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Sony Bravia KDL-46VE5

Television Review

Previous: Page 6

Calibration

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Connectivity
Sony Bravia KDL-46VE5
Page 7

Remote Control Summary



Editorial Note: This is a review of the Sony KDL-46VE5. Test results are for this model, but should indicate the general performance of other sizes in the VE5 series. The VE5 series includes the following models: KDL-40VE5, KDL-46VE5, and KDL-52VE5.  Read here for more details on series differences.

• Well balanced and weighted
• Nonsensical button layout
• Works with other Sony devices, but only Sony devices

Ergonomics & Durability (4.75)

The remote control that ships with the KDL-46VE5 is a standard Sony design. It's longer and thinner than some remotes, and has an excellent weight distribution. There's also a handy little groove on the bottom that helps keep it from sliding around in your greasy hands. But it's not all sunshine. The button layout (discussed below) is poor and it would have been nice to add some backlighting for the buttons. Aesthetically, the color palette could use some work. Black, grey, blue, green, and orange don't tend to happily co-exist in the same space, at least not in this arrangement.

Button Layout & Use (4.5)

Sure it feels comfortable, but the button layout doesn't make any sense. Your grip naturally falls at the top of the remote, perfectly positioned for... the Menu buttons? The most frequently used buttons on any remote are the Volume up/down and Channel up/down. Sony chose to position these all the way down at the bottom, in the least accessible place. The Bravia-branded functions take the sweet spot near the top. It's all a bit of a mess.

Programming & Flexibility (1.0)

If you happen to be a Sony-brand loyalist, you're in luck. The remote only works with other Sony products. If, however, you fall into that much larger camp of people that mix it up, you're S.O.L.

Other Models in the VE5 Series
This is a review of the Sony KDL-46VE5. The other sizes of HDTVs in this series should be similar in terms of performance and usability. For details about any differences, click on the image to jump to the Series Comparison page.
Sony KDL-40VE5
40 inches
Sony KDL-46VE
46 inches
Sony KDL-52VE
52 inches

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Sony Bravia KDL-46VE5
Television Review

Previous: Page 6

Calibration

Previous: Page 8

Connectivity