Sony KDL-32EX301 (KDL32EX301U)

So, what have we got here then?  It is a 32 inch LCD TV.  It is HD-ready, so it will cope with 720p and 1080i resolution.  Its power consumption is only 73 watts - extremely eco-friendly.

The sockets on the rear of the TV: You are looking at three HDMIs, two scarts, one Component - which is the RGB connection, the red/green/blue connection, one PC Input; you have got an Optical Out, so if you want to feed the sound digitally from the TV through an external amplifier you can do so.  You have also got an Analogue Audio Out on the rear of the TV as well. 

On the side of the set you have got an additional HDMI, making four HDMIs in total; one USB - so if you want to plug a memory stick into the side of the TV you can download photographs directly onto the screen; or if you have got music stored on that memory stick you can have music playing through your TV set.  You have also got a Composite Video Input, which is the yellow, red and white input - Wii games consoles can use that socket.  And you have also got a headphone socket as well.  So plenty of sockets to go round.

I mean, we are looking at a TV here - which is this model displayed on our website at the moment, which we are actually selling at £399, so just under £400 - which has four HDMI sockets on there; really good contrast - you have got a high contrast that will give you a good black level as well.  And a top quality brand like a Sony - it really is sort of hard to find any fault in this set at all.

The Menu system is nice and easy to follow.  It is the usual menu from Sony, which is their crossbar menu system.  If we just go into the TV itself, and I will just take you through one or two settings. 

So, here we go.  The TV, as I said, is HD-ready, so it will cope with 720p, 1080i resolution.  It is digital-ready, so the digital tuner is built into the TV - so no need for any external digital box. On the set itself, you have got Programme Up and Down, Volume Up and Down at the bottom here.  So as we go through the channels there - ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five and then through all the digital channels like ITV2 and so on up the scale through there.

If we go into the Menu on the TV, we have got the Home button on the remote control; we just press that and it puts us into Sony’s crossbar menu system.  So to navigate through that menu, we have got Left, Right, Up and Down.  If I just click over to the left, the menu moves over.  We come to the different settings on the TV where we can move up or down.  If we go to the Picture Settings, you have got the usual Sony menu. Picture Mode first of all - Standard.  We click the centre button on here and it gives us an option for Vivid, which increases the contrast and brightness and the colour levels on the TV to a predetermined level.  But if we go into Standard, then we can adjust the brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness to however you want it.

If we just come out of that menu and then come down into Sound, this TV has got a very good sound system built into it.  A lot of flat-panel TVs are criticised for the amount of depth of base they give, and they can generally sound quite tinny.  But on this particular TV you have got a good depth of base.  It has also got, if we go into the Menu system, things like Surround Sound built into the set, which attempts to throw the sound out and around you.  You have also got Dynamic which increases the base on the TV.  And you have got separate base and separate treble controls on there as well.

You have also got things like Clear Voice.  So if you are watching, say, a movie and there is a lot of background noise in that movie and you would rather have the vocals come out clearer, then yet again you can select Clear Voice on the TV for that as well.  So a very good sound system on this particular model.

What I would say is that if you would like any more details on this - and there is a lot to go through on this set even though it is sort of under £400 - the specification is extremely good.  I mean, you have got things like a Photo frame facility on here where, as I said before, if you put a memory stick into the side of the TV, you can download your photographs onto the screen and you can use the TV as an actual picture frame as well.

So, as I said, if you want more details, please give me a ring - my name is Chris.  You can get hold of me at the shop on 01204 861 861 - that is for the Bolton store.  Or you have got the Leeds store as well - we have got a new store that just opened in Leeds - the phone number there is 0113 244 3030.  Or go direct to our website, which is www.soundandvision.co.uk.  Or if you want any more details please click the link at the side of the screen.

Thank you.