The New Sony Home Theater and X-ray Tuned Soundbar: A First Look at First-Order Audio and Video Calibrations

We got a look at the new Sony soundbar and HX3110 professional monitor, designed to set the standard for movie and TV mastering for years to come. Some first impressions of the new Sony Home Theater are here.

The rest of the lineup uses a regular OLED panel, not QD-OLED. Sony says it’s 31 percent thinner than the A80L, and the company has slimmed the display’s bezels by 29 percent. The Bravia 8 includes all the same calibrated picture modes as the Bravia 9 and continues to be a strong choice for gaming with its 120Hz panel, automatic PS5 picture optimization, and game menu for quickly accessing settings. (Multi-view also now supports YouTube alongside your console’s input if you want to watch a tutorial while working through a level.)

The company has always kept the details of creator intent in mind. All new TVs except the entry-level Bravia 3 are compatible with a new Prime Video Calibrated Mode. The latter allows the TV to automatically optimize picture across movies, TV shows, and even live sports for the first time to present smoother action for, say, Monday Night Football.

The Bravia 7 is a MiniLED model with great performance, but at a lower price than the X95L. The biggest 85-inch model costs $3,499.99 and the 65-inch model costs $2,299.99. Sony is keeping the X90L Mini LED TV in the lineup without any upgrades. Last year, reviewers pegged it as among the very best options in terms of bang for your buck, though it could’ve used some more dimming zones to cut back on blooming, which was sometimes noticeable with dark content when viewing the X90L off-angle.

You can combine any of these external speakers with a Bravia TV’s integrated sound, and Sony will make it all work well together by making sure each device is handling the best-suited frequency range.

And if you’re a fan of more private listening — or want to watch TV without disturbing others at night — the $299.99 Bravia Theater U neck speaker might have a unique appeal of its own. You can pair it with two devices at the same time, and the built-in mic will let you call while relaxing on the couch.

Is the A95L or A7 a little more confusing than the A8 or A7)? An interview with Toshiyuki Ogura

“It’s time to reintroduce HDR,” according to Sony’s chief distinguished engineer, Toshiyuki Ogura, who has been working with and developing HDR (high dynamic range) technology since its inception. In March of this year, at the company’s home theater showcase, Ogura was referring to Sony and the company’s new technology, which Sony hopes will bring viewers closer to the intent of the creators.

I’m all for simpler names, but I’d argue the new system is actually more confusing for buyers, with no easy way to differentiate between OLED and LED. In one demo, I had the A7 and A8 mini-led TVs confused because they came after the A9 in the batting order. The A95L, meanwhile, seems adrift with no numeric connection.