2021 Sony X90J (50", 55", 65", 75" and 100") [Owners' & Discussion Thread]

[gardengirl1331]

Every time our TV does an auto update it changes the PCM settings. Any idea on how to stop this from happening? We use an old stereo and speakers and hook it up with an audio converter to switch it from digital to analog. It works great, but with every update it zeros out that info, but nothing else?

[gardengirl1331]

I also have a question about a series I have (X-Files on DVD) we keep having to change the format for some episodes. We have it set to auto and have had to change it for one movie a few weeks ago, can't remember what it was, and now with this show we're having to change some episodes but not others. I can safely assume this is some kind of encoding issue, not something with the TV correct? Just wondering because it's only been doing it since the update a month or so ago (whenever it was) and we're just assuming it's coincidence.

[gardengirl1331]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

Every time our TV does an auto update it changes the PCM settings. Any idea on how to stop this from happening? We use an old stereo and speakers and hook it up with an audio converter to switch it from digital to analog. It works great, but with every update it zeros out that info, but nothing else?

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

I also have a question about a series I have (X-Files on DVD) we keep having to change the format for some episodes. We have it set to auto and have had to change it for one movie a few weeks ago, can't remember what it was, and now with this show we're having to change some episodes but not others. I can safely assume this is some kind of encoding issue, not something with the TV correct? Just wondering because it's only been doing it since the update a month or so ago (whenever it was) and we're just assuming it's coincidence.

Bumping these to ask again since I just popped in Dogma (just got it used and sadly see it's full screen) but the wide mode being in auto doesn't work for this title either. I had to change it to normal like with the X-Files disks.

Is it the encoding of the disks or is the TV messing up since the update?

[sa5150]

with only 1 usb on rear of the unit , hard getting a usb stick in it from behind the tv . Is there a easer way , and adaptor ?

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by sa5150

with only 1 usb on rear of the unit , hard getting a usb stick in it from behind the tv . Is there a easer way , and adaptor ?

Maybe an HDMI to USB adaptor?

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

I also have a question about a series I have (X-Files on DVD) we keep having to change the format for some episodes. We have it set to auto and have had to change it for one movie a few weeks ago, can't remember what it was, and now with this show we're having to change some episodes but not others. I can safely assume this is some kind of encoding issue, not something with the TV correct? Just wondering because it's only been doing it since the update a month or so ago (whenever it was) and we're just assuming it's coincidence.

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

Bumping these to ask again since I just popped in Dogma (just got it used and sadly see it's full screen) but the wide mode being in auto doesn't work for this title either. I had to change it to normal like with the X-Files disks.

Is it the encoding of the disks or is the TV messing up since the update?

It's probably the DVD player. Have you gone through the setup menu on the TV to add the DVD player as a device? It shouldn't erase your settings that way.

I'm not sure if its because of your audio setup too.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by sa5150

with only 1 usb on rear of the unit , hard getting a usb stick in it from behind the tv . Is there a easer way , and adaptor ?

There are two USB slots on the X90J. It should be fine in the second slot. Unless this is a firestick that you're trying to use with IR remote control, instead of bluetooth remote control.

[gardengirl1331]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

It's probably the DVD player. Have you gone through the setup menu on the TV to add the DVD player as a device? It shouldn't erase your settings that way.

I'm not sure if its because of your audio setup too.

It's not erasing the settings for wide mode, it's still on "auto" when I go to change it. It's just some movies and some episodes (but not others) auto doesn't work and I have to change it to "normal" to get it to regular full frame instead of it doing it itself, and when I click "full" it doesn't work, I have to set it to "normal" to get it to show them in full frame.

It's the PCM setting that changes with every update the TV does on it's own. It zeros it back out so our audio setup doesn't work. It's fine to just change it back, but it's kind of a pain to have it not work and worry something is wrong only to remember it keeps doing it and to change it back.

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

It's not erasing the settings for wide mode, it's still on "auto" when I go to change it. It's just some movies and some episodes (but not others) auto doesn't work and I have to change it to "normal" to get it to regular full frame instead of it doing it itself, and when I click "full" it doesn't work, I have to set it to "normal" to get it to show them in full frame.

It's the PCM setting that changes with every update the TV does on it's own. It zeros it back out so our audio setup doesn't work. It's fine to just change it back, but it's kind of a pain to have it not work and worry something is wrong only to remember it keeps doing it and to change it back.

Those are the picture settings for your TV.

Try setting up your DVD player by going to the action menu -> settings -> channels & inputs -> external inputs -> external device setup

After going through that setup the input should show up and be memorized any time it is plugged in.

Setup your stereo/external speakers in the same way. Then go to settings -> display & sound -> audio output

You should see options for PCM and I think you should select audio system for speakers.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

There are two USB slots on the X90J. It should be fine in the second slot. Unless this is a firestick that you're trying to use with IR remote control, instead of bluetooth remote control.

Sorry , It's a 80J model . is there 2 usb on the 80J ?

[gardengirl1331]

Silly question what does the latest upgrade do? It's only been coming up on the TV for the last 4-5 days, so I looked it up and it's saying it's from a month ago. Not sure why the TV didn't push for the upgrade sooner? But when looking to see what it does all it says is "Improves general performance of the TV" yeah, ok. But what does that mean? Any ideas?

[Panson]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

Silly question what does the latest upgrade do? It's only been coming up on the TV for the last 4-5 days, so I looked it up and it's saying it's from a month ago. Not sure why the TV didn't push for the upgrade sooner? But when looking to see what it does all it says is "Improves general performance of the TV" yeah, ok. But what does that mean? Any ideas?

Simplifying and according to rtings side-by-side comparison, X90J is better out of the box (pre-calibration). X90K has wide color gamut. Settings require more tinkering for pre to post-calibration. Neither are great for HDR Peak Brightness.
Both can be decent all-round TVs, if panel lottery plays nice.

[gardengirl1331]

Originally Posted by Panson

Simplifying and according to rtings side-by-side comparison, X90J is better out of the box (pre-calibration). X90K has wide color gamut. Settings require more tinkering for pre to post-calibration. Neither are great for HDR Peak Brightness.
Both can be decent all-round TVs, if panel lottery plays nice.

No, sorry I meant the firmware not the new version of the TV. This update doesn't seem to say it does anything I was hoping for something more then just "Improves general performance of the TV". What does it improve?

[jtu128]

Originally Posted by Panson

Simplifying and according to rtings side-by-side comparison, X90J is better out of the box (pre-calibration). X90K has wide color gamut. Settings require more tinkering for pre to post-calibration. Neither are great for HDR Peak Brightness.
Both can be decent all-round TVs, if panel lottery plays nice.

The brightness comment from ratings may be correct but in real life viewing I find this TV's brightness to be blinding in a darker room when set to over 50% of its brightness level. Even in the suggested calibrations I've found online it is suggested to turn brightness down to as low as 10-15 out of 50 when watching SDR content. With brightness at max for Dolby Vision content I still think it's plenty bright.

[Panson]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

No, sorry I meant the firmware not the new version of the TV. This update doesn't seem to say it does anything I was hoping for something more then just "Improves general performance of the TV". What does it improve?

Reading AVS Forum owner thread, it seems to remain inconclusive.

[gardengirl1331]

I know this post isn't that popular, but I have yet another question. haha, sorry.

I don't like what the TV is doing during silly things like ambient mode (among others), the screensaver used to be good, but they changed it recently, Google TV/Home whatever is probably what changed it not Sony since it happened without a firmware update. I went in to change it and it's saying I have to use my phone to do it. Well we don't have cell phones. My husband tried to get the settings changed through his laptop but couldn't. Is there any way to change settings without using a cell??

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

I know this post isn't that popular, but I have yet another question. haha, sorry.

I don't like what the TV is doing during silly things like ambient mode (among others), the screensaver used to be good, but they changed it recently, Google TV/Home whatever is probably what changed it not Sony since it happened without a firmware update. I went in to change it and it's saying I have to use my phone to do it. Well we don't have cell phones. My husband tried to get the settings changed through his laptop but couldn't. Is there any way to change settings without using a cell??

How did you set up Google TV in the initial setup without a cell? You can change the screensaver by going to the Home screen, then hit the right arrow a few times to go to the gear/tools icon in the upper right, then go down to screensaver and press ok/select, then press the right arrow until you select a screensaver you like.

I think you might be stuck with the default Google TV if you never set up your Google TV account on the X90J though.

[gardengirl1331]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

How did you set up Google TV in the initial setup without a cell? You can change the screensaver by going to the Home screen, then hit the right arrow a few times to go to the gear/tools icon in the upper right, then go down to screensaver and press ok/select, then press the right arrow until you select a screensaver you like.

I think you might be stuck with the default Google TV if you never set up your Google TV account on the X90J though.

We only did the TV setup from Sony, I assume, I don't remember going into any of the google stuff. When you click anything like screen savers, timers, getting rid of the newly added weather info etc it comes up to edit, then when you click it says you have to do it on a phone. I guess we're stuck with the crappy default, sometimes I hate new tech, the only reason we even have the set connected to our internet is to watch youtube (we watch a lot of british stuff) and the occasional streaming we get one or two months a year. Otherwise if it was my choice I'd just not have it online ever (like the players we have which have never been online). I can't see why they force you to hook up phones to the TV anyway when all we want to do is change settings, aside from getting all your info to sell you crap. I fear this will just get worse over time because if we're ever forced to get cell phones (which will be a huge problem for us since we don't get any service at our house (I called 3 companies to see about it and they all said the same thing, no service, no plans on expanding in the area (and yes we're rural, but not THAT rural, it's surprising the lack of services we get here! We're 30mins from two cities, an hour from 1 large city and 1 major city and 2 hours from a HUGE city)- we also get really really bad internet which is why we normally only stream a month or so a year) we plan on getting dumb old flip phones that only do voice and text (since the reason we'd be forced to get one would most likely be for 2 factor ID stuff). But if everything starts going the way of having to use your phone to control more aspects of the TV I'm not sure what we'll do?

[ctujackbauer]

Originally Posted by gardengirl1331

We only did the TV setup from Sony, I assume, I don't remember going into any of the google stuff. When you click anything like screen savers, timers, getting rid of the newly added weather info etc it comes up to edit, then when you click it says you have to do it on a phone. I guess we're stuck with the crappy default, sometimes I hate new tech, the only reason we even have the set connected to our internet is to watch youtube (we watch a lot of british stuff) and the occasional streaming we get one or two months a year. Otherwise if it was my choice I'd just not have it online ever (like the players we have which have never been online). I can't see why they force you to hook up phones to the TV anyway when all we want to do is change settings, aside from getting all your info to sell you crap. I fear this will just get worse over time because if we're ever forced to get cell phones (which will be a huge problem for us since we don't get any service at our house (I called 3 companies to see about it and they all said the same thing, no service, no plans on expanding in the area (and yes we're rural, but not THAT rural, it's surprising the lack of services we get here! We're 30mins from two cities, an hour from 1 large city and 1 major city and 2 hours from a HUGE city)- we also get really really bad internet which is why we normally only stream a month or so a year) we plan on getting dumb old flip phones that only do voice and text (since the reason we'd be forced to get one would most likely be for 2 factor ID stuff). But if everything starts going the way of having to use your phone to control more aspects of the TV I'm not sure what we'll do?

The only real benefits or changes from logging into Google TV with your Google TV account are personalized recommendations, setting up Google Photos for screensavers, and easier ability to log into accounts with QR codes on a smartphone.

I think it might make casting easier from a phone or computer better on the same network - you might see in a Chrome browser the casting button with a playing symbol when your TV is playing. For a phone casting is very easy.

2FA is for your benefit, but I get the resistance. If you want to check if your area got reception (5G mid-band has helped), then you can ask a mobile carrier to lend you a loaner phone to test out for reception at your home - you have to give the phone back after.

[gardengirl1331]

Originally Posted by ctujackbauer

2FA is for your benefit, but I get the resistance. If you want to check if your area got reception (5G mid-band has helped), then you can ask a mobile carrier to lend you a loaner phone to test out for reception at your home - you have to give the phone back after.

Right now any 2FA we have is dialed into the home phone to get us the codes, so we do use it a bit. But I hear more and more they're able to hack that too.

Our internet is prorated for 1mb, yup, you read that right, 1mb! We've managed to squeak out 11-12 on good days since they bonded two lines together for us, but we're still not rated for that high. With cell towers even with the faster stuff there just is nothing up on our hill. Everyone who comes here asks for our guest wifi password, and those who don't (workers who are doing repairs on things etc) say when they leave and go down the hill their phones all go nuts with everything they missed. But like I said even people who would normally be excited to try to sell us stuff looks up the address and they all say "sorry there's nothing we can do."