Sony on Wednesday formally introduced its 2023 BRAVIA XR Series TV and sound bar lineups, including a new Master Series line highlighted by the QD-OLED 4K TV technology.
The company also showed new TV models based on White OLED TV panels and premium LCD TVs based on LED- or Mini-LED back light technologies.
Pricing on all models will be announced when the products are close to shipping to dealers this Spring.
The new flagship Master Series additions for 2023 will be the A95L 4K high-bright QD-OLED series which joins two 2022 carry-over series including the 8K Z9K LCD series and A90K 4K OLED.
Other new 2023 Sony Home Entertainment TV products (denoted by the letter L in the model number suffix), include three “premium” model series comprised of two 4K Mini-LED Full Array with Local Dimming LCD based series (X95L and X90L) and a 4K White-OLED-based series (A90L).
Sony will also have one “Gold Standard” series in the 4K LED FALD LCD (X90L) and three 4K Direct-LED LCD TV series including the new X77L series and two 2022 carry over series (X85K and X80K).
All models this year will include built-in NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) tuners and 4 HDMI inputs (2 HDMI 2.0b, 2 HDMI 2.1 with 4K/120, ALLM, VRR 1 with eARC>/ARC).
New series screen size breakouts are the following:
4K OLED:
A95L 4K QD-OLED – 77-, 65- and 55-inches;
A80L 4K White OLED – 83-, 77-, 65- and 55-inches;
4K FALD Mini-LED LCD TV:
X95L – 85-inches;
X93L – 85-, 75- and 65-inches;
4K FALD LED LCD TV:
X90L – 98-, 85-, 75-, 65- and 55-inches
4K Direct-Lit LCD TV: (Aside from the XR models, the company also announced a new direct-lit LED LCD Series will include two carry over series and one new one):
X77L
Sony said it has opted to use its own approach to brightnes boosting in its QD-OLED models this year, instead of so-called Micro-Lens Array (MLA or META) technology used for new high-brightness White OLED displays used by competitors.
At the center of its step-up TV designs once again is Sony’s BRAVIA XR Processor, which is used to drive picture and sound systems centered around this year’s mantra “Made to Entertain,” to underscore the improved holistic sight and sound experience the company provides.
Picture improvements this year start with producing clearer and cleaner images using Sony’s “XR Clear Image” processing in X95L and X90L Mini-LED backlit LCD TVs series and A95L and A80L 4K OLED TVs.
XR Clear Image uses analysis of the resolution, encoding and bitrate parameters on all qualities of signal sources in order to provide Adaptive Noise Reduction and Adaptive Super Resolution processing, as required by the individual signal sources.
For Sony’s Master Series A95L 4K QD-OLED series, a BRAVIA Cognitive XR Processor produces up to a 200% boost in peak brightness and a wider color gamut using Sony’s XR OLED Contrast Pro and XR Triluminos Max brightness and color handling technologies.
To get this level of brightness without enducing panel-damage risk, Sony uses a heat diffusion sheet along with bright self-emitting QD-OLED blue-light and thermal color analysis together with the red and green quantum dot converters driven by the CP XR processor in the panel layer stack.
In the X95L 4K Mini-LED TV series, Sony said an XR Backlight Master Drive system allows better backlight control by stepping up the number of increased full array local dimming zones to decrease blooming.
The X90L then uses an XR Contrast Booster system based on an increased number of local dimming ones that increase brightness with reduced blooming.
Sound Enhancements
Sound from the X95L, X93L, X90L, A95L and A80L series is elevated this year using a system called “Acoustic Center Sync”, which is also supported in the company’s new HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000 sound bars and HT-A900 home theater surround speakers. This is designed to produce center-channel elements like dialog to better match audio with visual elements of the content with richer base and a wider sound field. Clearer and more dynamic sound comes from the integration of XR sound processing with the various sound bar/speaker drivers.
Samsung 2022 QD OLED Now On Sale
Shop Wireless Speakers and Speaker Systems at SVSound.com
Save on eligible LG Appliance Packages during Abt’s Savings Event!
See What Your 4K UHD TV Can Really Do With The Spears & Munsil 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc, $39.95.
Portrait Displays Calman Display Calibration Software Available Here
Amazon’s Best Selling 4K Ultra HDTVs
Amazon’s Camera, Photo & Video Deals
Amazon Fire TV Cube Media Adapter with Alexa
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Alexa Voice Remote
Amazon Echo Smart Speaker with Premium Sound, Alexa Voice Control
Amazon Echo Show 15 Alexa Voice Controlled Smart Screen
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock Voice Controlled Speaker
Amazon Echo Studio 3D Audio Alexia Smart Speaker
Best Selling Soundbars and 5.1 Surround Systems
This is further enhanced using Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology to produce more immersive Sound Field Optimization that generates “phantom speakers” both overhead and around the room from the various physical speakers in the setup. In addition to the TVs and sound bars with Acoustic Center Sync, Sony’s SA-R55 and SA-R35 speaker series can be used in the layout.
Other technologies that come into play with Acoustic Center Sync include an adaptation in the X95L Mini-LED LCD TV series. This includes a Frame Tweeter technology that vibrates the screen frame to act as an additional center channel speaker to further elevate the sound position for clearer and more direct dialog, sound effects and musical elements presented at ear level.
In the A95L and A80L 4K OLED TV series, the Acoustic Center Sync sound matching leverages the vibrating thin OLED display panel for use as a transducer to direct center channel effects directly to the listener.
Sony said it continues to maximize the realism of the entertainment experience from its XR Processor-based home theater products by offering its BRAVIA CORE streaming entertainment content designed for televisions with BRAVIA XR processors.
The service provides movies and programs that newly support Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound available in coming days, along with Pure Stream bitrate quality of up to 80Mbps to present clearer dynamics in “parity with physical media,” like Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs, according to the company.
Sony’s BRAVIA Cognitive XR Core (BRAVIA Core) service and products are also certified for the IMAX Enhanced home theater standard in partnership with DTS and IMAX, to get the most dynamic and realistic experiences from the IMAX Enhanced content library. The BRAVIA Core streaming service is said to offer the largest library of IMAX Enhanced content available so far.
When using BRAVIA Core Calibrated Mode content on supporting equipment, picture settings will automatically adjust to create the most immersive at-home viewing experiences. The service integrates Google payment to continue purchasing the movies.
In other streaming service incentives, Sony Pictures Television and Sony’s Crunchy Roll streaming service will also allow Sony Master Series TV series purchasers free streaming of up to three episodes of certain TV series to try out as a service promotional offer.
Gaming
To provide greater integration between Sony Electronics 2023 TVs and Sony PlayStation gaming, new models selectively enable Auto Genre Picture Mode and Auto HDR Tone Mapping to engage the best visuals for the type of games being played on a connected PlayStation 5 console.
The new TVs also provide a new Game Menu that allows tailoring game settings in a simple user interface. This enables quick adjustments for VRR (easily turn off or on), Motion blur reduction (quickly adjust optimal settings), black equalizer (turn off or on to darken or lighten the picture details), selectable on screen crossbars for better shooting performance, and screen size settings and adjustments to reduce or enlarge the frame on the screen for better focused lean-forward or lean-back playing options.
Gamers can also engage a Multi View option to inset a second screen screen in the frame in order to play a game in one frame while simultaneously watching a YouTube gaming channel (for example) side by side. Multi View will accept content from various input sources including: supported HDMI-connected source devices, USB-HDDs, and various supporting on-board streaming services, like YouTube.
In addition, new Sony TVs will support Dolby Vision HDR for gaming.
Smart TV
Sony continues to support the Google TV user interface for Android TV smart TV functionality. This continues to build in support for Chromecast content sharing from mobile devices and voice support for Google Assistant, and works with Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2 and Apple Home Kit. This year the system brings enhanced Bluetooth device pairing, so that when a nearby device is placed in pairing mode, a prompt will instantly pop up on the TV screen to instantly pair it with the TV without the need to dig into the TV settings menu.
Users will also be able to engage in video calling and conferencing using Google Duo and Zoom.
The BRAVIA TV’s remote control this year will feature fast-access buttons to get directly into the BRAVIA Core, Crunchyroll, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube and Netflix apps.
Sony said its TVs continue to feature design and element changes to get to a company green directive for “Net Zero” Carbon emissions on a newly accelerated timeline of 10 years. This includes the use of an “ECO Dashboard” that encourages users to be “eco conscious” by checking eco settings in a single on-screen hub.
Eco-advances include the use of Sorplas plastics that reduce virgin plastic sources and more environment-friendly recycled cardboard shipping boxes with reduced inks, plastics and packaging sizes, the company said.
Key features by model series include the following:
TV Series Features:
MASTER SERIES A95L 4K QD-OLED TVs (Pictured at top) — BRAVIA XR Cognitive Processor; XR OLED Contrast Pro; XR Clear Image; XR Triluminos Max; XR OLED Motion; Acoustic Surface Audio+; Accoustic Center Sync; 3-way stand positioning; BRAVIA Cam; Multi View Game Menu; compatibility with BRAVIA Core streaming service.
X95L 4K FALD Mini-LED LCD TV Series — BRAVIA XR Cognitive Processor; XR Backlight Master Drive; XR Contrast Booster 15; X-Wide Angle and X-Anti-Reflective technology; XR Clear Image;XR Triluminos Pro; Acoustic Multi-Audio+; Accoustic Center Sync; 3-way stand positioning; BRAVIA Cam available as add-on accessory; Game Menu; compatibility with BRAVIA Core streaming service.
X93L 4K FALD Mini-LED LCD TV Series — BRAVIA XR Cognitive Processor; XR Backlight Master Drive; XR Contrast Booster 15; X-Wide Angle and X-Anti-Reflective technology; XR 4K Upscaling; XR Triluminos Pro; XR Motion Clarity; Acoustic Multi-Audio; Accoustic Center Sync; 3-way stand positioning; BRAVIA Cam available as add-on accessory; Game Menu; compatibility with BRAVIA Core streaming service.
A80L 4K White-OLED TVs — BRAVIA XR Cognitive Processor; XR OLED Contrast Pro; XR Clear Image; XR Triluminos Pro; XR Motion Clarity; Acoustic Surface Audio+; Accoustic Center Sync; 3-way stand positioning; BRAVIA Cam available as add-on accessory; Game Menu; compatibility with BRAVIA Core streaming service.
X90L 4K FALD LED LCD TV Series — BRAVIA XR Cognitive Processor; XR Contrast Booster 10; XR 4K Upscaling; XR Triluminos Pro; XR Motion Clarity; Acoustic Multi-Audio; Accoustic Center Sync; 2-way stand positioning; BRAVIA Cam available as add-on accessory; Game Menu; compatibility with BRAVIA Core streaming service.
Sound Bars/Speakers:
A Series (All are compatible with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, S-Force Pro Front Surround, Vertical Surround Engine, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio, Acoustic Center Sync and Quick Settings Menu):
HT-A9 — 4-speaker package
HT-A7000 — 7.1.2-channel surround package
HT-A5000 — 5.1.2-channel surround package
HT-A3000 — 3.1-channel sound package
Supporting optional wireless speakers and subwoofers: SA-R55, SA-RS35; SA-SW5; and SA-SW3.
Other Sound Bars:
HT-S2000 ($499 MAP) — 3.1-channel sound package, with built-in dual subwoofer; supports: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, S-Force Pro Front Surround, Vertical Surround Engine.
A newly developed up mixer delivers three-dimensional surround when playing stereo content. The center speaker produces clear dialog, while the built-in dual subwoofer produces deep bass. HT-S2000 will also be the first compatible device for the new Sony Home Entertainment Connect app.
At the same time, Sony’s X-balanced Speaker Unit is the key technology produces louder sound pressure with less distortion and greater vocal clarity.
Supporting optional wireless speakers and subwoofers for the sound bar line include: the SA-R55, SA-RS35; SA-SW5; and SA-SW3.
Online purchases made using links provided on this site might generate a small commission for HD Guru.com. We thank you for your support!
By Greg Tarr
Have a question for the HD Guru? HD GURU|Email
Copyright ©2023 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HD GURU is a registered trademark.
Stay connected