Sony Bravia 9 TV; K-85XR90: A Critical & Honest Review…

[Harish_Hyderabad_India]

For over 25 years, I have remained loyal to the Sony brand, drawn to its unwavering commitment to superior product quality, reliability, long-lasting durability and minimal repair issues, particularly in the TV lineup.

I was excited to experience the Sony Bravia 9 TV; K-85XR90. While this TV excels in video/picture quality and capabilities. There are several areas that require paramount improvement.

Picture Quality: A Double-Edged Sword

The TV's picture quality is exceptional, but it comes with a caveat. To fully appreciate its capabilities, the TV must be placed in a closed, dark room. Any ambient light will cause reflections on the screen, reminiscent of a mirror. To address this, Sony should incorporate a 100% haze factor, similar to their professional display model BZ 53L/BZ 50L.

Audio Quality: A Missed Opportunity

Despite boasting multiple speakers with 70W output, the audio quality is average at best. The primary issue lies in the speaker placement – all speakers are placed in the back panel, back-firing, causing sound waves to bounce off the decorum cardboard/acoustic panel, resulting in a dry, dull and low-quality sound output. The sound settings are also confusing and not user-friendly, catering more to traditional users who prefer low, quiet sound effects rather than those seeking a cinematic experience.

The Immersive Audio Paradox: Separating Reality from Hype

Despite the proliferation of advanced speaker technologies, such as surround firing, beam firing, and object-based audio, the promise of cinematic, immersive sound remains elusive. In reality, even with genuine Dolby Atmos and DTS: X content, the immersive sound experience falls short of expectations. Poor dialogue intelligibility in action scenes and low-pitch vocals, hard to hear, understand, follow, no matter you tweak in all sound settings like voice zoom, dialogue enhancer, equalizer, etc… In essence, the immersive audio experience often devolves into a familiar old-school stereophonic effect-a far cry from the stated cinematic experience-“ Cinema is Coming Home “!

Calibration Mode

Netflix and Prime Video's Calibration Modes are touted as unique selling points, offering users a personalized viewing experience. However, our experiences suggest that these calibration modes are not foolproof and require manual fine-tuning to achieve optimal results. Hence, room for improvement exists in calibration mode algorithms and user interface.

Connectivity Limitations

The TV's connectivity options are limited, with only two HDMI ports supporting 2.1. Furthermore, the Ethernet connectivity speed is capped at 100 Mbps, a significant drawback.


Conclusion:

At its premium price point, the Sony Bravia K-85XR90 falls short in several areas. To make it a game-changer, Sony must address these shortcomings:

Improve screen reflectivity with a 100% haze factor

Redesign speaker placement for better sound quality

Simplify sound settings for a more user-friendly experience

Increase HDMI ports with 2.1 supports

Upgrade Ethernet connectivity speed

By implementing these changes, Sony can create a truly exceptional TV that justifies its premium price.

 

[skumar]

Is it the same with 65" and 75" versions of the Bravia 9?

 

[Harish_Hyderabad_India]

Same Bravia 9 series...

 

[sandeepmohan]

This is flagship grade Sony!
There is an Anti Reflective coating on the panel. I don't know if there is much more you can do over whats already there.

For what is a very expensive TV, applying the pro series tech will inflate the cost by a factor or two. Minimum.

The TV has very well placed speakers. It is infact one of the better ones. I'm not quite sure under what conditions and source material you had playing to comment. At this price point, TV sound is sort of second fiddle. 9.9 out of 10 who buy this TV will have a sound bar paired to it.

The TV also has auto calibration for the audio, like an AV Receiver. It can analyze the room and make improvement. I'm not sure if you had run this. Then again, all of this is pointless in a TV Showroom. It will never get it right as the environment itself ain't right.

More and more folks are ditching ethernet and connecting over wifi. The AX standard is as fast (Possibly faster) than Gigabit, so why bother with wired ethernet. For what the TV is designed to do, Wifi Ax will exceed the needs of the TV, as far as data transfer speeds go.

Its a pretty awesome TV in its own right. I can't comment on how it stacks up with the best from the Koreans.

 

[Harish_Hyderabad_India]

I've noticed a significant issue with the TV's screen reflection, particularly during dark scenes. Instead of being fully immersed in the content, I'm distracted by reflections of the room, furniture, and even my own image, which overpower the actual scene. The persistent reflections on the screen, particularly during dark scenes, severely compromise the viewing experience.

Even in brighter scenes, the screen reflection remains a problem, with approximately 50% of the screen displaying reflections from ambient room light or even minor light sources like ventilators.

I struggle to understand the design logic behind this "cinematic" approach, which prioritizes aesthetic appeal over functional viewing experience. A TV screen should provide an immersive and distraction-free experience, not serve as a mirror reflecting the surrounding environment…!!!

My current setup boasts a Sony Bravia 9 TV (K-85XR90) and a Sony Soundbar/Home Theatre System (HT-A7000), complemented by an SA SW5 subwoofer and SA RS5 rear speakers. HDMI eARC connectivity TV to Soundbar is Audioquest Vodka 48, 2.1, eARC Priority.
Second Scenario: Apple TV 4K 128 GB connected to the TV with Audioqust Cinnamon 48, alongside ethernet gigabit mesh router connectivity to the Apple TV 4K 128 GB (This works great; will share my next thread/review on this...please go through...

 

[smnrock]

I guess some power saving setting must be enabled in your TV. This TV is too bright you cannot see any reflections unless you search for it in dark scenes.

First two pictures you uploaded are not 85" model i guess, its taken from rtings?

 

[Harish_Hyderabad_India]

I guess some power saving setting must be enabled in your TV. This TV is too bright you cannot see any reflections unless you search for it in dark scenes.

First two pictures you uploaded are not 85" model i guess, its taken from rtings?

As avid home theater enthusiasts, we understand the importance of optimizing our viewing experience. To achieve this, we care to disable features like eco sensors and ambient light, which can compromise the cinematic experience.

However, there are limitations to consider when placing a TV in a living room setting. Unlike a dedicated home theater room, where a projector can be used in a controlled environment, a living room TV must contend with ambient light from windows, doors, and ventilators.

This highlights a crucial difference between TVs and projectors. While projectors excel in controlled environments, TVs should be designed to provide an exceptional viewing experience in real-world living room settings.

Unfortunately, with current TV configurations, compatibility, and aesthetic design, there are limitations to what can be achieved. As end-users, we can only work within the parameters set by the manufacturer. It's essential to acknowledge these limitations and seek solutions that optimize the viewing experience within the constraints of our living room environments.

As we've all experienced, modern movies are predominantly produced in widescreen formats. However, when watching these films on TV, the resulting black bars at the top and bottom can be distracting. But what's even more concerning is the noticeable reflection of ambient light on these black bars, as evident from the reflection of my ceiling fan's rotation.

The initial two images downloaded were intended to illustrate the speaker placement on the TV's rear panel. However, the subsequent images 3 & 4 highlight a more pressing issue. Even with all doors and windows closed, the ventilator above the TV screen is clearly visible in image 3 (TV power on in a dark scene). When the door is opened, the reflection on the TV screen becomes even more pronounced in image 4 (TV power on with in-built background).

I want to emphasize that my feedback isn't a casual, impulsive review. After dedicating six months to thoroughly testing and fine-tuning this TV, seeking advice from technical experts. I'm sharing my genuine and well-considered thoughts. My goal is to provide constructive feedback that highlights areas for improvement.