Sony KDL-46HX853

With the latest TV ranges from Samsung and LG already out and attracting mostly positive critical notices, the pressure on Sony's debut TV for 2012 really couldn't be any greater. Especially with Sony's TV business contributing spectacularly to the brand's latest round of cataclysmic operating losses.
Still, the noises coming out of Sony about the 46-inch KDL-46HX853 are all promising. There's been much talk of 'getting back to what Sony does best' and 'putting quality ahead of compromise', along with assurances that the sort of mistakes that have riddled the past couple of generations (at least) of Sony TVs will not be allowed to happen again.
To back up these fine words, the KDL-46HX853 - which is the top-level 46-inch model from Sony's new range - comes packing some significant heat. Its enjoyed a slinky redesign, for a start, without losing touch with the Monolithic aesthetic Sony has been following for a couple of generations.
Sony has also (thankfully) revamped the interface for its online services and added a few bits of significant new content to what was already one of the best online video platform around. But perhaps most significantly of all, pretty much every aspect of the KDL-46HX853's picture quality - from its video processing through to the way it controls its edge-based lighting system - has allegedly undergone a profound round of improvements.
The set also, naturally, fits perfectly into a modern multimedia household thanks to its DLNA support, integrated Wi-Fi, aforementioned video streaming capabilities, and playback of plenty of multimedia file formats via its USB ports.
Alongside the 46HX853 can be found a 55-inch version, the cunningly named KDL-55HX853, and a 40-inch version, while a step down Sony's new range you get to the HX753 series, which we'll hopefully be checking out soon. This comes in 32-inch, 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch flavours.
Given its flagship status, the most direct rivals for the KDL-46HX853 would have to be Samsung's ES7000 and ES8000 ranges, along with LG's LM860V series and Panasonic's new WT50 series.
We haven't fully tested all of these rival series yet, but we've seen enough to know that they each represent some pretty stiff competition for Sony's hopes for the KDL-46HX853. So without further ado, let's start finding out if the KDL-46HX853 really does have a shout at turning Sony's TV fortunes around.

Panasonic TX-L42WT50B

As plasma TVs' most vocal advocate, with enormous plasma production facilities to back up its beliefs, it's no surprise that Panasonic has been slower than most - well, everyone, really - when it comes to fully embracing LCD as a worthwhile TV technology.
Sure, there have been LCD models in Panasonic's TV range for a few years now. But they've invariably been limited in size and scope, with plasmas making up the entirety of Panasonic's big screen, home cinema enthusiast offering.
This year, though, it's all change. Panasonic's 2012 LCD television range is not only as expansive in terms of numbers as its plasma one, but it also includes screen sizes all the way up to 55 inches, and some genuinely flagship-status offerings full of high-level features, design flourishes and picture technology.

Best TVs to buy

10 best 32-inch TVs10 best 37-inch TVs13 best 42-inch TVs12 best 3D TVs

The 42-inch Panasonic L42WT50 is one such flagship proposition - a status it wears right out there on its sleeve, thanks to a gorgeous glass and metal design and a bezel so slender it wouldn't look out of place on one of the LG or Samsung's high-fashion models.
This is a big aesthetic leap for a brand that as recently as last year generally resided in the 'slightly bland' category for its TV designs.
Inside the Panasonic TX-L42WT50, meanwhile, is a dual-core processor system used to both drive Panasonic's most powerful picture processing engine yet - complete with local dimming for the Edge LED lighting system - and deliver some extra convenience features, including some welcome multitasking when using the set's expansive multimedia features.
The L42WT50's UK price is £2,195 (around $3,460) and is partnered in Panasonic's range by bigger brothers the 47-inch L47WT50 and 55-inch L55WT50.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

Just below the Panasonic WT50 TVs you can find the DT50 televisions - including the Panasonic L42DT50 and L47DT50 - available in the same sizes, but lacking the dual-core processing and thus getting neither Panasonic's top-level picture processing nor the L42WT50's multitasking features.
The WT50 TVs also ship with two pairs of 3D glasses included, while you don't get any with the DT50 series.
In terms of the Panasonic TX-L42WT50's competition, the obvious candidates are the Samsung ES8000 series and Sony HX853 series - both of which have already reviewed well, and so could present the Panasonic TX-L42WT50 with some pretty stiff competition.

Toshiba 32DL933B

After being bombarded of late by smart TV services, apps, Wi-Fi streaming and smartphone control while getting friendly with the major brands' televisions for 2012, Toshiba's 32DL933B is enough to give us a bit of a shock. Its killer new feature - and something that's almost unique on the market - is a built-in... wait for it... DVD player.
DVD, eh? If you're having trouble remembering what a DVD is, having long ago moved on to either Blu-ray or streamed movies, we seriously suggest you click away now, because this 32-inch LED TV is not for you.
Actually, we're not sure who it is aimed at: is it a very rudimentary living room TV or a great value all-in-one for a bedroom? If pushed, we'd opt for the latter, since this is a combi only in the most basic sense. There's no Freeview HD tuner, and nor can the 32DL933B offer Full HD resolution - it's merely HD-ready.
Can a TV be considered all in one if it lacks a Freeview HD tuner? That depends on how you consume your digital TV, of course - Sky+, BT Vision or Virgin Media TiVo subscribers would probably rather not pay for superfluous tuners. But our guess is that the Toshiba 32DL933B is destined for bedrooms needing a size upgrade - and where the major diet is DVD films.
Another clue to the Toshiba 32DL933B's intended destination is in its choice of either black or white finishes, the latter given a slightly different model number: 32DL934W. In terms of looks, we like the Toshiba 32DL933B as it is.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

Its slimness is a moot point; although it's not exactly a fatboy model, the presence of that chunky DVD player extends its usable depth to over 63mm and moves it well away from any super-slim claims.
Gloss black and with a simple yet attractive furl across the top line, the Toshiba 32DL933B's bezel measures a meaty 35mm. The 32-inch TV costs £331 (around $520) in the UK.
Elsewhere in the Toshiba DL Series is a 19-inch 19DL933B, 23-inch 23DL933B and 26-inch 26DL933B, although oddly all are strapped with an HD-ready screen except the 23-inch model, which sports a Full HD resolution. They're all available as white versions, denoted by the DL934 moniker.

Elsewhere, Toshiba also sells the similarly HD-ready and black or white EL Series, which is available in the same sizes; it does away with the built-in DVD player, but retains LED backlighting.
If you want to step up to Full HD, consider the brand's HL Series, which come in 32-inch 32HL933 and 40-inch 40HL933 flavours. Both have slimmer screen surrounds than the Toshiba 32DL933B.

Features

The Toshiba 32DL933B's choice of connections is somewhat limited. On a side panel is the set's sole USB slot and a Common Interface slot, with two jacks below for attaching adaptors. Included in the box, those adaptors - commonly found on super-slim sets - enable component video and composite video cables to be attached, although the Toshiba 32DL933B is hardly short on girth.

On the main back panel are two HDMI inputs, a 15-pin D-sub VGA-in for a PC, an RF tuner feed to power standard-definition Freeview, a Scart (increasingly rare on flatscreen TVs these days, and a clue to the Toshiba 32DL933B's intended customer), and a coaxial digital audio output.
The main feature of the Toshiba 32DL933B is, of course, that integrated DVD player. As well as spinning regular purchased discs it can play all flavours of dual-layer and two-sided DVDs, as well as CD, CD-R, CD-RW and DVD-RW stored with MP3, JPEG, DivX, AVI, MPEG and VOB files.
Similar fare (exactly which file formats, we'll investigate later) is playable from USB flash drives or HDDs plugged in to the set's side-mounted USB port, which can also source files from a connected camera or smartphone.
Native 50Hz processing power is on a rather basic 1366 x 768 pixel resolution LCD panel - albeit an LED-backlit version. There's no 100Hz option to lessen blur, and in use that omission has a negative impact.

Toshiba 40BL702B

With the UK now totally digital and Freeview HD transmitters creeping into most major regions, who would buy a TV with just a bog standard digital tuner? Considering its Full HD resolution and super-slim appearance, we can only imagine that this, Toshiba's latest in a long line of 40-inch Edge LED TVs, is aimed at those with subscription TV services.
A Freeview HD tuner still carries a premium of £50-£100 on a TV, so it's worth manufacturers making bare bones TV for Virgin Media, BT Vision and Sky subscribers, we suppose, but there's relatively little else on this BL Series screen to tempt.
The Toshiba 40BL702B's Full HD LCD panel makes it a candidate for using with a Blu-ray disc player and games consoles, but its 40mm panel depth and use of LED backlighting will prove just as attractive.
What the Toshiba 40BL702B does lack is a smart TV dimension, which is a shame though hardly surprising on a TV without built-in Freeview HD guts. Ignoring 3D, too, the Toshiba 40BL702B also passes over the brand's successful CEVO picture engine, though do remember that this is a package geared towards achieving a low price, not the highest standards.
With a gloss black design and a bezel width of around 30mm, there's nothing particularly mould-breaking about the Toshiba 40BL702B, but it's pleasant enough and in terms of looks it certainly doesn't make a flatscreen faux pas.

Aside from this 40-inch model, other screens in Toshiba's BL Series include the 22-inch 22BL702B and 32-inch 32BL702B, both of which also feature Full HD resolution Edge LED-backlit panels.
Other 40-inch Edge LED TVs in Toshiba's 2012 lineup include those from the RL Series and TL Series. Freeview HD and the brand's smart TV platform, Toshiba Places, features on the 40RL858B and 40RL953B, the latter sporting a metallic design and adding a 100Hz scanning option that should completely banish motion blur.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

The similarly metallic-coloured 40TL868B in Toshiba's TL Series also claims Active Shutter 3D, although the really high-end features are found on the WL and YL Series models. With Active Shutter 3D, CEVO engine processing and 'full' LED local dimming, the 42-inch 42WL863B and 42-inch 42YL863B are worth searching out.

Features

The LCD panel's 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution is a bit of a relief after discovering that the Toshiba 40BL702B doesn't carry a DVB-T2 tuner for finding Freeview HD channels, but note that this is a 50Hz panel with no anti-blur 100Hz option. More alarmingly, this TV lacks a Blu-ray 24p playback mode, so despite that Full HD, the panel isn't technically ideal for hi-def discs.
Edge LED backlighting is in place, which ought to mean some decent contrast and a certain level of local dimming. But in previous years it's around the 40-inch size that the Edge system - where lights are used only at the sides and fire light across the rear of the panel, to create a super-slim product - becomes less impressive.

Buying Guide

Best Freeview HD TV

Ins and outs are excellent, with no sign of cut corners whatsoever; four HDMI inputs should lend some HD versatility to the Toshiba 40BL702B, which also sports two USB slots, component video, composite video, and a 15-pin D-sub VGA port for hooking up a PC in the old analogue way. On the side is a Common Interface slot for adding Top-Up TV viewing cards.
Although there's no Ethernet LAN port or built-in Wi-Fi - as found on almost every single TV priced over £500 (around $800) - the Toshiba 40BL702B does manage to provide a couple of rarely seen connections; Scart and a direct subwoofer output. Other audio ins include a set of stereo audio phones, an optical digital audio output and a headphones slot.
Talking of which, audio comes via some relatively weak 6W stereo speakers, with some basic audio modes that include a pseudo-surround option.

Its sole USB slot, situated on the side of the TV, can play digital material from a USB flash drive, HDD, camera or smartphone, and file compatibility stretches far beyond the basic JPEG/MP3/AVI formats that most cheap TVs offer.
The Toshiba 40BL702B is probably more notable for what it lacks. But those not interested in smart TV or Freeview HD - likely Sky, BT Vision or Virgin Media subscribers who already pay for HD channels and have BBC iPlayer/Sky Player access covered - will like having the option to purchase a basic flatscreen LED TV without having to waste money on pointless add-ons.
Besides, the Toshiba Places smart TV platform is a tad clunky and bereft of any services of note, aside from BBC iPlayer and YouTube. You're not missing much.

LG 47LM760T

Stuffed with the third incarnation of LG's XD Engine, this souped-up 47-inch TV uses an Edge LED backlit screen that's not only Full HD and 3D compatible (using LG's own passive Cinema 3D system), but claims a 'borderless' design that it very nearly lives up to.
With the TV switched off it's almost impossible to see any kind of frame aside from the metallic rim around the outside. However, when you turn on the LG 47LM760T a bezel of 11mm appears, although it's behind glass.
The millimetre count isn't much more for the LG 47LM760T's depth, where it measures just 33.4mm. Almost as stunning is its minimalist tabletop stand - a metallic-looking (though actually plastic), almost ski-like swivelling array.

Best TVs to buy

10 best 32-inch TVs10 best 37-inch TVs13 best 42-inch TVs12 best 3D TVs

If less is more on that score, it's not the case for 3D glasses, which is where the Cinema 3D format makes its major play. We've become used to LG supplying plenty of cheap cinema-style passive 3D glasses with its 3D TVs, but there's no doubt that the inclusion of a stunning seven pairs here will make this television appeal to families keen to get a TV that's future-proof.
It's actually not quite as simple as that; four standard pairs of 3D glasses are found in the box in the AG-F315 Party Pack, along with a special AG-F320 clip-on pair for regular spectacle wearers and a couple of pairs of AG-F310DP Dual Play games glasses.
The 3D games glasses make use of the polarised 3D panel not for further dimensional trickery, but for dividing the pixels into two separate images that can be decoded for each glasses wearer: cue two-player gaming heaven.

There's also a slight gamey feel to the LG 47LM760T's remote control, which LG calls its Magic Remote. It's similar to the Nintendo Wii's nunchuk, using an on-screen cursor system to select channels and navigate the menus.
That's unlikely to be a major selling point - not yet anyway - but what is bound to have wide appeal is LG's new Smart TV platform. Powered by Wi-Fi connectivity, the LG 47LM760T's Smart TV system proudly boasts links to BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Lovefilm and Acetrax, with various other useful apps such as ITN news, Twitter and daredevil sports channel RedBull TV.
In terms of picture processing, that Triple XD Engine has built-in 800Hz processing and Super Resolution for upscaling, which ought to be handy for making both DVDs and dodgy YouTube videos shine on such a big screen.

Buying Guide

Best Freeview HD TV

The LG 47LM760T is priced at £1,449.99 in the UK and $1,949.99 in the US, and is also available as the 42-inch 42LM760T and 55-inch 55LM760T. Where it shows its colours as a mid-range, rather than flagship, TV is initially hard to pinpoint. It's in its power; equipped only with a single core processor, all screens in LG's LM760T Series play third fiddle to both the LG LM860V and LM960V Series of Edge LED-lit LCD TVs.
All sporting LG's Cinema 3D system - of course - the 47-inch LG 47LM960V employs Direct (or Full) LED backlighting in the guise of the brand's much-trumpeted Nano LED tech. Built around a dual-core processor, also available is the 55-inch LG 55LM960V and 84-inch 3840 x 2160-pixel 'ultra definition' 84LM960V.
Just one step above this LG 47LM760T is LG's LM860V Series, which arrives as the 42-inch 42LM860V, 47-inch 47LM860V and 55-inch 55LM860V. The only difference we can find is the use of more advanced upscaling, which carries a premium of around £300 (about $460).

Magic remote

Next down the line from this LG 47LM760T screen is the LM660T and LM670T. This screens in this series use 400Hz scanning, and don't include Dual Play specs in the box.

Features

Smart TV is what the LG 47LM760T is all about, although whether it will change our tendency to largely ignore web-enabled features (less than 10% of smart TV owners in Europe connect to the web at least once a week) is debatable.
LG divides its apps into two categories, with its Premium page containing top-line apps such as BBC iPlayer, which is joined by the Lovefilm and Acetrax movie download services, along with Red Bull TV, ITN, Autocar, YouTube, Blinkbox, CineTrailer, Twitter, Cartoon Network, HiT, Picasa, Facebook, iConcerts, AccuWeather and Box Office 365.

Standard remote

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

Absolute Radio has just been added, and we're also promised Netflix, although on our sample it was missing - and alarmingly BBC iPlayer showed us a "Coming soon" message when launched. LG's SmartWorld app store is even patchier, with OK! Magazine and Euronews the highlights... yep, it's that bad.
SmartShare is more impressive, promising to seamlessly link disparate sources to the LG 47LM760T including laptops, netbooks, PCs and Macs on a home network, as well as smartphones and USB flash drives and HDDs. Either of the latter can be used to pause live TV and make recordings from the LG 47LM760T's integrated Freeview HD tuner.
We've already mentioned that the LG 47LM760T comes with a boatload of 3D glasses, although it's worth mentioning that they are 20% lighter in weight than last year, and very comfortable to wear.

The provision of clip-on specs for spectacle wearers is a great idea, although in practice it's a sales trick; the standard 3D glasses can be easily slipped on over the top of most glasses.
We will revisit the Dual Play specs that make use of the normally 3D-centric Film Patterned Retarder tech for full-screen gaming from split screen games, but it's worth mentioning here that for some users it will be so much more attractive a feature than watching 3D movies.
Other hardware is just as impressive. The pleasingly down-facing slots on the LG 47LM760T comprise jacks for hooking up component video and composite video sources via adaptors, a Scart, a D-sub 15-pin VGA port for a PC and wired Ethernet LAN alongside audio jacks for a PC, optical digital audio, and headphones.

Along the side-panel are four HDMI inputs (one of which has an Audio Return Channel), a Common Interface slot and three USB 2.0 slots, one reserved for attaching a HDD.
LG also sells a Skype camera to sit atop the LG 47LM760T - the AN-VC400 - which attaches to the TV via one of these USB slots.

Panasonic TX-P50ST50

Plasma, it seems, is continuing to lose the PR battle with its arch LCD rival - at least where the mass television market is concerned. It hasn't helped, either, that the new energy rating system for TVs doesn't exactly work in plasma's favour, with most plasma TVs measuring Cs at best versus the A and A+ grades routinely boasted by LCD TVs.
The Panasonic P50ST50, though, is out to prove that plasma still has a big part to play in the modern TV world. For starters it looks surprisingly svelte for a plasma set, proving that the technology doesn't have to be fat and old-school.
It's also got some fearsome specifications to shout about, including a mind-boggling 5,500,000:1 native contrast ratio (no dynamic contrast backlight shenanigans here), a response time of just 0.001ms that destroys the response times of all LCD TVs, not to mention such up to the minute features as active 3D playback and a healthy online feature set, courtesy of Panasonic's Viera Connect platform.
Perhaps even more importantly, the plasma panel at the Panasonic Viera TX-P50ST50's heart is a radical reboot of last year's debut NeoPlasma panels. This delivers - in particular - improvements to energy efficiency that Panasonic has bravely used to help the TV deliver more picture brightness, rather than taking the more politically correct route of just going for a lower energy rating.

The 50-inch Panasonic P50ST50 is priced at around £1,200 in the UK and $1,400 in the US. It's joined by the 65-inch Panasonic P65ST50, 55-inch P55ST50, and 42-inch P42ST50.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

As for rivals, Samsung and LG are both still in the plasma market alongside Panasonic, with the upcoming Samsung P51E6500 looking to be the closest match in price and specification terms.
LCD alternatives are 10 a penny really, except that LCD panel size trends mean you'll be looking at 46/47-inch or 55-inch sizes rather than the 50-inch screen of the Panasonic P50ST50.

Features

The single most important thing to know about the Panasonic P50ST50 is that it uses plasma rather than LCD technology - a fact that instantly generates a series of expectations about where its performance strengths might lie.
Contrast is generally an area of real strength for plasma TVs, especially Panasonic models. And this trend looks like it's going to continue on the Panasonic P50ST50 if its vast quoted contrast ratio of 5,500,000:1 is anything to go by. This is a 'native' contrast ratio figure too, meaning that it isn't achieved by dynamically shifting the overall image brightness (and thus reducing image stability and the dynamic range of dark scenes) as happens with LCD TVs.

We'd also expect a plasma TV to show fast motion more clearly than LCD TVs, on account of plasma's much faster screen response time. Plasma screens also support viewing from much wider angles than LCD ones. Indeed, during our tests you could sit almost at right angles to the Panasonic P50ST50 before the image degraded to any significant extent.
Experience would suggest, too, that the Panasonic P50ST50 should be able to show its active 3D pictures with significantly less crosstalk ghosting interference than most LCD TVs. But while we're on the subject of 3D, it's a little disappointing to find that Panasonic doesn't include even a single pair of active 3D glasses for free with the Panasonic P50ST50.

Buying Guide

12 best Blu-ray players in the UK 2012

Presumably Panasonic took the decision that it wanted to keep the P50ST50's price as low as possible rather than charge more to include a set or two of the £60/$80-ish active 3D glasses. But experience and consumer research suggest that unless people can enjoy a TV feature right out of the box, they're much less likely to ever try that feature at all.
Plasma technology isn't all about benefits, of course. You would also expect plasma TVs to be less bright than LCD ones - even though they use markedly more power. Panasonic doesn't quote a brightness figure for the Panasonic P50ST50, but its quoted average power rating of 180W is up to three times as high as the figures quoted for some of Panasonic's own LCD/LED TVs.
Panasonic TVs struggle to deliver the same highly fashionable ultra-thin looks that LCD TVs can, too. However, while the Panasonic P50ST50 certainly isn't nearly as svelte in either its bezel or its rear end as the latest LCD supermodels from LG and Samsung, it's still pretty attractive in its dark grey colour scheme, offset by a trendy see-through accent along all four of its edges.

Certainly it's a big improvement over the rather dull aesthetics of most previous Panasonic plasma TVs.
The Panasonic P50ST50's connections show few signs of any 'old-fashionedness' either. For instance, its three HDMIs are all built to the latest 3D-supporting v1.4 standard, and it's got two USBs through which you can play a good set of multimedia file formats.

Best TVs to buy

10 best 32-inch TVs10 best 37-inch TVs13 best 42-inch TVs12 best 3D TVs

The support level here is much higher than it was with last year's Panasonic models, with all of the following file types now in play: JPEG, AVCHD, SD-Video, MOV, AVI, DivX, MKV, ASF, MP4, FLV, 3GPP, MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, PS, and TS. Do note, though, that you'll need to run Windows 7 as a media server for a few of these formats.
Any mid-range or higher TV now is likely to have some sort of online functionality, and so it is with the Panasonic P50ST50, which provides both LAN and built-in Wi-Fi options for logging the TV into Panasonic's Viera Connect online service. You can also, of course, employ both these options for streaming files from a connected DLNA PC.
Viera Connect's appeal continues to grow, slowly but surely. The single most significant addition to it this year, to date, is the Netflix movie streaming subscription service, which joins the likes of BBC iPlayer, AceTrax, Fetch TV and YouTube in providing you with on-demand video servers.

Viera Connect is also to be commended on having secured a couple of startlingly good-looking games from Gameloft (Asphalt 5 and Let's Golf 2), and for covering all the key social networking bases.
There's a growing number of small (and thus less actually useful) apps too, although the number of these isn't as distractingly overwhelming as it is on the latest smart TV services from Samsung and LG.
Panasonic has got considerably better in recent times at making sure its TVs have the sort of calibration tools desired by the enthusiast end of the AV market. The adjustments on the Panasonic P50ST50 aren't bad by any means, and include gamma and white balance fine-tuners. But you don't get the full colour management options - or THX endorsement and presets - found on the Panasonic's higher-spec GT50 and VT50 plasma TVs.

Forward thinking...

Apple iTV release date, news and rumours

The plasma panel inside the Panasonic P50ST50 is one of Panasonic's very latest designs. Indeed, the ST50 range is the cheapest point at which you can get your hands on one of these panels. What this new panel does, predominantly, is improve colour balance and black level response while also driving down energy consumption.
Intriguingly, Panasonic claims to have put this increased efficiency to use in boosting the P50ST50's brightness rather than simply pursuing a reduced overall energy consumption rating. Why? Because it sees plasma as the picture enthusiast's choice, where a likely buyer will prefer more picture dynamism to saving a few bob on their electric bill.
If you want to go down a more eco-friendly route, the argument continues, then there's always Panasonic's A-rated LCD TV range.
Also of note on the Panasonic P50ST50's spec sheet is its 2000Hz Focused Field Drive technology. This is a vast improvement over the 600Hz systems previously found on Panasonic's plasma TVs - and actually, so far as we can tell, 600Hz remains the maximum figure employed by any rival plasma brands this year.
What these fancy numbers all mean, hopefully, is that the Panasonic P50ST50 will suffer considerably less with judder than typical plasma televisions, as well as enjoying enhanced brightness and colour saturation.

Sony KDL-32HX753

In the nick of time, Sony has finally got its flatscreen TV act together, delivering with its flagship HX853 series arguably the best-performing LCD TVs ever. So it's with real enthusiasm that we take receipt of the first model from the brand's new step-down series, the Sony 32HX753. If this can manage to deliver most of the quality of the HX853s for a bit less money, then happiness surely awaits...
The Sony KDL-32HX753 follows the latest evolution of Sony's Monolithic design by adding a glimmer of silver around the bezel's outer edges - though it doesn't feel as well built as the HX853 televisions.
So far as its features are concerned, the 32-inch TV's headliners are its active 3D playback - now supported by a native 200Hz panel versus the 100Hz one used on last year's disappointing EX7 series - and its use of Sony's new, video-rich SEN online platform.
What's more, the Sony 32HX753 supports its online functionality by providing built-in Wi-Fi.

Best TVs to buy

10 best 32-inch TVs10 best 37-inch TVs13 best 42-inch TVs12 best 3D TVs

The core technology behind the 32HX753's screen is LCD with an Edge LED lighting system. It should be stressed right away, though, that the 32HX753 doesn't use the local dimming system that was put to such superlative use with the HX853 models.
The Sony 32HX753 costs £699 (around $1,095) in the UK, but if you want something a bit bigger than the 32-inch TV, you can also get the 40-inch 40HX753 (£899), 46-inch 46HX753 (£1,199) and 55-inch 55HX753 (£1,549), while if you want the absolute best Sony picture quality currently available you should step up to the 46HX853 or 55HX853.
Rival models are tricky to define precisely, given the huge wealth of televisions available this year, but the most likely direct competitors would be the Panasonic DT50 or possibly Panasonic ET50 series, the LG LM660 series and Samsung ES6800 or ES6300 series.

Features

After undertaking an extensive round of consumer research, Sony has this year softened the striking but rather stark and masculine look of its Monolithic TV design approach by reducing the bezel size a bit, softening corners, and applying a sliver of outer silver trim to its TV's extremities.
The Sony 32HX753 looks fine on the back of this shift, though its reduced build quality means the design doesn't look quite as elegant as it did on the step-up HX853 Sony TVs.
The relatively small size of this 32-inch TV also doesn't really give the design quite enough room to shine, so that it doesn't stand out from the crowd as much as Sony's previous Monolithic TVs have tended to.

On the upside, though, the way the TV sits low and slightly angled back on a pair of minimalistic legs is very pleasant and reduces the extent to which the set intrudes into your living space.
Connections are ranged helpfully around the side and bottom edge of the Sony 32HX753, making it easy to wall-hang the set. They're also pleasingly plentiful for an affordable 32-inch TV, including four HDMIs, a pair of USBs, and both LAN and integrated Wi-Fi for accessing material stored on a DLNA PC or Mac and Sony's SEN online content platform.

Buying Guide

12 best Blu-ray players in the UK 2012

Clearly the features associated with some of these connections warrant further attention. The HDMIs are v1.4 in spec, so that they're compatible with Full HD 3D Blu-ray feeds. The USBs, meanwhile, can play back a good if not exhaustive selection of multimedia video, photo and music formats, as well as enabling recording to USB flash drives from the built-in Freeview HD tuner.
As for the LAN/Wi-Fi, this is supported by Sony's mostly likeable new Homestream software (free to download for Mac as well as PC) to enable streaming of a wide variety of material from almost any computer. Or, of course, it can provide your portal to the Sony Entertainment Network online system.
Pressing the new SEN button on the remote control thankfully immediately throws up a new 'hub' for the online services that's light years ahead of the cumbersome, ugly menu system used by last year's Bravia Internet Video TVs.

On the left you get a reduced version of the picture you were watching, along with - if you wish - a ticker-tape presentation of your Twitter feed. This is an excellently unobtrusive way to integrate social media into a TV environment.
Ranged across the screen to the right of the reduced TV picture are various sections of content under Apps, Video, Music and Favourites headers. The presentation for all these sections is impressive, with lots of HD icons, and the content levels are impressive too.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

You don't get the sheer overwhelming number of services and apps found on the Smart TV platforms from Samsung and LG, perhaps, but Sony's tradition of quality over quantity where online content is concerned continues to impress.
Among the highlights of what's on offer are BBC iPlayer, Demand 5 (Channel 5's catchup service), BBC News, Sky News, Skype (if you add an optional extra camera), Twitter, Facebook, Lovefilm, Netflix, EuroSport, YouTube, Sony's own 3D content channel, Euronews, Crackle, aolHD (featuring Engadget and Huffington Post content, among other things), WIRED, Blinkx, BillaBong, style.com, DailyMotion, eHow.com, golflinks and Moshcam.
Sony also includes its own app content, in the form of a Sony Entertainment Television library, its increasingly impressive Video Unlimited film and TV streaming service, and Sony's (also increasingly excellent) Music Unlimited service.

We guess some might take issue with the way Sony gives its own content platforms their own large Video and Music categories while rivals such as LoveFilm and Netflix get shoved together on the second page of the Apps section. But Sony has at least provided these alternative film sources, so it's not like they're actually forcing you to use only their own music and video platforms.
Sony has also started to introduce a few smaller apps, such as a couple of fairly basic games and on-board clock and calendar widgets. But it's the extensive selection of video streaming sources that matters and continues to make Sony arguably the most satisfying online TV service provider.
If you're a die-hard picture tweaker, the Sony 32HX753 is reasonably well equipped with fine tuners to keep you happy. There's a solid selection of thematic picture presets (some perhaps unhelpfully stored under a separate 'Scene Select' section) to get you started.

Buying Guide

Best Freeview HD TV

In here you can tweak the backlight, brightness and contrast settings separately; the amount of MPEG, dot and standard noise reduction; the type of motion processing being used; the level of black level and contrast enhancement; the set's basic gamma level; and the bias and gain of the red, green and blue colour elements.
There are a few other processing elements you might want to explore as well, such as detail and Edge enhancers, and a 'Clear White' white level booster. But chances are that you'll get the best results for most of the time if you leave these peripheral options turned off.
The motion processing warrants a bit more investigation. Because while the Sony 32HX753 'only' uses a MotionFlow XR 400 system versus the 800Hz-like XR 800 system of the HX853 series, it still has the same surprisingly wide-ranging selection of different processing options. To be honest, most of these are best avoided - even the new Impulse mode, which sounds interesting on paper but ultimately leaves the picture flickering like an old 50Hz CRT.

Forward thinking...

Apple iTV release date, news and rumours

The only mode you will probably consistently get much joy out of without feeling images look a little syrupy or over-processed is the Clear setting.
Two final points to mention are that the Sony 32HX753 only has Sony's X-Reality processing engine rather than the HX853's Pro version, and that the TV uses frame dimming rather than the HX853's local dimming for its Edge LED lighting.
With respect to the X-Reality situation, it means that the Sony 32HX753 won't be as adept at upscaling standard definition TV content - especially heavily compressed content from the internet.
As for the use of frame dimming rather than local dimming, this means that while the TV set can reduce and increase all of its lights at once in response to picture content, it doesn't join the Sony HX853 series in enabling different segments of LEDs to deliver different levels of brightness. This has the potential to significantly reduce the 32HX753's contrast performance versus its more expensive siblings.

Samsung UE40ES6800

Samsung's ES7000 and ES8000 TVs are gorgeous to look at, innovative with their features and their interfaces, and capable of some outstanding picture quality. But they're also likely beyond the financial means of a large chunk of the TV buying population right now.
With this in mind, we suspect many prospective television buyers will be forced to turn their attentions to a slightly lower level of Samsung's 2012 TV range, such as the 40-inch Samsung UE40ES6800, which packs a full recommended retail price of £1,079.99 (around $1,690), but can be found for as little as £800 (around $1,250).
You can tell as soon as you look at it that the Samsung UE40ES6800 isn't as swanky as its costlier siblings, since its design, while certainly not in the least bit ugly, doesn't feature the insanely thin bezel of the ES7000s and ES8000s.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

It also doesn't offer the startling array of alternative control systems sported by Samsung's top-end TVs. As in, you don't get a second remote with a touchpad, and there's no support for either voice or gesture controls.
The Samsung UE40ES6800 doesn't carry the same level of picture processing used by the ES7000 and ES8000 models, either. This means the Samsung UE40ES6800's Clear Motion Rate (CMR) number is 400Hz rather than 800Hz, and that the set's micro dimming LED control system is less sophisticated in terms of the number of areas of the picture it takes into account when calculating illumination levels.
You do still get the latest version of Samsung's excellent Smart TV online service, though, complete with its new Fitness, Family and Kid zones. And the set supports active 3D playback, with two pairs of glasses included for free.

Other TVs in the Samsung ES6800 range include smaller brother the 32-inch UE32ES6800 (priced at £849.99), the 46-inch UE46ES6800 (£1,399.99) and the 55-inch UE55ES6800 (£1,899.99).
If you want to buy a cheaper Samsung TV, the ES6300 range doesn't offer micro dimming and has a 200Hz CMR but costs £200 less, or the ES5500 series uses a 100Hz CMR rate, also doesn't offer micro dimming or built-in Wi-Fi - but costs £500 less than the ES6800.
Outside of Samsung's own TV stable, the Samsung UE40ES6800 goes up against the likes of the Sony KDL-40HX753, Panasonic TX-L42ET5, LG 42LM660T and Panasonic TX-P42ST50, among other great smart and 3D TVs.

Panasonic TX-L47WT50B

Is this Panasonic's best Edge LED telly yet? With a slinky designed frame around great smart TV features, a quality panel and dual-core processing, the company famous for plasmas here diversifies to stunning effect.
Design and build quality are second to none.
Measuring a mere 27mm in depth, the look is what Panasonic calls its 'Super Narrow Metal' frame, which features a 10mm black screen surround within a metallic 2mm bezel.
Completing the oh-so-svelte look is a curved 'crescent' desktop stand.

Other than its generally very un-Panasonic looks, the headline act on the TX-L47WT50 is VIERA Connect, which is fast becoming one of the best smart TV interfaces around.
Unlike those on Sony, Samsung and LG TVs it's not fully integrated into the architecture of the TV, which may be a mistake, but at least keeps it a clean affair.
It's also customisable, which is rare, and a boon given the sheer amount of apps that keep appearing.
As a default (and do bear in mind that regular firmware updates may change this) VIERA Connect's first page sports BBC News, the all-new BBC Sport, Skype, BBC iPlayer, Eurosport, YouTube, and Acetrax movies.

The second page includes Aupeo radio, Jambox Games (chess, Sudoku, etc), iConcerts, SHOUTcast radio, the useful ROVI TV guide, and Panasonic's own web browser.

The third – and last, unless you download a load more apps – includes Netflix, Euronews, Dailymotion, CNBC Real-Time, and Fetch TV.

On pure panel tech alone the TX-L47WT50B is just as smart, pairing an 'Infinite Contrast' IPS Alpha LCD panel with active shutter 3D.

Sony KDL-40HX753

Forget like.no.other and make.believe; less.is.more should be Sony's new motto if this 40-incher from its HX7 Series is anything to go by.
Perhaps it's the company's financial problems or the fact that it's flattered to deceive with many of its TVs in recent years, but 2012 sees Sony streamline its Bravias and sensibly concentrate on core must-have features.
We've already been blown away by a telly from the brand's flagship HX8 Series, the 46-inch KDL- 46HX853, but the smaller version of this 40-incher, the KDL-32HX752, had notable problems with 3D.
In the slim stakes the KDL-40HX753 isn't a patch on some of the smart-looking TVs we've seen of late.
Granted, it's hardly an ugly duckling, but the 59mm panel depth makes it chubby by today's standards.

Around the screen is a sizable 27mm gloss black bezel (reaching 37mm along the bottom) that despite being rimmed with silver shows its less-than-flagship design, though we do admire its clever 'easel' stand that sees two metallic poles jut out from under the bottom of the TV.

The TV appears to float and, furthermore, it leans back slightly (by 6º to be precise). The effect is at once both subtle and dramatic. Now that's proper design.

Also the receiver of a makeover is Sony's smart TV platform, which was easily the best in the business when it launched a few years ago, but had begun to stale.
However, the re-named Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) is merely an extra hub screen that gathers certain apps.
Although the likes of the BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Lovefilm are present, there was no sign of the new BBC Sport app during our test.

The KDL-40HX753 uses Sony's X-Reality processing and sports a 400Hz (that's a 200Hz panel and some backlight scanning) Edge LED-backlit Full HD LCD panel; fast enough for active shutter 3D compatibility, but don't get carried away – there are no 3D specs supplied in the box.
Is Sony trying to kill 3D? With 3D specs – even formerly pricey active shutter flavours – now going for less then £20, it would appear so.
Even worse, despite Sony being a member of the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative that was invented to make 3D glasses work on all active shutter 3DTVs, neither our Samsung nor Panasonic 3D specs worked with the KDL-40HX753.

Samsung UE40ES6800

Samsung's ES7000 and ES8000 TVs are gorgeous to look at, innovative with their features and their interfaces, and capable of some outstanding picture quality. But they're also likely beyond the financial means of a large chunk of the TV buying population right now.
With this in mind, we suspect many prospective television buyers will be forced to turn their attentions to a slightly lower level of Samsung's 2012 TV range, such as the 40-inch Samsung UE40ES6800, which packs a full recommended retail price of £1,079.99 (around $1,690), but can be found for as little as £800 (around $1,250).
You can tell as soon as you look at it that the Samsung UE40ES6800 isn't as swanky as its costlier siblings, since its design, while certainly not in the least bit ugly, doesn't feature the insanely thin bezel of the ES7000s and ES8000s.

Buying Guide

Best TV 2012

It also doesn't offer the startling array of alternative control systems sported by Samsung's top-end TVs. As in, you don't get a second remote with a touchpad, and there's no support for either voice or gesture controls.
The Samsung UE40ES6800 doesn't carry the same level of picture processing used by the ES7000 and ES8000 models, either. This means the Samsung UE40ES6800's Clear Motion Rate (CMR) number is 400Hz rather than 800Hz, and that the set's micro dimming LED control system is less sophisticated in terms of the number of areas of the picture it takes into account when calculating illumination levels.
You do still get the latest version of Samsung's excellent Smart TV online service, though, complete with its new Fitness, Family and Kid zones. And the set supports active 3D playback, with two pairs of glasses included for free.

Other TVs in the Samsung ES6800 range include smaller brother the 32-inch UE32ES6800 (priced at £849.99), the 46-inch UE46ES6800 (£1,399.99) and the 55-inch UE55ES6800 (£1,899.99).
If you want to buy a cheaper Samsung TV, the ES6300 range doesn't offer micro dimming and has a 200Hz CMR but costs £200 less, or the ES5500 series uses a 100Hz CMR rate, also doesn't offer micro dimming or built-in Wi-Fi - but costs £500 less than the ES6800.
Outside of Samsung's own TV stable, the Samsung UE40ES6800 goes up against the likes of the Sony KDL-40HX753, Panasonic TX-L42ET5, LG 42LM660T and Panasonic TX-P42ST50, among other great smart and 3D TVs.