Edge-lit LED by Sony reviewed: Thin, expensive

The edge-lit Sony KLV-40ZX1M measures just 1.1 inch thick.

(Credit: CNET)

As if 240Hz, 1080p/24 compatibility and contrast ratios in the millions aren't confusing enough, get ready for more product differentiation in the LCD TV space: two different kinds of LED lighting schemes. On one hand are relatively tried-and-true "local dimming" LED-based LCDs, which generally give great picture. In the other are "edge-lit" LED-based LCDs, which if the new Sony KLV-40ZX1M ($3,999) is any indication, do not.

We're sure the distinction won't stop marketers from trying to equate the two, however, and simply call them all "LED TVs," expecting consumers to assume that all LED-based LCDs give great picture. In fact, one company, Samsung, has already said it wants to create a separate "LED TV" category to differentiate the more-expensive, higher-tech-sounding sets from their lowly fluorescent-backlit cousins.

Also, who knows, maybe Samsung's upcoming edge-lit models, namely the 6000, 7000, and 8000 series HDTVs announced at CES, will perform better than the Sony KLV-40ZX1M we just reviewed. Lighter black levels and imperfect uniformity hampered its picture--as you might expect, the edges of the picture were brighter than the middle (go figure!). It sure looks cool though.

Read the full review of the Sony KLV-40ZX1M.

Sony KLV-40ZX1M photos

Below you'll find the settings we found best for viewing the Sony KLV-40ZX1M in a completely dark room via the HDMI input with a 1080p, film-based source. Your settings may very depending on source, room conditions and personal preference. Check out the Picture settings and calibration FAQ for more information.

Picture menu
Motion Enhancer: Off
CineMotion: Auto 1
Game Mode: Off
Video/Photo Optimizer: Video-A

Picture Adjustments menu:
Picture Mode: Cinema
Backlight: 2
Picture: Max
Brightness: 52
Color: 60
Hue: 0
Color Temperature: Warm2
Sharpness: 4
Noise Reduction: Off
MPEG Noise Reduction: Off

Advanced Settings menu:
Black Corrector: Off
Advanced C.E.: Off
Gamma: Off
Clear White: Off
Color Space: Standard
Live Color: Off [grayed out]

White Balance menu:
R-Gain: -7
G-Gain: -2
B-Gain: -7
R-Bias: 2
G-Bias: 1
B-Bias: -5

Screen menu
Wide Mode: Full
Auto Wide: Off
4:3 Default: [grayed out]
Display Area: Full Pixel

[Wes#1]

David, In your 9/3/08 "Editor's Take" on this TV, you commented on the super-thin cabinet and asked: "Do you have any interest in a thinner-than-average flat TV?" My answer is NO!! Who cares if the set is 3.8 inches or .38 inches? The "thin is in" mentality of these manufacturers is an absurd fad that needs to go away. If they would put less engineering into making LCD panels thinner, and instead deliver deeper blacks and wider viewing angles, then we'd have finally have a set that looks better ON than OFF!

And close to $4k for a 40-incher? What a joke. Wake up, Sony!!

[poultryfish]

Isn't that why OLED was invented? Its the best of both worlds, thin, better viewing angles, deepest blacks, right?

Flat TVs will enable lighter screens so we can hang them on the wall much more easily (enables giant screens too). LCD probably can't get that thin, but OLED surely can.

[ikramerica--2008]

OLED was invented to give the quality of a plasma without the expensive manufacturing costs and super heavy construction. It is also flexible.

As for this thin garbage, any TV that is thiner than the connectors that bring it a signal is stupid, because it just requires a breakout box anyway.

And edge lighting is just a dumb idea. The goal is a uniform brightness picture. LED backlighting can offer this (local dimming foolishness aside). Flourescent can't, and edge lighting surely can't. No wonder Sony is in trouble, wasting money and time on stupid projects like this...

[MrMurder]

I wonder why I even bothered reading this article if I'm a plasma fan.

[8IronBob]

Hmm... All this talk makes an LED DLP RPTV seem really good right about now.

Samsung, please don't call the LED backlit TVs LED TVs. This will undermine not only the potential sucess of proper OLED TVs, but also REAL LED TVs when they come out in the future (direct illumination basically like OLED, but with inorganic materials used instead).

[insane consumer]

A better solution for local dimming, using cold cathode technology, is to introduce an lcd layer that contains a grid of variable elements between the light and the regular display. Each element can be addressed individually to dim the display light to produce, in effect, the same goal that led's achieve except that this method will be much cheaper and easier to implement and have the same effect on the image.

[NOBLEBOBOY]

ANOTHER FOOLISHNESS BY SONY. WAKE UP SONY !!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a SONY fanatic for decades and thank God I woke up from these greedy companies like Sony.

[Pacu102]

Don't like it? Don't buy it and stop whining