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Sony KDL-40S3000

The KDL-40S3000 is an LCD based high-definition television that is part of Sony's 2007 line-up. The S3000 sets are part of Sony's more economical budget line, and feature a native 720p picture, and all the usual features found on a mid-level HDTV. Sony does provide a few more adjustability options than average when it comes to aspect ratios, but lacks any fine-tuning adjustment over color temperature, limiting you to four preset choices. One major differentiating feature that Sony is touting over the competition is the use of its XMB (Cross Media Bar) interface made popular on the PSP and PS3 consoles.

Where to Buy

Sony KDL-40S3000
MSRP $1,499.00
Release date April, 2007
Brand Sony
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Pros & Cons8
Reviews4
Details
Buy It
Competitors6
Comments1
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
4 reviews
75
negative
mixed
positive
3 positive
1 mixed
0 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Slick menu interface
+4agreedisagree

•
Very good picture quality
+3agreedisagree

•
Good standard definition performance
+3agreedisagree

•
A lot of convenient options
+1agreedisagree

•
Nice formfactor
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
1 fewer HDMI input than average
+2agreedisagree

•
Reports of "clouding" issues where brightness is uneven across the screen
+1agreedisagree

•
More expensive than average
0agreedisagree


4 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Feature list

  • 40" LCD panel at 720p native resolution
  • XMB interface
  • Picture-in-Picture with freeze frame
  • Inputs: 2 x HDMI, 3 x Component, 1 x VGA, 2 x Composite, 1 x S-Video, 1 x RF

All video that doesn't come in the set's native 720 resolution will be automatically scaled, including 1080p content through the HDMI port. It's unknown whether the television accepts 1080p over component as some televisions are able to do. The VGA input can receive a process a maximum resolution of 1366x768.

The freeze frame functionality is a unique feature that Sony is introducing in its 2007 line of televisions. At any point during a broadcast you can press the "freeze" button which will take a screenshot of the current image on the screen and show it in a separate window while the live recording is still playing. The idea is that phone numbers and recipes that don't show on the screen for long enough can now be saved and copied with no pressure.

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This report was started November 28, 2007 at 1:25 pm by Omar
with the last edit occurring July 2, 2008 at 12:47 am by highmileage
This page has been viewed 4878 times, with 48 edits by 6 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Competitors

Sony KDL-40S3000 is ranked 1st among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Televisions »
Philips Ambilight 42PFL7432D

Philips Ambilight 42PFL7432D

MSRP  $1,999.00    Released  April, 2007
Pros
  • USB connector for your media devices (jpg, mp3)
  • 3 HDMI inputs
  • Ambilight technology (casts ambient light behind the TV making viewing easier on eyes)
Cons
  • Supports only HDMI 1.2 standard
ProSCORE
2 reviews
80
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Sony KDL-40S3000 67% vs. vote Philips Ambilight 42PFL7432D 33%
JVC LT-42X688

JVC LT-42X688

MSRP  $1,999.95    Released  June, 2007
Pros
  • Excellent picture quality
  • No motion blur which plagues many LCD sets
  • Solid reliability
  • Picture processing technology is very advanced
Cons
  • Only 2 HDMI inputs (many modern tvs have 3 or more)
  • No PC input
ProSCORE
2 reviews
67
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Sony KDL-40S3000 100% vs. vote JVC LT-42X688 0%
Vizio L42

Vizio L42

MSRP  $1,099.00    Released  August, 2006
Pros
  • A lot of value for not much $$$
  • Many different inputs (2 HDMI, 2 Component, VGA)
  • Good black level reproduction for an LCD
Cons
  • Visible edge enhancement that can't be bypassed
  • No native support for 1080p resolution
ProSCORE
4 reviews
64
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Sony KDL-40S3000 100% vs. vote Vizio L42 0%
Toshiba Regza 42HL67

Toshiba Regza 42HL67

MSRP  $1,399.00    Released  April, 2007
Pros
  • Very good picture quality
  • Little to no image blur
  • A lot of video inputs
  • Dynamic backlight makes for great black levels
Cons
  • No picture-in-picture capabilities
  • Poorly calibrated out of the box
ProSCORE
2 reviews
73
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Sony KDL-40S3000 100% vs. vote Toshiba Regza 42HL67 0%
Samsung LN-T4065F

Samsung LN-T4065F

MSRP  $2,000.00    Released  April, 2007
Pros
  • Deep black levels for an LCD
  • Accurate color reproduction
  • 15,000 dynamic contrast ratio
  • Good balance of quality and price (value)
Cons
  • Glossy screen can reflect ambient light
  • Bulky design
ProSCORE
3 reviews
79
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Sony KDL-40S3000 100% vs. vote Samsung LN-T4065F 0%
LG 42LB5D

LG 42LB5D

MSRP  $2,499.00    Released  April, 2007
Pros
  • Goood connectivity options
  • Good picture adjustment options
Cons
  • Poor black level performance
  • Below average viewing angle
ProSCORE
1 review
50
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Sony KDL-40S3000 100% vs. vote LG 42LB5D 0%

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Comments

1.  avatar Omar said:

I picked this TV up for my parents (on their CC of course :P) for an amazing deal. In fact I got it BELOW cost. BOOYA! Any opportunity to screw the man I will take. As for the TV itself, it's pretty damn sweet. I used to not care so much about the external styling of a TV, it's all about the picture, but the slick bezel and clean lines DO make an impression. I also really like the menus. It uses Sony's XMB interface which is modern and easy to understand, though a few of the listings are confusing (separate "audio", and "audio options" listings).

The picture quality itself is fantastic. It's actually quite difficult to judge a set when it's own its own, but comparing it side by side with other TVs in the store, the vividness of the color on the S3000 really stood out. Now I know that TVs in the store aren't calibrated properly, so it's all kind of a crap-shoot. Either way, having this TV in my parent's living room is awesome and I'm not disappointed with the picture at all. If there are any deficiencies I don't have the eye to see them, thank God!

Now for some details on the deal I got. Usually this TV retails for $1600, and I was able to get it for $1080! It took about 2 hours for me to argue that the promotions actually DO stack (price matching, and $100 tube trade-in) but it was well worth it :) Is this TV worth the $1600? Probably not. Though that's more because you should be able to score a good 42" LCD for about $1000-$1100 if you scout for deals.

Update (Jan 23rd): After having the set calibrated - just set to standard mode - it looks INCREDIBLE. I know above that I said you can't tell the difference without putting the TVs side by side. Well you can. And this Sony absolutely blows away my Westinghouse. The colors are clear, vivid, and vibrant. It really is amazing. It actually surprised me how different it was. I'm still a cheapo though so still not worth the extra money :P

Jan 22, 2008 10:58am
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

Omar

avatar
January 22, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
57
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
3 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • Slick menu interface
  • Very good picture quality
  • Good standard definition performance
  • A lot of convenient options

Cons

  • 1 fewer HDMI input than average
  • Reports of "clouding" issues where brightness is uneven across the screen
  • More expensive than average

Comments

"

I picked this TV up for my parents (on their CC of course :P) for an amazing deal. In fact I got it BELOW cost. BOOYA! Any opportunity to screw the man I will take. As for the TV itself, it's pretty damn sweet. I used to not care so much about the external styling of a TV, it's all about the picture, but the slick bezel and clean lines DO make an impression. I also really like the menus. It uses Sony's XMB interface which is modern and easy to understand, though a few of the listings are confusing (separate "audio", and "audio options" listings).

The picture quality itself is fantastic. It's actually quite difficult to judge a set when it's own its own, but comparing it side by side with other TVs in the store, the vividness of the color on the S3000 really stood out. Now I know that TVs in the store aren't calibrated properly, so it's all kind of a crap-shoot. Either way, having this TV in my parent's living room is awesome and I'm not disappointed with the picture at all. If there are any deficiencies I don't have the eye to see them, thank God!

Now for some details on the deal I got. Usually this TV retails for $1600, and I was able to get it for $1080! It took about 2 hours for me to argue that the promotions actually DO stack (price matching, and $100 tube trade-in) but it was well worth it :) Is this TV worth the $1600? Probably not. Though that's more because you should be able to score a good 42" LCD for about $1000-$1100 if you scout for deals.

Update (Jan 23rd): After having the set calibrated - just set to standard mode - it looks INCREDIBLE. I know above that I said you can't tell the difference without putting the TVs side by side. Well you can. And this Sony absolutely blows away my Westinghouse. The colors are clear, vivid, and vibrant. It really is amazing. It actually surprised me how different it was. I'm still a cheapo though so still not worth the extra money :P

"

Competitors

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Erik

avatar
February 25, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
75
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
1 con

Pros

  • Slick menu interface
  • Very good picture quality
  • Good standard definition performance

Cons

  • 1 fewer HDMI input than average

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Amanie

avatar
January 22, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
0 cons

Pros

  • Slick menu interface
  • Good standard definition performance
  • Nice formfactor

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

scottr

avatar
December 10, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
0 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • Slick menu interface
  • Very good picture quality

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

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This product is also known as:

KDL, 40, S, 3000, KDL40, 40S, S3000, KDL40S, 40S3000, KDL40S3000