Sony Bravia KDL-46HX800

Audio Quality (4.00)

The audio performance of the Sony KDL-46HX800 was surprisingly weak. There’s very little bass response, creating an overall flat sound. Of course, you have some qualitative control over the quality. There are four presets: Dynamic, Standard, Clear Voice, and Custom. None of them sounded great, but Clear Voice is particularly tinny.

If you use the TV’s ‘Scene Modes’ (located in the Preferences menu), the audio settings are locked into certain modes, and blocks some of the other features. These other features include a surround sound simulator, bass and treble controls, and steady sound (which keeps a consistent volume when the commercials come on).

It seems likely that people spending this much on a TV is likely to have an independent sound system. We would encourage that behavior, only because the sound quality of the Sony KDL-46HX800 does not match the display quality.

Menu Interface (6.00)

The menu interface on the Sony KDL-46HX800 should be familiar to those who use a Playstation 3, PSP, or other Sony Bravia products. Called the ‘XrossMediaBar,’ it employs a horizontally structured menu, with sub-items appearing vertically above and below each of the main menu icons. It’s apparently won several awards, if Wikipedia has anything to say about it. We like it, too. Like any menu, it’s got it’s own learning curve, but you should pick it up quickly.

Instruction Manual (3.00)

The instruction manual that ships in the box with the Sony KDL-46HX800 not really the manual. It’s a quick guide that just helps you plug in and get started.

The true manual is actually stored electronically in the TV itself. Sounds ecological, right? Sure, but what good does it do you if you can’t get the screen to display properly, or even turn the TV on? There’s an online version of the manual, but frustratingly, it’s not a downloadable PDF. That would have been too convenient. Instead, you have to maneuver through a strictly online version only, complete with a tedious navigation system that requires its own learning curve. Sony must not let you have the manual! It’s clearly too valuable for you to possess. You can merely view it from a distance.

The manual, while annoying to use, is at least written with a certain flair. Take this tidbit from a description of the VGA port: ‘It is indispensable to use a PC cable with ferrite cores.’ Not ‘required’ or ‘recommended’… indispensable.

You can find the Sony KDL-46HX800’s manual online here.

Other Models in the KDL-xxHX800 Series
For more information on other models in this series, check our Series Comparison Page.
Sony Bravia KDL-40HX800 40 in.	Sony Bravia KDL-55HX800 55 in.