When budget is not strict while choosing a television, a world of possibilities open up. The TV usually ends up becoming like a member of the family, one that entertains no matter what the mood is. Affordable TVs are looking good but not for all scenarios, like watching fast-moving objects like in sports. There is a difference — a massive difference — between buying a television from the likes of Sony, Samsung and LG and settling for countless others that are cutting corners to tackle pricing.
Recently we had Sony Bravia 55X80K in for review, which has plenty going for itself. Rest assured, no corners have been cut, so you get the full immersive experience Sony is known for. I am talking about bright, punchy colour performance that thrills the folks at home. There is no blooming while backlight performance is top of the line. The peak highlights on a Sony TV are far better than those on the competition. Only when a company is able to distinguish its product would people be willing to pay a premium. Sony has managed just that.
Processor power
Let’s begin at the start — unboxing. Over the years, Sony has managed to refine the process to the point that two people can easily set up the TV without any assistance. The best part of the deal is the stands, which are solid and snap in. You don’t need a tool set. There is zero wobble on the table and even if the fan is running at full speed, the TV will not flex. We had the 55-inch for review, which is just the right size for most rooms. Sony has thought out the set up process well and has even thrown in batteries for the remote control.
Speaking of the remote control, it has undergone a change for the better. Only the necessary keys are there and all the numbers keys have disappeared. There are buttons to pull up Google Assistance, YouTube, YouTube Music, Netflix and Prime Video.
The remote control has been updated to offer all that you require at the tip of your fingers
Let’s dive into picture quality. The TV is slightly thick (and thankfully so) because it has what’s called direct backlights. This is a 4K ultra HD smart LED set. You get LCD display (60Hz) with 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, direct LED and frame dimming. This kind of panel generates excellent colours as well as viewing angles. Sure, level of blacks can be better on an OLED TV but like I said, the panel is of the highest quality. You won’t miss anything in the colour or contrast department.
Everyone’s favourite Triluminos Pro technology is present for lifelike images. Also there are Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos (for audio). An important addition has been made — Bravia Cam, which basically recognises where you are in the room, how far you are from the TV and adjusts the sound and picture settings to offer a better immersive experience. The new addition also brings gesture control where you just wave your hand to control particular features and there is proximity alert in case kids are too close to the TV. Bravia Cam needs to be bought separately and we didn’t have an opportunity to review that.
Colours are not oversaturated and the screen is easy on the eyes. The direct backlight panel offers adequate brightness for clear images while HDR content is bright and crisp.
What makes the TV worthy of a spot in any home is the 4K HDR processor X1, which brings out the best in any video. Pictures are smooth even when you are watching fast-moving objects, like in a football match. Besides, video upscaling is impressive. Try watching HD channels from the set-top box to feel this. The source videos in such situations could be low resolution but the output is clear and sharp. Picture settings can be played around with — standard, cinema, game, graphic, photos and custom but it’s best to keep it to standard.
There is support for AirPlay and HomeKit settings. So you can mirror your iPhone, iPad or your MacBook to the TV directly.
Coming to audio, the 2x10W speakers are clear and easily fill one’s drawing room. The acoustic audio calibration feature can measure your environment in seconds to offer the best output.
Should you buy it?
Running Google TV OS, you are assured of an easy-to-use interface, so navigation will not be an issue. If you are into gaming, enjoy the auto low latency mode in HDMI 2.1. Bravia can recognise when a console is connected and powered on, and automatically switches to low-latency mode. TVs are meant to last a long time and going by experience, Sony offers that experience without making videos look jaded. Even when the race between the top three TV brands is running tight, Sony is managing to win because of consistency and uncompromising picture quality. What you are paying for in Sony Bravia 55X80K is for a total package that flaunts value.
At a glance
Google Android TV OS is simple to use
Device: Sony Bravia 55X80K
Price: Rs 90,240
USB ports
Four HDMI ports to connect set top box, Blu-Ray players, gaming console, two USB ports to connect hard drives and other USB devices
High notes
• Lifelike picture quality
• Beautiful upscaling
• Good spectrum of colours and accuracy
• Best for viewing videos with a lot of motion