Best 3D TV Sony Bravia KDL-40NX713

Sony Bravia KDL-40NX713 3DTV

Sony 3DTV. An optional extra to forget?

  • Type: Active shutter
  • Size: 40-inch
  • Price: £1200 (3D transmitter is £40 optional extra)
  • Extra glasses: £70 a pair

3D Pros: Colour is fine, effect isn’t diminished in bright light

3D Cons: Picture lacks depth, lots of ghost imaging, colour balance changes if you tilt your head, images sometimes flicker, the glasses are clunky and uncomfortable

The 3D transmitter and 3D glasses are optional extras on this 40-inch LED TV from Sony’s Bravia range. We suggest you don’t take them up on the option. If you’re after a cracking 3D picture, there are much better options than this set. Click here for the full Sony 40NX713 2D results and review.

3D picture

Disappointing was the word on everyone’s lips at our testing lab. Crucially the 3D picture lacked the depth required to impress but delivered on plenty of unwanted crosstalk (ghost images created by a residual overlap of the left and right images).

For instance, on Sky the sport on-screen captions and scores were misaligned and backgrounds on ‘Monsters versus Aliens’ were awash with ringing double images. In fact, the off-putting ghosting turned up in all the clips we watched, only becoming less noticeable on fast motion scenes. Motion actually looked smooth, but unnaturally so, thanks to the motionflow software.

3D glasses

They’re heavy and uncomfortable and, just to rub it in, will cost around a £100 each (like the optional transmitter, they didn’t come with the TV we bought). But worse than the discomfort to your nose (or drain on your wallet), is having the 3D effect diminish if you tilt your head when wearing them. 

The colour balance and brightness changes if you tilt your head even slightly, so it’s best not to get too comfy on the sofa.

The glasses synchronise with the TV via an infra-red signal and rapidly blink on and off, playing back full 1080p images to the right eye and left eye at a rate of 50 frames per second.

For full results for the Sony NX713 visit our LCD, LED and plasma reviews page.

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