Sony A95K

The Sony XR-65A95K is a QD-OLED TV that was released almost a year ago. It offers stunning picture and audio quality, making it a great choice for those who enjoy watching TV and movies on a large screen. The TV has a minimalist design with a barely noticeable bezel, allowing the screen to dominate. It comes with a stand that can be positioned in two ways, but it is quite obstructive and requires a lot of space. The TV features the Google TV interface, which is cleaner and more visually appealing than Android TV. However, the Watchlist is not located on the home page, which can be inconvenient for some users. The remote has an elegant design with backlit buttons and quick access buttons for popular streaming services.

The Sony A95K comes with various features that enhance its performance, including the BRAVIA CAM that optimizes picture and sound based on seating position. It also has HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR support and 4K/120Hz capability, making it suitable for gaming. The TV offers Netflix Adaptive Calibrated mode, which adjusts contrast and detail according to ambient light conditions. In terms of picture quality, the Sony A95K delivers stunning colors and impressive motion handling. However, there are some issues such as red push to complexions and struggles with black levels in low-light scenes. The Cognitive Processor XR doesn't extract every detail from people's faces, leading to smoothed out creases and wrinkles.

On the positive side, the TV offers wide-ranging and varied colors and excellent motion interpolation. The upscaling of high-definition and standard-definition sources is not as sharp as some competitors, but it still delivers detailed images. The sound quality of the A95K is impressive thanks to Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which vibrates the screen to produce sound. Overall, the Sony A95K is a solid choice for those who prioritize picture and audio quality, although it may not be the best option for gamers or those looking for a less cumbersome design.

Preview of the official model Sony A95K

Exploring the hardware specs of Sony A95K

An in-depth look at what you can expect from this model

The most important key feature of the Sony XR-65A95K TV is its stunning picture and audio quality.

Other advantages or benefits of purchasing this TV include:

1. Minimalist design: The TV has a minimalist aesthetic with barely noticeable bezels, allowing the screen to dominate and giving it an imposing presence.

2. Google TV interface: The TV features the Google TV interface, which is cleaner and more visually appealing than Android TV, providing a user-friendly experience.

3. BRAVIA CAM: It includes the BRAVIA CAM, which optimizes picture and sound based on where people are sitting in a room, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

4. HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR and 4K/120Hz capability: The TV is suitable for gaming with its HDMI 2.1 ports that support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and 4K/120Hz capability, providing smooth and immersive gaming experiences.

5. Impressive sound quality: The TV utilizes Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which vibrates the screen to produce sound, resulting in punchy, weighty bass, clear dialogue, and an expansive and clear overall audio performance.

A quick shortlist of the cons for Sony A95K

The main problem with purchasing the Sony XR-65A95K TV is its limitations in design and some picture quality issues.

The potential downsides of purchasing this TV include:

1. Obstructive Stand: The stand of the Sony A95K is quite obstructive and requires a lot of space, even on a stand for 65-inch TVs. This can be inconvenient for users who have limited space or prefer a more compact design.

2. Inconvenient Watchlist Access: While the Google TV interface of the A95K is cleaner and more visually appealing than Android TV, one drawback is that the Watchlist is not located on the home page. This can be inconvenient for users who want quick access to their saved content.

3. Red Push to Complexions: The A95K struggles with red push to complexions, making characters look overly done. This can affect the overall picture quality and the natural appearance of people on the screen.

4. Black Levels in Low-Light Scenes: In low-light scenes, the A95K struggles with black levels, resulting in a fuzzy image with raised blacks. This can affect the overall contrast and detail in darker scenes, reducing the immersive experience.

5. Limited Upscaling Performance: The upscaling of high-definition and standard-definition sources on the A95K is not as sharp as some competitors. While it still delivers detailed and defined images, it may not provide the same level of clarity and sharpness as other TVs in its price range.

To TV or Not to TV: Making an Informed Decision

The Sony XR-65A95K is a QD-OLED TV that offers stunning picture and audio quality. While it has some design limitations and a less extensive feature set compared to its competitors, it delivers a beautiful image for those who enjoy watching TV and movies on a large screen. The minimalist aesthetic and barely noticeable bezel give the TV an imposing presence. The Google TV interface is cleaner and more visually appealing than Android TV, although the Watchlist is not located on the home page. The TV comes with various features that enhance its performance, including BRAVIA CAM for optimizing picture and sound and HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming.

The picture quality is impressive, with stunning colors and excellent motion handling. However, there are some issues with red push and black levels in low-light scenes. The sound quality is impressive, thanks to Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology. While the TV has limitations in design and some picture quality issues, it offers a stunning image with Dolby Vision content. It is a solid choice for those who prioritize picture and audio quality, but if a less cumbersome design or a wider range of features is important, there may be better options available.