Sony X950H Review
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We test the 55-inch Sony X950H XBR55X950H and expect that the same review applies to the 65 inch, 75 in, and 85 inches models. Note that the 49 inch variant doesn’t have Sony’s ‘X-Wide Angle’ layer to improve viewing angles, so it’s expected to have a higher contrast ratio. The 49 inch model has some differences in terms of speaker layout, borders and input locations. For example, the HDMI ports of the 49 inch version are facing downwards. In Europe, this TV is known as the XH9505, and we expect it to offer the same performance.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or their Sony X950H doesn’t correspond to our review, let us know, and we’ll update the review. You should note that the results of some tests (such as the gray uniformity) may be different between individuals.
Size North America Model EU Model ‘X-Wide Angle’
65″ XBR65X950H KD-65XH9505 Yes
Sony X950H4K 4K Hdr Television Review: Really Satisfying
Although you might not require a television as good as the Sony X950H in every way, I bet that you will want one when you do see it.
The Sony X900H, which is just below the X950H, will be a great choice if you are looking for a Sony TV that has excellent picture quality and games-friendly features. For those of you who demand the finest picture quality from an LED TV, however, the X950H might be the right choice. The Sony A8H OLED television is the most impressive Sony TV this year. It’s also one of 2020’s best TVs. The X900H comes in 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inch variants priced at $998, $1298, $2198, and $2798, respectively. There is a $400 price premium for the 65 inch X950H compared to the X900H.
Sony’s finest TVs are my favorite. The reason: Picture processing. Sony’s claim to “creator intent” is certainly a marketing goal, but it is something the company does succeed at. It achieves this by using a picture processing chips that transforms an inexpensive LED TV panel from a commodity into a masterpiece.
To be clear, I understand that kind of accuracy is not a priority for many buyers, and it is true that there are many less expensive TVs that would be a more practical choice for most people. The X950H is certainly a niche TV, and Sony makes no apologies for that. What is the best TV for you? Let’s try it.
Get ready for an involved experience when you take the box out of its packaging. You will find a lot plastic clinging onto the X950H to protect the glossy accents. There’s also a glut of paper in the form of product manuals and setup guides, stuff I usually suggest tossing in the recycle bin.
Cons
MotionInterpolation could be improved
The year 2020 proved to be a significant one for Sony TVs, and Sony as a whole. Japanese manufacture had to ensure that they could offer an annual lineup of models to match their latest gaming console with their PlayStation 5. But things were not as clear cut as we were expecting as many of their flagships, including the one we will be reviewing here, were missing the necessary HDMI 2.1 that would take advantage of the full PS5 capabilities. And today in our Sony X950H review we will be looking at Sony’s best 4K LED LCD offering and if it is the ideal LCD to go for this year.
Although the X950H is a premium flagship TV, it comes packed full of technology features, which makes it a high-end model. But here’s the paradox. The X900H has a HDMI 2.1 port, but the X950H does not. This seems like a strange decision by Sony. A lower-tier TV model gets such a prominent feature while their flagship doesn’t. Their implementation of HDMI 2.0 in 2020 models has been inconsistent at best, so this should not be surprising.
Trickle Down Economics
It is often possible to lower prices thanks to technological advances. Flat panel TVs were expensive 20 years ago. They didn’t look very good and weren’t really flat. The screen size has increased, the panels have been slimmer, and picture quality has improved. Even features and tech that might be expensive in one year start to find their way onto lower-priced models. This trend is best illustrated by Sony’s 4K Ultra HDTV X950H.
Spec It Out. Available in sizes 49-80 inches, the X950H series screen size ranges from 49 to 80 inches. Our 65-inch review model, $1699.99 MSRP, weighed just 50 and 50 respectively without and with the stand. Along with built-in WiFi and two USB ports, the set provides a hardwired internet port, a ethernet cable, two USB cables, a composite input, a video output, a microphone output, and four HDMI ins. The four HDMI inputs are compatible with HDCP 2.0 and enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC). While the headphone jack may be a great addition, you can also use Bluetooth headphones to make that cord shorter.
The Sony XBR65X950H has a 65 inch screen and retails at $1699.99
The X950H has an LED-lit LCD panel. Sony Triluminos technology is used to improve color reproduction. Though the 65-inch model hits an attractive price point, it features a full array LED backlight with local dimming technology to enhance contrast and improve overall picture uniformity. For better reproduction of Ultra HD Bluray, streaming or HD content in 4K resolutions, the set also offers HDR (High Dynamic Resolution) support.
Big Picture. The HDR10, HDR10L, HDLG (Hybrid Log Gamma), Dolby Vision and HDR10R10 support are available. This allows the set to make the most out of the majority of 4K/HDR content that you can buy or rent today. It was a great experience to watch 4K/HDR content, with its deep blacks as well as bright and vivid colors. It wasn’t as good as OLED but it was comparable and much cheaper. Sony’s “X-Wide angle” technology is also touted to enhance off-axis viewing. The wide viewing angle is especially important if you are planning to mount the television in a wide room. The Sony’s side view allowed me to see the contents clearly and I didn’t notice any color shift or picture dimming.
The X940H range offers four HDMI inputs that all support HDCP 2.3 content protection. It even has a headphone jack.
Sony’s X-1 Ultimate picture chip is designed to enhance SD and HD content to Ultra HD quality. I was impressed with the high quality and clarity of the Sony set when watching a handful of recorded football games. The 120 Hz panel refresh rate on the Sony set and advanced motion processing made the action crisp and clear. Also, with a direct line of sight to the broadcast towers on the Empire State Building from my living room, I watch a lot of news and sports live over the air. All major networks broadcast at 720p [ABC/FOX], and 1080i[CBS/NBC]. These broadcasts look nice and detail using the Sony’s ATSC tuner. Although it may not have been 4K, it still looked fantastic… and was completely free.
Please Note: This Review Was Updated To Include Information For The 65’’ Xbr65X950H
65″ model Introduction Sony’s XBR950 Series is continuing its high-end excellence. The new X950H is Sony’s finest 4K LED/LCD TV. The newest entry in the premium-class displays from Sony offers some of the best technology and features, which I’ll discuss later.
Five sizes are available for the X950H, including 49″, 55″, 65″, 65″, 75″, 75″ or 85″.
Design and Features
Side View 85” The X950H has an attractive yet modest design that is typical for flat-panel TVs in today’s market; which means it doesn’t have any visual features that would allow it to stand out from any other TVs currently available. While the bezel is not as thin as I would expect, it’s thicker than most LED/LCD TVs.
The bezel design on the 65” model is razor thin and is approximately 1/8” thick on the top and sides of the panel and slightly thicker at the bottom. This is the thinnest I’ve ever seen. This design truly gives the 65” model a borderless appearance.
The screen surface is semi-gloss.
Full-array, led backlighting and local dimming are the key features of the XBR950H. This backlighting scheme allows for better contrast and black levels in addition to more precise localized screen dimming.
Is Sony X950H Worth It?
HDR gaming can be done with the Sony X950H. It has a fast response time that results in very little motion blur, and it delivers a great HDR experience thanks to its high peak brightness and wide color gamut. The input lag of the device is very low even when it’s in HDR mode with 10 bits. Sadly, it doesn’t support VRR to reduce screen tearing.
Is Sony A8H Better Than X950H?
The overall quality of the Sony A8H LCD is higher than that found on the Sony X950H. But they also have different panel types. The panel’s OLED technology allows the A8H to show blacks in perfect detail. It also provides a greater viewing angle than its predecessor, the Sony X950H. The A8H also has a much quicker response time for gaming.
Which TV Replaced the Sony X950H
The X950H’s predecessor, the X95J is only available in sizes 65″ and greater, and it will likely cost higher than the X950H at launch.
Is the Sony X950H capable of 120Hz?
Amazon currently offers the Sony X950H 65inch Smart AirPlay 2 Android TV with Bluetooth for $1398 shipped … …
.Sony X950H Review