Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description Introducing the Sony BRAVIA VE5 HDTV, a revolutionary TV that combines energy-saving features with quality picture performance. Minimize excess power use with a high-efficiency backlight that uses over 65% less power in Home Mode than Energy Star 3.0 requirements. Plus enjoy Full HD 1080p picture quality and smooth motion with Motionflow 120Hz technology.
|  Eco-centric design. Go green without sacrificing picture quality. The 46-inch VE5 features a high-efficiency HCFL backlight that provides optimum brightness and reduces power consumption up to 65 percent versus Energy Star 3.0 requirements. In fact, this set consumes only 115 watts, which is as little as an incandescent light bulb. View model. |
|  Your presence is required. If Elvis left the room, the VE5 would know. This HDTV has a Presence Sensor which detects if you've stepped away from your TV and automatically turns the picture off. If after 30 minutes, the sensor still doesn't detect movement in the room, the set turns off completely. |
|  Flip the switch to save power. Did you know that most TVs consume power even when turned off? The VE5 is equipped with a new Energy Saving Switch which reduces power consumption of the TV to zero when you're not watching television. |
|  A smarter way to watch TV. Imagine a TV that reduces power consumption based on your viewing environment. Dim the lights to watch a movie and the integrated Light Sensor automatically adjusts to your room's ambient light and lowers the brightness of the TV's backlight to conserve energy. |
16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920x1080)
16:9 Full HD 1080p resolution panel (1920x1080) accepts virtually any high definition video signal and renders it with optimum resolution, so you can take full advantage of Blu-ray Disc players and Sony PlayStation 3 entertainment systems that can deliver 1080p content.
Motionflow 120Hz technology
Engineered for fast-action sports, movies and games, Motionflow 120Hz technology reduces blurriness and judder. Overall, motion is smoother, sharper, and more natural when watching your favorite HD content, DVDs, and even broadcast movies and prime-time programming.
High-efficiency HCFL backlight
The 46-inch diagonal VE5 HDTV features an HCFL (Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlight, which uses specialized components to provide optimum brightness as soon as you turn on the HDTV and to reduce power consumption by up to 65% over Energy Star 3.0 requirements. In fact, the KDL-52VE5 consumes only about 115 watts--less than many incandescent light bulbs.
Dynamic contrast
Dynamic contrast involves real-time image processing that results in deep blacks in darker scenes, as well as fine details in shadows and other dark areas of the picture for a difference you can truly see.
Conserve energy with Presence Sensor
The Presence Sensor helps you conserve energy when you forget to turn off the VE5 HDTV. If the Presence Sensor detects that you've been away from your HDTV for 5, 30, or 60 minutes, the backlight will automatically turn off, but the volume will remain on so you can still hear the sound. If you don't return after the display has been off for 30 minutes, the VE5 turns completely off.
Energy-saving standby power switch
The new Energy Saving Switch, located on the side panel of the VE5, enables your HDTV to consume zero power when it's in standby mode, effectively eliminating the use of unnecessary power when you're not watching TV.
LightSensor technology
An integrated light sensor gauges the ambient light in the room and raises or lowers the brightness of the HDTV's backlight based on room lighting conditions. Dim the lights to watch a movie, and the light sensor also dims the backlight, reducing unnecessary power consumption even further.
Dynamic Backlight Control
The Dynamic Backlight Control feature adjusts the brightness of the backlight both to optimize image quality and to reduce power consumption. It works in real time, optimizing for both bright outdoor images and dark interior shots scene-by-scene for even greater power savings.
BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor
The BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor uses a collection of unique Sony algorithms to significantly reduce noise, enhance overall image detail, and optimize contrast so every scene produces sharp, vibrant, life-like images.
BRAVIA Sync capable
BRAVIA Sync capability combines the one-touch access and control functionality of BRAVIA Theatre Sync with the ability to control CEC-enabled Sony Handycam camcorders and Cyber-shot digital still cameras using the HDTV's remote and an on-screen display via an HDMI connection.
HD input x 7
Get versatile HD connection options with seven HD inputs. Four HDMI inputs (up to 1080/60p capable) let you connect a Sony PlayStation 3 entertainment system, Blu-ray Disc player, or any other HDMI-capable equipment (all sold separately) and get uncompressed digital video and multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. An HD component input and an HD combo input (1080/60i capable) provide added HD-capable connectivity, and a PC input (HD-15 pin) offers the added versatility of using your HDTV as a computer monitor.
USB with photos, music, and video
Connect your compatible camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device directly to the HDTV's USB input to view photos on the big screen or listen to your favorite MP3s. BRAVIA W-series HDTVs also include mpeg2 video file support, so you can go straight from shooting video to screening it via USB.
BRAVIA Link compatibility
BRAVIA Link compatibility expands your HDTV's capabilities by letting you connect optional BRAVIA Link modules, including the BRAVIA DVD Link, BRAVIA Wireless Link, and BRAVIA Input Link (all sold separately).
24p True Cinema
24p True Cinema mode provides a direct connection to 24p video sources, avoiding conversions and allowing users to enjoy films at their intended 24 fps (frames per second) cinematic picture quality when using a 24p True Cinema capable output device, such as a Blu-ray Disc player or Sony PlayStation3 entertainment system.
Favorites Menu
The Favorites Menu function makes it easy to quickly access your favorite channels, video inputs, and digital images to share with family and friends.
ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM
A built-in ATSC/NTSC tuner with QAM delivers over-the-air digital TV and unencrypted HDTV broadcast signals, as well as traditional analog TV broadcasts.
VESA-compatible hole spacing
VESA-compatible hole spacing uses an industry-standard mounting hole pattern that can be used with VESA-compliant mounting brackets, taking the guesswork out of selecting the proper hardware for hanging your HDTV on the wall. Wall mount bracket sold separately. Restrictions apply.
What's in the Box
Sony BRAVIA VE5-Series KDL-46VE5 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz Eco-friendly LCD HDTV, Remote control RM-YD028 with batteries, AC power cord, Cable clamper (attached to the Table-Top Stand), Operating Instructions, Quick Setup Guide, Warranty Card, Safety and Regulatory Booklet, Table-Top Stand, Screws.
Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

| With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get. - Minimum size = Viewing distance/3
- Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5
|
Customer Reviews
Great Picture and Features, plus it's eco-friendly
This is an excellent TV.
Picture Quality:
The picture quality of this set is superb. In the setup menu, I set the picture to "vivid" mode and the HD quality is simply life-like. The color and contrast are excellent. It also uses something that Sony calls MotionFlow which helps to smooth out the image when you are watching fast-action pictures.
Backlight Technology:
It is an LCD set, but uses a hot cathode fluorescent lamp for its backlighting. This technology allows it to be much more energy efficient and close to par with the energy usage of LED backlit LCD TVs. Most LCDs use cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The 40" model uses a maximum of 140 watts, the 46" uses a max of 160 watts, and the 52" uses a max of 180 watts.
Eco-Friendly:
It has a sensor called a presence sensor that does two things. First it senses the ambient (room) light and if the room gets darker, it will automatically dim the picture of the TV. This works well if you are watching TV in the bedroom at night and you want less light output. The second thing that the sensor does is senses the room for motion and body heat. If you leave the room for a preset amount of time (5 min, 30 min, ...) and the TV doesn't sense anyone around, it will turn off the picture. If you walk back in the room, it senses you and turns the screen back on. The sound stays on for another 30 minutes or so, then the whole set will go into stand-by mode if it does not sense you. Both of these features can be turned off via the setup menu and help to conserve energy.
Features (just a few of them):
The TV is loaded with features. It will automatically sense if you have something connected to an input (for example HDMI2). This is great when you want to hit the input button on the remote because it will not select items that aren't currently sending out a signal. This means you don't have to scroll through 10 items if you only have two components connected to the TV. In the setup menu, you can set each input for always on, always off, or auto. I used the always on setting for the PC input because the cable I used to connect the PC did not send a power signal so the TV did not sense it. By setting it to always on, the PC input will always be available when I scan through the inputs.
It also has a lot of inputs. There are 4 HDMI inputs. If you have a DVI port on your PC, then you can connect it through HDMI port 1 which also has an analog audio input. There is one dedicated composite (with S-video) and one dedicated component input, but there is another switchable composite/component input that you can use if you have two composites and one component, or vice versa. There is a PC input to connect via VGA connection. The audio outputs are one optical digital out and one analog out.
Dislikes:
1. All of the Inputs and Output are on the left side (when looking at the front of the TV) of the TV. This is unfortunate for me since my A/V cabinet is on the right side of the TV. It is a minor inconvenience, but something that I did not think about until I got the set home. I would say about half of the inputs are one the left side and the other half are on the back, next to the side inputs.
2. The presence sensor is right where I have my center audio speaker. I will have to raise up the TV to still have that speaker front and center.
Overall, this is not a cheap TV, but I think this is a case where you get what you pay for. It is a really great set.
Great Deal On A Great Television
I bought this television after doing some pretty extensive research. I had almost decided on a Samsung, but after going to the store and looking at some of them, I decided that the Samsungs were way too glossy for my taste. I saw the 40" version of this television on display at a store, and it looked fantastic. Very sharp picture, not glossy. The power saving features and having seen how good it looks in person got me very close to a decision, and the final piece of the puzzle was that it would fit on the stand I already have. That might sound silly, but it's another $200-$300 for a decent stand. My stand is 20" wide, and has about an 3/4" lip on the edge. The stand on the Sony is about 18" wide, and lifts the TV up over the lip, so it worked out quite nicely.
The service from Amazon was great on this. The free scheduled delivery worked out great. The company that delivered it (CEVA, I beleive) showed up early, and carried it up the stairs to the third floor for me. They offered to unpack it, which I declined, wanting to do it myself to make sure I could save the box for moving purposes.
It took me about 30 minutes to get the TV unpacked, the stand attached, and the TV up and running. Keep in mind, I was doing this by myself...it would have been quicker with a helper.
The picture on this TV is simply awesome! I watched The Descent on Blu-ray as my first movie, mainly because it's a very dark movie, and I wanted to see what the black levels were like. The Sony did not disappoint. Most of the movie is set in dark caves, and most of the time, I couldn't even see the edge between the dark movie and the edge of the letterbox.
The only bit of weirdness I've had, was at the very beginning of the movie, there's a white water rafting scene that looked very strange to me at first. It turns out it was because the director of the movie had been using camera movement for dramatic effect, and the MotionFlow technology was canceling it out! It was easily fixed just by turning off MotionFlow. I plan on leaving it off, as I have noticed no blurring issues even with it off.
The only thing a wee bit lacking on this TV is the sound, but it's not horrible, and honestly, if you're willing to shell out the cash for this TV, then you should be willing to shell out for a good sound system too. Overall, I highly recommend this TV.
So far, so good...
I just received this TV from Amazon 2 days ago, so my opinions are based on first impressions...
This actually the first Sony HDTV I've owned. I have a 32" Sharp LCD from 2005 (which is still a great TV) and I owned a 40" Samsung LCD from 2006 which recently died. This is my first 1080p television. As with most of these sets, you will need to make adjustments for a while to get things just the way you like. I spent a couple of hours fine tuning the picture settings on this set and wow! As far as television viewing, SD picture quality is so-so which i have come to expect. Combine that with my cable company's poor signal compression level and there are just certain channels that make you turn your head away. HD channels are another story. This is where this TV shines. Channels like Discovery and HD Theater pop off the screem, almost Blu Ray quality. Audio quality is not the best, but as i believe someone else mentioned, if you're investing in a set like this, chances are you're going to have a 5.1 or 7.1 setup to go with it, which i do, so the onboard speakers arent an issue...
As far as Blu Ray viewing, I have only thrown in a couple of discs to see how this set handles them. I fed my PS3 "Baraka" and what i had intended to be a 5 minute PQ test ended up lasting about 40 minutes. It's that amazing. Watching a particular scene in "Quantum of Solace" i was completely floored (The airplane chase sequence) With the motionflow and cinema settings fine tuned, the landscape in particular during this sequence almost looked 3-D!
One of the major marketing points for this set are it's "Eco-friendly" tools, many of which i've disabled. The motion sensor that sits in the middle of the speaker grille is useless to me because my center channel speaker blocks it. I do like that fact that there's a "kill switch" on the side of the set that cuts all power consumption. When my wife and I travel we usually unplug our appliances so having this should keep me from having to get behind the TV stand and unplug the set amongst other things.
Additionally as others have mentioned, I would have preferred that Sony placed more of the HDMI outputs on the back of the set as opposed to the side. This is a minor inconvenience that can be solved with right-angle HDMI cables or adapters...