376
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #58,687 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★★★★
Quality + Value = Sony!!! TV, Media Hub, and Game Console all in one!!!
I have had this TV for about a month now and would like to give my honest opinion of this Sony Smart TV! I actually purchased a very similar model through Walmart (model: KDL-48W580B). Only differences that I've seen are the Motionflow which is 120 instead of 240 as the 600B is, the color of the stand is black instead of the chrome/silver, and the price was $30-50 cheaper depending on time of purchase.
Addressing this TV as just that, a television, the picture is very pleasing! Took a little adjusting to get the picture just right for my viewing. I have connected my TV to my PS3 and my desktop. Both have bright, clear and crisp pictures. I also have a Sony STR-DE597 receiver (old school model that I plan to upgrade) with a pair of the SS-B3000 speakers. TV's speakers are clear and would suffice if you do not have any external sound. Settings are very easy to navigate and quite a few options to play with. If you plan on purchasing this TV intending to not use the smart features, this is still a great deal. Some complaints I've heard and seen are that the TV is cheaply made. While the TV is very light, it is sturdy and does not move. Setting it up was easy and done within minutes! Sony, in my opinion is the leader in video technologies due to the fact that they have such a huge influence on our media. From movies to video games, Sony has a hand in it all so they know how to make a great TV!
Now for the smart features. I have my TV connected to my wireless router which is 2 feet away. I am paying for 30mb/s download speed so connection is capable of all the smart features the TV has to offer. I have a Sony Xperia L smartphone and have tried the screen mirroring option. Again, this is quick and easy to do. Both Netflix and Amazon Instant Video run flawlessly, no lags or buffering or any kind of discrepancies that I've run into. I really like the fact that I can go to Netflix or Youtube on my phone and "push" the video to my TV with a simple click of a button. Quite a few apps to play around with. Web browser is quick and again, if you have a smartphone, I highly recommend the app TV Sideview by Sony. This app for mobile devices is worth the download! Not only do you get to use your phone/tablet as a TV remote, when in the web browser, you get even more functionality and can send text right to your TV! Compared to using just the TV remote, you get places a lot faster with less frustration!
One reason I waited until now to post my review is the fact that this TV has something different that no other brand has; the ability to stream full console games directly to the TV set without a console. I am referring to Playstation Now. I recently got an update that is giving me access to the Beta. As of right now, there's something like 30 games to stream. This service works similar to Netflix. While the prices may be a little ridiculous ($4.99 for 4 hour rental, $6.99 for 7 days, $14.99 for 30 days, $29.99 for 90 days; average price per game), I hope Sony hears all the complaints and that they go forward with making a reasonable price or subscription for this awesome and unique idea! There are a couple free games to play and those are the ones I have been able to test. When in the "HOME" screen, top left-hand corner has Movies, Album, Music, Apps, and then finally Playstation Now. On this screen, you get the option to Start the application, Resume the last game you played, and Controller Setup. Currently, PS3 controllers are connected to the TV using a USB cable and have to stay connected with a USB cable meaning no Bluetooth for the moment. I hope Sony finds a fix for this whether it be an adapter of some kind or something else. My work around is using my Pro Elite Wireless Controller for PS3 (http://smile.amazon.com/Pro-Elite-Wireless-Controller-Playstation-3/dp/B003V4AK8E) which is wirelessly connected to it's counterpart USB receiver. You can connect multiple controllers at once for 2 or more people to play. Games load as fast if not faster than my PS3 and there is no sacrifice to video or sound quality! It's just like having a console but a little bit easier! This, I believe, is a pretty big feature that can stomp the other competition when it comes to smart TV's.
***UPDATE*******************************************************
Sony has finally updated Playstation Now so that you can choose to rent individual games or have a month to month subscription (1 month $19.99 / 3 months $44.99) to have access to a good majority of the games available. The subscription option is exactly what I was looking for and adds more value to the TV! Already there are over 100 PS3 games and the library is still growing! Thank you Sony for finally correcting this so everyone can enjoy PSNow!
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I would highly recommend this TV, whether you are looking for value in the picture quality, the value in price, or the value in smart features, this TV has it all and does not disappoint! If you have any specific questions, feel free to comment on my review and I will get back to you as soon as possible! I have done my best to answer any questions that were asked on the product page.
July 2014 · Electronics