Sony KDL-40NX723

Had this TV for a month now and I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer here.

I've run calibration tests with two different benchmark blu-rays and it's very easy to set the tv as "too bright" against both. I did notice that two of the Motionflow settings make the picture significantly dimmer so maybe this is the cause.

Otherwise, I'm very happy with this set altough I haven't tried the 3D (not interested in 3D...). The 2D pictures are top drawer, better than my older Panasonic TX-32LZD80 although it doesn't quite handle moving pictures quite as well. The set-up features are more than extensive and can easily be tailored to any preference. I also like the online features (wifi built in), iPlayer and LoveFilm etc.

Not to mention this is one of the best looking sets on the market with a 40" slab of gorilla glass on the front. Sweet.

It's a solid 5 out of 5 from me...

Could not disagree more with the reviewer here.  I purchased this TV from a local major retailer who had it set up on its own but in close proximity to rival Samsung and LG sets.  Freeview HD was being displayed and the manager, who owned the set himself, had left it in Cinema setting with the backlight at 2 and Contrast 79.  The picture was outstanding and the colours / contrast bettered every TV bar the Panasonic Plasma's!

A rivals website has the Ansi contrast (static measurement) as 5000:1 which, as far as I can see, is the highest they have measured for any LED TV!.

Back home my Sony is in a different league to my previous Pansonic GT30 for producing whites and brights although blacks are not quite as deep (to be expected).  Sports broadcasts are much more realistic due to its ability to reproduce the lighter colours with ease!

Surely you must have had a faulty set?

3 stars was harsh as the 3d on this tv is stunning,even in dalight.The brightness settings are as they are on the ex723,great 2dtv,but this nx723 left it trailing.The settings menus are identical to the outed hx723,somethings wrong here,i had a good play with this & the ex723,theres absolutely no comparison,not even going into build quality.

Did the reviewer turn off ECO mode, and the light sensor?

I had a Sony CX520 which was dim until I did that.

The horrible sound, is that with or without the included soundbar stand?

Edit: also isn't vivid just a preset of controls that could be manually set, thus keeping the ability to tweak other settings? Admitidly having to crank alot up to max isn't the best practice but it seems odd that you just used the preset.