The Sony X90K, scheduled for debut, will take the place of the X90J, a mid-tier device that was introduced last year. We noted that most manufacturers have started to reduce the quantity of smart TVs with FALD technology, and Sony is no exception. Most manufacturers are focusing most of their efforts on the more recent micro LED backlight systems. As a result, we will test the only Sony TV this year that still uses a FALD backlight in our Sony X90K review today.
If used properly, a FALD backlight can deliver excellent results. Unfortunately, the X90J was unable to do so last year due to its insufficient number of dimming zones, which prevented it from providing adequate light management. The X90K appears to have many of the same specifications, so we’re interested to see if Sony changed anything this year or if this TV has all the same issues we’ve previously encountered.
The X90K features the Cognitive Processor XR and a complete array backlight system with local dimming, according to a cursory glance at the specifications. Other features include support for Dolby Vision, Sony’s Acoustic Multi-Audio with Dolby Atmos Soundbar and DTS support, HDMI 2.1 ports, and as with all Sony TVs, the most recent version of Google TV with support for Chromecast, Airplay, and voice control. We also get a VA panel with a frequency of 100/120 Hz depending on the region.
Actually, except from a few new features that have been introduced specifically for this year, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the X90K and the X90J in terms of specs comparison. It will therefore be intriguing to observe what our measurements reveal.
Sony X90K review: Design and build
The Sony X90front, K’s which has a straightforward, clean design, small bezels, and a black plastic body, like any other LED TV when it isn’t turned on. A continuous feature of the majority of Sony goods for years has been good build quality. The body is well-bound, and the bezels are uniformly and firmly bonded. However, the rear panel does flex in a particular spot next to the ports, but this is not a problem. The television has flat, flush-mounting metal feet.
The stand assembly was great because it snaps into place when you place it in the bracket. It takes less than 30 seconds to get the TV ready to mount on stands, and what’s even better is that it is incredibly solid; I did not notice any swaying. In order to modify the distance between the platform and the television in the event that you want to mount a soundbar beneath it, you may position it in two different positions: short and raised.
When the screen is elevated or lowered, the distance from the bottom of the screen is 4 cm or 8.5 cm, respectively. Black textured plastic with aluminium in the middle makes up the back panel. The ports are difficult to access when placed on the wall and the main design problem with the Sony X90K is the absence of a cable management system. But there isn’t much of a gap, and it adheres to the wall fairly effectively. An on/off switch, channel selector, volume control, and input switcher are all located directly underneath the centre of the television. Additionally, as an added privacy measure, the TV has a mechanism to turn off the microphone when not in use.
Sony X90K review: Image quality
Sony refers to the XR Cognitive Processor as being in the X90K. According to the company, this technology can comprehend how people see and hear, enabling you to adjust your content’s contrast, brightness, and colours in accordance with the situation. You can make a lot of claims, but it’s difficult to know for sure how things will turn out in practise.
A new contrast enhancer is paired with this cognitive processor to further the already recognised processing quality of Sony. Upscaling to 4K is amazing as a result. Low bitrate footage that has poor highlight gradation is flawlessly rectified and smoothed out.
The VA panel used in the Sony X90K has traditionally limited viewing angles compared to IPS, but you can still see outstanding contrast and colour when the screen is off-center. The XR-5590propensity K’s to flare easily is a more serious issue. The TV’s brightness is insufficient to completely eliminate even the smallest reflections due to the glossy nature of the screen.
But the ones in black are astonishingly black. In addition, as was already said, the TV is still not especially bright (peak brightness in SDR is around 500 nits, and in HDR, it does not exceed 800 nits), but because it can produce such deep blacks, it can provide some excellent HDR images, including Dolby Vision. The drawback of this contrast is that it can be challenging to strike a balance between preserving colour vibrancy and preserving shadow detail.
Sony doesn’t disclose the total number of local dimming zones, however the X90J’s manual count revealed 24. To a certain extent, it is acceptable that the firm frequently claims that the number of zones is a specification that differs from how Sony uses them. Although Sony appears to be using 24 zones much more than any other manufacturer, it still has some restrictions. These are sizable test zones, and it is evident in a spotless environment that bright objects on a dark background produce a pronounced halo.
Sony X90K review: Performance and Features
At the time of writing, this is the most expensive full-array LED TV that Sony produces. It’s almost entirely a watered-down A80K, which means that its features and design have been carefully chosen to accomplish its relatively lower price tag, despite being built on the same general concept. Even today, Sony can still be recognised by the meticulousness. The price of the 55-inch model we are reviewing is Rs. 1,23,490.
In order to achieve deeper blacks and, thus, a higher contrast ratio, Sony is adopting a premium VA panel with full-array backlighting and a total of 54 dimming zones. You would only be able to distinguish between an OLED and other displays if you had first-hand experience seeing one in person. This year, Sony has significantly improved its colour and contrast, putting many competitors on notice. But what really stands out is how accurate the colours are overall. It is absolutely accurate from the start. The X90K offers many of settings to fine-tune the display for people who are picky about it, including, among other things, a special Netflix calibrated mode.
Even by LED standards, the panel can grow quite bright, however viewing angles could be a little bit better. Again, LED TVs like these aren’t recognised for having great off-axis viewing, but Sony has some clever solutions to get around this flaw or make it generally better in some of its other TVs. If those had been present, it would have been nice. This TV has a light sensor, which is a good addition because it is claimed to automatically adjust brightness settings dependent on the environment.
A 4K TV that supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision playback is the X90K. The next-generation Cognitive Processor XR, which is essentially conducting all the work in the background, is at its core. With a strong emphasis on generating colours that are as close to reality as possible with a little extra zing or pop, Sony’s processing is unquestionably among the best in the industry. This adds a little spice and flavour to the content without going overboard. T
he experience is nearly cinematic and the balance is just about perfect. HDR is handled quite effectively by the X90K. While upscaling and motion are both acceptable, small details in SDR footage might occasionally become excessively prominent, especially in darker settings. In Sony’s defence, high-resolution content is built for TVs like the X90K primarily, and for what it’s worth, some of these small faults can be fixed in settings.
Sony X90K review: Picture quality
In its default Cinema picture setting, the XR90K exhibited somewhat accurate out-of-the-box colour, but the images had an excessively reddish tone. Gamma was also a little wrong, giving mid-tones an excessively dark appearance. The Calman colour calibration software from Portrait Displays was used to fix both of these problems.
The set’s DCI-P3 coverage, which is used to master movies for digital cinema and 4K Blu-ray disc, was also measured using Calman, and it came in at 95%. That is less than the full DCI-P3 coverage we measured on the Sony A80K OLED TV, but it is comparable to other reasonably priced LED-backlit TVs like the Vizio M-Series QX.
Peak brightness measurements for the X90K were 450 nits in Cinema HDR mode and 964 nits in normal HDR picture mode (on a 10% white window). Although it’s noticeably less than what you’d receive from a set with a mini-LED backlight, that degree of performance is typical for a TV of this type. (Some of the most recent OLED TV generations, such as the LG G2 series, are also capable of producing higher peak brightness levels.)
Poor off-axis uniformity, which causes images to appear pale and desaturated when seen from a seat that is much off-center, is one problem that the X90K and many other LED-backlit LCD TVs have in terms of picture quality. For the majority of viewing conditions and circumstances, this won’t be a problem, but some LCD TVs, including Sony’s own X95K series models with its X-Wide Angle function, perform better in this regard.
Sony X90K review: Sound quality
A full range speaker rated at 10+10 watts and two tweeters rated at 5+5 watts are used to reproduce sound. These two placement tweeters are placed at the sides of the television to deliver a more direct sound. Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, and DTS are all compatible with the Sony X90K. Additionally, there is a feature that modifies the sound depending on your position and the size of the room.
According to Sony, the sound modifications are intended to provide the impression that the audio is coming straight from the source of the display. The TV can serve as the centre speaker thanks to its 5.1.2 channel sound output, which is also claimed to be possible.
Having a good frequency response and a finely balanced sound profile, the integrated audio system is particularly well suited for watching series and films with a dialogue-focused concentration. Purchasing a soundbar is necessary if you want a deeper, more immersive audio experience.
Sony X90K review: Price and availability
The Sony XR-65X94K is currently available and costs £1299 in the UK. In addition, variants of the X94K are offered in 55-inch TV’s (£899), 75-inch (£1699), and 85-inch (£2699) sizes. The X94K is a model that is identical to Sony’s X90K, with the exception of a few small variations. As a result, we’re listing American and Australian prices for the X90K range. you can buy this product from amazon.
In the United States, the XR-65X90K costs $1499, while the 55-inch model costs $1299, the 75-inch model costs $1899, and the 85-inch model costs $2799. The XR-6590K is AUD$2495; in comparison, the 55-inch model is AUD$1995, the 75-inch TV’s model is AUD$3995, and the 85-inch TV’s model is AUD$5495. That’s a lot of high-end 4K TV for the money, wherever you shop. If the XR-65X94performance K’s is adequate, that is, at least.
Final Words
There is no question that the Sony X94K offers exceptional value for the money. It has a great user interface, is always more than thoroughly watchable from any source, and was developed professionally by a business that knows what it is doing.
No, it doesn’t sound very nice, and if you’re watching off-axis, it doesn’t look very good either. But even the sound’s relative paucity can be satisfactorily justified. The Sony X94K (or X90K, depending on where you are located) warrants careful attention if you’re looking for a large, capable TV without breaking the bank.
