Sony is shaking up its premium TV business, with the announcement of a new range of high performance BRAVIA branded 4k televisions. Out goes its old model numbering system, and in come sets branded BRAVIA 7, 8 and 9, along with a raft of clever technologies designed to bring home the cinema experience like never before.
The BRAVIA 9 is Sony’s flagship TV for 2024, and it’s a blockbuster. Available in 75- and 85-inch screen sizes, it’s a Mini LED model with advanced new backlighting technology that delivers brighter, more precise HDR.
The BRAVIA 8 is an OLED model, for those that favour the cinema style of OLED screen technology; it comes in 55-, 65-inch and 77-inch screen sizes.
The BRAVIA 7 is a more affordable Mini LED model, and comes in 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch screen sizes, offering more room placement choice than the BRAVIA 9.
The BRAVIA 9 is Sony’s flagship TV for 2024, and it’s a blockbuster…
I travelled to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, to take an early look at all three models, at a glitzy launch event, and was knocked out by their performance.
The BRAVIA 9 in particular could well be the screen beat in 2024. Long story short: it’s the best looking Mini LED TV I’ve ever seen.
Much of its appeal can be attributed to a new Sony-developed XR Backlight Master Drive, coupled to a powerful local dimming algorithm. This new set boasts 3x the number of dimming zones in Sony’s X95L, and is able to hit very high peak brightness.
That said, it’s not the number of dimming zones that determines absolute image quality. It’s what you do with them that counts – and the BRAVIA 9 does a lot.
Of course, there’s no shortage of Mini LED TVs can hit extreme peak HDR brightness. What sets the BRAVIA 9 apart from rivals is its ability to deliver near OLED-quality black levels with ultra precise HDR handling and minimal blooming around bright objects. It also offers quite sensational colour depth and vibrancy.
I ran through a variety of challenging movie sequences in both its Custom and Standard picture modes, and thought its performance was exemplary.
Sister set, the BRAVIA 7, isn’t quite as dazzling, but it is offered in a wider range of screen sizes, and looks just as colour rich. If you can’t accommodate a panel 75-inches upward, it’s probably the next best choice.
OLED remains beloved of home cinema fans, and the BRAVIA 8 plays to that technology’s strengths, with superb dynamics, perfect inky blacks and loads of low light shadow detail.
In many ways it’s comparable to the Sony A80L, but comes with an upgraded XR processor that has better Scene Selection technology and face detection, both of which help direct its picture processing muscle.
It’s also rather nicer looking, with a flat back panel that can be mounted near-flush to a wall.
At this big BRAVIA TV unveiling in LA, complete with champagne-dressed hosts, Sony announced an exclusive partnership with Prime Video that will see each of these new sets offer a dedicated Prime Video Calibrated viewing mode. This preset joins a Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and a Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode (for Sony’s own streaming service).
The Prime Video Calibrated Mode optimises picture quality based on the type of content being streamed (movies, TV show, live sports) and takes into account ambient lighting conditions, adjusting things like white balance, brightness and colour, all automatically.
Speaking at the event, Prime Video’s VP of Technology BA Winston declared: “We are proud to be the first streamer to auto-calibrate picture settings, not just for movies and series, but for live sports as well,” adding: “As an entertainment destination, Prime Video is focused on delivering the best streaming experience possible for all customers, including the creators we work with, and with Calibrated mode, we have designed a way to help preserve their creative intent.”
Also present at the launch was Top Gun Maverick movie director Joseph Kosinski, who stressed how important accurate HDR presentation was in the home. Said Kosinski: “It’s critical the consumer has an option to see it exactly as we intended.”
The director also endorsed Sony’s new high brightness BVM-3110 reference monitor, used for colour grading movies. “I was blown away with 4000 nits. It’s incredible to see how far it has come in just a few years. I am excited to work with it on our new film (F1, with Brad Pitt) – we have daylight exteriors and that seems to be where HDR shines in a way that feels very natural.”
The 75-inch Sony BRAVIA 9 retails for £4,499. The 85-inch BRAVIA 9 will sell for £4,999.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 55-, 65- and 77-inch models are priced at £2,199, £2,699 and £3,499 respectively.
The BRAVIA 7 55-, 65- 75- and 85-inch models sell for £1,899, £2,199, £2,799, and £3,499.
UK Hi-Fi specialist Ruark has announced a limited-edition version of its flagship R810 radiogram, using marquetry and premium veneers, as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations. The R810 occupies a particular niche in today’s audio landscape. Styled as a modern radiogram, it combines mid-century furniture design with contemporary streaming, high-resolution audio support and a wide…
Combining ravishing industrial design with advanced tube technology and vibration control, Swiss audio specialist Nagra’s newest preamplifier is aimed squarely at posh audiophiles for whom price is secondary to performance. Designed and built in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, the Preamp II-S is the first component in Nagra’s Series II range, positioned between the company’s Compact and HD lines.…
New Sony turntables are something of a rarity, so it’s with some excitement that we greet two new decks from the brand, the PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT. Combining fully automatic operation with Bluetooth connectivity, they’re aimed at both newcomers to vinyl, and record collectors looking to upgrade their analogue game. In addition to one-button, fully automatic…
The Luxe Review 
Sony is shaking up its premium TV business, with the announcement of a new range of high performance BRAVIA branded 4k televisions. Out goes its old model numbering system, and in come sets branded BRAVIA 7, 8 and 9, along with a raft of clever technologies designed to bring home the cinema experience like never before.
The BRAVIA 9 is Sony’s flagship TV for 2024, and it’s a blockbuster. Available in 75- and 85-inch screen sizes, it’s a Mini LED model with advanced new backlighting technology that delivers brighter, more precise HDR.
The BRAVIA 8 is an OLED model, for those that favour the cinema style of OLED screen technology; it comes in 55-, 65-inch and 77-inch screen sizes.
The BRAVIA 7 is a more affordable Mini LED model, and comes in 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch screen sizes, offering more room placement choice than the BRAVIA 9.
I travelled to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, to take an early look at all three models, at a glitzy launch event, and was knocked out by their performance.
The BRAVIA 9 in particular could well be the screen beat in 2024. Long story short: it’s the best looking Mini LED TV I’ve ever seen.
Much of its appeal can be attributed to a new Sony-developed XR Backlight Master Drive, coupled to a powerful local dimming algorithm. This new set boasts 3x the number of dimming zones in Sony’s X95L, and is able to hit very high peak brightness.
That said, it’s not the number of dimming zones that determines absolute image quality. It’s what you do with them that counts – and the BRAVIA 9 does a lot.
Of course, there’s no shortage of Mini LED TVs can hit extreme peak HDR brightness. What sets the BRAVIA 9 apart from rivals is its ability to deliver near OLED-quality black levels with ultra precise HDR handling and minimal blooming around bright objects. It also offers quite sensational colour depth and vibrancy.
I ran through a variety of challenging movie sequences in both its Custom and Standard picture modes, and thought its performance was exemplary.
Sister set, the BRAVIA 7, isn’t quite as dazzling, but it is offered in a wider range of screen sizes, and looks just as colour rich. If you can’t accommodate a panel 75-inches upward, it’s probably the next best choice.
OLED remains beloved of home cinema fans, and the BRAVIA 8 plays to that technology’s strengths, with superb dynamics, perfect inky blacks and loads of low light shadow detail.
In many ways it’s comparable to the Sony A80L, but comes with an upgraded XR processor that has better Scene Selection technology and face detection, both of which help direct its picture processing muscle.
It’s also rather nicer looking, with a flat back panel that can be mounted near-flush to a wall.
At this big BRAVIA TV unveiling in LA, complete with champagne-dressed hosts, Sony announced an exclusive partnership with Prime Video that will see each of these new sets offer a dedicated Prime Video Calibrated viewing mode. This preset joins a Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode and a Sony Pictures Core Calibrated Mode (for Sony’s own streaming service).
The Prime Video Calibrated Mode optimises picture quality based on the type of content being streamed (movies, TV show, live sports) and takes into account ambient lighting conditions, adjusting things like white balance, brightness and colour, all automatically.
Speaking at the event, Prime Video’s VP of Technology BA Winston declared: “We are proud to be the first streamer to auto-calibrate picture settings, not just for movies and series, but for live sports as well,” adding: “As an entertainment destination, Prime Video is focused on delivering the best streaming experience possible for all customers, including the creators we work with, and with Calibrated mode, we have designed a way to help preserve their creative intent.”
Also present at the launch was Top Gun Maverick movie director Joseph Kosinski, who stressed how important accurate HDR presentation was in the home. Said Kosinski: “It’s critical the consumer has an option to see it exactly as we intended.”
The director also endorsed Sony’s new high brightness BVM-3110 reference monitor, used for colour grading movies. “I was blown away with 4000 nits. It’s incredible to see how far it has come in just a few years. I am excited to work with it on our new film (F1, with Brad Pitt) – we have daylight exteriors and that seems to be where HDR shines in a way that feels very natural.”
The 75-inch Sony BRAVIA 9 retails for £4,499. The 85-inch BRAVIA 9 will sell for £4,999.
The Sony BRAVIA 8 55-, 65- and 77-inch models are priced at £2,199, £2,699 and £3,499 respectively.
The BRAVIA 7 55-, 65- 75- and 85-inch models sell for £1,899, £2,199, £2,799, and £3,499.
Ruark revisits flagship radiogram with limited edition artisan Made in England R810 MiE
UK Hi-Fi specialist Ruark has announced a limited-edition version of its flagship R810 radiogram, using marquetry and premium veneers, as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations. The R810 occupies a particular niche in today’s audio landscape. Styled as a modern radiogram, it combines mid-century furniture design with contemporary streaming, high-resolution audio support and a wide…
Preamp II-S first look: Nagra brings reference-grade Swiss engineering to new luxury audio series
Combining ravishing industrial design with advanced tube technology and vibration control, Swiss audio specialist Nagra’s newest preamplifier is aimed squarely at posh audiophiles for whom price is secondary to performance. Designed and built in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, the Preamp II-S is the first component in Nagra’s Series II range, positioned between the company’s Compact and HD lines.…
Sony returns to vinyl with two new fully automatic Bluetooth turntables – here’s how they differ
New Sony turntables are something of a rarity, so it’s with some excitement that we greet two new decks from the brand, the PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT. Combining fully automatic operation with Bluetooth connectivity, they’re aimed at both newcomers to vinyl, and record collectors looking to upgrade their analogue game. In addition to one-button, fully automatic…
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