Sony KDL-32EX524 review

Style and excellent internet TV features are among the strengths of the Sony KDL-32EX524 Tested at £600

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Good but not great, this Sony’s picture lacks sparkle compared with the best

Pros

  • +

    Intuitive interface

  • +

    plenty of features

  • +

    Qriocity library is ace

  • +

    subtle, detailed pictures

Cons

  • -

    Struggles to deliver punchy colours

  • -

    dark scenes are too gloomy

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It tends to be a cyclical affair at the head of the AV-tech leaderboard.

One manufacturer will go the extra mile in terms of performance, be first with the latest feature or simply slip out a product with a market-beating price, in order to take the crown.

Sony won three TV Awards from us in 2010, so it has a lot to live up to.

A royal flush of internet content

As is the case with some other manufacturers in this price and size range, the only thing missing is support for 3D.

As is almost de rigeur now, it sports an LED backlight – an edge-lit one in this case. It’s a full HD set and comes ready to connect you to Sony’s world of internet TV.

The company’s Bravia Internet Video is one of the better services around, not only sporting the almost ubiquitous BBC iPlayer, YouTube and so on, but also coming with Skype and the company’s Qriocity service.

As you’re probably aware, Sony has suffered security breaches that affected its PlayStation Network and the Qriocity service, with both suspended at the time of writing.

Qriocity streaming impresses

Once it gets ironed out, though, you’re in for a treat: Qriocity offers music via subscription and SD and HD video content for one-off fees, all streaming directly to your TV.

It’s a formidable addition to Sony’s AV arsenal, not least as the selection and quality of content – when it’s available – is brilliant. Accessing features such as Qriocity is done via a fresh take on the Xross Media Bar.

No longer does the interface take over the whole screen – instead, there’s plenty of the live picture on show, while menus run along the bottom and right-hand side of the display.

The remote is the same, but looks good, and while a fair size is neatly put together.

Pictures can look lacklustre
The most striking aspect of the picture is, conversely, how lacklustre it is. And no amount of tweaking can pep-up the EX524’s drab, understated palette.

At times it works nicely, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 looking natural and subtle in brighter scenes. But if the setting is darker, the Sony can get really gloomy: turn the brightness up and the otherwise solid black levels appear drained of colour.

The Monsters Blu-ray shows a rich, refined picture, but bright colours lack punch. Motion is ultra-smooth as we’ve come to expect from Sony sets, and detail levels are excellent – but it simply can’t do bright, bold colours.

A strong Freeview HD tuner makes the most of the set’s insight, throwing in sharp edges and reasonable quality sound for good measure but again it lacks vitality compared to its key rivals.

This Sony has definite strengths: style, excellent internet TV features,
ease of use and a detailed picture – but the subdued character lets it down.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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