Sony KDL-40W3000

Blur behind a speeding car used to mean that it was going really fast. Nowadays, with your Sony KDL-40W3000 and its 120Hz refresh rate, that motion blur behind those racecars is all but gone—giving you clean, smooth and clear-cut action.

The Sony KDL-40W3000 is a scaled-down version of Sony’s XBR series of TVs. It is built around the same chassis as the XBR and looks similar. It has many of the same features as well, sporting on top of the 120Hz, a 1080p resolution that will make everything clear on your screen.

Standout Features

•  120Hz refresh rate
•  1920x1080 resolution (aka 1080p)
•  18,000:1 contrast ratio
•  2 HDMI inputs

Features

On the Sony KDL-40W3000, as with Sony’s XBR line, the floating screen and glass accents are still there. The attractive packaging for this TV is unique and makes the TV unmistakably Sony.

One of the best features of the set is the 120Hz refresh rate. The higher refresh rate gives you a smoother picture by smoothing out motion blur and jitter. That means when those cars in the Indy 500 go flying by, the picture, on the whole, will look a lot like it would if you were there—minus the NASCAR fanatics.

Also featured on the Sony KDL-40W3000 is a 1920x1080 resolution. This allows you to display any of the popular formats available today, including the 1080p format. This makes Blu-ray look like it’s supposed to when it is played out on the screen.

The Sony KDL-40W3000 has a dynamic contrast ratio of 18,000:1 allowing the TV to produce some of the deepest blacks available on this line of TVs. The blacks don’t quite reach the level of other high-end TVs, but it is top of the line for its price range.

The 2 HDMI inputs allow the user to connect all their digital gear easily. It takes all those confusing cables and cords (that no one really knows how to hook up anyway) out from behind your TV. Rather than having a mass of tangled wires, HDMI ports allow you to connect all your add-ons including your DVD player to your TV with only a single cable and connector.

Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet

Experts are impressed with the TV's outstanding picture quality. The new 120Hz refresh rate and video processor allow this TV to produce images not seen before on LCD TVs. Picture modes were also well-adjusted and calibrated out of the box, minimizing time needed to get the “perfect” picture.

Users are also impressed by the picture out of the box. The TV even delivers better-than-average images on analog sources, something that is hard to do for a lot of lower-end model TVs.

Summary

The Sony KDL-40W3000 is an excellent choice for those looking for a superb TV without the XBR pricetag By combining the 120Hz refresh rate and the 1080p, this TV has good picture quality that is sure to give you a quality viewing experience.

For other great ideas on a TV for your home, check out TopTenREVIEWS side-by-side comparison of the best LCD TVs on the market.