Sony introduced late last year one of its thinnest panels – the Sony Bravia KLV40ZX1M which is only 1.1 inches thick. It is amazingly thin that one could not help but imagine how the components are squeezed inside.
Edge-lit LED Technology
KLV-40ZX1M is one of the LCD panels that make use of LEDs as backlight. However, instead of having light-emitting diodes all across the panel, only the edges are lined up with these. This makes the very thin design of the unit possible. Having said this, the picture output of this model is different from that of the other brands and models that use LEDs all throughout the panel.
More Plus Points
Since only the edges have LEDs, the KLV-40ZX1M is energy efficient. Compared to other brands using the same technology, it only consumes almost two-thirds that of the power used by the others. Another design-smart with this model is the idea of having the arm between the panel and the base stand double as a plate to hide the cables coming from the back. Very neat indeed.
The Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M has a matte-screen finish which is a strategic design to prevent the screen from reflecting bright light from the surroundings. In terms of picture quality, the colors in this model are relatively accurate compared to other models that make use of the same technology.
Considerable Deltas
Perhaps, one of the first things that a buyer would notice is the hefty price tag. For the KLV-40ZX1M, selling price ranges from $2,795 – $3,500. This is a little too expensive considering that there are other models that cost less, yet performing a lot better.
Talking about the different LED technology in more detail, the edge-lit twist adversely affected the picture quality expectation from this innovation. Since only the edges are using LEDs as backlight, the KLV-40ZX1M does not have the local dimming feature. Hence, the black level is not like one would expect in an LCD TV. Because of this the sharpness and accuracy of the colors are affected.
Also, uniformity issue is quite expected out of this edge-lit LED technology. In dark scenes, it is evident that the edges are brighter then fades towards the middle. Although in very bright scenes, this issue is not noticeable.
Another notable feature of this LCD flat-panel is its connectivity, or the lack of it. It only has one, and only one, connection source – a single HDMI port at the back of the panel. No audio/video ports, neither a cable/RF port. Hence, this flat-panel is a monitor, not exactly a TV due to its lack of tuner.
The Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M is undeniably sleek and elegant-looking outside, plus the fact that it is thin which gives one the impression of it being high-tech. However, once functionality and performance is put to the test, it seems not really worth for the huge buck. After all, it’s not all about the looks. As the old adage goes, “never judge a book by its cover.” This goes true with this Sony Bravia series.
Steve has over 17 year of experience in reviewing TV equipment. Most of his free time he spends tinkering with electronic in his garage or traveling to distant places.