Walk into our 10,000 square-foot Austin showroom, and you’ll find some 60 TVs on display at any time. There’s not one “bad” TV in the lot. The truth is, all but the least expensive TVs today deliver a pleasant viewing experience.
That’s not to say that there’s no difference in TVs—far from it. When you see a high-end model like Sony, Samsung or LG next to a lesser TV, you will notice a distinct difference in the image quality. That is especially true when you watch well produced, high-quality content, like a Netflix Original in Dolby Vision or a 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.
When you talk about high-end TVs, Sony 4K TVs stand out even among the best. Below, explore the reasons why models like the new XBR900H, XBR950H, and XBRA8H models are a cut above the rest.
SEE ALSO: The Sony X950H: High-End Performance, Mid-Range Price
1. Picture Processing
If there is a black art in TV engineering, it is in image processing. As a maker of high-end digital cameras and sensors (by some estimates 50% of the world market in smartphone camera sensors), Sony has tremendous experience in image processing, and it shows across their TV line. Sony’s new, flagship X1 Ultimate Processor is now twice as fast as its predecessor, and it is largely responsible for the image quality on the top models like the X950H LCD.
Sony engineered and programmed the X1 to power the next generation of TV. It can handle brightness up to 10,000 nits – well beyond current sets – and HDR remastering, which it employs to analyze every scene pixel by pixel and optimizes color and contrast based on the content. This same processor debuted on Sony’s 8K Master Series Z9G and is now available in this year's top-tier LCD and OLED models like the A8H. As Caleb Denison of Digital Trends and other reviewers often note, Sony picture processing is always a step ahead.
2. Accurate Color
Part of that image processing power leads to another standout Sony trait - accurate, lifelike, out-of-the-box color. Reviewers note how little Sony color settings need to be adjusted to look just right in most setups. You can get professional calibration for your media room installation, but you may not need it.
On the A8H OLED TV, Sony’s exclusive Pixel Contrast Booster boosts color and contrast for an even more vivid picture, with deeper shadows and brighter highlights, making the perfect complement to the superb black levels that OLED panels bring to the image.
3. Unique Features
Sony goes the extra mile to deliver an excellent overall experience with these upper-tier models. The smart TV system is based on Android TV, and Sony's implementation is faster and more fluid thanks to more powerful processors to handle the interface. Netflix Calibrated Mode optimizes the TV settings to deliver the high standards of image quality intended in the production of Netflix Original shows and series. IMAX Enhanced certifies that Sony TVs meet the high quality of color, contrast, quality, and sound of epic IMAX content.
With the new X900H, slotted just below the LCD flagship X950H, Sony introduced two new features that gamers have been waiting for: HDMI 2.1 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). HDMI 2.1 brings the high-bandwidth pipe that supports both high-resolution video and lossless multichannel sound seamlessly over HDMI and eliminates latency and judder for smooth video gaming with VRR. With the next generation of game consoles featuring 4K/120Hz video capability, this feature will be a must-have for future-proof gaming.
Ready to step up to the next level of Sony 4K TV? Visit our showroom, contact us here, or call us today at (512) 454-4534 for more information and expert advice. We look forward to hearing from you!