Sony introduces high-end ZD9 TV series with HDR

[RalphoR]

I'm this close to pulling the trigger on a 75" Z9J. I'll keep the D for the 3D but the new version just had a big $2.5k price drop and has been getting great reviews. Sorry for bringing back this thread but the Z9D can't truly ever be dead

[DJR662]

Sony has only been going backwards on the LCD front after the Z9D (which includes their unhealthy obsession with wider viewer angles).

No (original) BMD = no sale.

On the other hand, thank you, Sony, for saving me money. I haven't bought a new TV since owning my Z9Ds. Best investments I ever made.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Sony has only been going backwards on the LCD front after the Z9D (which includes their unhealthy obsession with wider viewer angles).

No (original) BMD = no sale.

On the other hand, thank you, Sony, for saving me money. I haven't bought a new TV since owning my Z9Ds. Best investments I ever made.

Same same. Coming up on five years now with the ZD9 and I've never had a TV for anywhere near that long in the flat panel era. I don't know how much time it's got left but I hope it keeps on going until its true successor emerges.

[recS-12]

If the 75” X95J gets down to $2,000 I’m gonna pull the trigger. I’ll be replacing 1 of my 2 65” Z9D’s, but not for a lack of visuals. I’m still amazed from time to time while watching 4K content, hell even 1080p content looks amazing w/certain titles!

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Same same. Coming up on five years now with the ZD9 and I've never had a TV for anywhere near that long in the flat panel era. I don't know how much time it's got left but I hope it keeps on going until its true successor emerges.

Was the workmanship on flat panels that bad even for the first ones compared to CRTs?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Was the workmanship on flat panels that bad even for the first ones compared to CRTs?

I dunno about "bad workmanship". I rarely upgraded because a TV was "bad", it's just that technology moved so quickly in those earlier years that there really would be a much better alternative just a year or two later, or indeed a new gimmick entirely like with 3D or 21:9 panels. But with the ZD9 Sony created something very special indeed, over-engineered beyond any sane level which is why it's still impressing me every single day almost five years on. There are often times with older tech when you think "this is starting to creak a bit" but the only faults I've got with it are the ones that were there from day 1: terrible 3D, smeary blacks when starting up from cold (not an issue in summer, gets worse in winter) and the occasional bit of backlight boogaloo where it freaks out on a starfield or something similar.

[HDMan72]

Glad I revisited this thread and I'll chime in with the same sentiments. The other day I was thinking to myself that I have never gone this long with a tv before. I woud usually upgrade due to improvements in tech. I have had my Z9D for 4 years and every time we watch a movie, be it 4K or 1080p it still looks amazing. If I had to get another tv I would be so worried about keeping that same HDR experience the Z9D gives me. I just wish 3D was better for some of the 3D discs I still own.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by HDMan72

Glad I revisited this thread and I'll chime in with the same sentiments. The other day I was thinking to myself that I have never gone this long with a tv before. I woud usually upgrade due to improvements in tech. I have had my Z9D for 4 years and every time we watch a movie, be it 4K or 1080p it still looks amazing. If I had to get another tv I would be so worried about keeping that same HDR experience the Z9D gives me. I just wish 3D was better for some of the 3D discs I still own.

It's not so much the HDR experience I'm worried about when getting a new lcd, but rather its local dimming capabilities/blooming control. 3D can be great on the Z9D, but you'll need the 75" model for that though...

[HDMan72]

Originally Posted by DJR662

It's not so much the HDR experience I'm worried about when getting a new lcd, but rather its local dimming capabilities/blooming control. 3D can be great on the Z9D, but you'll need the 75" model for that though...

Yes! The local dimming is fab! The blacks really are black. I went from an edge-lit Samsung to the Z and it was a real eye opener for sure.

[uncledougie]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Sony has only been going backwards on the LCD front after the Z9D (which includes their unhealthy obsession with wider viewer angles).

No (original) BMD = no sale.

On the other hand, thank you, Sony, for saving me money. I haven't bought a new TV since owning my Z9Ds. Best investments I ever made.

I’ve never been anything but completely awed by how great the picture consistently is on this set, the upscaling on older titles is terrific (granted you can’t make a silk purse…etc), and both Blu-ray and 4K discs look beautifully filmic. Even decently mastered DVDs look surprisingly smooth. We rewatched the BD of The African Queen a couple of nights ago. It looked almost like a brand new film. In no way tempted to replace this with anything offered currently, I hope it lasts forever.

[Auditor55]

Originally Posted by HDMan72

Glad I revisited this thread and I'll chime in with the same sentiments. The other day I was thinking to myself that I have never gone this long with a tv before. I woud usually upgrade due to improvements in tech. I have had my Z9D for 4 years and every time we watch a movie, be it 4K or 1080p it still looks amazing. If I had to get another tv I would be so worried about keeping that same HDR experience the Z9D gives me. I just wish 3D was better for some of the 3D discs I still own.

The best LED ever. With that being said, the viewing angles were really bad. OLED is better for watching sports.

[MechaGodzilla]

I wish I had someone who loved me the way Z9D/ZD9 owners love their TVs.

[Robert Zohn]

Love ^^ the post!!

I have a kind of funny story to share. In 2019 Sony invited me to San Diego CA to meet with the companies top HQ engineers and product management and they technically discussed their new Bravia TV line-up to our group. The group meeting was their most respected best dealers and independent digital video display engineers, about 25 total in the room, 15 Sony execs and 10 of us that were invited guests.

During the meeting one of the video engineer asked the group, "What would you like to see in the next generation of premium TVs". I immediately raised my hand high and when called on I said "Bring back the Z9D with just a few easy enhancements and upgrades"

When everyone stopped laughing the principle engineer said the Z9D was our 2016 model year. I said I know and what I want is a new Sony Bravia TV with the latest advancements and your very highly respected Backlight Master Drive.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

I wish I had someone who loved me the way Z9D/ZD9 owners love their TVs.

It's just an insanely good TV. You get a bit of kit this well made and you just want it to keep going forever as said above. I keep twitching, don't get me wrongo, but OLED's flaws will drive me insane(r) and no LCD gets close to the greatness of the ZD9.

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's just an insanely good TV. You get a bit of kit this well made and you just want it to keep going forever as said above. I keep twitching, don't get me wrongo, but OLED's flaws will drive me insane(r) and no LCD gets close to the greatness of the ZD9.

Do you think the Z9K has the potential to compete with it?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Do you think the Z9K has the potential to compete with it?

No idea.

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's just an insanely good TV. You get a bit of kit this well made and you just want it to keep going forever as said above. I keep twitching, don't get me wrongo, but OLED's flaws will drive me insane(r) and no LCD gets close to the greatness of the ZD9.

It's unfortunate that, after things were looking promising initially, the X95K ended up a bit of a letdown from the sounds of it.

The crazy thing is that there seems to be something of a screen size disparity going on. All the claims of "second coming of the Z9D", "as close as I've seen any LCD get to an emissive display in terms of black level and minimizing blooming", etc. are from people who've spent time with the 85". On the other hand, there are all these reports of pretty bad blooming on the 65" and 75" models.

That is great re: the 85" if true, but it's too bad re: the smaller sizes. They should perform the same, since they share the same model number and everything. It's meant to be the same TV, so what's that about?

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Love ^^ the post!!

I have a kind of funny story to share. In 2019 Sony invited me to San Diego CA to meet with the companies top HQ engineers and product management and they technically discussed their new Bravia TV line-up to our group. The group meeting was their most respected best dealers and independent digital video display engineers, about 25 total in the room, 15 Sony execs and 10 of us that were invited guests.

During the meeting one of the video engineer asked the group, "What would you like to see in the next generation of premium TVs". I immediately raised my hand high and when called on I said "Bring back the Z9D with just a few easy enhancements and upgrades"

When everyone stopped laughing the principle engineer said the Z9D was our 2016 model year. I said I know and what I want is a new Sony Bravia TV with the latest advancements and your very highly respected Backlight Master Drive.

Robert, that was three years ago back in 2019. Today it's been six years.
Say Sony would bring back the Z9D with few new enhancements tomorrow morning; what price do you think they would charge and how many of them would they sell?
What would be their cost today to manufacture them?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

It's unfortunate that, after things were looking promising initially, the X95K ended up a bit of a letdown from the sounds of it.

The crazy thing is that there seems to be something of a screen size disparity going on. All the claims of "second coming of the Z9D", "as close as I've seen any LCD get to an emissive display in terms of black level and minimizing blooming", etc. are from people who've spent time with the 85". On the other hand, there are all these reports of pretty bad blooming on the 65" and 75" models.

That is great re: the 85" if true, but it's too bad re: the smaller sizes. They should perform the same, since they share the same model number and everything. It's meant to be the same TV, so what's that about?

Bigger screen will give you better control over blooming vis a vis the same size LEDs (whether normal or mini) as x specular highlight will literally be bigger. To properly regulate blooming the smaller sizes need is a return to the per-LED backlight control of the ZD9 rather than per-zone backlight control.

[RalphoR]

The Z9D is in a class by itself. If you can do without the 3D the Z9K has the potential to be a true, legitimate replacement based on its specs. Robert's been playing around with one for a few weeks so he would know (unless Sony has sworn him to secrecy for the time being).