Operation

Using a TV with DVD players, Blu-ray players, satellite receivers & Co. isn't always as easy as you'd imagine. The quality of the remote control and on-screen menu are also crucial for everyday use. Find out here how the Sony KDL-40 EX1 fares on these points.

Remote Control:

All in all, the remote control offers great functionality. Large buttons with equally large labels, for example, make it easy to see what you're doing. On top of that, the wireless connection works over large distances and means you don't have to aim the handset at the TV, making handling easier.

Very practical: The "EXT" button allows you to control external devices such as DVD players, Blu-ray players, or AV receivers from Sony or from other manufacturers. This is made possible by three supplied infrared transmitters, which attach to the relevant source devices.

Unattractive points include the oversized dimensions and poor positioning of the buttons for volume and channel changing: To operate these you have to adjust your grip, which can become irritating in everyday use. If Sony had integrated these functions into the navigation cross in the center of the remote control, operation would be more fluid and the handset could be more compact.

On-Screen Menu:

As is typical with Sony, the on-screen menu is based on that of the Playstation 3, giving it quite a playful look. After a bit of time to get used to this, however, even novice users will have no problems navigating. In comparison to the classic menu construction with individual pages, this Sony version's rolling lists look highly modern. On the other hand, the two axes make it harder to navigate. Namely, you have to navigate left and right, as well as up and down, using the cursor cross.

Tricky operation:

The elusive positioning and vague labeling of some functions make operation trickier - for example, the overscan setting is called "Display Area", which won't be immediately clear to many users. To make matters worse, this setting is in the "Media Receiver Set-up" menu, which nobody would have imagined - settings of this type belong in the picture menu, where users have a chance of finding them.

Channel-Search and EPG:
The automatic channel-search process puts digital and analog broadcasters into a sensible order. The electronic program guide (EPG) is only available for digital channels, as are the three favorites lists.

Connecting External Devices:

We really can't say it enough: The separate media receiver makes connecting external devices extremely convenient. You can position the unit directly beside the various input devices, while the TV itself hangs or stands elsewhere in the room.

Still, the Blu-ray player should connect directly to the display via the HDMI input, since the wireless connection reaches its limits with HDTV signals (also see the Features and Picture Quality in Detail sections).