V5 Bravia LCD TV

"V5 Bravia" LCD TV from Sony, which turns off when you do not look

The electronic giant Sony has introduced Japanese in Tokyo a new series of HD LCD TVs that consume little electricity and turn off when nobody is watching. Sony said that the power consumption of its new LCD "Bravia V5", 40 and 46 inches, is the lowest in the market sizes and is equal to 40% lower than that of LCD TV sets above.

Again according to Sony, these performances are due to a new system for backlighting less energy and various technologies to reduce losses. The TV also have a human presence detector coupled to a programmable timer. If nobody is in front of the screen during a predetermined period of time or if the viewer asleep (and thus becomes inert), the "Bravia V5 is put into standby. Hopefully the technology will be developed and should not constantly hopping on her sofa for the TV does not turn off!



These LCD TVs also have the opportunity to adjust their brightness to the brightness of the room, without degrading the image quality. The new Sony Bravia will be provided with a button that interrupts the flow as if they were disconnected (just like a biorupteur), contrary to conventional switches that consume a small current at all times. For purists, finally aware that the Bravia V5 consume 138 and 157 kWh, which is a big progress since the first generations of the range that exceeded the 200 kWh.

LCD and Plasma TV Buying Guide

A clear and accessible explanation of all the technical terms to consider when buying a new TV. Beginners welcome!

You will not understand anything in modern TV? TNT HD, LCD, Plasma ... are abstract terms that are part of a jungle where you get lost? Here is some information to choose a TV without crash, and the selection of models that we prefer.

Tuner standard, TNT or TNT HD?

The tuner is the part of the TV that can receive terrestrial TV (with antenna) or cable. The standard single tuner is now prohibited for sale. All current TV offer at least one tuner TNT. The picture in HD is much more detailed, more beautiful, and almost gives the impression of looking out the window. In fact, a standard channel TNT is issued 720x576 points, while in HD it uses 1440x1080 points ... almost 4 times more detail. To take advantage, we must of course have a tuner TNT HD, and is the option we strongly recommend.

Definition HD Ready or Full HD?

HD Ready TV displays at least 720 lines, while a Full HD displays at least 1080 lines. 1080 lines? After reading the previous chapter dedicated tuner TNT, is tilt your mind! This is actually the definition that allows to fully value the TNT HD, or movies stored on Blu-ray, also encoded on lines 1080. This is not a choice. Indeed, we must view the image on a large TV, or be located near the screen to see the differences between HD Ready and Full HD. Thus, the TV 32 inches or less may be satisfied with a definition HD ready for the little one looks at more than 2.50 m. Between 37 and 42 inches, depending on the distance that separates you from the screen ... and your visual acuity. In addition, the purchase of a Full HD model is strongly recommended.
Of course, the Full HD models are more expensive. But they are often of better quality and a more beautiful models HD Ready small. It will therefore be particularly vigilant on the choice of a TV 26 or 32 inches. These sizes where there is rarely better and often worse.

Should we believe the figure announced by the contrast?

You can simply ignore the contrast figure announced by the manufacturers. It is calculated in terms of maximizing this measure, although far from ideal for watching a movie. For example, the contrast of a TV announced at 1 000 000:1 falls around 1000 to 2000:1 with the settings displaying the most beautiful image.
However, the increase in numbers in the range of a constructor used to compare the quality of different models it offers. These figures are of course incomparable from one manufacturer to another. Look instead to our measurements.

Plasma or LCD?

It is clear that the LCD is on the rise and alone represents the overwhelming majority of TV sales. The plasma is it so far exceeded? No, absolutely not! It presents a few arguments against the LCD: viewing angles of ultra-large, excellent color, an image very soft and natural, dense black, and a price often below the LCD of the same quality. For these reasons, they often favors the home-movie buffs - these maniacs of home cinema on a quest for the perfect image. However, they suffer from the slab marking when they leave a still image for too long. Their use is discouraged with the game consoles and computers.
In contrast, the LCD has viewing angles closer and let some light through the dark when it shifts the axis of the screen. Moreover, only good quality LCD offers a level of relatively dense black. Indeed, residues still light passing through the LCD crystals where they should be black.
They are however insensitive to the marking and marry well with game consoles and computers. TV Full HD 26 or 32 inches is also wonderfully versatile for use''TV / PC monitor.''


What is the 100 Hz? How to get a picture perfect fluid?

Dense matter that we will try to sum up simply. Contrary to many myths, the 100 Hz has nothing to do with the fluidity of film. The confusion is that the TV offers 100 Hz, especially LCD, offering a way of fluidisation movies. In fact, with plasma, 100 Hz is used simply to limit the flickering images, while LCDs as it reduces the effect of remanence (*) during rapid movements.
So do not confuse the 100 Hz, with Motionflow (Sony), the HDNM (HD Natural Motion Philips), Movie Plus (Samsung) ... which are systems that eliminate saccades films by calculating the intermediate images to film images of the original. These systems are essential to those who are allergic to the slightest tug. Sometimes they create a video that put off some, but it is still possible to disable them. We urge those who want the most useful options of a TV with such a function.

Audio files, video and photo

While many now offer TV playback photos or music in USB memory sticks or SD cards, very few among them can read the videos. And of those we tested, none lit up all the files most common. So do not choose one of these TVs, thinking out of its platinum lounge, his or her PC hard drive multimedia. They are still the only ones to carry out the task of video playback.

Plasma TV Samsung LE26S81B 26 inches / 66 cm

With its 26-inch (66 cm), the figure is now LE26S81B of small TV. She still displays a picture of a size equivalent to a CRT of 71 cm, which, a few years ago, was already a beautiful diagonal.

We will impose it from the outset playing a DVD. With the default settings, the result is catastrophic: clogged and faded black and whites burned, artifacts and blocks of pixels abound ... In short, everything goes through.

The mess is sorted out as soon as one takes care to correct tweaks. First, disabling all filters, especially that of noise reduction, helps eliminate the piles of pixels. Blacks and whites clogged burned originate mode dynamics, the most destructive image that has been given us to see. A move to Standard or Cinema to retrieve the clearest tones and the darkest.

We note in passing that the 3 modes (Standard, Dynamic and Cinema) not the same adjustment options. The color temperatures Chaud1 and Chaud2, for example, are shaded and inaccessible mode dynamics. This logic escapes us somewhat.

As amended, the picture is more flattering, but always shows blacks a little too gray. An impression confirmed by a disastrous extent to 0.87 cd / m - the best TV are less than 0.15 cd / m - while the white flies to 473 cd / sqm. At least, and settled, LE26S81B will not harm the pieces displayed in the most illuminated.

However, it is possible to catch up with black playing on the backlight. Brought back to 3 of 10, it achieves blacks to 0.27 cd / m, but dropped the white 147 cd / sqm. A 0 to 10, it drops to 0.12 cd / m, but the white no longer a poor 67 cd / m which gives the impression of watching a veiled image and dull. We do not, therefore this setting. In all cases, the measured contrast therefore revolves around a mediocre 540:1.

Besides, the color is not good and, worse, impossible to catch up. The smallest gap was 7 colorimetric, and flies to more than 30 in certain colors.