Sony Bravia KDL-32CX523 review

For this review we tested the 32in model in the CX523 range, but it’s also available in a 40in screen size (KDL-40CX523). That model has identical specifications except for its dimensions and power usage. We’re confident that image quality will be practically identical across the range.

A plasma screen TV that supports 3D video is almost certain to improve your home cinema setup, assuming you’ve got both the budget and the space for it, but there are plenty of smaller, cheaper models that have equally impressive features. Sony’s CX523 is a great example: this 32in LCD TV includes Freeview HD and a wealth of web TV options.

The 32in screen won’t dominate a room and it still has a 1,920×1,080 resolution plus plenty of options to tweak image quality. Sony hasn’t used the XMB interface made famous by the PlayStation 3 – instead there’s a new interface that’s designed to make it easy to access internet TV and multimedia streaming features. Unlike many other TVs, the interface is accessible even when watching streaming video, so you can change picture and audio settings without having to stop playback and return to the main menu. Picture-in-picture will even let you have online content side-by-side with live TV. You also get both a video window, plus audio when browsing the EPG.

We weren’t overly impressed with image quality at the default settings, but there was a noticeable improvement after a quick trip into the menus. Freeview broadcasts looked fine in standard definition, with reasonable amounts of detail preserved on the lower-quality channels. Higher-quality programmes looked much better, but high definition footage was noticeably better.

Watching Casino Royale on Blu-ray, we could pick out plenty of detail in slow moving scenes. With no frame creation for motion smoothing, fast-action scenes were rather jerky unless the True Cinema (24p) setting was enabled. Colours were largely accurate, although nowhere near as pronounced as on a plasma set. We had to lower the brightness significantly to eliminate bleed from the backlight and to make blacks look less grey, but we were still impressed with the overall picture considering the low price.

What sets the CX523 apart from other budget-oriented TVs is its multitude of multimedia streaming and internet TV features. Once you’ve connected it to your home network using an Ethernet cable (or separate wireless dongle), you can immediately access your PC’s multimedia collection using DLNA, or stream YouTube and LoveFilm video over the internet. Catch-up TV features include Demand 5 and BBC iPlayer, with the latter being available in high definition.

You can also play local files on a portable hard disk using one of the two USB ports; we played DivX, Xvid and MKV without any issues. Although you have to format it, any USB hard disk larger than 32GB can also turn the TV into a PVR, recording free-to-air broadcasts. It can record only one program at a time, and can’t be used to pause live TV.

With so many features, it’s no surprise that Sony has had to cut some corners in order to sell the CX523 for such a low price. The LCD panel is lit by traditional CCFL rather than LED and the screen bezel is slightly thicker than we would like, but these are minor quibbles and Sony’s excellent styling helps give the impression of a more costly set.

We might not have been blown away by its picture quality, but there’s simply no other TV in this price range that offers so many extra features. If you’re on a budget, this is definitely the set to buy. Plus, if you’re after a bigger TV, the 40in version costs only £516 from Amazon.