- 55-inch HDTV with Full HD 1080p resolution and Motionflow 120Hz technology for smooth motion
- Motionflow 120Hz technology for smooth motion; BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital video processor optimizes color and contrast
- Ambient Sensor adjusts color based on room light; automatic increase or decrease in backlight brightness based on room's lighting conditions
- Inputs: 4 HDMI, 2 component, 2 composite, 1 PC, 1 USB, 1 optical digital audio output
- Includes removable stand; measures 52.25 x 32.9 x 13.9 inches with stand
Product Features |
Product Information
Technical Details
| Brand Name | Sony |
| Item Weight | 58.9 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 52.2 x 4.1 x 31.4 inches |
| Item model number | KDL-55EX500 |
| Color Name | Black |
| Specification Met | Energy Star |
Additional Information
| ASIN | B0035ER1IW |
| Best Sellers Rank | #69,631 in Electronics (See top 100) |
| Shipping Weight | 80 pounds |
| Shipping | This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. |
| Date First Available | January 6, 2010 |
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Technical Details
- Brand Name: Sony
- Model: KDL-55EX500
- Display Technology: LCD
- Display Size: 55 inches
- Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9
| This Product Is ENERGY STAR® Qualified Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy--plus they help us all save money while making a difference. Find out more about ENERGY STAR. |
Product Description
Amazon.com
An impressive centerpiece to any entertainment system, this 55-inch BRAVIA EX500 Series HDTV (model KDL-55EX500) combines a clean design with cutting-edge features. You'll enjoy Full HD 1080p picture quality as well as exceptionally smooth motion in fast-action sports scenes, movies and games thanks to integrated Motionflow 120Hz refresh rate technology. Plus, Ambient Sensor and LightSensor technologies automatically adjust the color and brightness based on your room's lighting to ensure you'll always get the best possible picture.
The BRAVIA EX500 Series HDTV with Full HD 1080p picture quality.
Connect your BRAVIA Sync compatible devices and enjoy convenient operation and control using one remote. Other features include 6 HD inputs (4 HDMI, 2 component), a USB port for photo, music, and video playback on the TV, and VESA compliant wall mounts.
See a comparison of all Sony HDTV models below.
Key Features
Full HD 1080p Resolution: Experience Full HD 1080p picture quality, the highest at-home resolution, and take full advantage of HD sources like a Blu-ray Disc Player or PlayStation3 gaming console via the 16:9 wide screen panel (1920 x 1080).
Motionflow 120Hz Technology: Experience smooth motion detail and clarity with Motionflow 120Hz technology. Motionflow 120Hz technology doubles the frame rate from the standard 60 frames per second and applies Image Blur Reduction technology to deliver a crisp, fluid and realistic viewing experience during fast-action scenes.
LightSensor Technology: Automatically increase or decrease the level of brightness of your TV's backlight based on a room's lighting conditions with the integrated LightSensor technology. Dim the lights to watch a movie and the sensor dims the backlight, which also helps reduce unnecessary power consumption.
Ambient Sensor: Get a natural looking picture whether you are watching movies late at night or playing video games during the day with an Ambient Sensor that automatically adjusts the picture color based on a room's lighting.
BRAVIA Engine 2: Enjoy sharp, vibrant, life-like images while optimizing color and contrast and significantly reducing noise with the BRAVIA Engine 2 fully digital processor.
6 HD Inputs: Get versatile HD connection options with 6 HD inputs, including 4 HDMI inputs to connect a Blu-ray Disc player, PlayStation3 gaming console or any other HDMI-capable equipment. Two HD component inputs provide added HD-capable connectivity, while a PC input (HD-15 pin) lets you use your HDTV as a computer monitor.
24p True Cinema: Movies consist of 24 images per second, and cannot be faithfully reproduced on conventional televisions, resulting in unnatural, jerky movements. But 24p True Cinema displays the 24 progressive images as they should be, in the same sequence as the original film source. Now, you can recreate the visual clarity of cinema-quality movies in the comfort of your own home.
USB Input: Share your photos on the big screen or listen to your favorite music. Simply connect your digital camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device directly to your HDTV's USB input.
BRAVIA Sync Compatible: Conveniently operate and control other BRAVIA Sync compatible devices--including BRAVIA HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc Players, surround sound systems, Handycam camcorders and Cyber-shot digital still cameras, all with one remote control.
VESA-compatible hole spacing uses an industry-standard mounting-hole pattern that can be used with VESA-compliant mounting brackets, taking the guesswork out of selecting the proper hardware for hanging your TV on the wall.
Key Specifications
- Screen size: 55 inches
- CineMotion Reverse 3:2 Pulldown Technology: Yes
- 24p True Cinema Technology: Yes
- 3D Comb Filter: Yes
- Live Color Technology: Yes
- Auto Picture Setting w/ HDMI: Cinema, Photo, Graphics, Game
- Speakers: 2x 10W (20 watts of total power)
- 5.1 Channel Audio Out: Yes
- Dolby: Dolby Digital
- USB Applications: Photo Viewer (jpeg), Music Player (mp3), Video Player (mpeg1), Video Player (mpeg2 TS)
- Tuners: ATSC, NTSC, Clear QAM
- VESA wall mounting pattern: 400 x 300
- Warranty: 1 year labor and parts
- TV with stand: 52.25 x 32.9 x 13.9 inches (WxHxD); 67.7 pounds
- TV without stand: 52.25 x 31.4 x 4.1 inches (WxHxD); 58.9 pounds
- What size TV should you get?
- HDMI: 4 (2 side, 2 rear; HDMI PC input capability)
- Component: 2 (rear)
- Composite A/V: 2 (1 side, 1 rear)
- RF: 1 (rear)
- USB 2.0: 1 (side)
- PC input (15-pin, D-Sub): 1 (rear)
- Analog audio inputs: 4 (1 side, 3 rear)
What's in the Box
BRAVIA EX500 Series HDTV, remote control (with batteries), AC power cord, table top stand, operating instructions
Learn More
Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?
With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience.If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get.
- Minimum size = Viewing distance/3
- Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5
Sony HDTV Comparison
| Series: | BX300 | EX308 | EX400 | EX40B | EX500 | EX600 | EX710 | HX800 | NX700 | NX810 |
| Models: | 32" | 22" | 32", 40" | 32", 40" | 32", 40", 46", 55", 60" | 32", 40", 46" | 32", 40", 46", 55" | 40", 46", 55" | 40", 46" | 46", 55", 60" |
| Panel type | LCD (CCFL) | LCD (CCFL) | LCD (CCFL) | LCD (CCFL) | LCD (CCFL) | Edge LED | Edge LED | Dynamic Edge LED | Edge LED | Dynamic Edge LED |
| HD 720p |  | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Full HD 1080p | -- | -- | | | | | | | | |
| 3D ready | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Yes | -- | Yes |
| Video processing | Engine 2 | Engine 3 | Engine 2 | Engine 3 | Engine 2 | Engine 2 | Engine 3 | Engine 3 | Engine 3 | Engine 3 |
| Motionflow | -- | -- | -- | -- | 120Hz | -- | 120Hz | 240Hz | 120Hz | 240Hz |
| Ambient Sensor | -- | | | | | | | | -- | -- |
| Lightsensor | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | |
| Internet Video | -- | Ready | -- | Ready | -- | -- | | | Ready | |
| Internet Widgets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | |
| DLNA | -- | | -- | | -- | -- | | | | |
| Wireless LAN | -- | Ready (w/ dongle) | -- | Ready | -- | -- | Ready | Ready | Integrated | Integrated |
| Ethernet | -- | | -- | | -- | -- | | | | |
| Blu-ray Disc Player | -- | -- | -- | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| HDMI | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Component (Y/Pb/Pr) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Composite A/V | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Digital audio output | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| PC (DSub) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI PC input | | | | | | | | | | |
| USB 2.0 port | 1 (svc only) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| MP3 playback | -- | | | | | | | | | |
| JPEG playback | -- | | | | | | | | | |
| MPEG 1/2 video playback | -- | -- | | -- | | | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| MPEG 4/AVCHD video playback | -- | | -- | | -- | -- | | | | |
| TV Guide onscreen | -- | | -- | | -- | -- | | | | |
Product Description
Experience Full HD 1080p, incredible contrast and sharp, vibrant images with the Sony BRAVIA EX500-Series HDTV. Features incredible motion performance so you enjoy crisp, fluid motion during fast-action scenes plus LightSensor Technology that automatically adjusts brightness based on a room’s lighting.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
80 of 82 people found the following review helpful
This Sony was sold to me directly from Sony in exchange for a 5 year old 60" Sony that had an 'optic block' problem that would require an expensive fix. Sony had been repairing this problem for free but I had no way to know that until mine went bad and then talking to Sony they had switched to an exchange program where the customer would pay about slightly less than half the retail price. If you have a slightly older Sony that is putting either a blue color on the screen or a green one you might start directly with the Sony Style website and contact their support help to see what they may offer you. On one hand I was very sad to see my 5 year Sony develop a problem but on the other hand I have to give Sony credit for standing up to the known problem.
The largest TV offered in the exchange program was this 55" model or I certainly would have gone for the 60" because I prefer that size. That said this model has a better and more vibrant picture than my older Sony which was a premium model that I had paid over $4,000 for. So the bottom line for me is that this new Sony has a better picture for less than the old one even if you pay retail. My old Sony weighed 113lbs and this new one is around 65lbs so it is easier to handle. The remote is better and more intuitive. We watch this in a very bright room filled with natural sunlight during the day and this TV handles that very well with no glare. The speakers are nothing to write home about and probably not as good as my old Sony but we tend to watch movies with the sound coming from a quality sound system anyway. My old Sony was 1080i and this one is full 1080p which is an excellent picture. We get our signal from Dish Net which broadcasts almost exclusively in 1080i anyway. For movies we use a Samsung Blu-Ray player which works beautifully with this TV. In fact there is a type of automatic setting that the Samsung and the Sony have where when you turn on the Samsung the TV also turns on and then goes directly to the input from the Samsung. Very cool. Truthfully I can barely tell the difference from a good blu-ray picture and a good standard DVD. We tend to use Netflix a lot and always order Blu-Ray when available.
I thought the set up was easy and the available HDMI connections are excellent as my old Sony only had two HDMI inputs and this one has 4. We actually use all 4 with a DVD recorder, Dish Net, HD camcorder, and the blu-ray.
I would have no problem recommending this Sony LCD TV and in fact when I looked in the stores I thought the new LED LCDs seemed a little too bright. I do miss the 60" size but everyone who has looked at this picture has been in the 'wow' camp with it.
The largest TV offered in the exchange program was this 55" model or I certainly would have gone for the 60" because I prefer that size. That said this model has a better and more vibrant picture than my older Sony which was a premium model that I had paid over $4,000 for. So the bottom line for me is that this new Sony has a better picture for less than the old one even if you pay retail. My old Sony weighed 113lbs and this new one is around 65lbs so it is easier to handle. The remote is better and more intuitive. We watch this in a very bright room filled with natural sunlight during the day and this TV handles that very well with no glare. The speakers are nothing to write home about and probably not as good as my old Sony but we tend to watch movies with the sound coming from a quality sound system anyway. My old Sony was 1080i and this one is full 1080p which is an excellent picture. We get our signal from Dish Net which broadcasts almost exclusively in 1080i anyway. For movies we use a Samsung Blu-Ray player which works beautifully with this TV. In fact there is a type of automatic setting that the Samsung and the Sony have where when you turn on the Samsung the TV also turns on and then goes directly to the input from the Samsung. Very cool. Truthfully I can barely tell the difference from a good blu-ray picture and a good standard DVD. We tend to use Netflix a lot and always order Blu-Ray when available.
I thought the set up was easy and the available HDMI connections are excellent as my old Sony only had two HDMI inputs and this one has 4. We actually use all 4 with a DVD recorder, Dish Net, HD camcorder, and the blu-ray.
I would have no problem recommending this Sony LCD TV and in fact when I looked in the stores I thought the new LED LCDs seemed a little too bright. I do miss the 60" size but everyone who has looked at this picture has been in the 'wow' camp with it.
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Had been looking for a new tv for a little while to upgrade from my 6 year old Mitsubishi Rear Projection 48" HDTV. Was trying to decide between Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, LG, and Vizio, and also LCD or Plasma. Did extensive research and decided LCD was the way to go for us. We had decided on a last years model Sony 52", but then it was sold before we got ready to get it. Thank goodness it did! Went back to Costco and found this beautiful new 2010 model Sony 55' LCD KDL-55EX501(costco's model is 501, whereas other stores carry the 500-same tv, even lists it in the instruction manual that way). This tv is so sharp and beautiful! The colors are rich and vibrant, and that was out of the box without adjusting any settings yet!Fine tuning made it even better. Has the Bravia engine 2 and that really makes it look sharp. 120hz processing, and i really dont even see anything wrong with motion scenes. Black sure looks black to me on this set, which is an issue with lcd tv's. Most stores don't carry the set yet as it was just released the first week of Feb. Can't beat Costco though, at this time its [...] and the offer not only the standard warranty on all electronics, but on this model tv, right on the box it states is has a 3 year warranty! Paperwork inside confirmed this! Lots of settings and adjustments can be made as well. Does 1080/24p very nicely. If you can get one, i would really recommend it, you wont be disappointed.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By ijcast
As a mid-level LCD TV, the KDL55EX500 is simply a stunning bargain for what you get. And despite the fact that it doesn't use LED technology, it's still has excellent picture quality.
This is a standard LCD TV. Despite this, it has picture quality that rivals many of its LED competitors. I've found that after visiting several stores that many LED-based sets have restricted viewing angles (often getting washed out easily if you move away from center). Also, if you've ever done research on various tech sites, you would find some people complaining about how their LED TVs have uniformity issues, and/or light-bleed from the edges of the screen. Lastly and most important to me, most of the LED TVs that I liked seemed to have significant input lag. Input lag is a slight delay of the video displayed on the TV. All LCD TVs suffer from at least a small amount of input lag, but it seemed all the LED TVs I liked (mostly Samsungs) had a significant amount of it. (Input lag is not rated on most TVs. But on PC monitors input lag often rated as "latency" and measured in milliseconds or "ms".) And since I like to play Gran Turismo 5 on my PS3 a lot, input lag was a concern for me. My previous TV had a lot of input lag (a Samsung) and it made playing Gran Turismo 5 impossible. I had to resort to playing the game on my PC monitor - it was that bad. (Note: I know a lot of TVs now boast of 120hz, or 240hz motion processing. This does not address input lag. Input lag is a seperate problem.)
So after doing a bit of research (reading up on owner's forums of various TVs), I narrowed it down to the KDL55EX500 and the KDL55EX710 - both from Sony. (I really liked the Samsungs, but as I said before, the owners forums swayed me away from them due to quality issues and input lag.) There is about a $700 difference in price of these two TVs because the EX710 series uses the newer LED technology. Seeing them both side-by-side at a local store, it was really hard to see a difference. The EX710 model looked a bit sharper, but the difference was really hard to discern. I couldn't justify paying another $700 for the EX710. Yea, the EX710 is a lot thinner, and consumes less energy, but I don't care about that (gasp!). I just want a good picture for a good price - and the EX500 had both of those things. (When I asked if they had any of the EX500 in stock at that store, the salesman said they did not - which didn't surprise me.)
I will admit that the EX500 series does not have the best picture quality I have seen. The best I think are the upper tier Samsungs (UN558000XF is amazing looking when you see it in person). But after owning a Samsung and having it die on me after only 4-years I'll stick with Sony - who seem to have a better quality track record regarding TVs. (I still own a 12-year-old Sony TV that works perfectly). The picture quality on the KDL55EX500 is still nothing to laugh about. It is simply beautiful. It's sharp, vibrant, and bright. My only gripe is that flesh tones on my older Samsung seemed to look better and smoother, not sure why - but it's true. But that's a minor complaint in an otherwise excellent-looking TV.
This TV is great with games. I could not discern any sort of input lag at all on standard settings. Sony, however added a "game mode" where it supposedly increases response time from the TV. To be honest, the difference is minute, but I like that it's there. If you're a gamer and want decent response time from your TV with minimal input lag - the KDL55EX500 won't disappoint.
This is a standard LCD TV. Despite this, it has picture quality that rivals many of its LED competitors. I've found that after visiting several stores that many LED-based sets have restricted viewing angles (often getting washed out easily if you move away from center). Also, if you've ever done research on various tech sites, you would find some people complaining about how their LED TVs have uniformity issues, and/or light-bleed from the edges of the screen. Lastly and most important to me, most of the LED TVs that I liked seemed to have significant input lag. Input lag is a slight delay of the video displayed on the TV. All LCD TVs suffer from at least a small amount of input lag, but it seemed all the LED TVs I liked (mostly Samsungs) had a significant amount of it. (Input lag is not rated on most TVs. But on PC monitors input lag often rated as "latency" and measured in milliseconds or "ms".) And since I like to play Gran Turismo 5 on my PS3 a lot, input lag was a concern for me. My previous TV had a lot of input lag (a Samsung) and it made playing Gran Turismo 5 impossible. I had to resort to playing the game on my PC monitor - it was that bad. (Note: I know a lot of TVs now boast of 120hz, or 240hz motion processing. This does not address input lag. Input lag is a seperate problem.)
So after doing a bit of research (reading up on owner's forums of various TVs), I narrowed it down to the KDL55EX500 and the KDL55EX710 - both from Sony. (I really liked the Samsungs, but as I said before, the owners forums swayed me away from them due to quality issues and input lag.) There is about a $700 difference in price of these two TVs because the EX710 series uses the newer LED technology. Seeing them both side-by-side at a local store, it was really hard to see a difference. The EX710 model looked a bit sharper, but the difference was really hard to discern. I couldn't justify paying another $700 for the EX710. Yea, the EX710 is a lot thinner, and consumes less energy, but I don't care about that (gasp!). I just want a good picture for a good price - and the EX500 had both of those things. (When I asked if they had any of the EX500 in stock at that store, the salesman said they did not - which didn't surprise me.)
I will admit that the EX500 series does not have the best picture quality I have seen. The best I think are the upper tier Samsungs (UN558000XF is amazing looking when you see it in person). But after owning a Samsung and having it die on me after only 4-years I'll stick with Sony - who seem to have a better quality track record regarding TVs. (I still own a 12-year-old Sony TV that works perfectly). The picture quality on the KDL55EX500 is still nothing to laugh about. It is simply beautiful. It's sharp, vibrant, and bright. My only gripe is that flesh tones on my older Samsung seemed to look better and smoother, not sure why - but it's true. But that's a minor complaint in an otherwise excellent-looking TV.
This TV is great with games. I could not discern any sort of input lag at all on standard settings. Sony, however added a "game mode" where it supposedly increases response time from the TV. To be honest, the difference is minute, but I like that it's there. If you're a gamer and want decent response time from your TV with minimal input lag - the KDL55EX500 won't disappoint.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely happy with this after 1-1/2 years
I highly recommend this awesome TV! I could not be more pleased w/the picture and performance of this TV. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sandra D
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great TV
I bought a Samsung DLP TV in 2008 and this Sony absolutely blows it away. The picture is awesome, and you won't find a better TV for the price. Read more
Published 13 months ago by GT
1.0 out of 5 stars
Avoid SONY at all cost ... too much $$$ for Chinese junk
I paid $2,500 LCD that went bad due to an optical block. A problem that has brought them several class action lawsuits. AVOID Sony at all cost. Read more
Published 17 months ago by LessonsLearned
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Steal Of A Deal
Wasn't shopping for an LCD TV when I came across this model at Target on floor display close-out at $497.
The picture quality is excellent. Read more
The picture quality is excellent. Read more
Published 18 months ago by ShowMeStateMan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best bang for the buck if you can find it!
Got the 2-month old demo at Pacific Sales for $750 after arguing with the wench manager of Best Buy Fullerton who wanted $1699 for the discontinued model. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Robin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Picture and Input offering
I've done countless hours of research for TV's, and it seems that everything changes with each year of new products coming out. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dylan's Dad
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dependable and Great Picture!
We purchased a Sony 55 inch Bravia almost five years ago and we have not had any problems whatsoever! Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
great picture clarity, nice frame around the LCD
Sony makes a great product in 99% of the times I have purchased from them. I would like to point out a very important fact about LCD TVs. The border makes a huge difference. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mikel
5.0 out of 5 stars
superb tv
This is a wonderful tv at a great value. The picture is great, cannot complain about anything concerning this tv.
Published 20 months ago by D. M. Benoit
1.0 out of 5 stars
Do yourself a favor and avoid any Sony TV
I bought a new 52 in. XBR9 back in Oct. 2009 for $1,900, and the LCD panel has already gone bad after 22 months. Cost to fix = $2,800! I called Sony and they could care less! Read more
Published 20 months ago by NeverSonyAgain!
