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  5. R420B
  6. Review
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Intro
  3. Design
    1. Design
    2. Stand
    3. Borders
    4. Thickness
  4. Picture Quality
    1. Contrast
    2. Black Uniformity
    3. Gray Uniformity
    4. Viewing Angle
    5. Average Room
    6. Bright Room
    7. 3D
    8. Pixels
  5. Motion
    1. Motion Blur
    2. Motion Interpolation
  6. Inputs
    1. Input Lag
    2. Side Inputs
    3. Rear Inputs
  7. Smart Features
    1. Smart TV
    2. Remote
  8. Conclusion
  9. Q&A
Reviewed on May 29, 2014

Sony R420B
TV REVIEW

Usage Ratings - Version 0.9
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Test Benches: test

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2015
  • 0.9: Winter 2014
  • 0.8: Winter 2013
See changelog and how ratings work
6.7
Mixed Usage
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Score components:
  • 74% Picture Quality
  • 19% Motion
  • 7% Inputs
Recommended if under (USD)
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What it is: Maximum price to be a better value than its competitors.
How to use it: This product is the best choice in its range if you can find it below this price.
Automatically calculated every hour based on the scores and prices of all other products we've tested.
Learn more about how it is calculated and its limitations
: Not at the latest test bench
Value for price beaten by
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What it is: Product with the best value in this price range
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REVIEW
SETTINGS
This tv has been discontinued.

The Sony KDL32R420B LED TV is an inexpensive TV, but its picture quality is also inferior. The contrast ratio is sub-par, it reflects a lot of light, and it has more motion blur than average. At least it has a good viewing angle.

Test Results
Picture Quality 6.5
Motion 7.0
Inputs 8.7
Smart Features 0
Pros
  • Great viewing angle with consistent colors.
Cons
  • Low input lag, which is great for fast-paced games. However, it has quite a bit of motion blur.
  • Low contrast ratio. In a dark room, the blacks are gray.
  • Significant amount of reflections. It also doesn't get very bright, so it is not suitable for daytime viewing in a room with windows.

Check Price

32" KDL32R420B
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Design

Design
Sony R420B Design

The KDL32R420B looks very bland. Its frame and depth are thicker than average, even for this price range.

Stand
Sony R420B Stand

This TV has a standard stand that doesn't swivel.

Borders
Sony R420B Borders

0.87" (2.2 cm)

Thickness
Sony R420B Thickness

2.83" (7.2 cm)

6.5

Picture Quality

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Score components:
4k : No
7.2 Contrast
Sony R420B Contrast
Black : 0.066 cd/m2
White : 100.9 cd/m2
Contrast : 1529 : 1

The contrast ratio of the Sony KDL32R420B isn't very good. In a dark room, you will notice that its blacks are gray. At least the default color calibration is quite good.

LEARN ABOUT CONTRAST Right
8.0 Black Uniformity
Sony R420B Black Uniformity

While its blacks aren't very deep, the uniformity of black scenes is good. The corners are slightly darker, though.

LEARN ABOUT BLACK UNIFORMITY Right
6.0 Gray Uniformity
Sony R420B Gray Uniformity

They uniformity of the gray color is better than average, but it is significantly darker around the edges.

LEARN ABOUT GRAY UNIFORMITY Right
7.1 Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle : 30 °

The viewing angle of this TV is good. The colors stay the same even if you sit off-axis.

LEARN ABOUT VIEWING ANGLE Right
7.5 Average Room
Sony R420B Average Room
Reflection : 1.9 %
Surface Type : Semi-gloss

The Sony R420B reflects more than average, but the reflections still are under control (unlike the LG 32LB5800, which has a yellow tint when you have a few lights on).

LEARN ABOUT AVERAGE ROOM Right
6.0 Bright Room
Sony R420B Bright Room
Max white : 138 cd/m2

This TV doesn't get bright. In conjunction with the higher than average level of reflections, this TV is less than ideal in a room with a few windows.

LEARN ABOUT BRIGHT ROOM Right
0 3D
3D : No
Pixels
Sony R420B Pixels

7.0

Motion

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Score components:
7.0 Motion Blur
Sony R420B Motion Blur

The Sony KDL32R420B has a long motion blur trail. Fast moving footage appears a bit blurry on it. Therefore, it isn't the best for sports or video games.

LEARN ABOUT MOTION BLUR Right
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation : N/A
8.7

Inputs

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Score components:
8.7 Input Lag
Sony R420B Input Lag
Input Lag : 34 ms

The input lag of this TV is good; it won't be noticeable even in fast video games.

LEARN ABOUT INPUT LAG Right
Side Inputs
Sony R420B Side Inputs

1 USB
2 HDMI

Rear Inputs
Sony R420B Rear Inputs

1 Headphone Output
1 Composite Input
1 Component Input
1 Digital Optical Audio Out
1 RF In

0

Smart Features

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Score components:
  • 100% Smart TV
0 Smart TV

Remote
Sony R420B Remote

Conclusion
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

6.7Mixed Usage
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✕
Score components:
  • 74% Picture Quality
  • 19% Motion
  • 7% Inputs
Overall, the Sony KDL32R420B LED TV isn't a very good TV. Unless you can find it at a steep discount, it is worth spending a little bit more to get a better TV.
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Questions Found an error?

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Questions & Answers

5 ANSWERED QUESTIONS
16
I'm trying to find the difference between the kdl48R470B and the kdl48W600B. I think the R470B is a Walmart-only model, but what's the difference in the actual TVs?
It is basically the same TV, but without the smart features. We expect the picture quality to be in the same ballpark.
Nov 11, 2014 Report Error
3
Have you tested it with a PS3 or PS4? What are your thoughts? For me, it is a bargain. I am considering this over a PC monitor for my PS 3/4 at the same price, which is a BenQ GW2760HS. Just a quick answer: which is better?
We haven't tested the BenQ GW2760HS, so we can't compare it. The KDL32R420B has a fair amount of motion blur, so it isn't ideal for fast games on the PS4.
Aug 17, 2014 Report Error
2
Is there only one HDMI port on this TV? Based on the picture you provided, it looks like there are two.
Two HDMI and one USB. It was a typo in our review, and it is fixed now.
Jul 28, 2014 Report Error
1
How do I fix audio delay?
If you are using a receiver, you should have a lip-sync feature on that device, which would let you adjust the delay. If not, try putting the TV into Game mode and see if that fixes the lag.
Apr 20, 2015 Report Error
0
In the Sony R420B, is Netflix installed into the TV?
No.
Apr 07, 2015 Report Error
We are not taking any more questions for this product because we no longer have it in our lab.
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