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  • Introduction

  • Tour & Design

  • Blacks & Whites

  • Color Accuracy

  • Motion

  • Viewing Effects

  • Calibration

  • Connectivity

  • Audio & Menus

  • Multimedia & Internet

  • Power Consumption

  • Vs Sony KDL-32EX700

  • Vs Samsung LN32C550

  • Vs LG 32LD450

  • Conclusion

  • Series Comparison

  • Introduction
  • Tour & Design
  • Blacks & Whites
  • Color Accuracy
  • Motion
  • Viewing Effects
  • Calibration
  • Connectivity
  • Audio & Menus
  • Multimedia & Internet
  • Power Consumption
  • Vs Sony KDL-32EX700
  • Vs Samsung LN32C550
  • Vs LG 32LD450
  • Conclusion
  • Series Comparison

Introduction

Tour & Design

Front


The Sony KDL-32EX600 shows off a relatively thin bezel. Sony typically does a job job of designing TVs that are pleasing to the eye, while remaining a little more conservative than the wilder Samsungs. Along the lower left corner of the bezel are a series of indicator lights and the IR receiver.

Back


The back of the Sony KDL-32EX600 is mostly plain. The ports are all gathered on one side to make for easier access. For information about the ports on the back of the Sony KDL-32EX600 see our Connectivity section.

Sides


From this angle you can see the relatively thin bezel, but the overall thickness of the TV as a whole. It appears that Sony could make parts of the screen thin, but required some space for all the other electronic components (thus making a little junk in the trunk). For information about the ports on the sides of the Sony KDL-32EX600 see our Connectivity section.

Stand/Mount


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a wide, rectangular stand made of a reflective, black plastic. It certainly seems sturdy enough for the relatively light 32-inch TV panel, so we have no worries about a tip-over. The stand also allows the panel to swivel back and forth, roughly 20 degrees in each direction.

Controls


A series of onboard controls for basic TV functionality live on the right side. All the usual gang is here: power, menu, volume, channel up/down, and input. We like it when the buttons are on the side, because it reduces the likelihood of getting fingerprints all over the bezel – a constant problem with the 2010 Samsungs.

Remote Control


The Sony KDL-32EX600's remote control is long and narrow. The button placement is decent enough, once you get used to the feel, but the volume and channel up/down buttons are too small and placed too far down towards the bottom. We definitely miss the backlit keys found on remotes in competing TVs, which can prove damn useful in a dark room. 

In The Box*(6.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 ships with the base & screws, a remote control & batteries, an AC power cable, an instruction manual, and assorted documentation. 

Aesthetics*(9.0)*


Even with these relatively inexpensive models, Sony manages to produce an attractive design almost every time. We were pleased to see the clean, sharp lines and attention to detail carry through from their most expensive TVs down through the EX600 series. You certainly don't get the wafer-thinness of some pricier LED models, but you won't be disappointed, either.

 

Blacks & Whites

Black Level*(8.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 managed a solid performance in our black level test, which showed the TV can get as low as 0.10 cd/m2. This is about the same performance as we saw in the next-level-up Sony, as well as a comparable Samsung. A similar LG, however, failed to deliver. (More on how we test Black Level.)

Peak Brightness*(8.15)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 did not manage to produce as bright as white as we've seen from similar TVs, possibly because of our calibration settings, or possibly because of a poor implementation of the LED edge-lighting (or some other explanation). However you explain it, these are the test results. (More on how we test Peak Brightness.)

Contrast*(7.92)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 produced a decent contrast ratio, though it's significantly narrower than the Sony 32EX700, the next step up. The score discrepancy is based entirely on a difference in the peak brightness. The black level scores were the same. (More on how we test Contrast.)

Tunnel Contrast*(9.32)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 showed a very slight tendency to raise the brightness of its black level as the amount of black on the screen decreased. Picture an all-black screen. Then picture that black rectangle getting smaller and smaller, as it becomes surrounded by bright white. That's the test, in a nutshell, and the chart below shows the trendline of the black level getting brighter and brighter. It's subtle, and you probably won't notice a problem. (More on how we test Tunnel Contrast.)

White Falloff*(9.94)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has no problem maintaining a consistent white level, no matter how much white area on the screen. (More on how we test White Falloff.)

Uniformity*(6.75)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 had no problems with bright scenes and an even white, but on a black screen, we saw a lot of flashlighting (bright spots) in the corners. It was obvious and distracting. (More on how we test Uniformity.)

Greyscale Gamma*(7.89)*


The greyscale gamma test gives us an idea of how well the TV transitions from black to white. First, let's look at the shape of the curve. Ideally, we're looking for a smooth line. As you can see, though, the lower left portion of the line (representing the shadow details) is a little flat. That tells us that the TV has some trouble showing detail in the shadows. This is a typical in most TVs, to some extent. We verified it with our own eyes. It's no too troubling. (More on how we test Greyscale Gamma.)

The second thing we look at is the slope of the curve. Ideally, we want a slope between 2.1 and 2.2. The Sony KDL-32EX600's slope measures 2.55, which is a bit steep. Expect that the TV will miss some of the finer gradations in the greyscale. Overall, though, it's a pretty good performance

Color Accuracy

Color Temperature*(8.16)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 appeared to be quite good at maintaining a consistent color temperature. As you can see in the chart below, there are a lot of bumps, but it only falls into the "perceptible error" limit in a few instances. And even when it is perceptible, it's not too egregious. (More on how we test Color Temperature.)

RGB Curves*(8.03)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 produced smooth, strong curves in our RGB curves. As you can see in the chart below, there are few bumps and the curves more in a more or less uniform fashion. The only problem is the red channel's peaking, indicated by that little flat area in the upper right. It means that the TV has a hard time producing detail in the brightest parts of the red channel. This was a real problem for us during calibration. We could lower the contrast (which Sony calls the "picture" setting) significantly to recover that detail, but it had an adverse affect on the shadow detail for all three channels. In the end, we decided that losing some of the brightest reds was the best trade-off. (More on how we test RGB Curves.)

The strips below are digital recreations of the RGB test data, compared against three similar TVs and an ideal response curve. 

 

 

Color Gamut*(3.72)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 did not do such a great job matching up to the rec. 709 color standard, a common standard for color performance on TVs. The green point and the white point (the circle in the center) were close to ideal, but the red and blue points were oversaturated. (More on how we test Color Gamut.)

The table below has all the hard details of how the Sony KDL-32EX600 compared with rec. 709. 

 

Motion

Motion Smoothness*(7.38)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 was rather good at producing a smooth motion performance. There was a drop-off between the native 1080p and the upscaled 1080i resolution, the latter suffering from more jagged edges. On the whole, though, we were quite pleased, especially because the EX600 series lacks a motion smoothing feature found on more expensive Sonys. (More on how we test Motion.)

Motion Artifacting*(7.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 managed to tamp down most of the motion artifacts that we see in a lot of TVs. Sure, there were the normal problems: jaggies, blurring, and some false color trails. All of these problems, though, were negligible. 

3:2 Pulldown & 24fps*(8.5)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has no problem displaying native 24fps content, such as you might see on a Blu-Ray disc. The Sony website advertises the TV as featuring "24p True  Cinema" technology. We're not exactly sure what this means, because the EX600 is no better or worse than any other TV at the task. There's some obvious lagging when the camera does slow pans, just as we see on most TVs. (More on how we test 3:2 Pulldown and 24fps.)

Resolution Scaling*(9.25)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a native 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution, but most of the content you'll be watching will probably be a lower resolution. It's up to the TV's internal processing to rescale that data to fit the screen. We looked at the three most common resolutions to see how the EX600 responded. (More on how we test Resolution Scaling.)

480p

When we fed the EX600 a 480p signal, the picture quality was more or less perfect.

720p

With 720p, the TV showed some very slight Moires in high frequency, high contrast patterns. We should note here that in order to get the best performance, we needed to locate the "Display Area" setting and changed the value to +1. If you do not, the TV will overscan and lose some of the picture's edge.

1080i

The 1080i footage we reviewed showed more Moire patterns in high contrast, high frequency patterns.

 

Viewing Effects

 

Formats*(9.0)*

 


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a native 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution, but is fully capable of handling all standard NTSC formats. 

 

Viewing Angle*(5.12)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a pretty good viewing angle for an LCD TV. Typically, this is one of the big differences between LCD and plasma TVs; plasmas have a far wider performance. And while the EX600 is decent enough, it doesn't hold a candle to the average plasma. (More on how we test Viewing Angle.)

As you can see in the chart above, the Sony KDL-32EX600 managed a better performance than the competing LCD TVs. 

Reflectance*(7.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 is clearly trying to reduce big, diffuse glare spot cause by ambient lights. When you shine a light at the screen, you see a small diffuse glare, and a sharp, rainbow-like pattern that redirects light into a horizontal path. This is only if there's a really strong light. If you can tilt the TV panel or the light source even a little, the glare becomes minimal. (More on how we test Reflectance.)

Video Processing*(3.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a lot of video processing features. Here is a list with official explanations, as well as our own interpretations.

 

Calibration

Calibration


[

](http://www.displaymate.com/)The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a lot of picture quality settings. To start, we put the TV in Custom mode. The default values, and our adjustments, for each setting are listed in the table below.

Any features that we didn't mention above should be assumed disabled.

Video Modes


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has just three Picture Modes. Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll find a submenu called Scene modes. In these modes, a lot of the TV's settings will be greyed out, so it's probably not the best choice for people that like to do their own tweaks.

First, the Picture modes.

Here are the Scene modes.

 

 

Connectivity

Input Ports*(7.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a standard outfit of ports for a modern HDTV – not too many, but enough for a basic home theater setup. There are 4 HDMIs, 2 components (one of which shares double duty as a composite AV input), a dedicated composite AV input, and a VGA input for computers with matching 1/8th-inch audio input.

 

The EX600 also has a USB port for playing back video, music, and photos from USB mass storage devices.

 

Output Ports*(2.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a digital audio output and an analog audio output. 

Other Connections*(0.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 does not have ethernet or WiFi connectivity for local networks or streaming content.

Media*(1.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a USB port on the side for connecting to Sony brand cameras and camcorders, as well as any brand of USB mass storage device (i.e. a thumb drive, etc.). More details ahead

Placement*(8.0)*


The ports are placed conveniently for most users. The ports on the side – composite AV and USB – are designed for quick swaps like thumb drives and cameras. The rear ports are designed for long-term connections, and the swivel base allows for easy access to these too.

 

Audio & Menus

Audio Quality*(5.5)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has a fairly decent audio performance, for a modest 32-inch TV. Most of the samples we listened to came across clear and sharp. The bass response paled in comparison to what a cheap subwoofer could produce, but that's the norm. In the menu, there are three preset modes (Dynamic, Standard, and Clear Voice), as well as a Custom mode. In the Custom mode, you have access to a five-channel equalizer, which gives you a lot more ability to tweak audio (within the limited range of the speakers, of course). The TV also has the obligatory surround sound emulator, though it seemed to produce no qualitative change in the audio. 

Menu Interface*(6.0)*


The menu interface on the Sony EX600 series is very different from the more expensive EX700 series and above, which looks more like a PlayStation3 or PSP menu – very good, in other words. The menu on this TV is awkward and confusing, as if the designers are deliberating trying to keep the options from you.

When you push the Menu button on the remote, a tiny menu appears in the corner, asking if you want to watch photos, music, or videos from a USB drive, as well as a "Settings" option. Wait... WHAT? When you hit a menu button, you're supposed to get a menu of actual options or so we thought. But to access any options about picture quality, you first have to select the "Settings" option in that first menu. This could all be a lot simpler if Sony had just added a "USB" button on the remote, and a "USB" option in the main menu. Do they really expect people to be using the USB port so often that that's the first option they should be presented with.

Once you do manage to get to the main menu, it looks like the picture below. It's pretty standard from this point on. Submenus are arranged vertically along the left side. The interface is fairly intuitive, and you can always hit the Return or Menu button on the remote to exit.

Instruction Manual*(7.5)*


The manual that comes with the Sony KDL-32EX600 is comprehensive enough to provide at least cursory explanations of every feature. It may not have the detail you want, but you should be able to piece a real explanation for something like "CineMotion" if you read the description and play around with the TV yourself. You can find the Sony KDL-32EX600's manual online here.

 

Multimedia & Internet

 

Internet Features*(0.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has no internet features, no access to streaming content, and no DLNA support. 

 

Photo Playback*(3.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 can play back photos that are stored on USB mass storage devices, or Sony-brand cameras and camcorders. Plug into the USB port, and you'll be presented with a screen full of image thumbnails. You can view images one by one, or create a slideshow. 

Music & Video Playback*(4.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 can also play music and video clips, much in the same fashion as photos. Pop in a USB mass storage device or a Sony-branded camera or camcorder into the USB port, and you're off! The TV is a little picky about compatible file types, so you may want to check the manual if you had your heart set on .AVI or .WAV files (neither of which are supported).  

Other Media*(0.0)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 does not support any other type of media. 

Power Consumption

Power Consumption*(9.45)*


The Sony KDL-32EX600 is a modest little energy eater, what with its small, 32-inch screen and LED edge-lighting. On average, we expect it to cost roughly $10.92 per year. It that's too rich for you, you can manually lower the backlight. (More on how we test Power Consumption.)

As you can see in the chart below, it compares favorably to the competition, though none of these were particularly expensive.

Vs Sony KDL-32EX700

Value Comparison Summary


The Sony KDL-32EX700, and all the EX700s, are the next step up from the EX600 series. The price is roughly the same for the 32-inch versions (about $899 MSRP, and cheaper online) but the TVs take slightly different tracks in their feature sets. The EX700 offers access to Sony's outstanding set of streaming video, music, and apps, as well as DLNA support. And 120Hz processing. And optional WiFi. The EX600, on the other hand, has more ports for legacy devices that use component and composite AV. Huh, when you phrase it like that, there's really no reason to buy the EX600, is there?

Blacks & Whites


The Sony KDL-32EX600 produced exactly the same black level as the Sony KDL-32EX700. However, we found the EX700 to produce a peak brightness that was much brighter. Thus, the 32EX700 had a wider contrast ratio. Both are edge-lit models. We can't necessarily explain the difference in these scores, except to postulate that there are differences in the materials, construction, or backlighting design.

Color Accuracy


The Sony KDL-32EX600 proved slightly more adept at producing a stable color temperature. However, they were equally matched in their ability to display smooth color curves. 

Motion


The motion performance on both TVs was great.

Viewing Effects


The Sony KDL-32EX600's viewing angle was wider than the Sony KDL-32EX700, but not by a huge amount. We liked what we saw with these TVs, but they don't come anywhere close to what a plasma TV produces. 

Connectivity


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has additional component and composite AV inputs. However, the EX700 series is equipped with ethernet for streaming content and DLNA support. 

Other Comparisons


The Sony KDL-32EX700, along with the rest of the EX700 series, has access to Sony's outstanding collection of streaming content for movies, music, and internet apps.

 

Vs Samsung LN32C550

Value Comparison Summary


The Samsung LN32C550 is a mid-tier model, with a handful of features, but not the bucketload of specials you find in top-tier TVs. The performance was decent: great contrast, but some problems with bright colors and a weak viewing angle. We like the DLNA support for home networks, but wish that Samsung had gone the extra step and allowed access to streaming content and the Samsung App store. The Sony KDL-32EX600's performance is a little more balanced. It's also more expensive, which makes this a tough call. We'd have to side with the Sony, but only if you can find it cheaper. Otherwise, the Samsung should fulfill most needs. 

Blacks & Whites


The Sony KDL-32EX600 has the same black level as the Samsung LN32C550, but the Samsung managed a much brighter peak brightness. The Samsung, therefor, had a much wider contrast ratio. We can stand behind both these TVs – the Sony doesn't look weak. But if you put them side by side, the Samsung's wider contrast would be visible to the naked eye. 

Color Accuracy


The Samsung was good at maintaining a consistent color temperature. In our RGB tests, though, the Samsung showed some problems with displaying details in the brightest portions of each channel. (We call this a peaking problem.) The Sony only peaked in the red channel, and only by a little. 

Motion


The Samsung LN32C550 had some problems with motion artifacting, but we liked the smoothness of the image. 

Viewing Effects


The Samsung LN32C550 has a terrible viewing angle, even for an LCD. The Sony KDL-32EX600 produced a much wider angle. 

Connectivity


The Samsung LN32C550 and Sony KDL-32EX600 are similar in many regards, but the Samsung includes an ethernet port and optional WiFi for DLNA home network support. It does not, however, allow streaming content or internet connectivity. 

Vs LG 32LD450

Value Comparison Summary


The LG 32LD450 is a relatively inexpensive unit that offers great color performance, but extremely lackluster contrast ratio and black levels. It's also cheaper than the Sony KDL-32EX600, so keep that in mind. It's not that we dislike the LG all that much, but your money is probably better spent with the Sony EX600. 

Blacks & Whites


The LG 32LD450 did not perform well in our black level test, as you can see in the chart below. It's black was much, much brighter than the three competing TVs. Sure, the peak brightness was good, but that was not enough to make for a satisfactory contrast ratio.

Color Accuracy


As with nearly all the LGs we've tested, the LG 32LD450 produced great results in our color tests.

Motion


The LG 32LD450 showed some minor problems with motion performance, but not enough to ruin the TV, as a whole. 

Viewing Effects


The LG has a decent viewing angle, but it's not quite as good as the Sony KDL-32EX600. Neither are as wide as what you'd get from a plasma TV. 

Connectivity


The LG 32LD450 is definitely underwhelming in its selection of ports. There are just 2 HDMIs, and no ethernet or WiFi. It seems to be designed for a bedroom or second room, but not as the TV for a home theater.

Conclusion

 

Series Comparison

xxEX600 Series


The Sony EX600 series is not terribly feature-rich. It focuses on keeping a low price and just enough features to build a decent home theater system. There are plenty of ports, but no ability to connect to the internet or a DLNA home theater system. That said, the Sony EX700 series, the next series up the chain, has far more features for only a little more money, and might be worth a look.

Meet the tester

David Kender

David Kender

Editor in Chief

@davekender

David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.

See all of David Kender's reviews

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