46" Sony Bravia LCD HDTV Review: Get Sony Quality for Less

When it comes to flat panel televisions Sony has been the brand to have. Unfortunately for a lot of consumers these high end HDTV's have been financially out of reach. However, due to recent reductions in production costs and increased competition among retailers these Sony televisions have become ever more reasonable. The 46" Sony Bravia KDL-46S4100 is a perfect example of Sony's new affordability. I've had the opportunity to spend some time with one of these and I'm going to let you know just how well it performs.

Product Styling: 5/5

Display Quality: 5/5

Product Value: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Product Overview:

At first glance it is immediately obvious that you're looking at a well made flat panel. First the KDL-46S4100 is framed with a glossy black bezel. There is a clear plastic window at the base of the frame that has all of the televisions indicators. They seem to float in the clear plastic; this gives the television a real high dollar look. The thin adjustable base provides a firm footing and can be seen rising up through the clear window. The speaker bar runs across the bottom of the set and produces surprisingly clear rich tones. All in all this display is in my opinion one of the most attractive available.

As I expected from Sony the image quality on the KDL-46S4100 is remarkable. This set offers a 1080p resolution and presented my bluray films as well as any display I've seen. While the refresh rate is 60hz I only noticed slight motion blur while briefly watching a NASCAR race. The viewing angle also approaches 180 degrees which allowed me to keep my living room arrangement intact, every seat was the best seat in the house. My living room is quite bright and the KDL-46S4100 LCD handled it well, it failed to wash out and the matte screen had only a very slight glare.

The connectivity on Bravia is standard. With adequate HDMI inputs as well as several composite inputs I had no trouble getting everything I needed from my home theater system integrated in with the KDL-46S4100. The included PC input also came in handy as I was able to sync my laptop and display photos from my recent vacation.

Product Value:

With current sales occasionally dropping the price below $1200 the Sony Bravia KDL-46S4100 is a real steal. It offers the perfect combination of features and value. Most consumers will be pleased with the performance which makes it a great option for the living room, gamers' room or even a large bedroom. Also keep an eye out for sales, but the $1200 price point is perfect.