With the AF9, Sony has created one thing epic.
Execs
- Superlative picture high quality
- Above common audio efficiency
- Premium design and end
Cons
- Put together to pay a excessive worth
Key Specs
- Evaluation Value: £2999
- 4K UHD TV
- HDR10, HLG and Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- Android Oreo good OS
- Acoustic Floor 2 audio know-how
What’s the Sony AF9 OLED?
The hero of Sony’s new Grasp Sequence TV line, this high-end OLED occupies Sony’s televisual Iron Throne. The Sony AF9 has been hailed by the model because the king of screens, and in lots of respects it lives as much as the hyperbole.
It bristles with vanguard image processing know-how, options an improve on Sony’s panel-wobbling Acoustic Floor audio know-how, and introduces the most recent model of the Android good OS. It’s, briefly, a rare little bit of package.
However with 4K units a dime a dozen (virtually), is it actually well worth the excessive asking worth? Examined right here is the Sony KD-55AF9, yours for £2999. You too can get the 65-inch Sony KD-65AF9 for £3999. That’s much more per inch than different 2018 OLED TVs.
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Sony AF9 OLED – Design and construct
Very similar to its predecessor the Sony A1, the Sony AF9 adopts a languid pose. The panel leans again, supported by a kickback stand that comes with electronics, audio wotnots and connectivity. The stand itself has been considerably re-engineered in comparison with its predecessor, and now homes three audio actuators and two side-mounted woofers.
Flip the latch, add the counterweight (not required when wall-mounting) and also you’re good to go. The lean isn’t fairly as pronounced as the unique A1, nevertheless it nonetheless calls for low AV furnishings and will show divisive for some consumers.
Connectivity contains 4 HDMI inputs, all of which help 4K 60p 4:2:0 10-bit, 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 color sub-sampling. There’s additionally a digital optical audio output, AV minijack enter, a LAN Ethernet port and two USBs (considered one of which is a quick v.3 terminal for onerous drive recording).
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Unusually, there’s additionally a devoted centre speaker terminal, which permits the set to behave as a centre speaker in a much bigger multi-channel sound system. It’s indicative of Sony’s confidence in its Acoustic Floor know-how, which primarily vibrates the display to make sound.
Maybe disappointingly, the TV nonetheless comes with an ordinary soft-button Sony distant management. It has devoted Netflix and Google Play buttons, and does all the pieces it must, however we will’t assist feeling {that a} display this royal deserves one thing somewhat extra… fancy.
Sony AF9 OLED – Options and Usability
The Android TV OS, lengthy favoured by Sony, has been troublesome beast to like. Nonetheless, the AF9 options an up to date iteration, affectionately generally known as Android Oreo, and it’s an enormous enchancment. The interface has been decluttered and rationalised. It is a good platform you would possibly really need to use.
Streaming companies embody Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, plus YouTube and a bunch of different diversions. Netflix helps 4K and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, whereas Amazon affords 4K and HDR10. YouTube can stream in 2160p.
Tuner provision covers Freeview HD and satellite tv for pc. To recover from the shortage of Freeview Play, there’s a YouView app which affords a lot the identical performance – specifically a roll-back programme information and catch-up TV from all of the majors (BBC iPlayer, ITVHub, ALL4, Demand 5). Usability, then, is nice.
Sony AF9 OLED – Efficiency
Let’s lower to the chase. The AF9 is a triumphant performer. Picture high quality on this set is nothing in need of sensational. All the standard OLED traits are right here in abundance, specifically good blacks and vibrant colors, however certified by an outstanding close to black efficiency that pulls even better element and depth from 4K HDR pictures.
HDR help covers HDR10, HLG and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, and it doesn’t battle. We measured peak brightness at simply over 900 cd/m2 (aka nits) with a 5 per cent HDR window, typical of the sort of actual world highlights HDR can provide.
The set appears to be like first fee with common HD too, providing excessive distinction with clean, compelling element. Sony has been knocking SDR efficiency on 4K panels out of the park for the reason that introduction of the X1 Excessive processor, and it carries on the great work right here, courtesy of its new XI Final chip.
The X1 Final brings two key clever picture processing modes to the desk: Object-based Tremendous Decision and Object-based HDR remaster. In brief, it’s capable of improve particular person objects inside an image, for better readability. A brand new Pixel Panel Booster additional lifts color and distinction. The panel won’t help 3D nevertheless it’s pictures have virtually tangible depth.
To see this panel actually strut its stuff with HD, we’d advise you watch with Peak Luminance set Excessive. The Vivid preset is a heady combination of oversaturated primaries, blistering element and big dynamics. Don’t let the folks inform you that you have to be struggling HD with peaks flattened and colors muted; with the best content material, Vivid can look superb.
Fed 4K HDR, the variations between picture presets seen on SDR content material change into much less pointed. Customized is the equal to Sony’s outdated Cinema Professional preset and proves a sensible choice for motion pictures. It’s tuned to emulate Sony’s Professional OLED mastering monitor, the BVM-X300. That mentioned, the Customary setting serves most content material nicely sufficient in rooms with typical lighting.
There are some caveats. Luke Cage (on Netflix) is a superbly photographed present, albeit one which’s darkish and shadowy sufficient to offer Dolby Imaginative and prescient points. Even in a completely darkish surroundings, the Dolby Imaginative and prescient Darkish mode is simply too aggressive, crushing out low stage shadow element. The Dolby Imaginative and prescient Brilliant choice offers a greater steadiness.
One of many set’s extra curious viewing choices is the Netflix Calibrated mode. I discovered this a questionable profit. Primarily it’s a broad brush Cinema preset, which defeats Dolby Imaginative and prescient when used on Netflix DV content material. It actually doesn’t look that nice.
And simply to be clear, the AF9’s Dolby Imaginative and prescient help covers exterior inputs too, not simply inside Netflix. Excellent news in case you have a rising Dolby Imaginative and prescient Blu-ray assortment.
In terms of audio, the AF9 is a category aside. The Acoustic Floor+ implementation is superb. The addition of a central actuator locks dialogue centre display, leaving the L/R exciters to create a large soundstage. These side-mounted woofers add welcome weight.
Why purchase the Sony AF9 OLED?
For those who’re on the lookout for a nigh on flawless OLED 4K performer, the Sony AF9 is it. It appears to be like fabulous with 4K HDR and does an awesome job with SDR HD too. The arrival of Android Oreo removes a recurring niggle about Sony’s selection of good platform.
That mentioned, this 12 months has seen a rash of high notch OLED screens. The AF9’s most evident competitor is the (barely cheaper) Panasonic FZ950/FZ952. They’re each flagships, adopting a lot the identical visible ethos. The Panasonic, with its Technics tuned Dynamic Blade speaker can also be the one different panel that may match the AF9’s audio efficiency. HDR peak brightness is just about similar, and with 4K content material each fashions provide exemplary pictures, with solely minor debatable variations. I feel the FZ952 has the sting in color constancy, because of Panasonic’s Dynamic LUT (Look Up Desk) know-how, however the Sony has a brighter, extra interesting method to HD.
For a lot of, a shopping for choice will most likely boil right down to design concerns – that lean isn’t for everybody – and specification. Sony helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, the Panasonic throws its dynamic metadata lot in with HDR10+.
Cheaper nonetheless are the Sony AF8 and the LG C8. Right here, LG’s Alpha 9 processor and Sony’s X1 Excessive are outclassed by the AF9’s X1 Final processor on the subject of picture nuance and subjective depth. For instance, pores and skin tones in HDR on the AF9 simply appear extra convincing. Its HDR efficiency can also be extra dynamic.
Verdict
With the AF9, Sony has created one thing epic. It might not be the very best worth OLED 55-inch on the market, nevertheless it’s masterful certainly.
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