Sony’s exhaustive line of LCD Flat Panel Displays range from mild to wild with sizes and model lines for everyone’s budget. They have LCD Flat Panel Displays in sizes ranging from 26 inches to 70 inches. They also have different series of LCD flat panel displays to fit into everyone’s budget. These series of LCD displays generally only vary slightly, but prices can vary dramatically. This overview will focus on the 40″ Sony Bravia V Series LCD Flat Panel HDTV with the model number designation KDL-40V3000.
This particular model of Sony LCD is given the number of KDL-40V3000. In order to better understand this LCD set, I will first discuss the importance and meaning of the actual model number. The first three letters of KDL are not meaningful in determining anything about the display. The KDL designation is found on every flat panel LCD that Sony makes. The next two numbers 4 and 0 refer to the size of the display. The 4 and 0 indicate that this is a 40 inch display. The next letter V indicates that this is a V Series LCD set. Finally, the 3000 indicates that this set has speakers on the left and right sides of the screen rather than below the screen as the 2500 models do.
Now on to the pricing of this LCD display. The KDL-40V3000 has a manufacturers suggested retail price of $1699.99. This price puts this set between the price of Sony’s more expensive W Series sets, and the less expensive S Series sets. This is a midline Sony product.
This LCD set, like most others made by Sony in the 40 inch size is a full 1080p set. The 1080p spec indicates that’s this set can display the true high definition format, rather than the lower resolution of a 720p. Though you pay slightly more for a 1080p set, they should offer better picture quality and higher resolution.
Next I will cover a few specs that are important to consider when looking at LCD displays. First up is refresh rate. Like so many other LCD displays made by Sony, this set does not list a refresh rate: though it is likely much lower than the 120 hertz listed for the XBR Series. A higher refresh rate indicates that the screen image changes or refreshes quicker than a lower refresh rate. A higher refresh rate can reduce motion blur and make the picture quality better.
Next is contrast. This set lists its dynamic contrast ratio at 13,000 to 1. This contrast ratio is significantly higher than the lower S Series Sony LCD, but lower than other higher series of Sony LCD sets. The contrast ratio shows the displays ability to differentiate between black and white. A higher contrast ratio means that the display is capable of truer black and whiter whites.
Finally, this LCD Flat Panel Display uses Sony’s Bravia Engine EX. This is a midline engine that is also found in the higher priced W Series models.
This brief overview is intended for comparison purposes among LCD sets. If you are interested in finding out more about other LCD or Plasma sets, please refer to my other overview articles. Overviews are available for or will soon be available for sets from Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Pioneer, and Toshiba.
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