Home Theater

Besides looking aesthetically remarkable, especially when you look at the X930D as it spins around, you’ve likely noticed that the 4K HDR TV has shed some weight when compared against the 2015 X930C. That’s because, unlike Sony’s 2015 lineup of 4K TVs, which included the ultra-slim X900C and the flagship X930C with its built-in Magnetic Fluid Speakers, the 2016 lineup is just the X930D.

Instead of creating two different high-end televisions that cater to different consumers, Sony has combined the two lineups, offering us one of their best looking televisions ever with deep blacks and bright whites while also playing into what consumers feel they want: even slimmer televisions. As someone who was a huge fan of the X930C, I truly appreciated the Magnetic Fluid Speakers which made setup far less complicated, that is to say that in our condo, we could have a TV that not only looked stellar, but one that provided audio that rivaled many surround sound systems without the hassle of dealing with all the wires.

The reality however is that in that equation, I’m the outlier and that Sony’s flagship series is primary targeted at home theater enthusiasts and wealthy consumers who likely already had surround sound or would have purchased one along with their new TV.

This meant that the X930C was priced higher than its competitors and was even seen as less aesthetically attractive, due to its bulkier design. Making matters worse, a segment of the community also complained that due to the speakers on the side (which were not removable), the X930C was harder to mount as you had extra inches on each side (pictured right). This is especially important for TVs that are mounted inside cabinet like fixtures or bedroom walls with limited space.

Though perhaps now a little less unique, Sony dropping their Magnetic Fluid Speakers is likely the right thing to do. More after the jump.