The Sony KDL-46HX800 ($2699) is a 46-inch LED-backlit LCD television, and among the first Sony TVs to offer 3D display. Don't get too excited yet, though. The HX800 series is merely 3D-ready, which means several more purchases until you're actually enjoying the 3D experience.

By 3D-ready, Sony means that the screen itself is capable of properly displaying 3D content – normal HDTVs cannot do this. In order to actually watch 3D, you'll need separately purchased 3D glasses, which run $150 as well as a 3D sync transmitter for another $50. It's hard to fault Sony for wanting to squeeze customers for glasses – all the manufacturers are doing that. But charging for the 3D sync transmitter just feels like a shakedown, as Samsung, Panasonic, and LG have the transmitter built into the TV.

The TV itself is rather attractive, though similar in design to most TV. The frame isn't as thin as LED-edgelit models like the LX900 series, but it's a far cry from HDTVs of even a few years ago. Forgetting the 3D technology for a moment, the Sony KDL-46HX800 is an excellent television in most respects. All the performance details are further down in the review, but suffice it to say, the HX800 is among the better performers in Sony's line-up. It does fall short in a few areas, including its narrow viewing angle and absurdly reflective screen, but on the whole, a very good TV.

The port selection on the back of the Sony KDL-46HX800 is not the most expansive, but it should meet the needs of most home theaters. Notable items include: 4 HDMIs, 2 component AV inputs, digital audio output, LAN, and a USB.

The TV has access to Sony's amazing collection of streaming video, audio, and apps through either a hardwire ethernet or wireless through the USB port and (yes, another separately purchased) WiFi dongle. Content partners include Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Slacker, Flickr, Picasa, and many more. Sony has more streaming partners that anyone by far, though many people would agree that simply including Netflix is sufficient. 

Performance (Read the full lab performance results at Televisioninfo.com)

The Sony KDL-46HX800 performed very well in our lab tests, on the whole. The TV is capable is a deep black level, especially impressive for an LCD display. On the other end of the spectrum, the whites can also get very bright, making for a healthy contrast ratio of 3585:1.

The color performance was equally good, though you'll probably miss out on some detail in the darkest and brightest portions of the signal. The motion performance also impressed us, though we recommend experimenting with Sony's video processing features like Motionflow to squeeze out the best performance.

The 3D performance is, of course, what most people are interested in hearing about. At best, we can say that the technology is young. The required 3D glasses sit heavy on your nose, and we shudder to imagine sitting for two hour stretches with these squeezing in on our heads. The 3D effect can be charming at times, but is frequently broken up by crosstalk, in which images intended for one eye end up in the other, breaking the illusion. The glasses also cut down the brightness significantly, making it more difficult to see detail in the shadows. Consider it an entertaining novelty rather than a replacement for 2D television, and don't expect the same results as you've seen in the theater.

As stated previously, the viewing experience is partially marred by the narrow viewing angle and distractingly reflective screen. You'll need to position yourself and the ambient lights just right to get peak performance.

Comparisons (Read more in-depth comparisons at Televisioninfo.com)

We've compared the Sony KDL-46HX800 to three similar televisions to better put it in context – all 3D TVs. The Samsung UN55C7000 ($3299) has a larger, 55-inch screen, but there's a near identical 46-inch version for $100 less than the Sony KDL-46HX800. The Samsungs offer great image quality, a beautiful and unique exterior design, built-in 3D sync transmitter, and a less extensive streaming content package that still includes Netflix. Stepping up, we have the Samsung 46C8000 ($2799). While more expensive than the C7000 series, we saw little reason to choose it, unless you really want a TV that's 0.1-inch thinner. In most respects, it's similar to the C7000. Finally, there's the Panasonic TC-P50VT20 ($2499). We thought the 3D effect was more immersive on the Panasonic, but the TV had real trouble producing a bright enough screen, which was darkened even further by the glasses. As a plasma screen, it has some natural advantages over LCD, such as viewing angle, but the Sony and both Samsungs were better performers, overall.

The Sony KDL-46HX800 is an excellent 2D television that teases the promise of 3D, provided you're willing to spend even more. Expect that more and more televisions will be "3D-ready" in the future, and at a less expensive buy-in than this first-generation product.