4K HDR

More affordable Sony XE70 4K HDR TV without Android announced

by Sohrab Osati | May 5, 2017 | 1 comment

If Android TV is not your thing because you’ve already got a set top box you like to use like Apple TV or perhaps PS4 Pro, then you’re in luck. Sony has announced a new, more affordable 4K TV lineup for 2017, the XE70, without any of the connected functionality and just the good stuff, their display technology. From Sony:

The XE70 Series has an elegant minimalist design with a narrow frame featuring an aluminium finish and a clever cable management solution that allows cables to be neatly arranged across the back of the TV and channelled into the unique stand for a tidy look

Part 2 – Why I chose the X940E over Z9D and A1E OLED

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 28, 2017 | 17 comments

Before reading this post, be sure to check out the previous two posts in the series:

A lot of you have asked why I opted to go with the 75-inch X940E over the Z9D which was introduced in October of 2016 and the soon-to-be-released OLED A1E and it boils down to a simple reason; price. With the OLED, the answer is the easiest to give – one of the dilemmas I faced with getting the X940E was that I was already downsizing, going from a projector which offered nearly a 120-inch screen down to 75 inches. Conversely though, the picture quality was going to go up astronomically compared to the setup I had, making the loss of nearly 50 inches well worth it.

UK pricing for Sony A1E OLED revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Apr 11, 2017 | 0 comments

It’s almost been a month since Sony announced the official US pricing for their dazzling 4K HDR OLED TVs which were unveiled at CES 2017. Known as the A1E, Sony has now committed itself to the OLED consumer space with US and European models set to launch sometime this month. In fact, those in the UK can pre-order the 55- and 65-inch variants starting today. As expected, pricing isn’t cheap for the 4K TV with the two sizes coming in at:

So I pre-ordered the 75-inch Sony X940E

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 23, 2017 | 16 comments

One of the great things about running a site like SRN is that Sony routinely gives me free stuff like their latest 4K TV, the 75-inch monster that is the X940E. Unveiled at CES 2017, the X940E takes everything about the 2016 X940D and improves upon like adding Dolby Vision HDR, thanks to their new X1 Extreme processor.

Now, yes, I had to wait for the pre-order to go live on Best Buy, and yes, I had to pay for the TV on my own credit card. But Sony was nice enough to make sure the pre-ordering process itself was free. So see, they give me free stuff like the opportunity to buy their TVs, something that some of their other divisions don’t allow for, seeing how you can’t find them on store shelves (looking at you, Sony Mobile, h.ear headphones and speakers, etc. etc.).

All of this is basically a long winded way of saying that when I decided to drop $6K+ on the X940E, it wasn’t a decision I made lightly. So why the X940E, and why not?

Everything you need to know about Dolby Vision HDR

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 20, 2017 | 0 comments

One of the more delightful reveals from CES 2017 was the inclusion of Dolby Vision HDR in Sony’s flagship series of TVs coming in 2017 which includes the X930/X940E series and the OLED A1E. What’s made this possible is Sony’s custom X1 Extreme processor which can be found inside both TV sets. In fact, the highly rewarded Z9D from Sony which arrived in October of 2016 is also getting Dolby Vision HDR as it utilizes the same chipset inside, allowing Sony to bring the feature via a firmware update.

All of this of course begs the question – just what the hell is Dolby Vision HDR? A lot of us have been hearing about HDR for nearly two years now which typically refers to HDR10, something that Sony and Samsung both had a hand in creating. In fact, all 4K Blu-ray with HDR must support HDR10. Here is John Archer from What Hi-Fi breaking down the two formats:

Official pricing for 2017 Sony OLED TV (A1E) revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Mar 14, 2017 | 4 comments

Year after year, Sony got dinged for not offering an OLED TV while others like LG did. After all, OLED TVs are the hot thing in home theater (that is if you don’t plan on putting your kids through college) so at CES 2017, Sony did something about it by introducing the A1E series, their first consumer OLED TVs.

You can see my Sony OLED TV preview from CES 2017 here but in a nutshell, they’re impressive TVs that will cost you, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pricing for the series is as such:

Meet the flagship Sony Xperia XZ Premium with 4K HDR display & 960fps slow-mo video

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 27, 2017 | 21 comments

Earlier today, or late last night depending on your time zone, Sony took to stage at MWC 2017 to unveil their latest phones and as predicted by previous rumors, a flagship model as well. Named the Xperia XZ Premium, the name harkens back to the well received Xperia Z5 Premium. Since then, to many, Sony hasn’t had a true flagship phone but as the name suggests, all that changes and a beloved feature of the Z5 Premium has made its way to the XZ Premium as well – a 4K display.

Pricing revealed for 2017 Sony X930E and X940E

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 9, 2017 | 2 comments

Earlier today, I talked about a piece by Forbes which laid out pricing for Sony’s 4K HDR OLED TV, the A1E. Though the 77-inch has yet to get a price tag associated with it, everything else fell in line with industry pricing, indicating an aggressive stance towards the OLED market by Sony. As for their consumer flagship series, the X930E (55- and 65-inch) and X940E (75-inch), pricing is once again in line with current 2016 models which have received price cuts throughout the last year. Once again John Archer from Forbes:

This isn’t really a series, as there’s only one model: the 75-inch 75X94E. This follows the 75-inch single model trend established by X94 models for the past couple of Sony TV generations.

These TVs use direct LED lighting and local dimming, and have impressed in their 2015 and 2016 incarnations, so I’m hoping for great things from the 75X94E too. Especially as it benefits from Sony’s new X1 Extreme processing system.

I do find it a bit mystifying/frustrating, though, that Sony still refuses to add at least a 65-inch model to its X94 range.

As many regular readers might know, I’ve been eying the X940 series, seeing how it’s likely to be my replacement for our current projector setup and from what I saw at CES 2017, the price tag feels right for what you’re getting, though who doesn’t want it to be cheaper, right?

2017 Sony OLED TV (A1E) pricing revealed

by Sohrab Osati | Feb 9, 2017 | 2 comments

Thanks to our tipster for pointing me towards this article by Forbes writer John Archer where he talks about the droolworthy 4K HDR Sony OLED TV, the A1E.

Sony’s decision to introduce include OLED TVs in its 2017 range initially seemed surprising. The more I’ve seen of the A1E’s in action, though, the more sense they make. For as well as enabling Sony to ‘show off’ with the A1E’s lovely frameless/standless design and an innovative sound system that uses the screen as the speakers, the inclusion of OLED TVs in its 2017 range gives Sony a high-end alternative to its Z9D models for AV fans more interested in black level and viewing angles than brightness and color volume.

As for pricing Sony OLED TVs:

Sony 4K HDR projector review (VPL-VW550ES)

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 25, 2017 | 0 comments

One of the biggest dilemmas I’ve faced in the past two years is giving up my projector for a TV. What started out as a temporary thing before we got 4K TV has turned into the world’s biggest #FirstWorldProblems where I can’t see myself going down to a 75-inch TV after having a 120-inch screen projected on my wall. Alternatively, things are in 1080p which is unacceptable because of that hashtag I just mentioned. Luckily Sony has a solution for that, a 4K HDR projector, also known as the VPL-VW550ES.

Quick preview of the tech inside the 4K HDR Sony OLED A1E

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 7, 2017 | 2 comments

The more I talk with Sony engineers and trainers, the more impressed I become with what they’ve achieved with their first true foray into consumer OLED with the 4K HDR A1E. Though this video isn’t a deep dive into the technology powering their OLED TV, it gives you a brief overview of what you can expect from it as well as what kind of upcoming pieces I’ll be working on.

If you’re wondering what sets this OLED apart from others, in short, it’s Sony’s X1 Extreme chip and their innovative speaker technology.

Sony X930E & X940E 4K HDR video preview, featuring the X1 Extreme processor

by Sohrab Osati | Jan 6, 2017 | 0 comments

Alongside their drool-worthy 4K OLED TV, the XBR-A1E, Sony also updated their consumer flagship series, the X930E (55- and 65-inch) and the X940E (75-inch). I refer to that as the consumer series because though ticking off everything on most people’s want list, it’s still affordable enough where as with the A1E and Z9 series, you likely can either afford it or you can’t.

So what’s new with the E series compared to the 930/940D? Only a handful of things but each of those changes will have a profound impact on the TV experience. Here is a video preview.

HDR video comes to YouTube on PS4

by Sohrab Osati | Dec 23, 2016 | 3 comments

Regular readers of the site will know I’ve been putting together a collection of series which have been subtitled “the death of 4K Blu-ray” which falls in line with why I thought a lack of 4K Blu-ray on PS4 Pro was nothing but noise.

Netflix and Amazon already provide 4K HDR but now YouTube is getting into the HDR game as well. Matt Brian from Engadget writes:

Flagship Sony Z9D 4K HDR Android TV – First Look

by Sohrab Osati | Aug 4, 2016 | 3 comments

In case you missed it, just a little over two weeks ago, Sony debuted the Z9D 4K HDR Android TV. Coming in a 65-, 75-, and whopping 100-inches, the surprise TV reveal is all about catering to the premium market and features the latest tech Sony has to offer.

Though the TVs won’t be launching for another few months, the team at What Hi-Fi? has gotten their hands on a set for their first look video.

Ultra-Premium Sony Z9D 4K HDR TVs Announced – Comes in 100-inch

by Sohrab Osati | Jul 20, 2016 | 6 comments

Sony_ZD9_4K_HDR_Reveal_1

We all bitched and moaned at CES 2016 when Sony didn’t unveil what would be the X950D series, a premium lineup of 4K HDR TVs but today, we can all wipe away those tears and shed new ones. Announced earlier this morning was the Sony Z9D, a brand new ultra-premium lineup of 4K HDR TVs, and they come in whopping 65-, 75-, and 100-inch variants.