minutes.

 

[prepress]

Congrats for your new purchase bro..!!!!! Enjoy..!!!!:clapping:

 

[aercy]

I bought this LCD 1 week back after months of research, suggestions and feedback. I considered Toshiba, Samsung and LG as well. Sony's LED's were way too costly. Then I laid my eyes on this beauty online. Impressive features and attractive price drew my attention further. Then I went to the shop and extensively check all the 32" models from most makers. I took my flash along with multiple movies in different formats. The store was Pushing for LG and Samsung models and even showed me how their black levels were better and some of them offered 1080p. What happened next will be covered as myth busters ...

Myth 1: Other makers give better features at same price-point
Truth:
You pay for Sony, you can rest assured that you will get all the features you NEED. First off, Full HD on 32" is pointless, absolutely useless. Even PS3 games are in 720p and so are HD channels via HD STBs. Besides to enjoy 1080p you need atleast 42 inch. And SMART TV feature is DUMB. Do you have a PC? Can spare some money for an long HDMI cable? Internet, PC Games, Movies, all are achieved. You still want some App? Really? Seriously??

Myth 2: Sony doesn't play all movie formats. Cannot play from portable HDDs.
Truth:
Yes, it doesn't play all formats, while other makers do. But Sony will support 90% of the codecs. Most MKVs play fine and for those which doesn't you just need one software to ensure it plays seamlessly. Google it, you can find it on your own.
As for HDDs, it scans and plays everything from portable HDDs. I have my seagate 320 GB from which I have played movies, music and images. All perfectly.

Myth 3: Better black levels in other Makers' TVs.
Truth:
They all keep the picture settings in that manner which makes these cheaper Sony LCDs and LEDs look dull in front of other makers. They know Sony will sell anyway, so they don't care. LG and Samsung pays better incentive to them to push these products.

Myth 4: LED's are better than LCD
Truth:
The only thing LEDs are better in are Power Consumption. A differnece of 30-35 watts can be saved with LEDs over LCDs. Picture quality is same, if not better on LCDs. After all LEDs are LCDs with LED back-lights replacing the CCFL back-lights. LED isn't a picture panel type, it is just a back-light technlogy.

Now some features that I loved abouth 32BX350,

Picture: Amazing picture quality, just tweak the settings according to your needs and you'll see the magic unfold in front of your eyes.

Sound: Put the volume at 30% and you will go crazy with the clarity and quality. Don't expect a good 2.1 speaker-level bass. You can always use external speakers to achieve the same. I am using my old Altec Lensing 2.1 and it's 'big-bada-boom' performance.

Connectivity: 2x HDMI is good enough for my PS3 and PC and future HD STB. Has one VGA for PC, analogue AV inputs, 1 headphone socket (for 2.1 speakers as well) and 1 home-theater input separately. No optical out. And ofcourse the USB for HDD and flash drives.

Aesthetics: I was awestruck with the beauty. I don't really like the slick LEDs. They kind of make it look cheap. But just my opinion. But quality of the materials used and the way it is designed is absolutely head-turner.

Price: You can get it around 27k. Don't ask me how much I got it for. Can't share. But I can tell you that I got it for above 27k. At this price it beats Sony's own 32EX330 costing 33k and even Samsung 5000R. Although LG looked better in PQ, I didn't like the looks and what I heard about LG's service.

Lastly,
Gaming on 32BX350: Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!! PS3 and PC both looks fabulous on it.

I recommend it to any person who wants a great TV within 35k. No TV will match this performance till that price-point. Beyond that, I don't think it's worth spending anything more than 32k for a 32 incher. Save some more money and go for 42 inch. Otherwise buy this and be the BOSS.

 

[just4kix]

I bought this LCD 1 week back after months of research, suggestions and feedback. I considered Toshiba, Samsung and LG as well. Sony's LED's were way too costly. Then I laid my eyes on this beauty online. Impressive features and attractive price drew my attention further. Then I went to the shop and extensively check all the 32" models from most makers. I took my flash along with multiple movies in different formats. The store was Pushing for LG and Samsung models and even showed me how their black levels were better and some of them offered 1080p. What happened next will be covered as myth busters ...

You have your screws tightened the very right way. Congratulations on making a very informed decision.

Myth 1: Other makers give better features at same price-point
Truth:
You pay for Sony, you can rest assured that you will get all the features you NEED. First off, Full HD on 32" is pointless, absolutely useless. Even PS3 games are in 720p and so are HD channels via HD STBs. Besides to enjoy 1080p you need atleast 42 inch. And SMART TV feature is DUMB. Do you have a PC? Can spare some money for an long HDMI cable? Internet, PC Games, Movies, all are achieved. You still want some App? Really? Seriously??

I have always told others the same thing, viz., at 32" there is no point going to 1080p at this size.

Myth 2: Sony doesn't play all movie formats. Cannot play from portable HDDs.
Truth:
Yes, it doesn't play all formats, while other makers do. But Sony will support 90% of the codecs. Most MKVs play fine and for those which doesn't you just need one software to ensure it plays seamlessly. Google it, you can find it on your own.
As for HDDs, it scans and plays everything from portable HDDs. I have my seagate 320 GB from which I have played movies, music and images. All perfectly.

No need to worry. With the amount saved, one can easily buy a decent media player in the range of 5k to 8k. Viola! Problem solved.

Myth 3: Better black levels in other Makers' TVs.
Truth:
They all keep the picture settings in that manner which makes these cheaper Sony LCDs and LEDs look dull in front of other makers. They know Sony will sell anyway, so they don't care. LG and Samsung pays better incentive to them to push these products.

While LCD black levels can never be attained at the same level such as the edge-lit local dimming LED TV, one can reach close. All you need to do is calibrate properly. Here is a link for a free source DVD: http://www.avsforum.com/t/948496/avs-hd-709-blu-ray-mp4-calibration. Just follow instruction to attain the black and white levels.

Myth 4: LED's are better than LCD
Truth:
The only thing LEDs are better in are Power Consumption. A differnece of 30-35 watts can be saved with LEDs over LCDs. Picture quality is same, if not better on LCDs. After all LEDs are LCDs with LED back-lights replacing the CCFL back-lights. LED isn't a picture panel type, it is just a back-light technlogy.

The LED TV is also an LCD TV. The panel is still all LCD. The difference is just how the backlight is created. But LED TVs will yield a brighter picture and as said easlier with local dimming can achieve better blacks and contrast. But as also said, one can calibrate the LCD TV to come close.

Now some features that I loved abouth 32BX350,

Picture: Amazing picture quality, just tweak the settings according to your needs and you'll see the magic unfold in front of your eyes.

Sound: Put the volume at 30% and you will go crazy with the clarity and quality. Don't expect a good 2.1 speaker-level bass. You can always use external speakers to achieve the same. I am using my old Altec Lensing 2.1 and it's 'big-bada-boom' performance.

Connectivity: 2x HDMI is good enough for my PS3 and PC and future HD STB. Has one VGA for PC, analogue AV inputs, 1 headphone socket (for 2.1 speakers as well) and 1 home-theater input separately. No optical out. And ofcourse the USB for HDD and flash drives.

Aesthetics: I was awestruck with the beauty. I don't really like the slick LEDs. They kind of make it look cheap. But just my opinion. But quality of the materials used and the way it is designed is absolutely head-turner.

Price: You can get it around 27k. Don't ask me how much I got it for. Can't share. But I can tell you that I got it for above 27k. At this price it beats Sony's own 32EX330 costing 33k and even Samsung 5000R. Although LG looked better in PQ, I didn't like the looks and what I heard about LG's service.

Lastly,
Gaming on 32BX350: Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!! PS3 and PC both looks fabulous on it.

I recommend it to any person who wants a great TV within 35k. No TV will match this performance till that price-point. Beyond that, I don't think it's worth spending anything more than 32k for a 32 incher. Save some more money and go for 42 inch. Otherwise buy this and be the BOSS.

Guess what! My TV has 3xHDMI and I have one spare left still. Additional HDMI ports may help but one can always buy an aftermarket HDMI switch for the same purpose. The LED TV will be slick and sexy but you do pay a huge price in the bargain.

Thanks for the review.

 

[vnmathur57]

Thanks a lot Just4kix for making my day! After a month long research & market survey for LEDs, I ended up buying an LCD (Sony 40BX450) last Sunday 'cause the price diff was huge. Since then I was gloomy and cursing myself. But tonight it will be different!:yahoo:

 

[just4kix]

Thanks a lot Just4kix for making my day! After a month long research & market survey for LEDs, I ended up buying an LCD (Sony 40BX450) last Sunday 'cause the price diff was huge. Since then I was gloomy and cursing myself. But tonight it will be different!:yahoo:

Unless you are watch true HD stuff via blu-ray, you WILL NOT feel any difference between HD-Ready and Full-HD. There are many people here who went with 50XT50 plasma and are very contented lot. Even if you watch blu-ray, it is not as if the 720p set will look bad - the 1080p set will be slightly better. How much slightly better? At a distance of 8 feet and above, there will be no preceptible difference. And let's face it - how many of us watch a 40" set at 4 feet?

So don't bum yourself out. You have purchased a good TV. It will serve you well for more than 5 years at the minimum and you will get rid of it only because you will be hit by the upgrade bug and have more money to spare (burn).

 

[bijaymohanta]

I bought this LCD 1 week back after months of research, suggestions and feedback. I considered Toshiba, Samsung and LG as well. Sony's LED's were way too costly. Then I laid my eyes on this beauty online. Impressive features and attractive price drew my attention further. Then I went to the shop and extensively check all the 32" models from most makers. I took my flash along with multiple movies in different formats. The store was Pushing for LG and Samsung models and even showed me how their black levels were better and some of them offered 1080p. What happened next will be covered as myth busters ...

Myth 1: Other makers give better features at same price-point
Truth:
You pay for Sony, you can rest assured that you will get all the features you NEED. First off, Full HD on 32" is pointless, absolutely useless. Even PS3 games are in 720p and so are HD channels via HD STBs. Besides to enjoy 1080p you need atleast 42 inch. And SMART TV feature is DUMB. Do you have a PC? Can spare some money for an long HDMI cable? Internet, PC Games, Movies, all are achieved. You still want some App? Really? Seriously??

Myth 2: Sony doesn't play all movie formats. Cannot play from portable HDDs.
Truth:
Yes, it doesn't play all formats, while other makers do. But Sony will support 90% of the codecs. Most MKVs play fine and for those which doesn't you just need one software to ensure it plays seamlessly. Google it, you can find it on your own.
As for HDDs, it scans and plays everything from portable HDDs. I have my seagate 320 GB from which I have played movies, music and images. All perfectly.

Myth 3: Better black levels in other Makers' TVs.
Truth:
They all keep the picture settings in that manner which makes these cheaper Sony LCDs and LEDs look dull in front of other makers. They know Sony will sell anyway, so they don't care. LG and Samsung pays better incentive to them to push these products.

Myth 4: LED's are better than LCD
Truth:
The only thing LEDs are better in are Power Consumption. A differnece of 30-35 watts can be saved with LEDs over LCDs. Picture quality is same, if not better on LCDs. After all LEDs are LCDs with LED back-lights replacing the CCFL back-lights. LED isn't a picture panel type, it is just a back-light technlogy.

Now some features that I loved abouth 32BX350,

Picture: Amazing picture quality, just tweak the settings according to your needs and you'll see the magic unfold in front of your eyes.

Sound: Put the volume at 30% and you will go crazy with the clarity and quality. Don't expect a good 2.1 speaker-level bass. You can always use external speakers to achieve the same. I am using my old Altec Lensing 2.1 and it's 'big-bada-boom' performance.

Connectivity: 2x HDMI is good enough for my PS3 and PC and future HD STB. Has one VGA for PC, analogue AV inputs, 1 headphone socket (for 2.1 speakers as well) and 1 home-theater input separately. No optical out. And ofcourse the USB for HDD and flash drives.

Aesthetics: I was awestruck with the beauty. I don't really like the slick LEDs. They kind of make it look cheap. But just my opinion. But quality of the materials used and the way it is designed is absolutely head-turner.

Price: You can get it around 27k. Don't ask me how much I got it for. Can't share. But I can tell you that I got it for above 27k. At this price it beats Sony's own 32EX330 costing 33k and even Samsung 5000R. Although LG looked better in PQ, I didn't like the looks and what I heard about LG's service.

Lastly,
Gaming on 32BX350: Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!! PS3 and PC both looks fabulous on it.

I recommend it to any person who wants a great TV within 35k. No TV will match this performance till that price-point. Beyond that, I don't think it's worth spending anything more than 32k for a 32 incher. Save some more money and go for 42 inch. Otherwise buy this and be the BOSS.

Bro, Welcome to club BRAVIA !!!hyeah::clapping: