This ranking order remained intact in other very dark scenes from the film, for example the bombardment at the start of Chapter 14. As with the Blu-ray, none of them looked any less-detailed either. Uniformity: While not quite as uniform in flat field test patterns across its screen as the Vizio or HX950, let alone the plasma, the Sony was still very good in this area. Watching "Hugo," the ghostly double image of crosstalk was more evident than any of the other sets, including the ZT60, in difficult areas like the statue looming over Hugo in the graveyard (14:56), the pillars below the clock (1:52) and its numbers as the ghostly outlines converge, and the sleeve of Mlis right before Hugo approaches to swipe the mouse. Internet needed to utilize app services on TV. HDMI 2 and 4 support MHL, while HDMI 1 is the only one with ARC. The bass of that system's subwoofer sounded bloated and boomy, and the vocals sounded very constrained, lacking the wide stereo imaging of the TV. One problem is that frequent DVR users are left in the cold. Neither dims the image as much as Impulse -- although neither gets as bright as the others. Adding the Sony TV's optional subwoofer delivered a lot of low-end punch, and while it was initially too loud, I found that setting the crossover to 70Hz and limiting volume to -3 gave the most natural results for music (Settings>Sound>Wireless Subwoofer). Previously David wrote reviews and features for Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is an ISF certified, NIST trained calibrator and developed CNET's TV test procedure himself. Shadow detail on the X900B was also superb, outdoing the HX950 and especially the Samsung, which suffered from some crushing. 
According to my DVDo 4K Test Pattern Generator, all of the HDMI inputs accepted 4K resolution at 24Hz and 30Hz, and HDMI 1, 2, and 3 all accepted it at 60 as well (HDMI 4 did not). Contrast is further enhanced by X-tended Dynamic Range PRO 6x, which gives the screen 6 times the contrast range of a conventional edge-lit LED TV , creating higher peak brightness in highlights and detailed blacks in shadow. Noise filtering had no effect I could discern, which is a good thing because this Blu-ray is very low noise in the first place. With bright material it showed no particular advantage. The built-in camera is well hidden in the upper-left corner (below), and unlike many other TV cameras, it doesn't pop out of the frame. Diving deeper allows you to choose from six dejudder (smoothing) modes including an Impulse mode that engages black frame insertion, play with a two-point grayscale system, and pick from a few gamma settings. The material from the monks' mandala to the destroyed buildings (Chapter 6) to the Baroque interiors (Chapter 7) looked equally detailed on all of the sets. Our Picture Processor X1 Ultimate precisely analyses and processes data to enrich pictures with lifelike detail, textures, and clarity in everything you watch. any audio built into the TV. When engaged, Sony says it "Provides image quality suitable for Blu-ray Disc 'Mastered in 4K' releasing from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment." Here's where I reassure you the 4K demo content looked exceedingly good. 5 Based on market research from June 2019. The 3D image suffers from substantial crosstalk. Deep black levels; accurate, well-saturated color; and plenty of video processing options made it the best of the 4K sets I had on hand. If there was any, I didn't see it.
The X900B ships with two remotes: the same standard multibutton clicker I lauded in the X850B review, (which now seems too cheap for this TV; I'd at least like to see some backlighting), and a smaller version with just a couple of buttons and a touchpad. For the first time since we started testing TV audio in 2013, Nick Cave was actually enjoyable to listen to on a television. Cable and satellite box control: [Editors' note: I originally tested cable box control for the X850B review. iOS 12.2 or later or macOS 10.14.4 or later is required. local dimming on its edge-lit LED backlight, kind of impressive-sounding albeit fake number, Other: Optional subwoofer, available in black or white (SWF-BR100, $299), extra 3D glasses (TDG-BT400A, $50 list); optional 4K media players (see below); PlayStation Now streaming game compatibility. The sides of the Sony comprise a big chunk of chrome, invisible from the front, that matches the flashy chrome legs of the stand. 2 Upscaled, simulated and enhanced 8K and 4K images will vary based on source content. In both cases, the Sony was an outstanding performer. Those honkin' three-way speakers to either side are augmented by the additional cabinet room of Sony's bottom-heavy wedge shape, improving bass response according to the company. Keeping with the theme of fun names, Sony also touts its "4K X-Reality Pro picture engine," which is said to improve the necessary scaling from standard-def and high-def sources to the TV's 4K resolution, as well as "X-tended Dynamic Range" which, translated from Sony-speak, just means the TV has local dimming. As expected, the LG was the best 3D performer in the group, with virtually no crosstalk and the added brightness of passive 3D. I could not see any major differences in detail. Yes, the matte Vizio scattered bright reflections better, but for most reflections, such as the white shirt of a viewer or a light wood coffee table, the X900B dimmed them better. The only area where I consistently noticed a marked improvement in detail was in small graphical elements, for example onscreen text that described the virtues of the cameras used to capture the footage. In this era of sparse 4K content, of which Sony offers more than anybody, for now the company is keeping it proprietary. Network services, content, and the operating system and software of this product may be subject to separate or third party terms and conditions and changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information. Sony XBR-65X900B CNET review calibration report. Requires HDR compatible content from supported streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Video or HDR compatible content device connected via HDMI input. But those differences were anything but "major.". For that reason, the 79-inch version won't be included in this review. In case you're wondering, I did test the XBR-X900B with one of Sony's 4K video players, the FMP-X1 (below). That's too bad, since passive 3D on a 4K TV is a killer combination. For comparison purposes I swapped out the Samsung curved TV for a Panasonic TC-P65S64 to represent 1080p and kept the seating distances the same as described above. It analyzes and processes data in every image to make colors even more natural and precise so pictures are closer than ever to real life. It was quite subtle, however, and I bet most viewers would have a tough time telling the difference, even at the theatrically close distance from which I was sitting. The TV can also pair with compatible devices via NFC. The 55- and 65-inch X900Bs are also equipped with 3D compatibility that uses active-shutter technology -- a contrast to the passive 3D of the 79-inch version and of some 2013 Sony 4K sets. I started my tests with music and was very pleasantly surprised by the performance, even without the sub connected. I chose the best-looking Blu-ray I know, "Samsara," and stared hard at highly-detailed scenes to try to discern any difference in resolution, sharpness, perceived depth of field, and so on between the 4K Sony and the 1080p S64. 10 Dolby Vision content is compatible with Dolby Vision devices and streaming services such as Prime Video, Apple TV 4K, and Netflix. Moving back to a seating distance of about 8.5 feet, even those vanishingly small differences vanished. He didn't pick out actual pixels from that distance, but did describe a vague sense of the picture elements nonetheless. The majority of our testing was done with mere high-definition resolution sources, and the Sony was outstanding in just about every regard.
Compared to the other sets, it showed a slight advantage in some areas, particularly red, which on the sunlit monks' robes for example (8:39) appeared a bit more full and lush than on the Samsung and Vizio, albeit about the same as the ZT60 and HX950. To be fair, so were the other sets with the exception of the LG.
Unlike many TVs at this level, the W900B lacks a 10-point grayscale and color-management system. 3D: The X900B's 3D performance wasn't as bad as I saw on the W850B, but it was still the worst in my lineup, and simply unacceptable for a TV of this level. The LG and Panasonic AX800U were worse (lighter), the Vizio M was in the middle, and the Samsung came closest, delivering a very respectably deep black itself -- albeit not nearly as deep as the X900B. I checked out an episode of "Mad Men" and a baseball game, and none of the 4K sets provided any increase in detail or resolution. I tried connecting a PC and those resolutions all worked as well, but 1080p and 720p at 120Hz did not at first blush. Explore a new level of contrast with the Picture Processor X1 Ultimate. My Oppo Blu-ray player's pause icon in the upper right, for example, caused blooming in the nearby letterbox bar, but on the X900B it was relatively dim. There's no dedicated "DVR" button on the remote, so to access recorded programs you have to -- you guessed it -- call up a "virtual remote." As long as you like the look of speakers, that is. The Samsung and Vizio in particular washed out more quickly. 4K Ultra HD availability subject to your Netflix subscription plan, internet service, device capabilities, and content availability. LIke nearly all current 4K TVs, the X900B uses a panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. I compared the Sony at 4K to the other sets (including the S64) at Super HD from my PS3's Netflix app, and the slight increase in sharpness and detail was apparent in some areas, like faces and fine fabric textures. There's a reason no TV maker focuses on sound quality. Using the highly-detailed mandala scenes from "Samsara" Chapter 4, I played around with the Reality creation settings. Like the W850B, the X900B failed our 1080i de-interlacing test, despite setting CineMotion to Auto. Despite sounding a little thinner without the sub, the TV's sound blew the $499 Sony HT-CT770 soundbar away for music.
See exactly what the creator intended with the advanced color, light, and gradation of the TRILUMINOS Display. 15 Requires separately sold CalMAN calibration software to be installed on your PC, a pattern generator, a meter (colorimeter, spectrophotometer etc. TV and wall mount system sold separately. Compatible devices require internet connection. On the X900B you can also make Skype calls from within Social View; the idea being to "watch TV with friends while being connected to them through Skype.". On the plus side, no major video apps go missing (aside from HBO Go, which remains exclusive to Samsung among TVs), and you can customize the My Apps screens with your actual (i.e., non-Sony) favorites, once you manage to find them. The second section involves a wider comparison group, with which I performed the same suite of high-definition tests I put every TV through. If you're a gamer, you may appreciate the addition of PlayStation Now, a feature that allows you to play streaming games on the TV itself by simply pairing it with a PS3 controller. In other words while colors looked accurate and almost perfectly saturated, they didn't seem head-and-shoulders above the best TVs I've tested. Easily search and watch your favorite movies, get answers on screen like sports scores or weather updates, control your TV and even your home - all with your voice. Methodology: Compared to last year there are a few more 4K sources publicly available, namely Netflix -- "House of Cards" Season 2 and now "Breaking Bad" -- and additional content for Sony owners who pony up for one of the aforementioned video players. rather than the current or last-tuned channel. The Resolution slider seemed to simply exaggerate details, hardening edges and bringing out the tufts in the robes and the strands in the monks' hair to a larger degree than the film captured, and adding weird dots to the sand of the mandala at extreme levels. Frankly, the massive front-facing speakers of the X900B don't give a damn. You can also enable a picture mode said to optimize for football and soccer.
They provide the sweetest sound we've heard from any TV, and combine with stellar picture quality to deliver the complete package. At the high end, where TVs like Sony's XBR-X900B compete, there's the added fact that many people have a dedicated home-theater system, with big separate speakers and amplification that render moot (mute?) I removed the smaller HX950 and ZT60 from the lineup and swapped in the 65-inch Panasonic TC-P65S64 to use as my 1080p reference. If you buy this display, you can reasonably get away with not having to get an additional a sound system. * To make multiple selections, hold down the Command (mac) or Control (pc) button on your keyboard and click. 7 Google Home device (sold separately) compatible with Sony TVs powered by Android TV. In place of the old multipin RS-232 port for custom installations there is a "serial control" port that does the same thing. If you can stand its speakers, Sony's XBR-X900B will reward you with the best combination of audio and video quality you've ever seen (or heard). The main "Apps" screen has a few "featured" apps, but beyond that you'll have to dive into "All apps," a firehose of 280 separate icons (give or take), from "Vimeo" to "Internet Browser," to "EarthCamTV," to "Captain Philips." Any kind of content can be upconverted to lifelike 4K resolution1,2 with Sonys unique 4K X-Reality PRO and Object-Based Super Resolution. Previous sets, like Sony's own W900A and R520A from last year, pass. As with the wedge-shaped X850B , you can choose to place the legs to either the extreme sides or the middle. It talks up the "magnetic fluid" speaker design, said to deliver more powerful sound with a smaller footprint. From the brilliant golden temples and lush jungles of Chapter 3, to the resplendent primaries of the Buddha in Chapter 4, colors on the X900B were superb. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. To get its great picture and its class-leading sound quality, you'll have to swallow those cones. With Sony's optional 4K video player, it can access significantly more 4K content than other brands of TV. When I asked him why, he said he noticed the very subtle presence of pixel structure in some flat fields, for example blue skies, and that tipped him off. 14 Available for select Sony OLED and LED models ranging from 55 class to 75 class. HDMI is a trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC. The result was very even with no particular part of the spectrum poking out: relatively supple, deep bass, excellently nuanced vocals and plenty of sparkle where it's required. When we moved the couch back to about an 8.5 distance he said he didn't notice the difference as much, but at that point we agreed confirmation bias was too much of an issue to fully trust what he saw. 9 This Sony TV is compatible with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. The Sony also did a very good job maintaining black under the lights, matching the Samsung and HX950, and outdoing the others in this area, including the ZT60 by a nose. Only the ZT60 maintained superior, more natural-looking shadows than the X900B. Failure isn't a huge deal, but attentive watchers may notice some artifacts, for example moving lines or moire patterns, at times with film-based material delivered to the TV in 1080i, for example via a cable TV connection. Its shots of a beachside town, animals, and mountains were equal in quality to any of the manufacturer-supplied footage I saw. Among the active sets the Samsung was second-best, followed closely by the Panasonic AX800U -- all of which far outclasses the Sony X900B. What sells in TV land is the "all-picture" look, with as little bezel as possible, leaving no room for hefty, forward-facing woofers and tweeters. Yes, the Sony's deep blacks and solid color were assets in 3D, and the glasses comfortable enough, but its crosstalk was a deal-breaker. I tried Netflix 4K as well, streaming a couple of episodes of "Breaking Bad" and "House of Cards."
Two other modes, Clear and Clear Plus, also hit the 1,200-line threshold but weren't quite as clean as Impulse on the test pattern. 4K TVs with 4K content: My first goal was to see if any of the TVs' rendition of the best 4K material I had on-hand looked substantially different. Like all of the local dimming sets the Sony showed some blooming -- where the backlight illuminates dark areas adjacent to light ones -- but it was very well controlled. Finally there's Standard and Smooth, which introduce significant and massive smoothing respectively, preserve maximum light output, and registered 600 lines of motion resolution. Discover how real pictures can be when you bring out the fine details. Android, Android TV, Google Play, Google, YouTube and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission. He is known to two people on Twitter as "The Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics.". Unfortunately, despite the ability to link Social View to your Twitter account, there's no way to view your own feed. Even the HX950 couldn't match it, although it and the X900B again came closest. Subscriptions may be required to access certain content. Finally, yes, the X900B has a built-in camera and microphone which, at the moment, is used only for Skype. Sony includes two pair of active shutter glasses in the box. With advanced Full Array LED technology, you'll see crystal-clear 4K HDR1 images in everything you watch. Instead, the major differences were in contrast (black level), color, uniformity, and picture quality areas detailed in the 1080p tests below. In flat fields there were very slight variations, typically slightly brighter along the lower and upper edges with a slightly darker middle (the opposite of the Samsung). It also demands a serious chunk of change, and like all 4K sets we've tested doesn't offer a major jump in picture quality as a direct result of all those extra pixels. Subject to third party app terms and conditions. With its dedicated tweeters, mdrange woofer, and transmission-line-style bass, the Sony is able to capture music in a way I haven't heard from a flat-screen before. In my favorite dark torture test from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" the X900B's letterbox bars remained darker than any of the others aside from the HX950's during the initial hilltop shot (46:00), providing inky contrast to the rest of the darkness. The physical remote's navigation (menu control) and transport (play, fast-forward, and so forth) controls worked, but only with an annoying half-second delay as the TV passed the commands along to the box. In the interest of time I did not perform a full 4K calibration on any of the TVs I compared for the 4K portion of this test. Colors showed all of the accuracy in program material I expected from its superb measurements, from the depths of its shadows to brighter, more colorful scenes like young Snape's reverie (Chapter 19). All three introduced a minor but still easily discernible amount of smoothing. Most people won't love 'em. But if you're looking for a statement TV, it doesn't get any louder than this. The array of content was frankly very impressive, especially compared to the 4K available on other TVs (which is zilch, aside from a few Netflix titles). They face the listener like good speakers should, and are unlike pretty much all TV speakers these days -- which are typically invisible and face down or to the rear. Leveraging intelligent dual database processing, content looks cleaner with less on-screen noise. It also pumped out best sound of any TV we've heard, bar none. 13 Actual look may differ depending on TV size and type pf cables used. 12 Netflix streaming membership required. Apps must be compatible with TV. Use of this TV requires consent to Google Terms of Service (http://www.google.com/policies/terms/) and Privacy Policy (http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/). Both offer access to more than 200 titles in 4K, including recent films like "American Hustle" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." Those speakers: you'll either love 'em or hate 'em. Just start with Hey Google to ask it questions, control smart home devices or access many of the apps and services you already use every day.4 In addition, cast your favorite apps with Chromecast built-in , or enjoy a huge range of apps from Google Play, including YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify, and more.4. Yes, looking very closely at the gold embroidery of the tablecloth I detected the slightest bit of extra resolution and clarity on the 4K sets, and the legs of the lobster and the flesh of the duck appeared oh-so-subtly sharper. The M, meanwhile, held its own well but showed somewhat too-light details compared to the reference ZT. Differences in detail from one TV to the next were nonexistent to my eye. The bottom is wider than the top, angling the screen back slightly. The latter looked most impressive, but both appeared slightly better-looking than the Super HD (1080p) stream.
Bright and dark scenes feel more natural, and colors are even more true to life with the TRILUMINOS display. The main change between the X900B and the step-down X850B in this category is an additional on/off toggle under the "Reality Creation" video processing section, entitled "Mastered in 4K." The same went for the demo files I tried, including a particularly nice piece of demo material: "The Ultra Definition showcase" from Florian Friedrich, available at UHDcontent.eu. Sony's speakers increase the width of the TV substantially, don't detach, and don't even have detachable covers. To send the 4K signal to each TV, I used an Atlona AT-HDDA-4 distribution amplifier. Except where noted below, I did not re-test them for this review]. Now blast something out of me.". Beyond the guide, there's a "TV selections" menu -- essentially a bunch of thumbnails from what appear to be randomly selected channels -- and the Discover tab, said to learn your preferences and suggest shows to watch. The Sony XBR-X900B series provides the best picture quality of any 4K TV we've tested so far, competing well against the better plasmas. I played with the Web browser, which seemed a step down from the offerings of Samsung and LG, with slower response times and difficult scrolling, even when I used the touchpad remote. When I connected Sony's 4K FMP-X1 video player the default first screen on the Home page changed to "4K Movies" (above), showing featured titles (as in four, count 'em, 4 Spider-Mans), "My 4K videos," which leads to a list of videos currently downloaded onto the player, and a link to "Video Unlimited 4K," where I was able to browse and purchase videos to rent, and to initiate new downloads. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice. That said, this test did reveal a limitation of the X900B's edge-lit dimming compared to the full-array HX950 and Vizio -- in the latter two cases, the lower letterbox bar remained dark and blooming-free, while on the X900B and the other edge-lit sets, it also showed stray illumination. 6 Chromecast built-in compatibility dependent on app. As with those others, the Sony doesn't do as good a job as simply using your box's interface -- preferably with a good universal remote. Somewhat cooler is the Social View function that allows you to watch tweets stream by along the bottom of the screen, keyed to trending topics or a custom search.
For viewers who demand the proper look of film with 1080p/24 sources, the MotionFlow settings of True Cinema and Off (between which I couldn't tell any difference) are the only ones that qualify on the X900B. The main aim of the new layout seems to be placing the company's own services front and center. 1 8K: 7,680 x 4,320 pixels. The demo boxes from both TV makers contained spectacular footage, some of it at 60fps, of breathtaking scenery, cityscapes, natural and man-made wonders, baroque interiors, a concert, golf and soccer, and of course tech demos extolling the virtues of said manufacturer. They just declare, "I'm here, deal with it. Connectivity: The X900B gets four HDMI inputs to go with a combination composite/component-video input, three USB ports, and a headphone jack. www.netflix.com/termsofuse It's also worth mentioning again that the 79-inch version uses a passive 3D system, so I expect it to offer superb 3D picture quality. Its prominent speakers and high-end finish makes a unique luxury TV statement. Instead, I simply chose the most accurate picture setting (determined during each TV's full 1080p calibration; see below) and adjusted basic settings, namely light output, contrast, and black level. Download the Google Home app from the iPhone App Store or Google Play. The Impulse setting, said to incorporate both black frame insertion and blinking, looked the best in our motion resolution test, delivering the full 1,200 lines extremely cleanly.
According to my DVDo 4K Test Pattern Generator, all of the HDMI inputs accepted 4K resolution at 24Hz and 30Hz, and HDMI 1, 2, and 3 all accepted it at 60 as well (HDMI 4 did not). Contrast is further enhanced by X-tended Dynamic Range PRO 6x, which gives the screen 6 times the contrast range of a conventional edge-lit LED TV , creating higher peak brightness in highlights and detailed blacks in shadow. Noise filtering had no effect I could discern, which is a good thing because this Blu-ray is very low noise in the first place. With bright material it showed no particular advantage. The built-in camera is well hidden in the upper-left corner (below), and unlike many other TV cameras, it doesn't pop out of the frame. Diving deeper allows you to choose from six dejudder (smoothing) modes including an Impulse mode that engages black frame insertion, play with a two-point grayscale system, and pick from a few gamma settings. The material from the monks' mandala to the destroyed buildings (Chapter 6) to the Baroque interiors (Chapter 7) looked equally detailed on all of the sets. Our Picture Processor X1 Ultimate precisely analyses and processes data to enrich pictures with lifelike detail, textures, and clarity in everything you watch. any audio built into the TV. When engaged, Sony says it "Provides image quality suitable for Blu-ray Disc 'Mastered in 4K' releasing from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment." Here's where I reassure you the 4K demo content looked exceedingly good. 5 Based on market research from June 2019. The 3D image suffers from substantial crosstalk. Deep black levels; accurate, well-saturated color; and plenty of video processing options made it the best of the 4K sets I had on hand. If there was any, I didn't see it. The X900B ships with two remotes: the same standard multibutton clicker I lauded in the X850B review, (which now seems too cheap for this TV; I'd at least like to see some backlighting), and a smaller version with just a couple of buttons and a touchpad. For the first time since we started testing TV audio in 2013, Nick Cave was actually enjoyable to listen to on a television. Cable and satellite box control: [Editors' note: I originally tested cable box control for the X850B review. iOS 12.2 or later or macOS 10.14.4 or later is required. local dimming on its edge-lit LED backlight, kind of impressive-sounding albeit fake number, Other: Optional subwoofer, available in black or white (SWF-BR100, $299), extra 3D glasses (TDG-BT400A, $50 list); optional 4K media players (see below); PlayStation Now streaming game compatibility. The sides of the Sony comprise a big chunk of chrome, invisible from the front, that matches the flashy chrome legs of the stand. 2 Upscaled, simulated and enhanced 8K and 4K images will vary based on source content. In both cases, the Sony was an outstanding performer. Those honkin' three-way speakers to either side are augmented by the additional cabinet room of Sony's bottom-heavy wedge shape, improving bass response according to the company. Keeping with the theme of fun names, Sony also touts its "4K X-Reality Pro picture engine," which is said to improve the necessary scaling from standard-def and high-def sources to the TV's 4K resolution, as well as "X-tended Dynamic Range" which, translated from Sony-speak, just means the TV has local dimming. As expected, the LG was the best 3D performer in the group, with virtually no crosstalk and the added brightness of passive 3D. I could not see any major differences in detail. Yes, the matte Vizio scattered bright reflections better, but for most reflections, such as the white shirt of a viewer or a light wood coffee table, the X900B dimmed them better. The only area where I consistently noticed a marked improvement in detail was in small graphical elements, for example onscreen text that described the virtues of the cameras used to capture the footage. In this era of sparse 4K content, of which Sony offers more than anybody, for now the company is keeping it proprietary. Network services, content, and the operating system and software of this product may be subject to separate or third party terms and conditions and changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information. Sony XBR-65X900B CNET review calibration report. Requires HDR compatible content from supported streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Video or HDR compatible content device connected via HDMI input. But those differences were anything but "major.". For that reason, the 79-inch version won't be included in this review. In case you're wondering, I did test the XBR-X900B with one of Sony's 4K video players, the FMP-X1 (below). That's too bad, since passive 3D on a 4K TV is a killer combination. For comparison purposes I swapped out the Samsung curved TV for a Panasonic TC-P65S64 to represent 1080p and kept the seating distances the same as described above. It analyzes and processes data in every image to make colors even more natural and precise so pictures are closer than ever to real life. It was quite subtle, however, and I bet most viewers would have a tough time telling the difference, even at the theatrically close distance from which I was sitting. The TV can also pair with compatible devices via NFC. The 55- and 65-inch X900Bs are also equipped with 3D compatibility that uses active-shutter technology -- a contrast to the passive 3D of the 79-inch version and of some 2013 Sony 4K sets. I started my tests with music and was very pleasantly surprised by the performance, even without the sub connected. I chose the best-looking Blu-ray I know, "Samsara," and stared hard at highly-detailed scenes to try to discern any difference in resolution, sharpness, perceived depth of field, and so on between the 4K Sony and the 1080p S64. 10 Dolby Vision content is compatible with Dolby Vision devices and streaming services such as Prime Video, Apple TV 4K, and Netflix. Moving back to a seating distance of about 8.5 feet, even those vanishingly small differences vanished. He didn't pick out actual pixels from that distance, but did describe a vague sense of the picture elements nonetheless. The majority of our testing was done with mere high-definition resolution sources, and the Sony was outstanding in just about every regard.
Compared to the other sets, it showed a slight advantage in some areas, particularly red, which on the sunlit monks' robes for example (8:39) appeared a bit more full and lush than on the Samsung and Vizio, albeit about the same as the ZT60 and HX950. To be fair, so were the other sets with the exception of the LG.
Unlike many TVs at this level, the W900B lacks a 10-point grayscale and color-management system. 3D: The X900B's 3D performance wasn't as bad as I saw on the W850B, but it was still the worst in my lineup, and simply unacceptable for a TV of this level. The LG and Panasonic AX800U were worse (lighter), the Vizio M was in the middle, and the Samsung came closest, delivering a very respectably deep black itself -- albeit not nearly as deep as the X900B. I checked out an episode of "Mad Men" and a baseball game, and none of the 4K sets provided any increase in detail or resolution. I tried connecting a PC and those resolutions all worked as well, but 1080p and 720p at 120Hz did not at first blush. Explore a new level of contrast with the Picture Processor X1 Ultimate. My Oppo Blu-ray player's pause icon in the upper right, for example, caused blooming in the nearby letterbox bar, but on the X900B it was relatively dim. There's no dedicated "DVR" button on the remote, so to access recorded programs you have to -- you guessed it -- call up a "virtual remote." As long as you like the look of speakers, that is. The Samsung and Vizio in particular washed out more quickly. 4K Ultra HD availability subject to your Netflix subscription plan, internet service, device capabilities, and content availability. LIke nearly all current 4K TVs, the X900B uses a panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. I compared the Sony at 4K to the other sets (including the S64) at Super HD from my PS3's Netflix app, and the slight increase in sharpness and detail was apparent in some areas, like faces and fine fabric textures. There's a reason no TV maker focuses on sound quality. Using the highly-detailed mandala scenes from "Samsara" Chapter 4, I played around with the Reality creation settings. Like the W850B, the X900B failed our 1080i de-interlacing test, despite setting CineMotion to Auto. Despite sounding a little thinner without the sub, the TV's sound blew the $499 Sony HT-CT770 soundbar away for music.
See exactly what the creator intended with the advanced color, light, and gradation of the TRILUMINOS Display. 15 Requires separately sold CalMAN calibration software to be installed on your PC, a pattern generator, a meter (colorimeter, spectrophotometer etc. TV and wall mount system sold separately. Compatible devices require internet connection. On the X900B you can also make Skype calls from within Social View; the idea being to "watch TV with friends while being connected to them through Skype.". On the plus side, no major video apps go missing (aside from HBO Go, which remains exclusive to Samsung among TVs), and you can customize the My Apps screens with your actual (i.e., non-Sony) favorites, once you manage to find them. The second section involves a wider comparison group, with which I performed the same suite of high-definition tests I put every TV through. If you're a gamer, you may appreciate the addition of PlayStation Now, a feature that allows you to play streaming games on the TV itself by simply pairing it with a PS3 controller. In other words while colors looked accurate and almost perfectly saturated, they didn't seem head-and-shoulders above the best TVs I've tested. Easily search and watch your favorite movies, get answers on screen like sports scores or weather updates, control your TV and even your home - all with your voice. Methodology: Compared to last year there are a few more 4K sources publicly available, namely Netflix -- "House of Cards" Season 2 and now "Breaking Bad" -- and additional content for Sony owners who pony up for one of the aforementioned video players. rather than the current or last-tuned channel. The Resolution slider seemed to simply exaggerate details, hardening edges and bringing out the tufts in the robes and the strands in the monks' hair to a larger degree than the film captured, and adding weird dots to the sand of the mandala at extreme levels. Frankly, the massive front-facing speakers of the X900B don't give a damn. You can also enable a picture mode said to optimize for football and soccer.
They provide the sweetest sound we've heard from any TV, and combine with stellar picture quality to deliver the complete package. At the high end, where TVs like Sony's XBR-X900B compete, there's the added fact that many people have a dedicated home-theater system, with big separate speakers and amplification that render moot (mute?) I removed the smaller HX950 and ZT60 from the lineup and swapped in the 65-inch Panasonic TC-P65S64 to use as my 1080p reference. If you buy this display, you can reasonably get away with not having to get an additional a sound system. * To make multiple selections, hold down the Command (mac) or Control (pc) button on your keyboard and click. 7 Google Home device (sold separately) compatible with Sony TVs powered by Android TV. In place of the old multipin RS-232 port for custom installations there is a "serial control" port that does the same thing. If you can stand its speakers, Sony's XBR-X900B will reward you with the best combination of audio and video quality you've ever seen (or heard). The main "Apps" screen has a few "featured" apps, but beyond that you'll have to dive into "All apps," a firehose of 280 separate icons (give or take), from "Vimeo" to "Internet Browser," to "EarthCamTV," to "Captain Philips." Any kind of content can be upconverted to lifelike 4K resolution1,2 with Sonys unique 4K X-Reality PRO and Object-Based Super Resolution. Previous sets, like Sony's own W900A and R520A from last year, pass. As with the wedge-shaped X850B , you can choose to place the legs to either the extreme sides or the middle. It talks up the "magnetic fluid" speaker design, said to deliver more powerful sound with a smaller footprint. From the brilliant golden temples and lush jungles of Chapter 3, to the resplendent primaries of the Buddha in Chapter 4, colors on the X900B were superb. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. To get its great picture and its class-leading sound quality, you'll have to swallow those cones. With Sony's optional 4K video player, it can access significantly more 4K content than other brands of TV. When I asked him why, he said he noticed the very subtle presence of pixel structure in some flat fields, for example blue skies, and that tipped him off. 14 Available for select Sony OLED and LED models ranging from 55 class to 75 class. HDMI is a trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC. The result was very even with no particular part of the spectrum poking out: relatively supple, deep bass, excellently nuanced vocals and plenty of sparkle where it's required. When we moved the couch back to about an 8.5 distance he said he didn't notice the difference as much, but at that point we agreed confirmation bias was too much of an issue to fully trust what he saw. 9 This Sony TV is compatible with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. The Sony also did a very good job maintaining black under the lights, matching the Samsung and HX950, and outdoing the others in this area, including the ZT60 by a nose. Only the ZT60 maintained superior, more natural-looking shadows than the X900B. Failure isn't a huge deal, but attentive watchers may notice some artifacts, for example moving lines or moire patterns, at times with film-based material delivered to the TV in 1080i, for example via a cable TV connection. Its shots of a beachside town, animals, and mountains were equal in quality to any of the manufacturer-supplied footage I saw. Among the active sets the Samsung was second-best, followed closely by the Panasonic AX800U -- all of which far outclasses the Sony X900B. What sells in TV land is the "all-picture" look, with as little bezel as possible, leaving no room for hefty, forward-facing woofers and tweeters. Yes, the Sony's deep blacks and solid color were assets in 3D, and the glasses comfortable enough, but its crosstalk was a deal-breaker. I tried Netflix 4K as well, streaming a couple of episodes of "Breaking Bad" and "House of Cards."
Two other modes, Clear and Clear Plus, also hit the 1,200-line threshold but weren't quite as clean as Impulse on the test pattern. 4K TVs with 4K content: My first goal was to see if any of the TVs' rendition of the best 4K material I had on-hand looked substantially different. Like all of the local dimming sets the Sony showed some blooming -- where the backlight illuminates dark areas adjacent to light ones -- but it was very well controlled. Finally there's Standard and Smooth, which introduce significant and massive smoothing respectively, preserve maximum light output, and registered 600 lines of motion resolution. Discover how real pictures can be when you bring out the fine details. Android, Android TV, Google Play, Google, YouTube and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission. He is known to two people on Twitter as "The Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics.". Unfortunately, despite the ability to link Social View to your Twitter account, there's no way to view your own feed. Even the HX950 couldn't match it, although it and the X900B again came closest. Subscriptions may be required to access certain content. Finally, yes, the X900B has a built-in camera and microphone which, at the moment, is used only for Skype. Sony includes two pair of active shutter glasses in the box. With advanced Full Array LED technology, you'll see crystal-clear 4K HDR1 images in everything you watch. Instead, the major differences were in contrast (black level), color, uniformity, and picture quality areas detailed in the 1080p tests below. In flat fields there were very slight variations, typically slightly brighter along the lower and upper edges with a slightly darker middle (the opposite of the Samsung). It also demands a serious chunk of change, and like all 4K sets we've tested doesn't offer a major jump in picture quality as a direct result of all those extra pixels. Subject to third party app terms and conditions. With its dedicated tweeters, mdrange woofer, and transmission-line-style bass, the Sony is able to capture music in a way I haven't heard from a flat-screen before. In my favorite dark torture test from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2" the X900B's letterbox bars remained darker than any of the others aside from the HX950's during the initial hilltop shot (46:00), providing inky contrast to the rest of the darkness. The physical remote's navigation (menu control) and transport (play, fast-forward, and so forth) controls worked, but only with an annoying half-second delay as the TV passed the commands along to the box. In the interest of time I did not perform a full 4K calibration on any of the TVs I compared for the 4K portion of this test. Colors showed all of the accuracy in program material I expected from its superb measurements, from the depths of its shadows to brighter, more colorful scenes like young Snape's reverie (Chapter 19). All three introduced a minor but still easily discernible amount of smoothing. Most people won't love 'em. But if you're looking for a statement TV, it doesn't get any louder than this. The array of content was frankly very impressive, especially compared to the 4K available on other TVs (which is zilch, aside from a few Netflix titles). They face the listener like good speakers should, and are unlike pretty much all TV speakers these days -- which are typically invisible and face down or to the rear. Leveraging intelligent dual database processing, content looks cleaner with less on-screen noise. It also pumped out best sound of any TV we've heard, bar none. 13 Actual look may differ depending on TV size and type pf cables used. 12 Netflix streaming membership required. Apps must be compatible with TV. Use of this TV requires consent to Google Terms of Service (http://www.google.com/policies/terms/) and Privacy Policy (http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/). Both offer access to more than 200 titles in 4K, including recent films like "American Hustle" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." Those speakers: you'll either love 'em or hate 'em. Just start with Hey Google to ask it questions, control smart home devices or access many of the apps and services you already use every day.4 In addition, cast your favorite apps with Chromecast built-in , or enjoy a huge range of apps from Google Play, including YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify, and more.4. Yes, looking very closely at the gold embroidery of the tablecloth I detected the slightest bit of extra resolution and clarity on the 4K sets, and the legs of the lobster and the flesh of the duck appeared oh-so-subtly sharper. The M, meanwhile, held its own well but showed somewhat too-light details compared to the reference ZT. Differences in detail from one TV to the next were nonexistent to my eye. The bottom is wider than the top, angling the screen back slightly. The latter looked most impressive, but both appeared slightly better-looking than the Super HD (1080p) stream.
Bright and dark scenes feel more natural, and colors are even more true to life with the TRILUMINOS display. The main change between the X900B and the step-down X850B in this category is an additional on/off toggle under the "Reality Creation" video processing section, entitled "Mastered in 4K." The same went for the demo files I tried, including a particularly nice piece of demo material: "The Ultra Definition showcase" from Florian Friedrich, available at UHDcontent.eu. Sony's speakers increase the width of the TV substantially, don't detach, and don't even have detachable covers. To send the 4K signal to each TV, I used an Atlona AT-HDDA-4 distribution amplifier. Except where noted below, I did not re-test them for this review]. Now blast something out of me.". Beyond the guide, there's a "TV selections" menu -- essentially a bunch of thumbnails from what appear to be randomly selected channels -- and the Discover tab, said to learn your preferences and suggest shows to watch. The Sony XBR-X900B series provides the best picture quality of any 4K TV we've tested so far, competing well against the better plasmas. I played with the Web browser, which seemed a step down from the offerings of Samsung and LG, with slower response times and difficult scrolling, even when I used the touchpad remote. When I connected Sony's 4K FMP-X1 video player the default first screen on the Home page changed to "4K Movies" (above), showing featured titles (as in four, count 'em, 4 Spider-Mans), "My 4K videos," which leads to a list of videos currently downloaded onto the player, and a link to "Video Unlimited 4K," where I was able to browse and purchase videos to rent, and to initiate new downloads. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice. That said, this test did reveal a limitation of the X900B's edge-lit dimming compared to the full-array HX950 and Vizio -- in the latter two cases, the lower letterbox bar remained dark and blooming-free, while on the X900B and the other edge-lit sets, it also showed stray illumination. 6 Chromecast built-in compatibility dependent on app. As with those others, the Sony doesn't do as good a job as simply using your box's interface -- preferably with a good universal remote. Somewhat cooler is the Social View function that allows you to watch tweets stream by along the bottom of the screen, keyed to trending topics or a custom search.
For viewers who demand the proper look of film with 1080p/24 sources, the MotionFlow settings of True Cinema and Off (between which I couldn't tell any difference) are the only ones that qualify on the X900B. The main aim of the new layout seems to be placing the company's own services front and center. 1 8K: 7,680 x 4,320 pixels. The demo boxes from both TV makers contained spectacular footage, some of it at 60fps, of breathtaking scenery, cityscapes, natural and man-made wonders, baroque interiors, a concert, golf and soccer, and of course tech demos extolling the virtues of said manufacturer. They just declare, "I'm here, deal with it. Connectivity: The X900B gets four HDMI inputs to go with a combination composite/component-video input, three USB ports, and a headphone jack. www.netflix.com/termsofuse It's also worth mentioning again that the 79-inch version uses a passive 3D system, so I expect it to offer superb 3D picture quality. Its prominent speakers and high-end finish makes a unique luxury TV statement. Instead, I simply chose the most accurate picture setting (determined during each TV's full 1080p calibration; see below) and adjusted basic settings, namely light output, contrast, and black level. Download the Google Home app from the iPhone App Store or Google Play. The Impulse setting, said to incorporate both black frame insertion and blinking, looked the best in our motion resolution test, delivering the full 1,200 lines extremely cleanly.