Subscores
The EX653 (EX650 in mainland Europe) is an entry-level Sony 2012 TV. From the outside, it's pretty hard to tell apart from the HX753, but the key differences are on the inside. For starters, the EX653 has no 3D mode, and its screen refresh rate is 50 Hz (100 Hz with backlight scanning) compared with 200 Hz (400 Hz with backlight scanning) for the HX753. However, it hangs on to the HX753's other features, including Edge LED backlighting and built-in Wi-Fi for easy access to web-based services.
This TV is available in three sizes: 32" (KDL-32EX650), 40" (KDL-40EX650) and 46" (KDL-46EX650).
Design
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Inspired by Sony's "Monolithic" designs, this TV's screen can now be tilted 6° backwards. However, it's mounted on a new stand with two metal feet. It also swivels horizontally by 30°.
There are two ways to control this TV. First of all, there's the remote control supplied, which is more compact that previous generation remotes and has rounder edges. Otherwise, you can download the Sony Media Remote app and control the EX653 with your smartphone (iOS or Android).
Sony has improved its connected services (Smart TV) with the Sony Entertainment Network, which has loads of channels and features. But the same can't be said of the built-in media player, which is still no match for the systems seen in LG and Samsung TVs. Seeing as it can't play HD films or MKV files, the USB port is really only useful for hooking up an external hard drive or USB flash drive for recording TV shows (with live controls).
2D Image Quality
This up-close shot of the EX653's sub-pixels shows that it uses an S-PVA screen panel manufactured by Samsung. As you can see, the chevron shapes are arranged horizontally rather than vertically, which can have a negative impact on screen viewing angles. Typically, vertical viewing angles will be wider than horizontal viewing angles. This was confirmed by our test equipment: the EX653 showed a variation in brightness of +200% to -42% from the sides compared with +110% to -40% from the top/bottom. The EX653 therefore scores 1.6/5 for screen viewing angles.
Otherwise, we measured screen contrast at 2200:1, which is good. With a low level of mood lighting, the blacks will look nice and deep. However, in a pitch black room, an onscreen black can easily be distinguished from the TV screen's black bezel. In the same conditions, some TVs do a better job. The Philips 40PFL5507H, for example, has a higher contrast screen (5000:1) that gives perfect results whether in a brightly lit room or in total darkness.
A low level of reflection from the semi-gloss screen
Image fidelity is good. Colours are reproduced accurately with an average Delta E of 3.3 (this measures the difference between perfect colours and those displayed onscreen—the lower, the better). The gamma (brightness distribution) is perfect and colour temperature isn't far from the ideal 6500 kelvins, measured at 6820 kelvins in the EX653.
We measured above-average levels of responsiveness in the Sony EX653, with an average ghosting time of 10.5 ms. Any ghost images behind fast-moving objects are therefore visible but very faint.
Gamers will also be pleased to hear that the input lag is negligible. It varies between 0 and 33 ms, but remains low enough not to penalise gamers.
However, it's a shame that there's no motion interpolation function in this TV to help keep fact-action scenes flowing smoothly. This could have helped get rid of glitches and judder in films wile also helping to control ghost images.
Clouding
If you search hard enough you will spot a slight bit of clouding (light blotches leaking through into dark parts of the onscreen image). We purposely accentuated the problem in the image above to show it up. Some light from the LED backlights can be seen leaking through in the corners of the screen, but this doesn't extend to the centre of the display. It'll be no trouble at all when watching TV or films.
Audio
Power Use
It's no real surprise to see that power use is pretty low in the Sony EX653. On standby, we measured power use at less than 1 W, which is ideal. Once up and running, it only uses 65 W, (147 W/m²), which is certainly low, but not the lowest we've seen.
This TV is available in three sizes: 32" (KDL-32EX650), 40" (KDL-40EX650) and 46" (KDL-46EX650).
Design
.jpg)
Inspired by Sony's "Monolithic" designs, this TV's screen can now be tilted 6° backwards. However, it's mounted on a new stand with two metal feet. It also swivels horizontally by 30°.
There are two ways to control this TV. First of all, there's the remote control supplied, which is more compact that previous generation remotes and has rounder edges. Otherwise, you can download the Sony Media Remote app and control the EX653 with your smartphone (iOS or Android).
Sony has improved its connected services (Smart TV) with the Sony Entertainment Network, which has loads of channels and features. But the same can't be said of the built-in media player, which is still no match for the systems seen in LG and Samsung TVs. Seeing as it can't play HD films or MKV files, the USB port is really only useful for hooking up an external hard drive or USB flash drive for recording TV shows (with live controls).
2D Image Quality
This up-close shot of the EX653's sub-pixels shows that it uses an S-PVA screen panel manufactured by Samsung. As you can see, the chevron shapes are arranged horizontally rather than vertically, which can have a negative impact on screen viewing angles. Typically, vertical viewing angles will be wider than horizontal viewing angles. This was confirmed by our test equipment: the EX653 showed a variation in brightness of +200% to -42% from the sides compared with +110% to -40% from the top/bottom. The EX653 therefore scores 1.6/5 for screen viewing angles.
Otherwise, we measured screen contrast at 2200:1, which is good. With a low level of mood lighting, the blacks will look nice and deep. However, in a pitch black room, an onscreen black can easily be distinguished from the TV screen's black bezel. In the same conditions, some TVs do a better job. The Philips 40PFL5507H, for example, has a higher contrast screen (5000:1) that gives perfect results whether in a brightly lit room or in total darkness.
Colours in Custom mode: average Delta E 3.3
A low level of reflection from the semi-gloss screenImage fidelity is good. Colours are reproduced accurately with an average Delta E of 3.3 (this measures the difference between perfect colours and those displayed onscreen—the lower, the better). The gamma (brightness distribution) is perfect and colour temperature isn't far from the ideal 6500 kelvins, measured at 6820 kelvins in the EX653.
| Responsiveness | ||
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Light Background |
Black Background |
Average |
This graph shows the ghosting time, measured in ms, which measures the time it takes this TV takes to entirely remove the previous frame. The shorter the time, the more fluid moving images will appear.
We measured above-average levels of responsiveness in the Sony EX653, with an average ghosting time of 10.5 ms. Any ghost images behind fast-moving objects are therefore visible but very faint.
Gamers will also be pleased to hear that the input lag is negligible. It varies between 0 and 33 ms, but remains low enough not to penalise gamers.
However, it's a shame that there's no motion interpolation function in this TV to help keep fact-action scenes flowing smoothly. This could have helped get rid of glitches and judder in films wile also helping to control ghost images.
Clouding
Clouding test - purposely accentuated to show up any traces of clouding
If you search hard enough you will spot a slight bit of clouding (light blotches leaking through into dark parts of the onscreen image). We purposely accentuated the problem in the image above to show it up. Some light from the LED backlights can be seen leaking through in the corners of the screen, but this doesn't extend to the centre of the display. It'll be no trouble at all when watching TV or films.
Audio
With a similar audio set-up to the HX753, sound quality isn't amazing. The frequency band for human voices is reproduced just about effectively, but it's otherwise quite poor. The sound lacks dynamic range—so much so that even an action film may soon start to sound boring. We therefore recommend you invest in a separate home cinema speaker set.
Power Use
It's no real surprise to see that power use is pretty low in the Sony EX653. On standby, we measured power use at less than 1 W, which is ideal. Once up and running, it only uses 65 W, (147 W/m²), which is certainly low, but not the lowest we've seen.
Pros
- Accurate colours in Custom mode: average Delta E = 3.3
- Good contrast: 2200:1
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Original design
Cons
- Screen viewing angles are too tight
- Media player needs to support more file formats
- No motion interpolation
- Disappointing audio quality
Conclusion
Although it doesn't deliver outstanding performances, image quality is good in the Sony EX653. However, just a bit more cash will get you a competitor model with motion interpolation, 3D compatibility and better contrast.
OUR SCORE
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