Introduction

The second cheapest of Sony's TV lines, the V series, has been available since spring 2009 - only the S series comes cheaper. The KDL-37 V 5500 boasts a versatile, up-to-date tuner and above-average network capabilities.

While most competing models cannot say the same, many offer a more detail-rich picture thanks to 100-Hertz technology and other sophisticated extras. We take a look what the KDL-37 V 5500 has to offer, along finish with a rundown of its important rivals.

Picture Technology

The KDL-37 V 5500 has a screen diagonal of 37 inches (94 centimeters) and, like almost all current Sony models, it uses a liquid crystal display (LCD). In this price class, the buyer will have to live without top-class technologies such as an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) backlight, let alone one with localized brightness adjustment ("local dimming"). Instead, the matt-finish screen uses a run-of-the-mill, cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight. The TV's light sensor can, if the user chooses, automatically adjust the backlight's brightness to suit the ambient lighting.

The screen uses the full HDTV resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels ("full HD"). It's touch-and-go whether this is sensible for TV-viewing in the average living-room: At normal viewing distances, you can only see the extra sharpness on TVs with a screen diagonal of more than a meter. On the other hand, the extra detail won't do any harm in this compact flat-panel. If you want to use the TV as a PC monitor or for video editing, both of which mean you'll be sitting much closer to the screen, full HD can still be of benefit in a 37-inch model. We give details on the ideal viewing distance in our "TV Buying Guide" article.

The KDL-37 V 5500 uses conventional "50-Hertz" technology. To be more precise: The TV displays European TV signals at 50 Hertz, North American (NTSC-format) videos at 60 Hertz, and pictures in the 24-Hz movie frame rate (from a Blu-ray disc, for example) at 48 Hertz.

Televisions.com has already carried out extensive testing on the 52-inch model of this series. The results from one model don't match up directly to the results for other models in the series - even just the different illumination of the screens can lead to variations in test performance. Nevertheless, the results do indicate tendencies that generally apply across a series: The Sony KDL-52 V 5500 impresses with accurate colors, and the screen renders deep blacks during dark scenes - at least in terms of LCD TVs with traditional backlights.

Additional Features

The KDL-37 V 5500 is crowded with attractive and useful features. You can connect the TV to a PC network, and also play back audio, video, and photo files from USB storage devices. Given an Internet connection (via a router), the TV can access your choice of news services ("RSS Feeds"), which then appear in small windows on the screen.

Tuner

In Europe, the KDL-37 V 5500's tuners receive most types of TV broadcasts. The analog tuner is intended for cable-TV networks, and also for the few areas where analog signals can still be received by aerial.

The digital tuner is one highlight of the KDL-37 V 5500: Designed to receive DVB-T and DVB-C, it will accept European digital signals transmitted either via aerial or via cable - in both cases, it will also accept high-definition pictures.

Important for cable customers in some European markets: The Sony supports the CI Plus access system. This should mean you can finally get rid of the extra set-top boxes for digital TV. Only satellite-TV viewers will still need a separate receiver with this TV.

Connections

This 37-incher offers comprehensive, practical connectivity. VHS recorders or more-basic DVD players can hook up to the two Scart sockets, and modern devices such as Blu-ray players or HD camcorders benefit from four HDMI sockets. There's also one composite (cinch) and one S-Video (Mini-DIN) input for camcorders. If you want to watch TV without making any noise, no problem - the KDL-37 V 5500 also has a 3.5-millimeter headphone output.

Older PCs or laptops can connect to the VGA input (D-sub 15), and high-resolution analog video sources (some HD camcorders or DVD players) will shine through the YUV input (cinch). The TV can relay its tuner's audio signal to an external amplifier, either via the optical digital output or using the two analog cinch sockets.

Notes and Pricing:

Sony based the menu design on the example set by its highly successful PlayStation 3 games console. At Televisions.com, we think this is a disadvantage: The user can never see the whole menu at once, and is constantly forced to flick through pages of settings. The impressive name ("Xross Media Bar") is no consolation for confusing operation.

Manufacturer's recommended pricing:

United Kingdom: 930 GBP.

Alternative models: A brief comparison

as of: 27.04.09

LG 37 LH 5000, around 600 GBP.

It's not just the black, high-gloss casing that pushes this Korean rival ahead of the Sony KDL-37 V 5500. The video technology is also cracking out the big guns: The 200-Hertz "TruMotion" technology is supposed to provide accurate moving pictures with clearly defined edges - particularly important in sports broadcasts, of course.

The 37 LH 5000 also tempts with some tasty multimedia extras: It'll even play back DivX-format videos from USB storage devices - also in HD resolution, according to the manufacturer. The built-in tuners receive digital signals, but only DVB-T - this, too, in high-definition where such broadcasts exist. If you want to watch digital cable or satellite signals, therefore, you'll need an additional set-top box. The TV also receives analog cable signals.

Although the TV can't connect to computer networks, the connectivity is anything but sparse: The four HDMI connections and two Scart sockets should cater even for extensive AV setups. The 37 LH 5000 will not, however, accept S-Video signals - neither by Scart nor via the side-mounted AV input - so this TV won't be able to get the best playback quality out of older camcorders. LG has also neglected to fit a headphone socket.

LG 37 LH 7000, from around 700 GBP.

So, why the extra hundred pounds? The LH 7000 from LG Electronics sets itself apart from the aforementioned 5000 series above all with its 100-Hertz technology, intended to make motion appear more fluid. With four HDMI inputs, this model offers the same number as the 5000 model, and the tuner also receives DVB-T and analog TV signals.

The LG 37 LH 7000 plays back videos, photos, and music from USB sticks, but not over a PC network - again, just like the 5000 model. The TV also offers all the important connections, and in sufficient quantities. While it, too, lacks a conventional headphone output, it will connect to headphones via Bluetooth - of course, you'd have to buy a corresponding Bluetooth headset if you wanted to take advantage of this feature.

Panasonic TX-P 37 X 10, from around 550 GBP.

This cut-price challenger from Panasonic is an impressive illustration of the difference a few hundred pounds can make: The plasma screen displays just 1,024 x 720 pixels. That's more than enough for traditional TV content or DVDs, but miles below the maximum HDTV resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels).

Still, at this screen size, you'd have to be sitting almost immediately in front of the TV to notice the difference. Unless you're planning to use the screen for video editing or as a PC monitor, therefore, this model simply offers a picture that looks good from all parts of the sofa, for a budget price. It should also be free of flicker, thanks to 100-Hertz technology.

The TX-P 37 X 10's tuner only accepts analog cable TV and DVB-T; the three HDMI inputs and two Scart sockets should suffice for everyday TV viewing. Multimedia and network capabilities are sadly nowhere to be found.

Panasonic TX-L 37 S 10, from around 700 GBP.

This LCD competitor from Panasonic has no trouble displaying the full HDTV resolution, but the tuner only accepts analog cable TV and DVB-T. Like the Sony, the TX-L 37 S 10 uses 50-Hertz technology.

Multimedia extras consist of an SD/SDHC card reader that plays back JPEG photos and videos in the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and AVCHD formats. You'd search in vain for a USB socket on the TX-L 37 S 10, let alone a network connection.

Philips 37 PFL 5604 H, from around 700 GBP.

This Philips TV is just as up-to-date as the Sony KDL-37 V 5500. Take the tuner, for example: Thanks to CI Plus technology, the 37 PFL 5604 is able to receive digital cable TV without a set-top box. Analog cable TV and DVB-T are also welcome here, the latter also in HD resolution. Like the Sony, this Philips runs its screen at 50 Hertz.

The "Pixel Plus HD" system is supposed to make pictures look crisper, and the TV can play back music files (MP3- or LPCM-format), photos (JPEG), and video clips (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) from a USB stick. Still, if you buy this Philips, you'll have to make compromises on multimedia: The 37 PFL 5604 H has no network functionality.

In consolation, you get three HDMI inputs, two Scart sockets (both RGB capable), and a side-mounted connections panel that offers a headphone output and S-Video input for camcorders. This Philips sells for roughly the same as the KDL-37 V 5500, so the lack of network access may be enough to push some buyers back to the Sony.

Sharp LC-37 D 65 E, 700 GBP.

This Sharp's recommended retail price is over 200 GBP lower than the Sony's. The feature set is accordingly downsized. The LC-37 D 65 E is inferior to the KDL-37 V 5500 in two clear respects: the tuner and the multimedia functionality. The Sharp's tuner will only receive analog cable and DVB-T, and the TV can only display photos via USB. Network capabilities? No chance.

The connectivity is also just a touch more spartan than the Sony's: Although both TVs have just one YUV input, the Sony KDL-37 V 5500 treats this input to its own set of cinch sockets. On the Sharp, the user has to make do with an adapter attached to the VGA input. In practice, therefore, the TV offers less flexibility. Adapters are also prone to developing loose contacts - and to getting lost. Given the low price, it's hardly surprising that buyers of the LC-37 D 65 E will have to make do without 100-Hz technology - as will those of the Sony.

Toshiba 37 RV 635, from around 600 GBP.

Japanese company Toshiba offers this well-featured 37-inch model for a slightly lower market price than the Sony. Like the Sony, however, this Toshiba's screen uses 50-Hertz technology. The "Resolution +" detail enhancer aims to improve picture quality, and the tuner is suitable for analog TV, DVB-T, and digital cable TV. The 37 RV 635 does not support CI Plus, so you'll need a set-top box to receive encrypted cable channels. The Sony is superior in this respect.

In terms of network functionality, the Toshiba must again admit defeat. Via USB, it can only display JPEG photos. The 37 RV 635's connections are otherwise complete: It has two Scart sockets (one RGB capable, the other S-Video) and four HDMI inputs, as well as a side-mounted connections panel. The side panel hosts cinch and Mini-DIN sockets for composite or S-Video signals from a camcorder, along with a headphone output. That should just about do!

Toshiba 37 XV 635, from around 850 GBP.

The market price for this 37-inch (94-centimeter) TV is around 150 GBP higher than that of the Sony KDL-37 V 5500. The feature set, however, leaves no clear victor. The 100-Hz technology and the "Resolution +" detail enhancer are supposed to improve picture quality, and the tuner is suitable for analog TV, DVB-T, and digital cable TV. The 37 XV 635 does not support CI Plus, so it'll need a separate receiver in order to receive cable channels using this encryption - the Sony is superior in this respect.

On the other hand, the sound setup definitely comes up trumps: With the new "Dolby Volume" technology, the TV will attempt to iron out the irritating volume changes between movies and ad breaks, as well as the volume differences between TV channels. The Audyssey equalizer, well-renowned by home-theater fans, hopes to produce optimal sound from this flat-panel TV.

The connections panel on this Toshiba TV includes all of the important features: It has two Scart sockets (one RGB capable, the other S-Video), four HDMI inputs, a side-mounted connections panel with sockets for composite or S-Video camcorder signals (cinch and Mini-DIN), and a headphone output.

But, while the Toshiba may have better image processing than the Sony, it falls behind with multimedia: JPEG photos, MP3 music files, and DixV videos will play back via USB or from an SD (or SDHC) memory card, but the Toshiba has none of the KDL-37 V 5500's network skills.

About our product previews

Experienced experts produce these product preview pages using manufacturers' specifications, along with test data we've produced for other models and subjective assessments of the product's market chances.

We comprehensively research the information we use, but data of this kind quickly becomes out of date as a result of day-to-day variations in the market and the appearance of new products.

The information in our own tests is more reliable, especially statements relating to quality or comparisons with other TVs. Since we cannot test every single device, however, and because we're interested in your opinion, we're grateful to receive any user ratings or user opinions for this TV - especially if you own the model yourself, but also if this preview provided enough information for you to form your own judgment.

Many thanks in advance!

The team behind this product preview:

People involved in producing this article on the Sony KDL-37 V 5500:

Author(s): Karl-Gerhard Haas
Editor in Chief: Florian Friedrich

Photos: Manufacturers

Last updated: April 27, 2009