{Disarmed} Sony Bravia XR X95J, analysis: the forcefulness with which it stands out in image quality shows that LCD panels have left rope for a while
This TV is Sony's current flagship model with a 4K UHD LCD panel. And it's a decidedly premium device. It is because it has a design, finish and price that is comparable to other premium TVs of the same size, and, more importantly, also because its performance, on paper, should allow it to rub shoulders with the more models. advanced using other panel and backlight technologies . However, despite all this, it is likely that some TV enthusiasts will be shocked that the words 'premium' and 'LCD' coexist in the description of the same product.
The biggest challenge facing this TV is none other than showing us that it makes sense . That really represents an alternative to the OLED and MiniLED models of the same size that are similarly priced, or even lower. The maturity that LCD panels have reached when surrounded by well-executed LED backlighting and electronics is unquestionable.
In addition, Sony claims to have put all its experience and expertise into this television to ensure that it establishes itself as its best model with a 4K UHD LCD panel. This works in your favor, but our purpose is to see if it really does measure up in a real-life scenario. If it is worth that we take it into account in its price segment. And it's not going to be easy because the latest batch of OLED and MiniLED models squeeze. Much.
Sony Bravia XR X95J: technical specifications
I suggest that we start by investigating what is undoubtedly the true heart of this television: its panel. In recent years, Sony has opted to use 10-bit VA panels in its high-end LCD televisions, and this model fully respects this strategy. The version that we have analyzed incorporates a 65-inch matrix that works with a native refresh rate of 120 Hz, so up to here there is nothing that is not predictable.
The heart of this TV is a 10-bit VA-type LCD panel that is backlit by a matrix of FALD-type LEDs ('Full Array Local Dimming').
Backlighting the LCD panel is responsible for a matrix of LED diodes of the FALD type ( Full Array Local Dimming ) whose characteristics Sony has not disclosed. We do not know how many diodes the matrix incorporates, nor in how many areas they are distributed, but there is no doubt that both figures are lower than those of the MiniLED televisions that have reached stores in recent months, such as the Neo QLED QN900A 8K from Samsung that we analyzed at the end of last July. Otherwise, Sony would have remarked that this television incorporates MiniLED technology in a movement similar to that made by LG, Philips, TCL or Samsung.
In theory, the fact that the LED array on this Sony TV is less ambitious than those used by the MiniLED-backlit LCD models puts it at a disadvantage, but in practice it doesn't have to be. And it is that it does not matter only how many diodes the matrix incorporates and in how many zones they are grouped; it is also crucial that they are managed by an algorithm that is as precise, refined, and advanced as possible. And here Sony has a lot to say if we stick with the performance of its previous high-end LCD TVs during our tests.
If we accept that the VA LCD panel is the heart of this television, we can also assume that its brain is its image processor. Its impact on overall picture quality can be very profound, so it is understandable that this is one of the components that TV manufacturers devote the most resources to year after year. This model incorporates the new Cognitive Processor XR chip that this year Sony is installing in its most advanced OLED and LED LCD televisions.
The Cognitive Processor XR chip acts in real time on the image and sound to optimize them according to the way we perceive them
According to the Japanese company, this processor executes a set of algorithms designed to act in real time on the image and sound processing in order to optimize it according to the way we perceive images and audio . Sony says its cognitive chip tests both parameters with this unusual approach, and it sounds good. A priori it is difficult to know where marketing ends, which is undoubtedly present in the way this brand explains this technology to us, and where true innovation begins, but we will resolve this question later, in the sections where we will put it to the test. the picture and sound quality of this TV.
When it comes to processing HDR content , nothing new under the sun. This TV, like all Sony models we have reviewed over the years, can process Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG content, but not HDR10 +. Nor can we ignore that it incorporates two HDMI ports, those identified as 3 and 4, which fully implement the 2.1 standard , but do not yet support VRR (variable refresh rate) technology. Sony has confirmed that in the future it will release a firmware update that will enable it, which will allow us to take advantage of it with the latest generation consoles .
| SONY BRAVIA XR-65X95J | FEATURES |
|---|---|
| PANEL | 10-bit, 65-inch, 120Hz, 4K UHD, 16: 9 aspect ratio VA LCD |
| RESOLUTION | 3840 x 2160 dots |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG |
| BACKLIGHT | Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) |
| IMAGE PROCESSOR | Sony Cognitive Processor XR |
| PICTURE MODES | Vivid, Standard, Cinema, IMAX Enhanced, Gaming, Graphics, Photo, Custom, Dolby Vision Bright, Dolby Vision Dark, and Netflix Calibration |
| SOUND | Speakers: 2 tweeters, 2 mids and 1 subwoofer Total output power: 50 watts Processed: Dolby Audio, Dolby Atmos and DTS Digital Surround |
| INTERNAL STORAGE | 16 GB |
| OS | Google TV 10 |
| CONNECTIVITY | 2 x HDMI 2.1 (connectors 3 and 4), 2 x HDMI 2.0 (connectors 1 and 2), 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x RF, 2 x IF, 1 x optical digital output and 1 x 3-way jack , 5 mm |
| WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 |
| GAME FEATURES | 4K @ 120Hz, ALLM and VRR (eARC on HDMI 3 connector) |
| NUMBER OF TUNERS | 2 (DVB-T / T2) |
| DIMENSIONS | 144.3 x 84.8 x 33.8 cm (with stand) |
| WEIGHT | 27.5 kg |
| PRICE | 2,299 euros (65 inches) / 2,799 euros (75 inches) |
Sony XR-75X95J BRAVIA XR FULL ARRAY TV LED 190.50 cm (75 "), Google TV, 4K HDR, XR Cognitive Processor and XR Triluminos Pro
Price in El Corte Inglés € 2,799 RRP at FNAC € 2,799.90 RRP at Worten € 2,799It is not a luxurious TV, but its design and finish are impeccable
The effort that all television manufacturers are making in recent years to reduce the thickness of the frames has made it increasingly difficult for them to differentiate themselves from their competitors from an aesthetic point of view. The element that allows them to stand out more easily and give their proposals a certain personality is the enclosure's fastening system, which can be a central base or two lateral feet.
The integration of a sound bar in the base of the television, or in an additional enclosure, as the more ambitious Philips televisions do, also provides a certain aesthetic identity , but the photographs that illustrate this analysis show that this television has bet all its letters by some very original feet.
In xiaomist.com What to look for when buying a television to ensure that it will have the technologies of the next few years (2021)In the following detail photograph we can see that the frames of this television are thin and finished in an impeccably machined metal profile. This last element fulfills an obvious aesthetic function, but is also responsible for protecting the panel if we accidentally hit it in this peripheral area. When you stand at a distance of 2 meters or more from the TV, the frames go almost completely unnoticed , so in this area I can not fault it.
TVs with an LCD panel and FALD backlighting are usually noticeably thicker than those using an OLED panel, and this proposal from Sony is no exception. The need to backlight the LCD panel with an array of LED diodes causes the need to increase the thickness of the television enclosure .
In addition, electronic components and speakers also take up space, although in this area all televisions compete in the same league, regardless of the panel technology they use. In any case, the 6.6 cm thick of this model (if we include the feet, this figure increases to touch 34 cm) are not at all exaggerated.
And, finally, we come to the element in which this television has deposited its hallmark from an aesthetic point of view: the clamping feet. Installing them is very simple because each of them is fixed to the enclosure with just two Phillips type screws. In the next photograph you can see that they are symmetrical, so they protrude the same forward and backward. A peculiarity of the side feet of this television that is worth not overlooking is that it is possible to install them in two different positions .
One of them, the one we choose, leaves a hole under the television that can be used, for example, to place a sound bar there. The other position allows the bottom edge of the TV to be almost flat against the table top. In any case, what is really important is that the feet do their job effectively regardless of the installation option we choose.
Google TV convinces, but what makes you fall in love is the calibration of this TV
A small note before proceeding further: most of the photos we have used to illustrate the following sections of this article are intentionally taken in a room with low ambient light because we have tried to capture image quality as accurately as possible. from the TV. After all, in the photographs that we have examined so far we can appreciate its design and finish, and from now on we are mainly interested in evaluating its image quality.
In xiaomist.com Soccer and other sports can be seen better on our televisions - these are the settings that will help us achieve thisLike the Bravia XR A90J that left us with such a good taste in April, when we had the opportunity to analyze it, this X95J incorporates Google TV . This platform is very similar to the latest Android TV revision, but what is really important is that it offers us a fantastic experience due to the fluidity with which it allows us to move through the interface and the agility with which it starts the applications.
If we stick to its performance, the Google TV implementation of this Bravia XR looks from you to you in the eyes of the platforms that LG and Samsung use on their televisions
I have not been able to confirm this, but I suspect that this TV uses the same MediaTek MT5895 chip that Sony opted for in the XH90 model we reviewed late last year. And it's good news if we keep in mind how it performs. In fact, in my opinion, the latest reviews of webOS and Tizen are a notch above if we stick to their design, but if we strictly evaluate the speed with which the interface runs and the experience it offers us, Google's implementation TV of this Bravia XR looks from you to you in the eyes to the platforms that LG and Samsung use in their televisions.
All of the high-end Sony TVs that I have reviewed over the past three years have left the factory very well calibrated, especially the models that belong to the Master Series family . One or two subtle tweaks were enough to get its visual aesthetic to fit nicely with my personal preferences. To go further and perform a thorough calibration it was necessary to use professional adjustment tools , but it is something that I did not find necessary to do in any of them to enjoy it to the fullest.
If I bought this TV I would only touch the calibration using the automatic adjustment function with the Calman software
This Bravia XR X95J is also impeccably calibrated. The aesthetics of your images clearly vary depending on the mode we are using, mainly due to the fact that some of them deactivate a part of the processing algorithms, but once we find the mode that we like the most for each content source it will not be We need to fine-tune the image parameters. The television allows us to do this, and the range of options on which we can act is very wide, but the calibration that Sony proposes from the factory is very well tuned .
In fact, if I bought this TV I would only touch the calibration using the automatic adjustment function with the Calman software, with which it is compatible. It is so well tuned that I find it very difficult to get more out of it without a professional tool. Further refining its calibration can help us to get it to better adapt to the light conditions of the room in which we have installed it, but it is a plus that we can do without because this television performs outstandingly as we took it from the box.
An important ingredient in the recipe that Sony proposes together with this television is its Bravia Core movie streaming service, with which it intends to compete with Netflix, HBO, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video and the other platforms in contention in this very aggressive market. . The Bravia Core app is pre-installed on the TV, and, although it does not run as smoothly as the Netflix app, which according to my tests is the fastest of all, it offers us a satisfactory experience .
Sony promises us that with its Pure Stream technology we enjoy a maximum transfer speed of 80 Mbps
Its catalog is mainly nourished by the films that are owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and has very desirable titles, such as 'Sicario: El día del Soldado' or 'Call me by your name' , among many others, although it is very far from the immense portfolio of movies and series that Netflix has. In addition, with this television we have two years of subscription and 10 credits that we can use to buy the movies we prefer.
In xiaomist.com The universe of loudspeakers, explained: what types are there, what technologies do they use, and what are their strengths and weaknessesHowever, I have saved the best for last: its picture and sound quality. Sony promises us that if we activate its Pure Stream technology we will enjoy a maximum transfer speed of 80 Mbps, and the truth is that enjoying a movie like 'Sicario: The Day of the Soldier' with 4K UHD resolution and DTS sound is a real joy. I have not been able to corroborate whether, indeed, the effective transfer speed is close to the 80 Mbps that Sony promises us, but, in any case, the image and sound quality of this service is outstanding .
The remote control that Sony gives us along with this TV connects both by infrared and through a Bluetooth link, so once we have linked it using this latest connection technology we will no longer have to worry about pointing with him towards the screen. It is stylish, has backlighting and incorporates a microphone that allows us to interact with the television using our voice, something that is already common in models of recent years, but one of the features that I like the most about it is that it incorporates four buttons on direct access to YouTube, Netflix, Disney + and Amazon Prime Video. It seems like a success to me because it is faster to launch these apps by pressing a button than by running them from the Google TV interface.
Its image quality allows it to defy any other technology
To put this TV to the test, I turned to my usual reference films , including 'The Arrival' , 'The Revenant' , 'Interstellar' or 'Blade Runner 2049' , all of them on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. Disc. And finally to Netflix and YouTube content that I know well. To play these movies I turned to an OPPO UDP-205 reader, a device that is now discontinued , but which continues to stand out for the high quality of its transport mechanics and its audio and video processing logic.
X-Wide Angle technology works, although it fails to match the outstanding viewing angles offered by OLED televisions
The photograph that we can see below these lines was taken using my digital microscope, and in it we can appreciate with relative clarity the distribution pattern of the RGB sub-pixels that allow the images to be generated. The reason why the sub-pixel matrix does not look sharper is the coverage used by Sony to increase the diffusion of light, and, in this way, improve the limited viewing angles that VA-type LCD panels have. The X-Wide Angle technology, which is how this brand calls this innovation, works, although it does not manage to match the outstanding viewing angles offered by OLED televisions, which are unbeatable in this field at the moment.
Although there is a big difference between looking at a photograph and having this television in front of you, the following snapshot allows us to intuit the high level of detail that the image processing of this Bravia XR X95J manages to recover. The texture of the skin is especially difficult to reconstruct, and this TV recreates it with absolute credibility not only for its detail, but also for how well it resolves the color as it leaves the factory.
One of the outstanding debts of Sony televisions when it comes to the reproduction of content with HDR is that they continue without processing HDR10 + metadata . They are compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG content, but it would be desirable for Sony to follow in the footsteps of television manufacturers that have opted to deal with all HDR formats, including Panasonic, Philips, TCL and Hisense. A little slap on the wrist for Sony in this area.
In xiaomist.com MicroLED, MiniLED, QNED and Crystal LED: in-depth guide not to get lost with the new television technologies that arrive this yearOf course, when we feed this TV with quality HDR content, it shines. In its specifications Sony does not reflect what brightness delivery capacity it has, but I would bet that it flirts with the 1000 nits in those frames that require to deliver a high peak of light in a window that occupies between 10 and 25% of the panel. The following photograph shows one of the frames in which this television demonstrates its ability to deliver brightness, although in it I have not been able to faithfully respect the high level of detail that it recovers in the most illuminated areas or highlights.
The performance of this TV in a completely dark room is fabulous. I have taken the following frame from the movie 'Sicario: The Day of the Soldier' , and, as you can see, it reproduces blacks with outstanding depth. The credit goes to a VA-type LCD panel that undoubtedly has a very high native contrast and an LED backlight managed by an indisputably efficient dimming algorithm. We will investigate a little more in it in the following photograph, but before moving on to it, one more note: this is one of the televisions that retrieves more information in the shadow regions of all the ones I have tried so far, including OLEDs and MiniLED LCDs.
The following photo brings to the table the expertise Sony engineers have in fine-tuning the backlight management algorithms for their LCD panel televisions. I have taken this snapshot very carefully to recreate as accurately as possible how this television solves this aggressive test, and, as you can see, the blooming is practically negligible . It does not even increase perceptibly when the white disk moves at high speed across the entire panel, which reflects that the LED diode matrix manages to respond with a very high speed to the stimuli it receives from the dimming algorithm.
In addition, this photograph also allows us to verify that the uniformity of the panel when it must deliver the minimum amount of light possible is very good. The uniformity of the unit that we have analyzed when reproducing the homogeneous gray color is not that high because the corners are slightly darker than the center of the panel. It is not at all worrisome because when playing a movie or a video game it is almost impossible to notice it, but it is a small defect that on occasion we could perceive.
Another section in which this television succeeds is movement management , although it is something that, honestly, I expected. The fact is that all the high-end Sony televisions that I have analyzed during the last three years have solved this test scenario very well. In this area, in my opinion, Panasonic and Sony are one step ahead of their competitors.
And finally, when it comes to handling reflections, I am afraid that this television offers us one of lime and the other of sand. High intensity flashes are solved very well, as the following photo shows, but environmental reflections can be annoying . A small suggestion: if you buy it, do not place it in front of a window because its reflection will degrade your experience.
The instantaneous consumption of this television is closely linked to the brightness that the backlight system is delivering at that moment, so, like any other LCD LED television, it fluctuates constantly. In any case, during my tests in the moments of maximum stress it showed a consumption slightly less than 200 watts , a figure consistent with the consumption of the 65-inch LED-backlit televisions that I have analyzed so far.
A performance with video games penalized by the temporary absence of the VRR
To evaluate the performance of this television with video games I turned to our Xbox Series X and several titles that are very sensitive to latency, such as ' Mortal Kombat X ' , ' Forza Horizon 4 ' , ' Gears 5 ' and ' Ori and the Will of the Wisps' . Regarding the image quality that it offers us with games, most of what we have seen in the previous section of the analysis is still valid here. In this area, he is as comfortable with movies as with video games.
This TV has no problem restoring 2160p signals at 120 Hz with 4: 4: 4 color sampling
In addition, we cannot ignore that this Bravia XR X95J incorporates two HDMI ports that implement the full 2.1 standard (those labeled as 3 and 4), although, as we will see below, in this field I am forced to put a but not we can dodge. An interesting point that will be liked by users who want to connect it to their PC to enjoy their video games in a big way: it has no problem to correctly restore 2160p signals at 120 Hz with 4: 4: 4 color sampling . Although, yes, we must use HDMI ports 3 or 4, and not 1 or 2, of course.
In the following photograph we can see what I anticipated in the first paragraphs of this article: this TV does not yet implement VRR (variable refresh rate) technology. It will arrive in a future firmware update (Sony has confirmed it), but it is desirable that it incorporates all the features that it promises us when it hits the stores, especially if it is a high-end model. And this is it.
At the beginning of last May we published an article in which we explained in considerable detail the small print that, unfortunately, usually have the televisions with HDMI 2.1 connectivity that are arriving this year in stores. And yes, this Sony proposal also has small print . Let's hope that firmware update doesn't take long to arrive.
If we stick to latency, the experience that this TV offers us when we enable the game mode at both 1080p and 2160p is fantastic. It is not a low enough figure to beat the latest TVs from Samsung and LG , which in this area tend to give us the most competitive latency, but it remains clearly below 20 ms . And it's really good. In addition, it is likely that when the firmware update arrives that will enable the variable refresh rate linked to the HDMI 2.1 connectors, this figure will be reduced a little more, which will help to consolidate this TV as an attractive option to enjoy our video games.
Its sound is at a level comparable to that of its image quality
This TV is a perfect example of how much the sound of LCD and OLED panel devices has improved in recent years. At least on high-end televisions, where manufacturers tend to put all the meat on the grill. It is difficult to intuit to what extent the audio processing carried out by the Cognitive Processor XR chip is responsible for the high level of detail and the wide sound scene that this television is capable of delivering, but what is really important is that its sound convinces.
In xiaomist.com The HDR of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, explained: this is the support offered by the new video game consolesFurthermore, it does not process only content encoded in the Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos formats; It also deals with no problem with the soundtracks available in DTS Digital Surround , a quality that some of its competitors, such as TVs from Samsung and LG, do not have.
To overcome the experience that the audio of this television offers us, it is not enough to associate it with a basic sound bar; It is necessary to bet on a high-end one that can give us a greater dynamic capacity and a more enveloping sound scene. However, the best option in this area if we want to achieve the most three-dimensional sound possible is to delegate the responsibility of reproducing it to a dedicated multichannel team . If we have the necessary space and our budget allows it, this is always the best option within our reach.
Sony Bravia XR X95J: the opinion and note of xiaomist.com
In the first paragraphs of this article I have stated that the great challenge facing this premium TV with LCD panel and LED backlight is to show us that it really represents an attractive alternative to the OLED and LCD MiniLED models that move in the same price segment . And yes, throughout this analysis we have verified that it has the necessary assets to make us look at it as long as, yes, its price fits in our budget.
The overall quality of this TV places it as an option worth considering in its price segment.
Its most attractive quality is, without a doubt, its image quality. It does not have the native contrast of an OLED TV, but its backlight performance, its brightness delivery capacity, the information it manages to recover both in highlights and in shadow regions and its careful colorimetry place it at an outstanding level . Plus, it's impeccably calibrated from the factory; it has an amazing sound; It offers us an implementation of Google TV that performs like a charm, and, to top it all off, its latency with video games is low. Nor can we ignore that since it uses an LCD panel, it invites us not to worry about the possibility of image retention on the panel.
These qualities position it as an interesting television in its segment, but, as we have seen, it also has room for improvement in several areas. Although it is capable of processing Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG content, it is not compatible with HDR10 +, and it is a pity that it does not offer us full support for HDR formats . In addition, the reflections that appear if we place it in front of a window or other light source can be annoying, which requires us to be careful when placing it . Nor can we ignore that only two of the HDMI connectors implement the 2.1 standard , and finally that VRR technology is not yet available. These shortcomings somewhat tarnish the appeal of a television that in everything else can rival most of the premium models, regardless of the technologies they bet on.
9.1
Design 8.75 Image quality 9.25 Sound 9.25 Interface and Software 9.25In favor
- Its overall image quality is outstanding
- Leaves the factory impeccably calibrated
- Its sound quality is on par with its superb picture quality
- In this television, Google TV offers us a fantastic experience
- His performance with video games is as convincing as with movies
Against
- It does not process HDR10 + content, although it does process Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG
- Environmental reflections can become annoying if this TV is placed in front of a window or other light source
- Only two HDMI connectors, those labeled 3 and 4, implement the 2.1 standard
- It does not support VRR technology yet, but will incorporate it in the future through a firmware update
Sony XR-75X95J BRAVIA XR FULL ARRAY TV LED 190.50 cm (75 "), Google TV, 4K HDR, XR Cognitive Processor and XR Triluminos Pro
PVP en El Corte Inglés 2799€ PVP en FNAC 2799,90€ PVP en Worten 2799€Este televisor ha sido cedido para esta prueba por Sony. Puedes consultar nuestra política de relaciones con las empresas .
More information | Sony
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La noticia Sony Bravia XR X95J, análisis: la contundencia con la que despunta en calidad de imagen demuestra que a los paneles LCD les queda cuerda para rato fue publicada originalmente en xiaomist.com por Juan Carlos López .
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