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By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
Oct 12, 2007

Sony TVs made a strong comeback last year and the most popular model is no other than its flagship Bravia X. This combines high-fashion aesthetics with brilliant picture quality, garnering worldwide accolades. This has since been superseded by two new X-series Bravia: X300 and X350. As to whether the new-generations have what it takes to relive their predecessors' legacy, find out in our indepth review of the 46-inch KLV-46X350A.

Design

The KLV-46X350A is a near-clone of the original X series. You will still get a floating glass design synonymous with the flagship Bravia as well as other fine touches. For example, there is the illuminated Sony logo, shiny aluminum rims and interchangeable bezel. The latter now comes in six contrasting hues to better match your home deco. On top of the usual selection of black, blue, red, white and silver, you will also have a choice of gold. Other cosmetic variations are a stain-resistant brushed metal finish and a slightly wider form factor primarily due to a pair of side speakers.

The onboard dials and sockets are right where they ought to be, conveniently located on the left for side A/V inputs and corresponding right for TV controls. The selection for the former includes a handy HDMI for the latest HD camcorders and USB for JPEG playback. Given a choice, we would like to have inbuilt provision for swivel options, though there is little to nitpick when it comes to the build of the sturdy L-shaped stand. For the minimalists, a simple hook and a sizeable clip are available on the rear to route and tidy up the usual bundle of snaking cords.

Sony has upped the ante by shipping a matching backlit remote for this Bravia. Most of the critical keys such as Volume and TV Channel adjustments are adequately covered here. That said, the implementation could benefit from an auto illumination rather than manual activation. Another interesting bit is its five-way navigation control. This has the same look and feel of its counterpart found in the PS3's controller. Multifunction capability compatible with various brands is another strong pro, though dedicated input keys are still very much a pipe dream.

Faring equally well is the comprehensive software menu. Here, there are more than sufficient advanced video configurations to keep enthusiasts busy. The roundup includes a handful of Bravia Engine functions and SpyderTV Pro-friendly grayscale cuts and gains. Apparently first-time owners are not forgotten, too, as an onscreen guide is on hand for quick references. If that's still not enough, you can always fall back on the well-written manual to decipher the technicalities. Nevertheless, navigation could have been easier if the menu was less structured.

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