Sony KDL40NX723

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This model from Sony, Sony kdl40nx723 , sits firmly in the latter camp and forms part of Sony’s Internet TV range. That means it not only supports Sony’s Bravia Internet Video portal, it also enables you to stream your content from connected devices around the home.

You’ll also find a couple of cheaper NX713 sets in Sony’s range – the 40-inch KDL-40NX713 and 46-inch KDL-46NX713. These have a more basic specification list but are significantly cheaper – there’s a whopping £600 difference between the Sony kdl40nx723 and the KDL-40NX713. So the Sony kdl40nx723 isn’t cheap, then, but when you clap eyes on it the price starts to make sense.

It uses Sony’s gloriously chic Monolithic design, which means there’s a flush screen surface and no bezel, plus if you invest in one of Sony’s special Monolithic stands (with a built-in subwoofer) you can place the set on low furniture with an upwards tilt of six degrees, which will look particularly stunning in one of those modern, Ikea-styled rooms. The set itself is amazingly slim, thanks to the OptiContrast edge LED panel inside, giving it a depth of just 27mm.

The flush frame around the screen is a lovely deep gloss black, while the supplied stand sports an alluring brushed metal finish. That’s the icing on a very appetising cake, and ensures that your living room has a good-looking new focal point.It’s not just eye candy, though. This set is also equipped to meet all of today’s connectivity needs. The rear panel isn’t the most practical to access due to the screen’s slimness, which means connections are all downwards or sideways-facing and require adapter cables for the component and Scart inputs.

But it covers most bases, including four HDMI inputs (two on the side and two on the bottom, one of which supports Audio Return Channel), optical digital output, PC input (mini D-sub 15-pin), stereo audio/headphone minijack output and an Ethernet port. You’ll also find two USB ports on Sony kdl40nx723 , one of which is designated for use with an external HDD, enabling you to make recordings from the built-in tuner. The other one can be used to play digital media from other storage devices.

Sony kdl40nx723 grants you access to Sony’s Bravia Internet Video portal, and with built-in Wi-Fi on board it’s easier than ever to get online. Bravia Internet Video offers a fantastic range of sites to choose from. These include catch-up TV services such as BBC iPlayer, Demand 5, Sky News and Eurosport, video on-demand such as YouTube, LoveFilm, Qriocity and Dailymotion, plus a range of lesser-known European and specialist sites, a channel dedicated to 3D clips and Sony Entertainment TV.

Setting up the Sony kdl40nx723 is blissfully simple. On-screen wizards make light work of network set up, guiding you through the sometimes tricky access point search, while picture and sound tweaking, Freeview channel tuning and other installation essentials are easy to complete thanks to Sony’s logical sub-menu structure. Feed it a 2D 1080p Blu-ray movie and the Sony kdl40nx723 is in its element. It instantly gets to grips with The Dark Knight‘s abundance of fine detail, particularly during the stunning IMAX scenes such as the opening bank robbery.

Let’s get this straight: Sony’s asking price of £1,400 for the Sony kdl40nx723 is expensive for a 40-inch TV set. Even if you shop around online it only dips down to around the £1,100 mark. And that’s before you’ve even thought about buying the 3D glasses or the Skype camera. Thankfully, Sony can’t be accused of short-changing you, thanks to this marvellous TV’s extensive feature list. All the cutting-edge mod cons you could ever need are included, so you don’t need to worry about getting your money’s worth.