Official 2018 Sony X900F TV series, 49", 55", 65", 75" and 85"

[Robert Zohn]

Now that we're just a few weeks to the launch date for Sony's new X900F Series TVs I thought it was a good time to start this thread.

Here's our dedicated page on Sony's new X900F series of UHD/HDR TVs. All technical specs, .pdf spec sheets, prices, expected launch dates and more are available on our site. Here's a few of the highlights:

Sony is using the new flagship X1 Extreme processor for the best video performance, up-conversion, tone mapping, and Dolby Vision HDR capability.

Available sizes and suggested retail list prices:

- XBR-49X900F $1,099.99

- XBR-55X900F $1,499.99

- XBR-65X900F $2,299.99

- XBR-75X900F $3,999.99

- XBR-85X900F $6,999.99

Prices are SRP at launch Sony will release the "SURE" prices, which are likely to be lower than SRP.

[Shalashaska]

The 55" model is up on Amazon for $1,299.99.

Wonder how much they'll cost here in Europe. Probably a good bit more for no reason.

[Robert Zohn]

Sony just put the 75X940E and 65X930E on promotion to move out the 2017 inventory in advance of the X900F series launch.

[Nothing371]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Sony just put the 75X940E and 65X930E on promotion to move out the 2017 inventory in advance of the X900F series launch.

That's great. How much cheaper than the usual $1999 sale price should the 65' 930E get?

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Now that we're just a few weeks to the launch date for Sony's new X900F Series TVs I thought it was a good time to start this thread.

Here's our dedicated page on Sony's new X900F series of UHD/HDR TVs. All technical specs, .pdf spec sheets, prices, expected launch dates and more are available on our site. Here's a few of the highlights:

Sony is using the new flagship X1 Extreme processor for the best video performance, up-conversion, tone mapping, and Dolby Vision HDR capability.

Available sizes and suggested retail list prices:

- XBR-49X900F $1,099.99

- XBR-55X900F $1,499.99

- XBR-65X900F $2,299.99

- XBR-75X900F $3,999.99

- XBR-85X900F $6,999.99

Prices are SRP at launch Sony will release the "SURE" prices, which are likely to be lower than SRP.

Will these support full Dolby Vision, or only DV-Lite? Also, is the flagship Extreme X1 NEW, or the CURRENT flagship X1?

[Robert Zohn]

@Nothing371, pm sent.

@JohnCarpenterLives, Full Dolby Vision HDR for streaming and over HDMI. However, the upgrade to DV is likely to be after the launch.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

@Nothing371, pm sent.

@JohnCarpenterLives, Full Dolby Vision HDR for streaming and over HDMI. However, the upgrade to DV is likely to be after the launch.

WHOA! If it's the same X1 chips does that mean the 55x930e might be upgraded to full DV? Oh, and is Sony still mum on HDR10+ support?

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

[rdodolak]

Nice to see the SRP price drops year over year.

[Robert Zohn]

Thanks, I enjoy spreading my passion for quality a/v and answering technical questions.

Actually Sony has tuned the X1 Extreme processor for the 2018 TV line-up so I'm expecting great results in regard to up-conversion and HDR tone mapping on all Sony 2018 X1 Extreme TVs.

Sony will make some tweaks on the new Dolby Vision HDR upgrade to accommodate all DV capable devices, but the big updates need to come from the ancillary devices, not Sony. So the short answer is... yes all 2017 and 2018 X1 Extreme processor equipped TVs will fully support all DV ready sources.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Thanks, I enjoy spreading my passion for quality a/v and answering technical questions.

Actually Sony has tuned the X1 Extreme processor for the 2018 TV line-up so I'm expecting great results in regard to up-conversion and HDR tone mapping on all Sony 2018 X1 Extreme TVs.

Sony will make some tweaks on the new Dolby Vision HDR upgrade to accommodate all DV capable devices, but the big updates need to come from the ancillary devices, not Sony. So the short answer is... yes all 2017 and 2018 X1 Extreme processor equipped TVs will fully support all DV ready sources.

Oh that is so great to hear. I'm between the 55" 900f, and 930e at this point. I love Sony's commitment to updating legacy devices. From the sound of it the 930e will have the same capabilities down the road, with the added benefit of some extra nits, and maybe more dimming panels.

This is great!

[Robert Zohn]

Hope you don't mind my opinions on the X900F vs. X930E. I'm actually very curious to see the differences between these two very fine TVs. Here's what I know so far:

Most folks don't know this, but the very excellent X930E is actually an edge lit TV, but has very high performance with Sony's priority "Slim Backlight Drive+" that does a very good job in regard to its local dimming ability.

Since Sony has not shipped any mass production X900Fs I have not had the opportunity to review them in our showroom. However, Sony has told me the 900F will enjoy higher peak luminance and as you know the 2018 version of the flagship X1 Extreme processor. At this time we don't know if the 2018 X900F's higher peak luminance will be as bright as the higher-end 2017 X930E. Nor do we know if the X900F true back-lit LED will perform as well or even better than the highly regarded X930E.

We're expecting our 1st allocation of 55", 65" and 75" X900Fs by the end of February, or no later than early March and I'll post my findings.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Hope you don't mind my opinions on the X900F vs. X930E. I'm actually very curious to see the differences between these two very fine TVs. Here's what I know so far:

Most folks don't know this, but the very excellent X930E is actually an edge lit TV, but has very high performance with Sony's priority "Slim Backlight Drive+" that does a very good job in regard to its local dimming ability.

Since Sony has not shipped any mass production X900Fs I have not had the opportunity to review them in our showroom. However, Sony has told me the 900F will enjoy higher peak luminance and as you know the 2018 version of the flagship X1 Extreme processor. At this time we don't know if the 2018 X900F's higher peak luminance will be as bright as the higher-end 2017 X930E. Nor do we know if the X900F true back-lit LED will perform as well or even better than the highly regarded X930E.

We're expecting our 1st allocation of 55", 65" and 75" X900Fs by the end of February, or no later than early March and I'll post my findings.

Some articles are reporting the x900f peak luminance will be "20%" higher than the x900e, but going off of rtings.com brightness results the x930e would still handily beat the x900f.

I am very interested in your opinions between these two. I'm not in a position where I have a retailer whom's opinion I would trust.

I am very much looking forward to head-to-head comparisons. Considering the x930e will be updated later on for full DV, the X1 fine tuning, and if the brightness expectations are accurate.... I'll probably opt for the x930e.

[gkolb]

Robert, I don't know if I'm interpreting some of your above comments correctly.
Did you say the 2018 Sony X-1 Extreme chips will support BOTH low latency and full profile DoVi on displays?

If so, will this be backwards compatible with the Z9D and the 930e and 940e?

Has Sony had a change in heart?

[Robert Zohn]

I do not know if Sony's next firmware upgrade will add support for non-low latency DV devices. It may be backward compatible, but we'll have to wait to see what Sony includes in the next update.

To my thinking it's up to all DV capable equipment manufacturers to provide support for DV upgrades as they become available.

[Nothing371]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Hope you don't mind my opinions on the X900F vs. X930E. I'm actually very curious to see the differences between these two very fine TVs. Here's what I know so far:

Most folks don't know this, but the very excellent X930E is actually an edge lit TV, but has very high performance with Sony's priority "Slim Backlight Drive+" that does a very good job in regard to its local dimming ability.

Since Sony has not shipped any mass production X900Fs I have not had the opportunity to review them in our showroom. However, Sony has told me the 900F will enjoy higher peak luminance and as you know the 2018 version of the flagship X1 Extreme processor. At this time we don't know if the 2018 X900F's higher peak luminance will be as bright as the higher-end 2017 X930E. Nor do we know if the X900F true back-lit LED will perform as well or even better than the highly regarded X930E.

We're expecting our 1st allocation of 55", 65" and 75" X900Fs by the end of February, or no later than early March and I'll post my findings.

thank you! I have been very interested in this information for the last three months.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Hope you don't mind my opinions on the X900F vs. X930E. I'm actually very curious to see the differences between these two very fine TVs. Here's what I know so far:

Most folks don't know this, but the very excellent X930E is actually an edge lit TV, but has very high performance with Sony's priority "Slim Backlight Drive+" that does a very good job in regard to its local dimming ability.

The rule of thumb has seemingly always been - FALD good, edge lit bad. But with the 930e Sony has indeed struck gold and have made a really good edge lit set. As I've mentioned here it isn't perfect but positives outweigh the negatives.

Am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the 900f.

[Robert Zohn]

We were just allocated the very first shipments of 55", 65" and 75" X900Fs! Shipping February 22nd.

Also included in this allotment are 65" and 75" X850Fs.

On our TV Shootout wall I'll be mounting a 75X900F next to our 75X940E and 75X900E.

[Nothing371]

I thought about it long and hard but basically I don't see the point in waiting for the 900F when you can buy a 2017 930E today for the same as the launch price of the 900F.

As someone posted earlier:


The 900F will be an awesome TV because the 900E was such a fantastic value proposition. I can't wait to see how the 2018 version grades out in reviews. You're basically getting the same TV as the 900E but with the X1 Extreme processor for Dolby Vision.

So it's still really hard to say what the best plan of action is for someone buying a new TV today. You'll never find a better value than the 55" or 75" 900E from last year. At the same time once the prices get slashed a little bit the 900F will definitely be the way to go. I decided to go the middle route and take the best of both worlds by buying the 930E. It's currently priced at what the 900F will launch at, it has more dimming zones, more color contrast, and higher max nits brightness.

I hope I don't regret anything about this 930E purchase in the new few months. I did my homework and it seems like the best decision, on paper. They are discontinuing the 930E series by the sound of it, however,

[Vangeli]

Huh, I wonder if the US version is all black instead of dark grey. Or this could be a rendering mistake.

[jibucha]

please clarify :: low-latency profile (Sony)

are you representing this as a Dolby Vision upgrade?

please correct me if i am incorrect :: isn't the low-latency profile unique to Sony displays, provided by Dolby that Sony displays that otherwise would not be able to support Dolby Vision as promised, as Sony realized that their processors 'could not support Dolby Vision' as they had intended?

please note :: it is not my intention to criticize Sony in any regard, but i do find that factual information is of benefit to everyone

question :: do you know whether the forthcoming 900F Series will have 'full Dolby Vision profile' or the 'low-latency profile'? :: i can see that it might go either way; that while the previous models (2016-2017) supporting Dolby Vision were not able due to existing constraints in their original design, might in 2018 have 'full Dolby Vision profile' support as they are newer/evolved designs

what do you think/know?

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

I do not know if Sony's next firmware upgrade will add support for non-low latency DV devices. It may be backward compatible, but we'll have to wait to see what Sony includes in the next update.

To my thinking it's up to all DV capable equipment manufacturers to provide support for DV upgrades as they become available.