Are You REALLY Paying THE SONY TAX for your TV?

🔌 UNPLUGGED EPS 08: Watch our SONY TV review • Are You REALLY Paying ... to catch up on today’s UNPLUGGED!
🔌 Considering the X90L? Get it here bit.ly/4a3iQh0 - For everything else, open the description below!
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🔌 SHOP OUR UNPLUGGED DISCUSSION
TVs
Sony X90L 98 Inch bit.ly/4a3iQh0 • bit.ly/3w0H4dI
Samsung QN85D bit.ly/3Qr1B1L
Samsung 98” bit.ly/3QlE9D4
TCL 98” Q Class bit.ly/47xtPhI
Hisense 100” MiniLED bit.ly/3xR80wR
Samsung The Frame bit.ly/3yQmeMp
Sony X95L bit.ly/44htvlo
Sony X95K amzn.to/3ygOW7S
LG 97” OLED bit.ly/4bljHu6
TCL XL 98” (Entry) amzn.to/3kbj4hB
SOURCES
DuneHD Player amzn.to/3b4fX6D
Sony 4K Blu-ray Player bit.ly/3C2myq1
Sony 7000ES Receiver bit.ly/3DyHEjb
Sony Receivers bit.ly/3YaT8kU
Google Home Products bit.ly/4a0abvC
PS5 amzn.to/3Cku2qD
MEDIA SHOWN
Fallout bit.ly/3U4BGOw
Selling Sunset, Netflix
Driven bit.ly/3Mj3aNL
Paris Elopement by Andrew and Kristi Robinson
Baby Driver amzn.to/3Iz98su
Ghostbusters Afterlife amzn.to/3fGXlZq
CALIBRATION TOOLS
My Kit bit.ly/3MsYzpR
SPEAKERS
SVS Titan bit.ly/4aWUq9S - bit.ly/4dcdylQ
Klipsch Heresy IV bit.ly/35GRnlQ
KEF Subwoofer bit.ly/4aFgllt
Sony Bravia Quad Theater ​​bit.ly/3Wqie1w
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 and Center bit.ly/3Dh3LdD and bit.ly/3VKmndc
🔌 UNPLUGGED EPS 08: Are You REALLY Paying THE SONY TAX for your TV?
00:00 NEW SONY TVS FOR 2024
05:00 WILL SONY USE MINI-LED FOR THEIR BIG TVS
MY SONY TV PICTURE SETTINGS
06:30 WHY OTHER CALIBRATION SETTINGS DON’T ALWAYS WORK
10:52 ARE THE SMALLER X90L MODELS AS GOOD AS THE 98 INCH
12:30 DO HOME THEATER RECEIVERS AFFECT TV SCALING PERFORMANCE?
15:09 WHY DOES MY TV HAVE BANDING?
20:16 SONY X90L TV SOUND PERFORMANCE (eARC, ACOUSTIC CENTER SYNC)
21:46 SONY vs SAMSUNG TVs
23:16 WOULD I BUY A SONY LED TV OR WAIT FOR SONY MINI-LED?
26:00 WHAT TVs ARE CLOSEST TO PROJECTION?
29:00 THE SONY TAX
📌 OUR HIFI AND HOME THEATER RECs FOR 2024
SPEAKERS STANDS, CABLES & ACCESSORIES
Our Stands bit.ly/3I9Xa5W
My Cables: custom, n/a for purchase
Similar DIY Cables: bit.ly/3uytNrV
Interconnects: bit.ly/3D314M8, bit.ly/3N6NBri
Cable Management amzn.to/3ZcunWP • amzn.to/3GJtf5C
POWER
Yamaha ($$) bit.ly/3RGwr6d ($) bit.ly/3RLCIPT
LOUDSPEAKERS
Focal ($) bit.ly/3KpemqE
Q Acoustics ($$) bit.ly/406YIoU
KEF ($$$) bit.ly/3A72HY4
TURNTABLE & DAC/STREAMER
TT2 bit.ly/3tWwdxd
Z8 bit.ly/44e0h6P
TVs
QLED: bit.ly/44htvlo
BIG: bit.ly/47xtPhI
HOME THEATER
Receiver: bit.ly/3DyHEjb
Soundbar: bit.ly/43OfVWi ($) bit.ly/3N5KhxG ($$)
In Ceiling Speakers: bit.ly/3I3gAbg
📌 SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
SONY 98” TV bit.ly/3Nd7LkL
VAN DE ROHE LOUNGE CHAIR 🛍
COFFEE TABLE 🛍
OUR RUG bit.ly/3MOYHSU
EVERYTHING ELSE: bit.ly/shopwithAR
🛍 Tagged products in the video
🗒️ ABOUT US
📍SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/RobinsonYT
📍MEMBERSHIP: bit.ly/ARobMbr
📍INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/AndRobIG
📍BUSINESS INQUIRIES: bit.ly/andrewbiz
💰 VIDEO AND CHANNEL DISCLOSURES
FTC DISCLOSURE: This video IS NOT SPONSORED.
OUR REVIEW POLICY: We are never paid for our reviews or for “our time.” Brands do not see a review before it’s published, and they have no say in its outcome.
AFFILIATE NOTICE: Some links above are affiliate links, meaning we may make a small percentage if you use our link. Using one of our links is an easy way to support the channel and our work. Even better, doing so will NEVER affect the price you pay.
💬 QUESTIONS? Click THANKS above to bring attention to your question. It’s a great way to show your support for the channel & get the help you need.
🚫 NO Links, Self Promotion, or Personal Info. Please stay on topic and be respectful
#sonytv #andrewrobinson #bigtv

[@robinsonbrand]

😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 📌Considering the X90L? Get it here bit.ly/4a3iQh0 and bit.ly/3w0H4dI 🔌Watch our REVIEW to get caught up on today’s UNPLUGGED! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHTMkIVvbJiqe7s 🔌Still want more? Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.

[@AM562]

Well, my Sony XBR-49X800G tv I got on Black Friday 2019 I connected it for a short time to the Internet when I got it then disconnected it so wouldn’t take up any Internet concerning that other stuff plugged into it and earlier this year when I went to connect it to Internet it would not not connect to Internet. I did do an update I downloading the update onto a flash drive using a flash drive to update it, but that didn’t work. But the rest of the TV works perfectly without any other flaws other than it not connecting to the Internet, doesn’t matter if I try and use Wi-Fi or ethernet

[@MaZEEZaM]

Hi Andrew, Kristi, I have a follow-up question regarding the Receiver's vs TV upscaling. Is there a price point in the major receiver brands; Yamaha, Denon, Marantz that typically has better upscaling and video processing generally, than mid-price and top-tier TV's processing? If so, how do you make sure what you're viewing is the Receivers processing?

[@navidmahmood876]

That intro was so relatable. My wife isn’t at all into hifi or accurate colors but last time I was at a dr office or some other place with her, she randomly tells me “did you notice how blue those TVs were?!” 😂

[@pepeltoro444]

They dont know they know, until they start pointing things out LOL. My wife told me at a party, "is it me or do their speakers sound aweful?"😆

[@txerapng]

Once again, the visual aid when talking about banding, great work, can't be overlooked.

[@KristiWright]

🤩

[@robinsonbrand]

I just hope it all made sense. Bit-depth, bit-rates, and compression can get really boring, so I never know how much to say versus not say.

[@txerapng]

@@robinsonbrand coming from someone who works with video editing, you did a great job, really.

[@movie_av_impulse]

31:19 I will say as a proud owner of The 75" X90L it really is enjoyable on every level. Sure could I have gone bigger with a TCL or Hisense TV? The short answer is yes! But I promise you you're TCL or Hisense TV won't come close to the picture of the Sony. I'll gladly pay the "Sony tax" to get better, reliability, performance, And colour accurate tones out of the box. It is the same reason why I drive a Lexus and not a Toyota while to some people they are the same car but to people who actually own one. They are light years ahead. Argue all you want but in Andrew's words (THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS TO LIKE THE PICTURE OR SOUND OF YOUR SYSTEM IS YOU) enough said!

[@robinsonbrand]

TEAM X90L here! I co-sign everything you just said, even the Lexus bit. I worked with Lexus' agency for a little while straight out of college, and the attention to detail Lexus has compared to Toyota (and damn near everyone) is second to none --at least it was back in 2000/2001.

[@robwiduch7339]

I call bullshit

[@movie_av_impulse]

@@robwiduch7339 far from it and if you own a TCL and or Hisense I'll challenge you to any movie you want. You can email me all the pictures you want And I'll email you mine and I can guarantee you. It ain't nowhere near as good. Now run along

[@movie_av_impulse]

​@@robinsonbrand Lexus still holds a higher standard than your average luxury car! P.s. Whoever this 🤡 is that swore at me I hope he's ready! 😆

[@Mr.Martini549]

75”????? I thought the next size up from 65 was 77”. If it’s still available in 75” I’d definitely be interested.

[@Harry-Giles]

You guys were on fire with the banter on this one. Made me laugh at times. Awesome TV.

[@robinsonbrand]

Thanks! So glad you found the show entertaining!

[@KristiWright]

:) Glad you enjoyed it!

[@busht4169]

What a great episode. I just pre-ordered my 85" Bravia 9!!! Can't wait! Got a professional calibration company in my area in MN. My 'small' 75" Sony X950G becomes my awesome 2nd room TV. Praise be to the TV gods! LOL

[@tommysshinebox1661]

Me too! And same with the calibration. Cant wait to see the results.

[@sasoesasoe]

Exactly, the price !!! In EU (Balkan) 98X90L cost 9500 bucks, TCL 98C805 $3000. So Sony absolutely has to offer something more!!! Much more!!! A big TV, for example TCL 98S5 you can get for less then 2000$. I just bought Hisense 85U7K for 1400$ with 5 years garanty. SONY 85X90L is 3500$. Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer Sony too, but it's out of my budget. Better say, i'm not prepare to pay that much for a TV.

[@jeraldquist8579]

Great listen. I am an audio guy. I never watch the TV reviews but I love the rebuttals for the main videos. Thanks again.

[@robinsonbrand]

Glad you like them!

[@stevetech5150]

This was a great episode guys! Full disclosure, when I started watching maybe a little over a year ago, my first impression was that your reviews were just out of my league (same for the higher level of your product choices). However, your delivery and consistently great content got me hooked and I'm finding I have a lot more in common with your views on products due to the transparency and objectivity you work hard to deliver. Great work!

[@maxpower78-15]

For tvs, im team sony.

[@mgaming7]

After buying the Sony A80J, I will buy Sony again. Can't wait to see Bravia 9

[@user-ej3ii8zm2b]

Good morning Andrew and Kristi. More great discussion. Kristi, In the slightly modified words of Jackie from Risky Business as to your old TV shopping days - "You don't buy Sony if you want Samsung!" Keep up the good stuff. Looking forward to Sunday. Thanks again.

[@robinsonbrand]

Appreciate you watching this morning!

[@KristiWright]

Well said!

[@improvedgarage]

100% agree with the Sony tax argument. I currently own a Sony, LG, and Samsung that are all 2022+ models and the Sony by far has the best UI, snappiest response, and most functional apps in the “smart” tv. It’s absolutely less about cost and more about value, my next tv will 100% be another Sony.

[@sjsphotog]

13:15 on my Denon 4700h I don't get the OSD volume pop-up when hitting info if I use the TVs built in apps to stream content and send the TV sounds to the AVR. But if I use my 4k Blu-ray player or NVIDIA shield as the source and use those inputs on the temple then I do get the OSD for volume and surround format maps to show up.

[@LeezahB]

These Unplugged episodes are just so good!!🥰

[@KristiWright]

Thanks for watching, Leezah.

[@MrGman543]

Just watched the Sony TV review and I appreciate how well sourced you two are (I get the impression that's Kristi's job?). You even gave a shoutout to Girlfriend Reviews when Andrew used one of their lines. Very cool and it hasn't gone unnoticed.

[@randolphblack2554]

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode because it took me through my journey when purchasing flat screen HDTVs when you would walk into Best Buy or Circuit City and hear a salesperson explain how a 720p set throws away half of the 1080p signal. Potential customers would sometimes go along with that to save money to which the salesperson would ask which half is thrown away. I look video processing the same way because Sony is doing their best not to throw any of the signal away. That is why 65" Sony X90J is sitting on the living room wall. I have owned a Sharp Quattron, two LGs, and now the Sony. And another Sony will replace that one should the time come. Thanks for the video and the banter that shows the love the two of you share in putting together these videos!

[@earthoid]

Curses to you Andrew! I was perfectly happy with my 2019 Sony 75 inch but seeing the recent price drop on the X90L is driving me a little mad. The 85 inch is almost $700 cheaper than what I paid for my old 75 inch in 2019 dollars. Looks like a real bargain, but my old 75 incher still works perfectly. Much hand wringing to come!

[@laurocantu3324]

I think what most of us are looking for in TV settings, isn't necessarily exact settings for our TV, but a good starting point. Those of us who are willing to pay a little more for a Sony OLED television, usually like messing with the settings as well, so exact isn't necessary. There are no TV calibrators near me, so figuring out the "best" settings for my viewing preferences can be difficult with so many varying sources of content. That's why, at least to me, Sony's processing is worth the "tax". I also agree with others, this would be a fun 30 minute listen as a weekly podcast while on my way to and from work.

[@ericmatthews8497]

I ... love ... Sony TVs. I am looking at a Sony X800H TV right now, that I use as 4K computer monitor. I think they have the best out of the box color calibration. I can really see it in skin tones.

[@_fakeklg]

Drooling over them Ultra Evo’s. 🤤

[@earthzero7]

Hi Andrew. Love your reviews! Could you please try to test the new Bravia 9 soundbar as well along with the larger sub and the upfiring surrounds? From what I remember of your HT-A9 comparison,, you might have compared it against the previous Sony flagship soundbar A7000 with the non atmos speakers and before they had updated the software to include the full 360° spatial audio calibration and feature set. There are so many of us out here hoping for a truly professional review comparing the two approaches from Sony when maxed to their full potential. It would be especially valuable for those of us planning to pair one system or the other to a larger Sony TV as well. Thanks for continuing to make content with such high video and audio production value. It really does make a difference, and it's one of the reasons that I gravitated toward your channel in the first place.

[@txerapng]

I've always liked SONY TVs so much, heck, SONY as a brand for me is really good. Another great Unplugged, I enjoy every episode more than the last one, you guys really found such a great format! Great Friday everyone

[@KristiWright]

Happy Friday to you! Thanks for watching!

[@txerapng]

@@KristiWright enjoy the weekend Kristi, by chance, have you watched the weeknd’s show on HBO? great mix to test speakers and it was shot beautifully!

[@KristiWright]

@@txerapng Are you talking about the one that got canceled? The Idol? I haven't watched it.

[@txerapng]

@@KristiWright no, I’m talking about the concert, Live at SoFi Stadium. not a huge huge fan of his but I remember you talking about Taylor’s concert and I thought you should check this out, the arrangements were made by Mike Dean, it has really great production overall.

[@LovelyDoetje]

For any screen or sound enhancing feature, you do it only once. So if you upscale from 1080 to 4k you do it on 1 device and turn it off on all other devices in the chain. I personally choose the display for video enhancements because last in chain.

[@lonniefarmer7067]

Thanks! Finally got it watched and am impressed still at the Sony. The Sony Corporate show was in town last month, but it was cherry blossom festival in Korea so...

[@824tonimarie]

I recently started to follow the channel and love it. I'm looking to go upgrade from a 65" to an 83"-85" and wanted to know your thoughts on the Bravia 9 mini led?

[@ke5943]

Heads up. It’s not out yet. Think it it’s released end of May, start of June.

[@dlbsyst]

I love Sony TVs. I currently have a 65" A80J. Even though I love it I want to get the 65" Bravia 9. I used to have a Z9D but forced to sell it when I moved and I'm hoping the Bravia 9 will finally be its replacement.

[@didamnesia3575]

I returned a tcl for my sony x90j, couple years back. Tcl had more lighting zones, so that was better, but the sony is overall a better tv. Better colors, etc. I'll save up for a better sony as my next tv.

[@nvc.]

Im still rocking my Sony KDL-40NX700 and it's still amazing for 1080p content. Super vibrant, contrast is amazing, colors are amazing, black are really black, only problem is some ghosting that apears sometimes but it's very rare.

[@MattyDaddy14]

Having just getting the Samsung q90C /Q990C and a tcl Q7 75” last year, I can safely say I wish I had waited to get the 85” X90 or 75” X93L for my main tv to go with the Samsung q990C soundbar!! I think the biggest differences between the x90 and x93/x95, is the full array/local dimming as well the adjustability of the higher end models! 🎉

[@cli23]

Always good to hear the argument for spending money on a Sony. I’m curious though - does your love of their picture processing extend to their lower entry level models? It’d be interesting to know if the picture processing on their lower end models still beats out budget brands like TCL and Hisense.

[@LugoFezz]

Really enjoying your videos! Does your opinion of the X90L extend to its smaller counterparts? If you were shopping for a 75/85" TV at the price point of the X90L range, would you recommend those sizes in the X90L range, or do you believe there's better options?

[@robinsonbrand]

10:52

[@Yoga_Tv_buying]

Hey isnt that 3:40- 3:43 the black area of scene is matted tho. I would at least go x93L if stick with SONY, if not something glossier.

[@fuzz_spl]

Thanks Andrew & Kristi for the response in today’s video. I was able to see the X90L and the X93L side by side, both in the 85” size, at a local BestBuy yesterday. In store, I honestly couldn’t see a huge difference in pq or off-axis degradation between the two. The 90L was definitely better priced. 😊

[@KristiWright]

Thank you for the extra love!

[@fuzz_spl]

@@KristiWright Thank you both for what you do. I really enjoy the format of both this and the formal reviews. More importantly, I appreciate that the information is coming from someone steeped in actual industry experience; that has the technical background and knowledge and can present it in a way that is easily understood.

[@halshaw8056]

I've been getting "you're crazy for spending that" since I bought a 36" VVEGA, but at the same time, I also get a lot of "damn that looks amazing" with the various Sony models I've owned.

[@bromes8022]

A few things you can do to a Sony XR Bravia TV put it in custom mode, change the tone to expert 1 that will give you the closest value to D65...

[@TylerNessss]

This makes the decision between the possible Bravia 9 and A95L even harder.

[@danielporter9578]

Andrew, after watching the video you would really recommend the X90L over the X95L (mini led) which I would expect to be more superior. Obviously the Bravia 9 is going to be the TV to beat, can't wait for the reviews and for the HTA-9M2 as I love your review of the last model. There is also the bravia 7 which could be one to look out for even though it's a lower model. I would love your feedback as I can't get my head round why the X90L.

[@chrislukowski1825]

Seeing how much glare your windows are shining on the TVs in this video, I'm really looking forward to seeing your take on the new mini-LED Bravia 9 series. The anti-reflection coating on those is supposed to be stellar.

[@chrislukowski1825]

OOH and thanks for answering my upscaling question in the video! 😃

[@shaunrichards744]

I did use Rtings 20point calibration on my A95K 65” and to my eyes it looked very accurate. THE only adjusted I didn’t recommend from them was gamma on SDR i left it -2 not 0

[@brooks177]

Thanks for doing a Sony specific video. While I do understand your reasoning... and certain other reviewers not sharing tv settings. I don't know that it's really a valid reasoning. Yes, each tv unit is a little different from one another, sharing settings at least gives people somewhere to start from and tweak from there. Not to mention if it were to end up being really out of whack people can easily just reset their picture mode and start over.

[@kevinpriester7478]

Wonderful explanation on why you should not use someone else's settings. What calibration tools do you use?

[@chrishamilton5960]

I have seen dozens of Sony reviews and they are always within an error value of 3 for their best picture setting without going into the sub menus. I just goto that setting and then adjust brightness and black level to my preference and am very happy with the picture on my Sony.

[@robinsonbrand]

And that's what makes them GREAT! Thanks for watching!

[@kjbunnyboiler]

Afternoon Andrew & Kristi👍👍👍

[@KristiWright]

Hi!

[@robinsonbrand]

Good morning! Hope your Friday is off to a great start and thank you for joining us!

[@stephenlowes2161]

I have the sony xr 77inch tv and now looking for an AVR. Im torn between sony ta-an1000 or marantz cinema 50. I have monitor audio silver 50 g7 speakers. I like idea of sony with SA360 but fancy the 9 ch with 4 ceiling speakers rather than 2.mim in UK and only have sony 7ch unfortunately. Would the sony 7ch with their special sauce 360 phantom speakers be as good as cinema 50 9ch. Thanks

[@DanPlayMore]

Hello Andrew. I really need your advice: I'm between q acoustics concept 50 and the 5040 and i really need your help in order to know if there is such a big difference. I'm sure that you will say polk r700 or klipsch 😊 but this is going to be for when i'm moving to a house, now for the apartment i'm torn between the two q acoustics. You are the best as allways.

[@tehgman2]

As far as the image pipeline goes, how would you set up as far as what is processing where, a full sony set up? PS5 to sony avr to this sony tv. Also what about ps5 to the older but still I think fantastic F900h. Since I lack a dedicated BD player I use the ps5 to play disc movies. Should I let the ps5 process or ther tv?

[@marcmccord5085]

What are your thoughts on using CAT6 with baluns for HDMI? From an AVR. I have roughly a 60’ run from my gear closet to my 75” Sony, and this is the only thing I have found that works. Any tips for this setup or anything else to try? This was a great episode… one of the best.

[@Audfile]

I bought an A95K in 2023. It came with *so much stuff* and is such a high performance television, i believe best screen on the market for that year period, that i feel it was a total bargain. All you get with a budget LED is some pieces of styrofoam and a month of Netflix. The base of the TV is like 100 pounds and gives you that sleek bezel, all you see is screen. On a budget set you get 2 plastic feet that stick out under your tv. Theres no tax, you are getting premium quality.

[@fonkenful]

Late to start, but hey y’all from daughter’s home in Bermuda!

[@robinsonbrand]

So glad you were able to make it!

[@zachariahadams]

Thanks!

[@KristiWright]

Hey! Thank you!

[@cubinn149]

Im watching this on a high end sony tv from bestbuy the x95j and i got it looking just as good as the demo i find running the built in tv streaming in uhd hdr also a hidden hdmi enhanced setting is off by default should always be on for best quality

[@lfazio9690]

Ha! I get “jacked-up” when the video representation is accurate AF! Enjoying the 8th episode of Unplugged (haven’t missed one yet) 😊 STOP TEASING the SVS! This ain’t Wright! (and I’ve not forgotten about the 801’s but it’s understandable)

[@miguelhuerta4346]

Off topic, are the speakers next to the tv are the SVS Ultra Evolution? If they are, when you going to review them? I enjoy your videos very deep and profesional…

[@Mars33172]

I saw them and am wondering the same thing!

[@miguelhuerta4346]

@@Mars33172 I have the PB-3000 and its a very nice subwoofer, can’t get to try the SVS ultra evolution titan. But I want to see some reviews first.

[@lionroaring7021]

Interesting point on ST.

[@vinhphan86]

Hi Andrew. Have you ever tried to use this Sony TV as a center speaker with the Sony 7000ES AVR? We have a unique situation that the fireplace is on the way, so we don't really have space for a center speaker.

[@TheFurlock]

A lot of the problem is the locking of scale, shape and means at the tv’s levels. Sony will not let us calibrate the tool, instead they give us 🔌 plug ins that they market as access. This is one reason back in 2003, I bought the JVC, it allowed for full screen calibration and scalability, unfortunately Sony won because of the PlayStation and its continual control systems limit scale, calibration of pixels and light output.

[@Boorock70]

01:02 OMG ! Andrew, did U really get the girl just by calibrating her TV ? - Respekt !🤪

[@MaZEEZaM]

I'm looking forward to the Fugly new Sony Quad system. Why they ditched the nice rounded speakers for that Eyesore I don't know. Either way, the review will be interesting.

[@vidzphile]

If using the TV stand or speakers stands, I agree. But wall-mounted, the Bravia Theatre Quad looks way better than the HT-A9.

[@coprolite_steve]

Great Content. I was inspired to click on your calibration equipment and got the Amazon not found dogs. I would also be interested in knowing your production chain hardware/software from camera and mics to computers, peripherals and software. I don’t need access to your secret sauce but it would be interesting to compare my stuff to yours so I can look into the delta even though I am on the value track.

[@KristiWright]

Try this bit.ly/3MsYzpR and let me know if it works.

[@jamesmichael900]

I just noticed the credits on the Paris movie you show. You guys filmed that? 😲

[@robinsonbrand]

Yep, that is a short film we did when we were in Paris getting married ourselves 😂It makes a great demo. Not because I shot it or anything, but because its Paris!

[@jamesmichael900]

@@robinsonbrand I thought it was a movie!

[@ViperJPB01]

Sounds like you are indeed smitten! My day job is a Colorist for Broadcast and Film. Coming from an A90J (sadly died so in the market) and OLED reference monitors at work….do you think I can make the move to a 90L after being so used to the contrast level, motion, response time, and silk smoothness and lack of DSE of an OLED image? My wife would greatly appreciate the cost savings and I know my OCD would appreciate less burn in worry. I know it’s a personal taste question but you know what I mean coming from OLED tech to anything else. 77” A95L or 85” X90L.

[@robinsonbrand]

Considering what you are used to, I think you'll be happier with the A95L. We've had the 65" in our bedroom for a while with no burn-in. Not saying you can't get really good results with the X90L when you don't push the backlighting and dynamic contrast settings.

[@ViperJPB01]

Sweet thx for the response. I was leaning that way too. Always appreciate your reviews, and production quality sir.

[@jeffcarbello9115]

Regarding AVRs and scaling, it is understandable that when evaluating a TV you would turn off any AVR picture enhancements. But what is your recommendation for a home theater user? I would think a Sony Bravia TV would do better image enhancement and scaling then the AVR would as I read AVRs do not always include top of the line silicon to upscale. Then there is the question where some Bluray players like top line Panasonic do include quality scalers, so in that case do you let it do the enhancements or still lean on a high end TV like Bravia to do all the heavy lifting in PQ?

[@kma506]

I love sony tvs for many reasons. One example is that Sony supports DTS along with Dolby Digital but Samsung and LG only support Dolby Digital.

[@naveen.119]

LG C3 and G3 support DTS

[@MartinSonderby]

I am a Sony fan all the way. Tv, receiver, speakers, smart phone and camera. And yes you pay for the quality. Many ask why Sony and add they are so expensive. Afterwards they search for something om their phone - mostly the newest iphone with a pricetag higher then Sony. And they buy the phones more frequently then i do. When it comes to tv they buy 4 tvs in around ten years. I have my Sonys beyond 5 years and still surpasses their "new" tv with picture quality and color. I don't know if some of Sonys general pricing comes from lower sales because buyers fall for the showcase presentation in the store. Or if sony would still keep the price even if they could sale more with lower prices. Btw here in the EU we don't get all of the receiver models - only the ta-an1000 and the a9 products. I am looking forward to your review of the new a9 quad and if it can rival the es receivers.

[@anamateme77]

This was a really good video thanks for all the good info I will say that Sony has always been expensive before they even came out with LED but I think now they are definitely worth the price .I’m. A Sony owner and it’s the only tv I will buy only because the have what I like in a tv and they do it right

[@chebrubin]

Until the new Sonys output greater than 2,900 NITs on the larger format LEDs I don't recommend the staid ISF calibration techniques. I had a 2016 Sony 75" and the ISF techs with 1080p calibration gear just looked dim. I do believe the high NIT 2024 - 2025 displays will benefit from calibration.

[@Audiorevue]

I mean vs tcl or Hisense sure their tvs are higher but its a more premium experience. Plus I always think about it in the same way I think about hi-fi, with a cheap TV is like a cheap Hi-Fi, instead of sitting down enjoying watching television kind of feel like you want to just turn it off. Sony's more like a high-end stereo, watching television becomes a pleasure and a joy

[@OledBurnInKing]

For tvs, I always turn off any feature that has motion blur and for video games, I always turn off motion blur and v sync. With v sync, the frame rates are locked to make the game play more smoother. For video games that support unlimited frame rates, I always enable frame rate uncapped even though it will affect the frame rates of the games. I always go for the maxed out visual fidelity of graphics even when the graphics cards and settings struggles to play the games and I always maxed out of the sliders since I only game in native 4k with hdr and never use upscaling for video games. I don't like when video games are upscaled because they use 1080p to make the games look higher quality than they have naturally are since upscaling is too artificial instead of something being natural and accurate compared to something that is not upscaled with the native resolution and are not the highest resolution like 4k. I only play in the highest resolution of 4k and the upscaling is done to prevent screen tearing that's why v sync exist and for better game play performance. I only play pc games in native 4k with hdr with ray tracing and maxed out graphics settings with dlss off due to the upscaling that I'm not a fan of, v sync off because I don't want the games frame rates to be locked and motion blur because it makes the games seem blurry when pace action is happening. Ever since I started to have my very 4k tv back in 2014, I shifted full time for 4k movies on physical discs and 4k video games, the only exception would be my very old video games that don't support 4k because they were designed with analog like the red, yellow and white rca cables before 4k and digital content existed. For my game consoles, I only buy and support physical media since I have games on pc that were removed from steam and no longer available since that ticked me off. I had to keep on buying the same games over multiple times on my video game consoles ever since they were removed on steam and digital libraries like gog games and epic games. I might as well buy the physical copies that way when I buy something, it's not gone forever like digital content due to licensing agreements and no longer receiving support because the games are too old even though the games still work with there physical copies counter parts. For movies, music and video games. I only pay for the physical copies to keep and for preservation. I enjoy being able to own what I already paid for without paying for any subscription fees. For pc games, I get free games from epic games since they give away the full games for free every week. The games are no longer free and requires to be bought once the free games expiration date has already expired.

[@jamesrobinson2086]

I have never had a bad experience with Sony...they always do exactly what I need them to with SO LITTLE futzing... I've tried TCL, Samsung & Toshiba.. and the only rival I had was a Pioneer Kuro

[@Mockmock3]

Only a few minutes in, but had a thought about the off-axis viewing. It seems that a lot of LED tv's are using VA panels which (in my understanding) is way worse for off-axis viewing as compared to IPS panels. And I've even seen some tv models that DO use an IPS panel for their largest offering. Most of my panel knowledge comes from computer monitors where I wouldn't even consider a computer monitor with a VA panel. Are IPS panels that much more expensive to make and implement? Am I just wrong and VA and IPS panels can both suck off-axis? Thoughts?

[@chrishamilton5960]

The reason VA is preferred for TVs is the contrast ratio is much better the typical IPS panel although micro led dimming zones can help this a bit. Definitely not due to cost as most cheaper TVs use IPS panels. Most primary users will be centered on the TV.

[@robinsonbrand]

17:43 Just before hitting "render" on this episode the RAW file was 114GB! I was off when I said, "...ten, twenty, thirty gigs." So, yeah, a lot of information is tossed aside with compression, even when it comes to physical media.

[@coreyw4230]

I was just shopping for a new TV, and looking at the A80L and C3. The A80L was more expensive, sure, but it wasn't a Sony "tax"... since it quickly became apparent that the Sony had the edge in processing. It wasn't a night-and-day difference, but it was noticeable... when the TVs were basically right next to one another. Ultimately I did go with the C3, but only due to some price-matching and sale pricing that got the price of the C3 significantly below that of even the A75L. Am I leaving some processing performance behind? Sure. But this entire hobby is a price-to-performance balancing act. If I spend a little more, I can always get something better. But "good enough" isn't a bad thing. I really like the C3. Would the A80L have been nicer? Yep. $100-$200 nicer? Yeah, probably. But I got lucky with a sale, and it was closer to a $500 difference. At that point the math tells me the C3 is just fine.

[@gustercc]

I use the same process when choosing toothpaste or TV’s.

[@Bradimus1]

We just got a cheap Hisense Mini LED because the child broke the nice costly Samsung NeoQLED. It works and looks okay...most of the time. You definitely see what you get for your money! It has the problems the other guy noted but will do it with HD content. It's just not very good processing and the black level isn't very good. Should be good during the day when the room is bright though.

[@KristiWright]

Oh no! What happened?

[@Bradimus1]

@@KristiWright Autism, ADHD, 7 year old who threw a toy apparently pretty hard! Cheap TV replacement as it feels likely to happen again before we get him completely out of that behavior. 😂

[@jamesmichael900]

@@Bradimus1 Damn, I bet that one stung.

[@Bradimus1]

@@jamesmichael900 there are worse problems. But I do miss the good TV!

[@ignisulfr]

I wonder what you guys think about panasonic tvs compared to sony tvs? Then again its hard to get your hands on it. Would be interesting any review on a panasonic tv

[@artysanmobile]

Sony is big on R&D, setting trends for the professional user that filter down the line. So much of their business is with broadcast pros for whom the price is no problem. I like that their option exists for consumers. And, importantly, 100” is not a size that sees serious use so shortcomings can be expected. Once room spanning size is a requirement, assembly panels are used for viewing from 50-300’ distance. A 100” screen should be viewed from a distance housed don’t even have. People need to get real.

[@KristiWright]

*Who's excited to watch a new season of Selling Sunset tonight? Don't worry, this is a safe space! :)*

[@robinsonbrand]

ME!

[@KristiWright]

@@robinsonbrand I know you are! Sushi and WP!!

[@TheMirolab]

I have 2 Sonys & a Samsung, and I like the Sonys better. I only got the Samsung because in that room I could cast my Mac computer to it, but new Sonys can do that now too. I’ll eventually switch it to a Sony.

[@induction7895]

Thank you for the wonderful dating tip. When invited to the girl's house whom I recently started seeing, start by changing her TV settings.

[@Barbarapape]

As an ex Sony trained tech i can understand why buyers go for Sony products. They have come a long way since making those small screen TV's in the early 70's. Their CRT sets always had the edge on other brands and thankfully they have kept that up. The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, if you can afford one then buy it, no matter how good TCL etc become they will never match the feeling of owning a brand like Sony, image matters, and "Made in China" will never be as desirable.

[@juandiegogonzalez4552]

China steal know- how from companies . Unfortunately, cheap labor tempted many companies but slowly we are seening many manufacturers going away from China

[@jamesoneill5810]

I am looking to purchase the 98" Sony TV you have at the moment,coming from a Samsung 85" QN95B as the price of the Sony has dropped recently to £4999/$6300 usd,my main concern with the Sony is the depth of the set which i believe is almost 4 inches or in depth, or l can wait till Samsung price drops their new upcoming QE98 90D

[@robinsonbrand]

The Sony is "deeper" than a lot of the other 98" displays and there's nothing you can really do about that. It doesn't bother me because the depth is constant edge-to-edge whereas other 98s are thin in some areas and fat in others, which I don't like and can make wall mounting a little more tricky. I don't know anything about the new Samsung, so I cannot advise you there, sorry.

[@cdavey7654]

I got a TCL and it only lasted just long enough to get out of the one year warranty and then the backlight totally died… Will probably not buy another cheap tv again. Last report I read rating TV reliability, Sony was at the top for being the best. I do hope they do some mini or micro LED at some point though, and some more 8k options etc.

[@Egofileo1]

Talking about your last sentence, the 98" panel is the same one that also equips the TCL and Samsung of the same diagonal; it is created by China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT), a subsidiary of TCL which has the necessary means for efficient production of 98" panels, considered more advantageous than the 100" ones which can only arrive from the 8.6 Gen line. So it means that Sony's electronics and processing make a huge difference in respect of the above mentioned TCL and Samsung "models". And it's higly possible if you compare for istance the OLED sold by Panasonic (I know that they are not present in the USA market), always provided by LG with their WOLED panels, and the best LG model available. So in this case you are not comparing Ferrari and Toyota, but let's say, Ford Mustang and Shelby's models, and of course if for you some super specs and customization are well worth, you pay the extra costs because of this.

[@yonkocommander5531]

I think your Mustang analogy doesn't work because LG and Panasonic trade places, for instance, last year the 2023 Panasonic OLED model was superior to the G3 LG thanks to the better processing and now it looks like this year the G4 won't let that be the case. With Sony however they don't trade places, they go for the no.1 spot on every TV section they compete in and then you pay their tax if you want "the best"

[@DisplayNAudioTech]

@@yonkocommander5531 Panasonic was last in video processing last year and LG was top for the blind test and Sony won overall. Samsung Won runner up with better motion yet Samsung was the winner just because average consumer liked price and picture of Samsung. Remember 18 consecutive years global dominance in TV sales . If there is a day when an average consumer is well informed then all manufacturers will focus more on accuracy and things that matter to video professionals even then every human is different then again accuracy doesn’t sell bright images do in shops and showrooms. I wouldn’t call it a Ferrari at best It’s like comparing BMW M5 to M4 maybe not even that. What Andrew is talking is Sony colour science and other video wizardry they acquired from their studio and mastering monitor division, that started when they acquired Hollywood studios and bought out the German audio and tv manufacturer. It’s their expertise and Japanese money.

[@Egofileo1]

@@yonkocommander5531I still think that my example was perfect. Panasonic usually brings their best product towards the end of the year while LG discover them at the beginning. So you should compare products that belong to the same "tech year" to be fair.

[@yonkocommander5531]

@@Egofileo1 I generally agree it's just bthat "tech year" gets too foggy sometimes, like Sony refers to the A95L when it came out in 2023 as a 2024 TV 😂

[@42degrees86]

A much better option than the x90l is get the A80L 83 and move a little closer. I believe the 83 A80L has the heat sink of the A90J.

[@zackw4941]

X90L is that good huh? I'm on an older 65" Samsung QLED, but keeping an eye out for a good price on a newer 75/77". Preferably OLED of some sort. If A80L 77" would come under $2k, they without be a no-brainer. But X90L 75" is $1600 right now! How big a difference is there in real life? I have a modest size room without a lot of sunlight, so I mostly watch in lower light or dark. Side note, I have a nice two channel speaker system and no surround sound. Do any of these newer TVs have any worthwhile features for compressing surround sound to virtual surround on stereo, or anything like that, that I should be looking for?

[@paulf.5261]

I was just thinking while watching the tV in the background with the black bands above and below.🤔 Wouldn’t it be cool if somehow it took a reading of the wall colour and displayed that instead of the black 🤷‍♂️😉

[@yonkocommander5531]

It's easier and cheaper to just make the TV transparent

[@rimtnbiker]

Are you saying you prefer the X90L over the A95L QD-OLED?

[@yonkocommander5531]

When you compare a 98" TV with a 77" TV with different technologies you won't get an objective best TV, some people will prefer the immersion of a bigger TV no matter how good the small one looks.

[@TVEXPERT.Co.]

Depends on how far or close you sit from the Tv. If you’re watching distance is more than 12ft, 98” will attract you more.

[@jasonmc6997]

It's unfortunate the native Hulu app doesn't support 5.1 surround sound on GoogleTV. At least on my Sony A90J or Chromecast with GoogleTV dongles

[@lloydraylor8957]

Where did you get the hand truck you use to lift the TV.?

[@robinsonbrand]

You can get one here: bit.ly/3Ipn9aM

[@lloydraylor8957]

Bought one. It’s on sale today!

[@minyuan86]

hello again from singapore

[@robinsonbrand]

Hi!

[@s.daniel9224]

I laughed….I was all-in on this video. Then, I looked up at my 25 year-old Toshiba 50inch(?) with a lost remote. Hehe….ain’t life funny….

[@Zoranurai13]

Dude these would be so perfect to upload on spotify so i can listen in the car haha

[@robinsonbrand]

We're contemplating putting them on other platforms for listening in the car or on-the-go. Thanks for the feedback!

[@BobbyCoolBreeze]

Sony high end TVs are what you pay a tax for. Their entry level and midrange cannot compete with the other brands when it comes to overall value. The other brands cannot compete when it comes to out to flat out picture quality when it comes to Sony premium offerings. They have the best algorithms and picture processing. You want a 75 inch tv for a $1000 buy a TCL, Hisense or a Samsung.

[@soundhead18]

I will only buy Sony TV’s. More natural looking without doing all the adjustments to make it that way. I don’t care if the others are cheaper. They’re probably cheaper for a good reason.

[@SteveSmith-cm1hx]

Havent bought a Sony tv in years since they burnt me with the X950. Horrible experience along with their customer service. And before that I was a loyal Customer of theirs. Never again.

[@richardzagozeski892]

Sounds like you wouldn't go for a Micro LED wall system like (Just Video Walls), if you prefer a projector display

[@robinsonbrand]

I totally want a video wall. Never going back to projection.

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

People really need to chill out on the whole "Next Year Tech" thing. Of course Sony is going to release a 2025 TV better than their 2024 models. That's the way it works. At some point, you're going have to get past the FOMO of next year's model, pull the trigger, and just enjoy what you have. There's an extremely high probability, you're not going to have the new latest and greatest 2025 model TV sitting next to your old 2024 model TV for a direct comparison to make you feel bad. I still have a near 10 year old 720p 60" Samsung plasma in our living room, and a 77" Sony 4K A9G OLED in the basement. I can easily sit down and watch the Plasma upstairs without even thinking I'm missing out on the OLED in the basement. The only reason I'm even considering replacing the Plasma TV, is there are times we turn on the TV and the entire screen goes green, and we've had two HDMI ports crap out. Kinda getting sick of turning to TV on and off to clear the green screen. I know there are brighter and better OLED TVs on the market, but I don't see those when I'm sitting in my basement watching The Dark Knight. There's nothing to compare it to. I just sit back and get sucked into the movie. ...the only way we're going to replace the A9G, is if Sony comes out with a 90" OLED. THEN...we'll make the bump. Edit: To add - we're video snobs too. We held onto the plasma for so long, because I just couldn't get past the LCD/LED thing. Always preferred the more organic feel of Plasma. OLED changed it, and I can't see myself ever vacating OLED again. We sit a little over 8ft from our 77" OLED, and when the screen goes black, you can't see a thing in our room. It's glorious. There is no shred of a grey screen anywhere. And that makes such a big difference in watching movies for us. ...and yes. That sounds rather contradictory of what I was saying about not missing anything while watching the Plasma in our Living Room. ...our living room never reaches 100% black, so the grey isn't as noticeable... but I still know it's there, and I'm probably too lazy at that point to get and go to the basement. LOL

[@Powerpickle68]

What do you use to clean a tv screen ?

[@KristiWright]

Microfiber cloth

[@Icipher4]

Andrew, can you tell is how far from the TV you sit in your living room?

[@robinsonbrand]

About 11'

[@Icipher4]

@@robinsonbrand thank you. Probably a redundant question here but do you find the 98 in to be that much more impactful than an 85 at 11 ft? I ask because I'm exactly 11 ft myself.

[@robinsonbrand]

100% yes. The TV we mention at the very beginning of this video is an 85".

[@thatguywiththegun1]

True love is calibrating someone's TV. I can't wait to find that special person

[@KristiWright]

ha!

[@Mr.CBlack]

Kristi, there is a song by Soundgarden called Kristi. If you read the lyrics, you will find that some of them describe your KZbin channel is ways. Be sure to crank it up and enjoy the vocal superpower of the late great Chris Cornell. 🤘🏼

[@KristiWright]

Hold up a minute. Did YOU read the lyrics? Big fan of Soundgarden but I'm not really picking up what you're putting down here, my friend. 😬

[@Mr.CBlack]

Yes, I just meant that you guys review audio and video products and the lyrics say “Kristi, tell me what I wanna hear” or “show me what I wanna see”, which is kinda what you’re doing on KZbin.

[@KristiWright]

@@Mr.CBlack On a surface level, I see where you're at...but, as Andrew likes to remind me, nobody listens to the lyrics. Move past that chorus and you''re communicating something real different! LOL.

[@Mr.CBlack]

@@KristiWright Fair enough! It definitely has a different tone than what I am insinuating. But you could use snippets of the song for your channel. Just a thought.