Connectivity and Extras:
The connectivity offered by the Sony is nothing spectacular, and is therefore categorized as standard. Three HDMI sockets, two Scart inputs, one YUV, and a VGA interface for computer operation together with side-accessible composite and S-Video connectors are plenty enough for everyday use.

The additional features that are integrated in this set are justification for the higher purchase price being asked. Besides the usual analog and DVB-T tuner, there is also a digital cable tuner (DVB-C) which is also HDTV compatible. Since there are hardly any free HD transmitting stations yet, a decoding card is required for the HD pay-TV programs. The interface (CI slot) for such cards (CA-Module or CAM) can be found on the rear panel.

Unfortunately, Sony equipped its set with just one antenna interface, so to receive programs from different sources (i.e. analog and digital) an additional adapter is required that is readily available from suitably equipped specialty stores.

Just as with digital satellite reception, for which an external set-top box is required, a number of radio stations are interwoven within the cable network. When listening to such radio broadcasts, the screen can be switched off to save energy.

A USB interface used primarily for the playback of photos, and compared to some competing models, the resulting imagery is high resolution and perfectly scaled.

Being from Sony, the time taken to surf between channels is taken for granted - in fact, regardless whether in digital or analog mode, the average time is just one second until the new content appears on the screen. Just two seconds are required when switching DVB-T channels, which is also very snappy.

If the broadcasting station and its associated number cannot be remembered, then pressing the "OK" button on the slightly bulky handset with illuminated buttons will reveal a list of stations. A directory of favorites is available in digital mode, which must be pre-programmed to suit individual tastes. This is created by selecting the required broadcasting station from the comprehensive list of available stations. Unfortunately, the Sony set does not indicate whether the broadcaster is freely available or if a subscription card is necessary to decode the channel.

In the same manner with which the remote handset carries a little excess with it, so does the TV's setup menu; but the meaningful factory default presets do enable fast and foolproof navigation.

TV Picture Quality:
Sony can't get it right either: The screen image is far too lurid and over exaggerated with the factory settings, which is why the settings should be changed from the standard setting of "Vivid" to the more satisfactory setting of "Cinema". From this point forward, the screen immediately becomes more realistic, but loses fine details when the camera pans quickly. Switching off or deactivating all noise filters will result in an instant improvement in the quality of the picture in terms of color realism and picture clarity, which is valid for both analog and digital transmissions alike.

Fast paced overlaid tickers, news announcements or rapid exchanges of the ball in a soccer match are, for LCD standards, unusually crisp and completely free of the usual jaggedness on slanted or beveled edges, such as those marking the pitch perimeter and boundary lines. This latter point is mainly due to the perfect operation of the anti-aliasing algorithms built into the video electronics - and of course the LCD panel itself. In this context, sport fans will really appreciate this feature.

DVD Picture Quality:
Material played back from external set-top boxes through the Scart-RGB interface are reproduced in equally good quality, and the recognition of movie pictures (Film Mode) works immaculately with very few exceptions. Slight picture flicker only occurs in those movies with particularly challenging scenes, such as the beach scene in chapter 5 of the DVD edition of "Six Days, Seven Nights", where the sunbeds briefly flicker.

The Sony does not particularly care much for HDMI signals in 576i or 576p format, as they come across slightly hazed and lose a lot of detail that is known to be present on the DVD. The best solution for the highest reproduction quality is to play the content through an external player that accurately scales up and converts the content to 1080p format.

High resolution movies played back through an HD DVD player or Blu-ray device are reproduced in perfect quality without overscan and with maximum clarity. The Sony engineers were particularly successful in creating the perfect color mood setting. In practice, through our sensitive measuring equipment, we observed a very slight blue cast in residual lighting and a whiff of coloration in the gray tones, but these went unobserved in reality. Black-and-white scenes, such as in the opening of the Blu-ray edition of the Bond adventure movie "Casino Royale", and blended shades such as skin tones come across impressively realistic.

In addition, this television set, unlike the majority of current appliances, supports the xvYCC extended color spectrum. However, this is not a great deal of use (yet) since, with the exception of a few Sony camcorders, there isn't any playback equipment that supports it. Whether xvYCC will become a relevant standard for movie or television is yet to be seen.

Automatic Color Management:
The automatic color management always delivers perfect results, regardless of signal source (analog, digital, 480 i/p, 576 i/p ...). Fast paced motion is exceptionally well mastered by the Sony, especially in lighter scenes; in more sinister scenes, isolated artifacts in the form of streak effects are visible, such as in the computer animated opening credits of the Bond movie where the black hearts are superimposed on the green background. The effect is not at all distinctive, and one very quickly becomes accustomed to it.

24Hz Cinematic Material:
The television is in its element with 24Hz cinematic material, which is rendered completely flicker free. That perfect cinema experience is possible even without modern Blu-ray equipment capable of 24p playback: The "Standard" setting of the built-in "Motion Enhancer" ensures that playback is judder free, which is particularly apparent in the opening credits of the Bond movie. Here, the rotating roulette wheel shows just one divider at a time; whereas, by comparison, other televisions, with not-so-perfect algorithms, show three.

Weak Point:
The Sony does have one blunder though, which is apparent when playing through a set-top box at 1080i resolution: The finest of details get lost as the video processing on one hand subdues them, and on the other highlights and sharpens the mid-range picture details.

But there is a cure. If the "Game/Text Mode" is activated from the screen menu, then even 1080i content is rendered in perfectly crisp detail. This also applies to HDTV television transmissions picked up through the built-in HD compatible DVB-C tuner.

Computer Operation:
The KDL-40 X 3500 is in its element as a computer monitor. Crystal clear pictures are reproduced at 1920 x 1080 pixels regardless whether the content originates from the analog VGA interface or the digital HDMI interface. The most delicate of fonts and symbols are clearly legible - and even at a reduced resolution, the result is remarkably clean making the Sony stand out from the competition.

Sound Quality:
The Sony is capable of delivering vibrant sound directly through the "S-FORCE Front Surround" default factory setting. Wide stereoscopic effects accompanied by a full bass make movie viewing fun. Crisp high-end notes and uncluttered mid-range tones create perfect audio conditions for conversational dialog, and general entertainment whether listing to music or television viewing.

Contrast: 80

Brightness: 55

Color: 50

Color Temperature: Warm 2

Sharpness: 50

Display Area: Full Pixel

Color Matrix: Auto

RGB Dynamic Range: Auto

Detail Enhancer: Off

Edge Enhancer: Off

Game/Text Mode: On

White Balance: All parameters set to 0

Black Corrector: Off

Adv. Contrast Enhancer: Off

Gamma: Off

Clear White: Off

Live Color: Off

* applied to realistic playback from HD DVD/Blu-ray material through the HDMI interface in a darkened environment. Manufacturing and HDMI playback device deviations could necessitate slight adjustment.

Not just a technology treat: The transparent edging of the cabinet is very appealing.

HDTV via cable: The built-in digital cable tuner even receives HD channels.

A little on the bulky side: The remote controller is a little awkward to handle, but it does have illuminated blue buttons that simplify its operation in a darkened home-cinema environment.

Almost perfect: The color characteristics of the Sony set are, to the greatest extent, neutral.