Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710 3D LED television

The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710 is a 46in, edge-lit LED television with support for 3D content when an optional transmitter is purchased. It performs well when displaying 2D and 3D video, with black levels that rival last year's plasma televisions. We don't like the gloss finish on the BRAVIA KDL-46NX710's panel, but otherwise its design is impressive.

Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710: Design, connectivity and Internet features

With the included stand, the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710 is an eye-catching television that has a minimalist look like LG's high-end 55LE7500 LED TV. The dark brushed metal finish of the base is attractive, and the slender stand is solid but still allows the panel to swivel.

Like many of Sony's other LED televisions, the BRAVIA KDL-46NX710 has an annoyingly glossy screen. When you're watching television in a dim or dark room this isn't an issue, but if you've got a light source behind you — a window, a lamp or overhead lighting — the screen's reflectivity might be an issue. It's not a mirror finish like the LG 55LE7500 but it's still far shinier than we would have liked.

Four HDMI ports, a side-mounted USB 2.0 host, component, composite, VGA and Ethernet makes for fairly run-of-the-mill connectivity. There's also a 3D Sync port to connect the optional 3D transmitter ($69) — if you want to watch 3D TV or 3D Blu-ray movies you'll need to also buy glasses ($99 per pair).

The BRAVIA KDL-46NX710 has the same suite of BRAVIA Internet Video and BRAVIA Internet Widgets features as other premium Sony LED televisions. While LG offers a more set of features — including BigPond Movies — the Sony's easy access to YouTube and other services is a useful added extra.

Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710: Picture quality and motion control

The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710 has great picture quality — as long as you can position it so reflections don't drown out the image (our solution was to turn off our overhead fluorescent lights). The dynamic backlight adjustment means the television has impressively deep black levels without compromising maximum brightness. When we watched The Dark Knight on Blu-ray we were pleased with the BRAVIA KDL-46NX710's contrast levels, with easily visible detail in both dark and light areas of the screen.

Even though it is only a 100Hz television, the KDL-46NX710 handles fast on-screen motion with ease. We didn't notice any artefacts when fast objects were moving in front of a static background, and wide panning shots were consistently smooth without any frame jumping. Given its middle-of-the-market recommended retail price, we were pleasantly surprised at the high quality of the picture displayed by the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710.

Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710: Environmental policy and conclusion

Sony's environmental policy says that the company "explores every opportunity to reduce environmental impact" and aims to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. The company's Web site details various initiatives to reduce waste.

The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46NX710's high quality picture is well suited to both Blu-ray movies and digital television. The glossy screen means it's a pain to watch in a bright room, but it is an otherwise well designed edge-lit LED television with an impressive set of features.

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