Sony 2020 TV line-up, with surprise news

[Robert Zohn]

@Darkmninya March 1-5, 2020

[Robert Zohn]

We're loving our Sony's new 2020 X950H Flagship 4K HDR TV. Beautiful fit and finish and stunning full array locally dimmed 4K HDR picture quality.

Sony favored us with the 1st allocation shipment of the 2020 X950H.



https://www.facebook.com/ValueElectr...1215158267974/

[Nothing371]

All we want is a true Z9D successor in sizes 65" and below.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

All we want is a true Z9D successor in sizes 65" and below.

Below?! You mean up!

I would like my next set to be 85".

[Darkmninya]

All I want is a Sony with A9G performance and DV on the same level as LG

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

All we want is a true Z9D successor in sizes 65" and below.

Over 1k zones or micro Led.
Or just wait for Cled.
My panafonics will last till Cled launches I hope.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Over 1k zones or micro Led.
Or just wait for Cled.
My panafonics will last till Cled launches I hope.

Cled = MicroLED.

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

All we want is a true Z9D successor in sizes 65" and below.

The Z9D came in 65", 75" and 100", the Z9F in 65" and 75", and the Z9G comes in 85" and 98". Even with the newly introduced Z8 range, the Z8H only comes in 75" and 85". No way is a 55" Z9 or Z8 model ever happening. The X950 series is as good as it gets for LCD below 65", and maybe even 65" considering they seem to have even abandoned that size class for their top-of-the-line LCDs. Now, if you want the absolute best Sony offer in 65", 55" or 49" (48"), it's OLED or bust.

I do think Sony are a bit bold with how they advertise the X950H: "Offers Sony's best-ever picture and sound quality for 4K LED TVs"

Best-ever picture quality for 4K LED TVs? 4K LCDs include the mighty Z9D, amongst others. The X950H is no doubt going to be a great TV and produce a beautiful picture under most circumstances, but it's not going to compete with neither the Z9D nor X940E for example in terms of contrast ratio and blooming control. Nor does it have any new surprises, like bringing back quantum dots (like the X9005A).

I understand how this marketing language works, but lay it on too thick with the hyperbole and that can backfire on you. "Best of the year" would be more truthful.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Cled = MicroLED.

Kinda but not at the same time

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Over 1k zones or micro Led.
Or just wait for Cled.
My panafonics will last till Cled launches I hope.

Yep, even just going over 1000 individually controlled zones would be a hell of a thing. I recall Vincent reviewing the 100" ZD9 (which he clocked at about 2700 nits peak brightness IIRC) and saying that that had nearer 1000 zones, just as the 75" ZD9 had more than the ~600 of the 65" model, and as a result he could detect virtually no blooming.

It still wouldn't be "perfect black", don't get me wrongo, and the dimming algorithm - the complexity of which may be putting Sony off from improving it further? - could still be tripped up by certain content, but as it is the ZD9 is still one hell of a teevee and it's a shame that Sony simply aren't bovvered about improving its core features.

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yep, even just going over 1000 individually controlled zones would be a hell of a thing. I recall Vincent reviewing the 100" ZD9 (which he clocked at about 2700 nits peak brightness IIRC) and saying that that had nearer 1000 zones, just as the 75" ZD9 had more than the ~600 of the 65" model, and as a result he could detect virtually no blooming.

It still wouldn't be "perfect black", don't get me wrongo, and the dimming algorithm - the complexity of which may be putting Sony off from improving it further? - could still be tripped up by certain content, but as it is the ZD9 is still one hell of a teevee and it's a shame that Sony simply aren't bovvered about improving its core features.

Here's where mini-LED could be of help, as it brings the potential to have thousands, even tens of thousands, of dimming zones.

But Sony and the other big boys seem strangely slow at adopting it, perhaps even uninterested?

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Here's where mini-LED could be of help, as it brings the potential to have thousands, even tens of thousands, of dimming zones.

But Sony and the other big boys seem strangely slow at adopting it, perhaps even uninterested?

From their perspective, I can imagine they would like to fully capitalize on the succes of OLED first for some time before bringing something new to the table.

They probably don't want the general public to know yet they have the tech that can do OLED picture quality but without its limitations and disadvantages.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Here's where mini-LED could be of help, as it brings the potential to have thousands, even tens of thousands, of dimming zones.

But Sony and the other big boys seem strangely slow at adopting it, perhaps even uninterested?

That's what I keep driving at, there's just no movement from the majors at trying to consumerise (not a word, but you know what I mean) these kinds of further LCD enhancements, never mind microLED, so why not try and max out what the current tech can do at least? Broken record time but the ZD9 was so over-engineered it's kinda ridiculous that they can't or won't try to push it to the limit. But now they've got OLED to appeal to the 'discerning' buyer so why bother.

I get the feeling that the manufacturers are in a holding pattern right now, they're waiting to see what - if any - tech becomes the next big thing so they're content with lowballing LCD and pimping OLED. But if no-one wants to be the one to take the short-term hit on crystalmagickchlorophyllLED or whatever to reap the long term benefits - as per LG Display cornering the market for OLED panels - then nothing changes. That's easy for a faceless keyboard warrior to say and I get that, but it feels like these other techs have been talked about for so long that they're always destined to be vapourware as far as consumer level gear is concerned i.e. not just giant video walls. Dual-layer LCD may even creep in and steal their thunder.

[Nothing371]

Four years later, and weird, I still prefer bright LCDs to OLEDs. So I guess preferring OLED isn't "everybody" like a lot of people would lead you to believe.

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

The Z9D came in 65", 75" and 100", the Z9F in 65" and 75", and the Z9G comes in 85" and 98". Even with the newly introduced Z8 range, the Z8H only comes in 75" and 85". No way is a 55" Z9 or Z8 model ever happening. The X950 series is as good as it gets for LCD below 65", and maybe even 65" considering they seem to have even abandoned that size class for their top-of-the-line LCDs. Now, if you want the absolute best Sony offer in 65", 55" or 49" (48"), it's OLED or bust.

The 2016 Sony Z9D came in 65" and that can be done again. It's crazy to me how they haven't made as good of an LCD television in the four years since then.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Nothing371

Four years later, and weird, I still prefer bright LCDs to OLEDs. So I guess preferring OLED isn't "everybody" like a lot of people would lead you to believe.



The 2016 Sony Z9D came in 65" and that can be done again. It's crazy to me how they haven't made as good of an LCD television in the four years since then.

LCD is better, but its a low percentage expensive market

[Darkmninya]

@Robert Zohn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W_c...ature=youtu.be

Watch at 19:00

Vincent explains what's wrong with Sony DV perfectly there. I think it has to do because Sony is using Player based DV to save money.

[DJR662]

If only the 100" Z9D would have had a major, and I do mean major price drop...

I can imagine that beast standing in my living room right now.

[wesslan]

Yeah that's one good example but on the other hand I have read a respected calibrator that used DV dark on AG9 and said he couldn't see any visual brightness difference to a calibrated LG also in DV dark (in a dark room) on either blu-ray player or from a ATV4K.

I know "my" DV is dim as hell but that is a older AF8 and heard it has got much better on AF9 and maybe even more on AG9?

[Darkmninya]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Yeah that's one good example but on the other hand I have read a respected calibrator that used DV dark on AG9 and said he couldn't see any visual brightness difference to a calibrated LG also in DV dark (in a dark room) on either blu-ray player or from a ATV4K.

I know "my" DV is dim as hell but that is a older AF8 and heard it has got much better on AF9 and maybe even more on AG9?

Nah it's the same as AF8 . Sony updated their DV through updates and the af8 got a little bit better.

But it's still miles off Panasonic or LG, maybe because they aren't using a Dolby Vision Chipset for money reasons

[HDMan72]

All these posts mentioning the Z9D makes me even more happy I purchased this tv. It’s a beast but I’m always looking forward to what Sony is bringing just in case my Z suddenly deceases on me which would be a nightmare.