Sony Bravia KDL-32EX503 review

It's no LED, but Sony's polished Essential range lives up to its name

Reviews
By Jamie Carter
published
Sony Bravia KDL-32EX503
If you are interested in getting Freeview HD then this TV is already equipped with the right tuner

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Sony bravia kdl-32ex503 angle

With LED panels still commanding a premium price, Sony has left the technology off the KDL-32EX503, with few complaints from us – it sports one of the best, most contrast-capable LCD panels around.

The premium feature here is Freeview HD, though there's plenty of other aspects – styling, user interface, picture and sound quality – that help the KDL-32EX503 become a competitive offering for anyone after something a bit more advanced.

We liked:

The interface does at great job of uniting this TV's diverse range of features, managing to put everything from internet TV, Freeview channels and USB sticks in the same place.

Cinematic brilliance with Blu-ray, clean upscaling of DVD and Freeview HD, and some decent audio are among the highlights.

We disliked:

While nicely styled, the remote could do with a tweak or two when it comes to layout. The set's film mode performs well and doesn't introduce any video nasties, though it would be nice to have a stronger setting so that viewers can make their own minds up.

A more comprehensive digital file compatibility mix is also needed for playback from USB and via DLNA, while Bravia Internet Video needs thinning down: less would be more.

Verdict:

If you demand an ultra-slim screen and all-new Edge LED backlighting, Sony's KDL-32EX703 is what to head for, though for our money the KDL-32EX503 is better value; excellent contrast and colours team-up with a luscious interface and some novel online features to create one of the best value and most impressive LCD TVs around.

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Jamie Carter
Jamie Carter

Jamie is a freelance tech, travel and space journalist based in the UK. He’s been writing regularly for Techradar since it was launched in 2008 and also writes regularly for Forbes, The Telegraph, the South China Morning Post, Sky & Telescope and the Sky At Night magazine as well as other Future titles T3, Digital Camera World, All About Space and Space.com. He also edits two of his own websites, TravGear.com and WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com that reflect his obsession with travel gear and solar eclipse travel. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners (Springer, 2015),