X900E 120Hz Smart LED TV
The 2017 television models are beginning to hit big box stores and online retailers. And what better way to kick off my 2017 review season than with Sony’s new 65″ XBR900E… and as a prelude to the performance section of this review, I will reveal to you that this TV’s picture quality did not disappoint. More on this later.
The 900E is also available in 49, 55 and 75-inch screen sizes.
Design/Features
Sony’s 900E features a sleek and slim panel design with very thin borders (bezel) measuring approximately 5/16″ surrounding the TV’s screen which contains a semi-gloss finish. Panel depth is also quite thin sizing up at just over 2-1/4″ at its thickest point.
XBR900E Stand Profile
Sony has redesigned its TV stands for its 2017 XBR lineup, and the 900E’s stand is much more streamlined and even more attractive than last year’s design in my opinion. It also provides very good stability for this model’s large 65″ screen size.
As with last year’s XBR940D and this year’s new XBR940E, Sony has introduced full-array LED backlighting with local dimming to its less expensive 900E. This feature allows the XBR65X900E to deliver an impressive contrast range and very deep black levels. More on this later.
The supplied remote control has carried over from last year’s XBR models which is a standard type remote design with a conventional button layout for easy operation of the TV’s many functions. The remote features a built-in mic for voice recognition and allows for voice control of certain Android TV functions. The remote is not backlit.
Sony’s 900E is loaded with many of the brand’s top performance features that enable this display to deliver top-notch picture quality. These features include:
- Sony’s new X1 4K HDR Processor with Object-based HDR remaster (analyzes images in each scene and corrects the color and contrast of each object individually, making colors and contrast appear more realistic) and Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR technology (with 14-bit signal processing – creates a smooth natural picture without image banding). The 4K HDR Processor X1 reproduces more depth, textures, and natural colors than its predecessor, the 4K Processor X1.
- 4K X-Reality Pro Upscaler enhances the clarity of all image sources and delivers
refined picture quality with more perceived detail. Also, all non-4K sources are upscaled to near 4K quality. In addition, noise reduction techniques used in this processor allow for clearer, smoother and more natural images. - X-tended Dynamic Range PRO 5x makes darker areas darker and brighter scenes brighter by precisely balancing the light output across the screen, dimming some areas and boosting others, X-tended Dynamic Range PRO reveals a brightness range 5x greater than a conventional LED-LCD TV. Furthermore, this processing proves very beneficial when combined with a 4K HDR signal by delivering an even greater contrast range in the form of peak brightness (highlights) and black levels, in addition to better picture detail and more vibrant colors.
- TRILUMINOS Display technology creates incredibly true, natural shades of colors that are rich and vibrant and brings you closer than ever to real-world colors.
- Full-array LED backlighting with local dimming provides very good picture contrast and black levels.
Other features include:
- Google Android smart TV platform with Google Play – The XBR900E uses Android’s Marshmallow (6.0.1) operating system and incorporates Android TV with access to a variety of apps available for download from the Google Play store Android TV gives you access to movies, music, sports, and other entertainment apps
- HDR or High Dynamic Range (HDR10) provides increased contrast with a greater range of peak brightness (highlights) and black levels, in addition to better picture detail and more vibrant colors
- HDR Remaster improves color and contrast for SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) content
- 10-bit panel displays more colors with finer steps of gradation for greater color reproduction with HDR sources
- HEVC/VP9 decoding for watching streamed 4K video sources like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube
- DIRECTV 4K Ready – DIRECTV subscribers with the Genie Whole-Home HD DVR can enjoy 4K service and full DVR features without an additional receiver
- Motionflow XR 960 for blur reduction
- Netflix Recommended TV – This certification makes it easier for consumers to know which manufacturers HDTVs work best with its streaming video service
- Chromecast built-in allows content to be cast from a smartphone or tablet directly to the TV
- 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct capability
- Opera Web Browser
- Two 10-watt built-in down-firing speakers
Connectivity
- 4 HDMI 2.0a inputs (HDCP 2.2 compliant)
- 1 Component video input (shared)
- 2 Composite video input (shared)
- 3 USB inputs
- 1 Ethernet input
- 1 RF input for antenna/cable/satellite
- 1 Digital optical audio output
- 1 Analog audio output 3.5 mm
Performance
Overall the XBR65X900E delivered very impressive picture quality from all the 4K sources I viewed on it including HDR and non-HDR content as well as 4K Blu-ray discs. 1080p content was also presented very well on this display. Even one of my sample 480p (non-HD) demo clips I use for picture evaluation looked decent.
HDR content provided the best image quality from the 900E, displaying images that were visually brilliant, delivering exceptional peak highlights which added more natural realism to the onscreen images. And as expected, nighttime outdoor scenes really came to life with much more presence, clarity, and detail. Colors were also more vivid containing a solid and natural richness you just don’t see in non-HDR content. HDR is definitely the real deal on the 900E.
In general, all 4K content, regardless of the sources of which I used to evaluate the 900E, delivered outstanding picture quality – picture attributes such as image depth and transparency, detail and clarity were all presented in satisfying amounts, all of which attributed to a very three-dimensional image presentation that was a pleasure to watch.
Watching high-quality 1080p content revealed a similar viewing experience as mentioned above, yet to a lesser degree with the exception of 4K HDR content, which still maintained a very notable difference over 1080p content. Viewing distance also played a part in the differences I could discern between standard 4K and 1080p content.
Sony’s 4K X-Reality Pro processing is highly regarded in the TV industry for providing some of the best -if not the best- 4K upscaling available, and I must say the XBR900E didn’t disappoint. After this processing, 1080p images looked every bit of 4K quality – revealing more refined sharpness, clarity and image texture.
The XBR65X900E did a very good job with color presentation. Colors were nicely rendered with accurate tones and shading, in addition to being quite vibrant while maintaining a very natural appearance. These attributes were even more apparent with high-quality HDR content. The 900E has a wide color gamut capability for greater color volume, which matters for HDR content.
Since all 900E models use full-array LED backlighting with local dimming, they are able to produce better contrast and deeper black levels when implemented correctly, as is the case with the XBR65X900E. Black levels were impressively deep on this TV, delivering rich deep blacks in all content that required such performance. The contrast ratio was also very good on this display which heightened its excellent black levels.
I’d like to point out the settings I used for TVs ‘X-tended Dynamic Range PRO’ and ‘Auto Local Dimming’ functions which aid in its contrast range and black level performance. My preference and setting for X-tended Dynamic Range PRO were ‘Low’; setting it to ‘High’ was a bit too aggressive for my taste. I also set Auto Local Dimming to ‘Low’.
When viewing HDR content, however, the 900E has X-tended Dynamic Range PRO set to ‘High’ by default which worked well for HDR content.
These settings gave me the best image balance for the wide range of content I viewed on this TV that contained dark images. However, of course, your preferences may or will vary depending on how you prefer your picture images to appear.
Shadow details in dark scenes with low light were rendered very good on this display. I could easily see and discern objects in these scenes that were cast in shadowed areas of the image without any doubt of what those objects were supposed to be.
Black screen uniformity was great on this TV. I did not see any light bleed along any of the screen’s edges, nor could I detect any clouding or flash-lighting effects.
Motion handling was very good on the 900E. While viewing my test footage of a basketball game shot in 4K, court action revealed very smooth and artifact-free images during this fast passed event. Motion judder wasn’t a problem either while watching my demo movie (24p) clips. However, this can be an issue when watching movies from cable TV sources that have 60p/60i signals. In this case, set the TVs ‘Motionflow’ to ‘True Cinema’ and set Cinemotion to ‘High’ to eliminate judder.
Side angle viewing was an expected shortcoming on this display since it uses a VA panel. With that said, I experienced typical color saturation and contrast loss when viewing this TV from wide angles starting at around 15 degrees. This is always something to consider if you will use this TV in a setup with room seating placed at wide angles from the screen.
Sound quality from the TV’s two speakers was slightly above average when compared to what I normally hear from most flat-panel TVs. Now don’t get me wrong, the sound quality was not great, yet still decent sounding for this type of design. The sound was somewhat full-bodied and delivered a sense of spaciousness that made listening a bit more enjoyable. The sound was also clear which made dialogue easy to understand.
Bass output, although minimal, had a small amount of punch behind it, which made action scenes in movies a bit more enjoyable. I do, however, still recommend a soundbar to obtain a much better audio presentation.
Gaming input lag – According to my source, input lag is quite good on this display measuring 32 ms, which makes it a good choice for video gaming.
Picture Settings:
I chose the ‘Custom’ picture mode when setting up the 900E for evaluation.
Brightness: 35 defaults to ‘Max’ with HDR signal
Contrast: 90
Gamma: 0
Black level: 48
Black adjustment: Off – use at your own discretion
Adv. contrast enhancer: Off – use at your own discretion
Auto local dimming: Low
X-tended Dynamic Range: Low
Color: 51
Hue: 0
Color temperature: Expert 1
Live Color: Off
Sharpness: 50
Motionflow: Off – use at your own discretion or as needed
Cinemotion: Off – use at your own discretion or as needed
Conclusion
Sony has delivered a very fine performer with its XBR65X900E. Its overall picture quality is very good with all picture sources, thanks in part to its top-notch picture enhancement technologies, especially while viewing HDR content. It has great built-in features including Chromecast and its Google Android smart TV platform which provides a variety of entertainment options via the Google Play store.
There isn’t much I have to say against the 900E other than its side angle viewing picture quality which starts to diminish when viewed at wide angles which is typical of all LED-based TVs with VA panels. There is also no 3D capability if you are still interested in this feature. Furthermore, some consumers may find it to be a bit pricey – but the good news is, that prices will fall very soon.
Sony is off to a good start with its 2017 TV lineup as is evident in the XBR65X900E. So if you’re starting your search for a 4K Ultra HD TV, put this one on your list of TVs to check out.
HDTVs and More recommended.
Image Credit Sony
My Rating, Summary & Specs
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Sony XBR65X900E
Summary
Price:$2,499.99
Check current price at Amazon.com
Pros:
• Exceptional overall picture quality
• Full-array LED backlighting with local dimming – enhances contrast and black levels
• Very good HDR performance
• Excellent 4K upscaling
• Good motion handling during sporting events and fast-paced movie action
• Low input lag – good for video gaming
• Built-in Chromecast
Cons:
• Typical loss of contrast and color saturation at wide viewing angles
• A bit pricey
Specs:
Screen size reviewed: 65″
Dimensions:
• With stand: (W x H x D) 57 x 35 1/4 x 10 1/4″
• Without stand: (W x H x D) 57 x 32 3/4 x 2 3/8″
Weight:
• With stand: 51.2 lbs
• Without stand: 48.5 lbs
Warranty: One year parts and labor
You may also like these reviews:
Sony XBR65X930E
Sony XBR65X850E
Saw the fantastic new for 2017 xbr65x900e 2 days ago at my local Best Buy and I’m in ?! Three BIG THINGS captured my attention and they are: #1/ full-array display; #2/extended dynamic range 4k processor 11 and #3/ THE PRICE POINT! ? I’m looking to get the 65″ version and at $2,499 IT’S LOADED TO THE GILLS…No apparent reason to get the models above it..(930,940,Z9, & A1) because you’re not picking up that much more in regards to visuals that justifies the paying of thousands of dollars more; at least as far as I could see and all models were side by side(save for the A1). This tv has such depth,vibrancy, and realism that no other manufacturer can match I’ve ever seen! I’m thoroughly impressed with what I experienced in the store o can’t wait to bring one home! ?
Hi Eric,
I’m impressed with the XBR65X900E too. Thanks for your comments.
I’ve been waiting to jump into 4K. The only thing missing from this set is Dolby Vision I guess, but with HDR10, I don’t see this set being supremely outdated in 3-5 years, which is typically when I like to upgrade. Got my PS4 Pro, Horizon, and ready to seal the deal with this display. Will probably wait until about August or so to pick mine up. Tks for this awesome review. I knew Sony would get something closer to LG’s OLED without breaking the bank. Glad I didn’t purchase a $4000 set, this thing looks amazing in store at my local BB, and that’s likely without it being optimized properly.
Hi Jarod,
Yes, this really is a nice TV, and should suit your needs for many years to come. Thanks for checking out this review, much appreciated.
And enjoy your XBR900E when you finally get it into your home.
Regards’
Hi Milton-
Great review, how do you think this would perform as a gaming TV? I was thinking LG B6, but I want a native 4k 120HZ refresh rate with such powerful graphics card. At times, I’m pushing well over 60fps in 4k MAXED. Currently running RCA 55 inch 4k@60Hz
John
Hi John,
The Sony 900E performs quite well as a gaming TV with most inputs signals while in “Game” mode.
With updates, the LG B6 now has good input lag measurements while in “Game” mode with certain signal types such as 1080@60Hz and 4K@60Hz.
Glad you liked the review and thanks for checking it out.
Regards,
Thanks to your wonderful review of this TVs great features and unsurpassed picture quality, I decided to take the plunge. After seeing it live in person at BestBuy, I was sold. Couldn’t see the point of buying the LG OLED which was $1200 more, although also a great TV. The XBR65X900E is truly amazing, and I haven’t even tackled all the Apps and Discover section.
Is there a way to lock my picture settings in for all inputs and sources? The TV seems to have default settings for Apps, PS3, different inputs.
Hi Mark,
Glad you enjoyed the review. Thank you.
The 900E does allow you to have different picture settings for each input. All you need to do is set them individually and they will be saved automatically.
However, if you’re looking for a global feature that will set (lock) all inputs with the same picture settings, the 900E does not have this capability. You have to do them all manually.
Enjoy your new 900E, and as you have already discovered, it is a very good TV.
Regards,
Milton, did you have a chance to view general HD DirecTV material on the 900E? I’ve heard that HD material from DirecTV is actually 1080i or maybe 720p. Just wondering how well it is up-converting less than 1080p material. thanks
Hi Peter,
No, I didn’t check out DirecTV. However, some of my demo content is in the 480p format which I use to see how well a particular TV will process non-HD content. In this regard, the 900E did a very good job at displaying and upconverting this type of material.
So being that DirecTV’s 1080i is a high-def signal, I believe the 900E will do a good job at processing and displaying this format as long as the quality of the content being presented is good.
Regards,
Got the 900 E about 3 weeks ago and couldn’t be happier. I did want the LG B or C 6P but just couldn’t justify the price compared to the 900 E – I’m happy with the call. Picture quality is amazing, ease of use is great, and I actually like the remote – which has had bad ratings (it would be nice if it were lit). Set-up was easy. The set also feels solid and well-made. Only complaint is the cords with the power brick are astoundingly short. I have the 55″ Sound is also good.
Hi Ralph,
Glad you’re enjoying your 900E, and thanks for your comments.
Hi Milton,
Let me start by saying I can go no larger than a 50″ TV. I’m seriously considering the Sony 900E
49″, however Vizio 50″, has also been on my list since my hunt started. With the improvements to the “M” series for 2017 it becomes more interesting. The “M” can be found for $599.00, really incredibly priced! The Sony is $1,099.00. I don’t mind spending more money but $500.00 is a BIG difference. Am I getting $500.00 more TV with the Sony? Thanks for your input.
Ray
Hi Raymond,
In today’s product market, pricing doesn’t always translate into how much more performance can be achieved. So when comparing the 900E to the M Series, I personally don’t think you’re getting $500 more in worth between these TVs. However, and in my opinion and experience, I believe the 900E does perform better than the Vizio M Series.
With that said, I can still justify spending $500 more on the Sony 900E even though I may not necessarily be getting that much more in performance and features. In the end, it all comes down to my preference for the 900E’s overall picture quality vs. the M Series.
Hope this helps.
Milton,
Thank you for responding and I 100% agree with every word. My last concern. No Dolby Vision. It’s a bit confusing to me. I only read of 10 bit TV’s but then read Dolby Vision requires 12 bit. How’s that work? Anyway, should no Dolby Vision be a concern? Thanks again and I really enjoy the website!
Ray
Hi Raymond,
Currently and to the best of my knowledge, there are no consumer TVs available that support 12-bit color. But to help clear up any confusion, Dolby Vision does not require a 12-bit display (TV), it is compatible with 10-bit displays.
However, the Dolby Vision spec is and will be compatible with 12-bit displays and is mastered to higher specifications than the HDR10 HDR format. Thus, the Dolby Vision HDR format should and does deliver better picture quality.
Even though the HDR10 format is used for the majority of HDR content available today, there is a decent amount Dolby Vision content available from streaming services from Netflix, Amazon and Vudu, with more sources on the way.
With that said, I would opt for a TV that is compatible with both HDR formats if you believe you will want to view content in both HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
One other important note: Dolby Vision is now available as a software upgrade on certain 4K TVs and Ultra HD Blu-ray players depending on their processing power (click here for more info). This means the XBR900E maybe capable of receiving this upgrade in the near future.
Glad you enjoy the website, thanks.
Regards,
Hi…thanks for the review and i currently have the Sony W600B 49″ from a few years ago. I am happy with the tv with the 1080 image but is it worth it to upgrade to the 900E and will i see a big difference in picture quality?
Hi Angelo,
The W600B is a decent TV with good picture quality. But in my opinion, the XBR900E is a different breed and is definitely worth the upgrade. The 900E is one of Sony’s premium XBR models with better technology and features, which does equate to better picture quality – with 4K capability being an added bonus.
Will you see a big difference in picture quality? Well, yes and no… it will depend on the quality and type of content you are viewing and how well each TV processes that content, with the advantage going to the 900E.
Regards,
Milton,
I appreciate your thorough reviews, I have been going back and forth between the Samsung UN65MU8000 and the Sony XBR-65X900E – the price points are close. Consumers rated the Samsung a bit higher but not by much, do you have an opinion on which way you would go if you were choosing between the two. They both seem like great TVs and I know sometimes it comes down to brand preference but I have never owned either brand so I have no real bias. I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks,
John
Hi John,
Glad you enjoy my reviews, thank you.
Both the MU8000 and XBR900E are very good TVs, however my personal preference is with the 900E, since in my opinion and experience the 900E delivered overall better picture quality than the MU8000.
Please don’t get me wrong, the MU8000 is still a great choice, as Samsung has always been one of my favorite brands; nevertheless, it just comes down to which TV I prefer under these particular circumstances.
I suggest you check out both models (if you haven’t already done so) to get an idea of which model has the best performance as seen through your own eyes.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Any comparison to the lg sj8500? Which does have Dolby vision.
Hi Richard,
I just did a review on LG’s SJ8500, however I wasn’t able to compare it to the XBR900E.
Is it good choice for a dark room to watch blurays?
Hi Mayner,
The 900E has a very good contrast ratio which make it a great choice for dark room viewing when watching Blu-ray discs.
Thanks for the question.
Hi Milton. Loved your review. But I’m still undecided on which is better, the Samsung Q7 or the Sony x900E. They are both priced the same at a local store and the salesman is pushing the Q7 hard.
Hi Chris,
Glad you liked the review.
Don’t let the sales person push you into a sale you’re not certain about.
The 900E and Q7 are both very good TVs, but I will personally stop short of saying which one is better as I could live happily with either model. However, the 900E does have a better contrast range and achieves deeper black levels, which are two very important performance factors to consider, and would cause me to lean more in favor of purchasing the 900E.
That said, check out both models thoroughly and choose the one that suit your needs and leaves you most satisfied.
Regards,
Would you recommend the 930E over this due to the inclusion of Dolby Vision and front facing speakers?
Hi San,
If you believe you will be wanting to watch HDR content in the Dolby Vision format, then I would definitely recommend the 930E over the 900E.
The 930E’s front-firing speakers wouldn’t be a reason for me personally to choose the 930E over the 900E, since they don’t provide a substantial increase in sonic capability in my opinion.
Hi Milton,
Just purchased the 55x900e and love the picture but the sound sounds kinda hollow. Do you recommend any settings for sound and for the Auto picture mode setting should I leave it at off? Thanks
Hi Angelo,
The sound from the 900E’s built-in speakers is decent/okay for a flat panel TV, in my opinion and experience. With that said, it really doesn’t matter what sound settings you use, the sound is not going to improve much. I recommend a soundbar if you want quality sound.
I also recommend leaving the Auto picture mode off.
Regards,
Bought the 65in XBR900E , from Crutchfield. $1999. Could not be more happy. Passed on the OLED from LG at Costco for a thousand dollars more. Will use the savings to buy sound bar. The 1080i content through Directtv feed is mesmerizing. Have not even seen it with true 4k content. Just buy it.
Hi R. Guterwill,
Glad to hear you’re enjoying your 900E. Thanks for your comments.
Hey Milton, I just got the 900E over the weekend.. I am a huge sports fan and I’m not big on Sony’s “Sports” mode or “Football” mode.. what would be your preferred settings for watching sports. I have Xfinity and have my box set to 1080p60 rather than 1080i
Hi Ryan,
Once I calibrate or set my TV’s to a particular picture mode, for example I use the “Custom” mode for Sony TV’s such as the 900E, I usually leave it set to that mode (except for gaming) for all content viewing including sporting events. However, if you find the “Custom” picture mode to be too soft and not vibrant enough for your liking, try using the “Standard” mode; this will make the image appear more vibrant. I always avoid using the “Sports” mode etc.
Hope this helps.
Hello Milton,
I was wondering if I want to spend the a few hundred dollars more to buy a 850E 75″ or get the 900E 65″ ? What do you think of the picture quality between the two models? Do you think the size increase justifies the sacrifice of the picture quality?
Hi John,
I would personally go with the 900E since it has a better contrast ratio, thus better black level performance, which are two very important factors for great picture quality. The 75″ 850E, as you probably already know, uses an IPS panel which restricts contrast range and decreases black level performance. So for me the larger screen size of the 850E would not be enough to choose it over the 900E’s better overall picture quality in my opinion.
Thanks for your questions.
Dear Milton,
Thank you so much for this review. I bought the Samsung 65″ curved MU8500 about 3 weeks ago and have been generally unhappy. I played with picture settings quite a bit. In bright full screen format, the TV is outstanding. I loved the look of the TV and the remote/interface. However, in my basement in darker scenes, I can see faint light bleed all around the panel with noticeable clouding in the bottom right corner. This became nearly unbearable while watching Defenders directly streamed from Netflix on HDR. As you know, HDR is automatic, so the TV determined the HDR picture settings for this content – so it is probably not a calibration issue. The sharpness and brightness of the panel also present slightly grainy picture for anything 720p or lower source materials. Interestingly, I have the Samsung UN55D8000 from 5 years ago and that TV outperforms the new one in every comparison (same sources, same content).
I read your review, took pictures of the Defenders show, went to Best Buy and had a long conversation with both the Best Buy person and a Sony rep who was there that day. In the end, I returned my Samsung and bought the Sony 65″ X900E instead. I have mounting service included, so my Samsung will be replaced in a few days. Personally, I couldn’t justify the extra $1000 for the X930. Also, I wanted to try a full array TV because of my dark basement set up and the bad experience I had with the edge lighting of the Samsung. I suspect that at 65″, the edge lighting issues became more pronounced than the 55″ it replaced. After being a devoted Samsung fan for 10 years, I am taking a leap of faith on the Sony. I didn’t find very many in-depth reviews online (other than all the computer generated comparisons!). Your review was the most useful among all that I read. Much appreciated!!
Regards,
Rumi.
Hi Rumi,
Glad you appreciated the review, I can’t think of a higher compliment than your statement of this review being the most useful you have read – thank you.
Sorry the Samsung MU8500 didn’t work out for you. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you already know, light bleed and clouding can be and issue with edge-lit LED panels; this issue can be even more prevalent with curved panels.
Sony’s 900E is a very good TV and I sincerely hope this model works out for you.
Regards,
I have ordered a Sony XBR75X900E coming in a couple of weeks but I am really on the fence about switching to the Samsung UN75MU9000. The latter is about $200 more. I liked the picture better on the Sony, but after reading reviews about the internet interface many prefer the Samsung and there were some complaints about crashes with the Sony requiring resetting the system often. And of course the remote being too big. The only other complaint about the Samsung is with the proprietary connector from TV to the hub where the cables are connected and there also being the power cord from the TV. I’d appreciate any input.
Hi Rob,
For me, picture quality is the most important feature, and the Sony definitely delivers in this area, but so does the Samsung. As far as interfaces are concerned, its all a matter of preference and ease of use/functionality in my opinion, and I actually like both the Sony and Samsung smart TV platforms. I’m not overly concerned about glitches with any given interface since those issues can and are usually resolved through firmware updates.
Samsung’s proprietary connections are a non issue for me.
I think you’ve made a great choice with the Sony XBR75X900E, and what seals the deal is you prefer the picture quality of the 900E over the MU9000. So it looks like you’re good to go.
Enjoy your new TV!
Hi Milton,
I plan to upgrade from my “old school” Samsung Plasma TV – Samsung PN-59D8000. I was looking at either the Sony XBR65X900E or 75 inch. Do you think the picture will be degraded if I purchase the 75 over the 65?
Also, I’m not familiar with how much Flat Panel TV prices drop on Black Friday. Right now, the 65 is going for $1,999. Do you think it will drop more on Black Friday? Lets say to $1,500? I’m get itchy to pull the trigger now and just buy it and give my Plasma to my fiancé. (You know how that goes, happy future wife, happy life 🙂 But, if I could save $500-$600, then I will wait.
By the way, excellent review of the Sony!!
Thanks
Tyler
Hi Tyler,
Glad you liked the review and thank you.
The picture quality of the 65″ and 75″ 900E will be very similar if not almost identical depending on your picture settings and the content you are viewing. And speaking of content, if you are viewing content sources that are not of high quality and have imperfections which can and will show picture artifacts that can be associated with these types of images, the larger 75″ screen can highlight these issues more than the 65″ model.
With that said, I would not let these concerns keep me from purchasing the 75″ model. You may just have to be more selective on what you watch.
As far as price big drops on the 900E on Black Friday… that could be anybody’s guess, it may or my not happen. However, typically of what I see around the holidays are not huge price drops on most of the popular models among major manufacturers. So to purchase now or later is a risk you will have to take.
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding vows!
Regards,
Hey Milton,
First of all, great review! I just have a quick question to ask. I bought the 55″ version of the x900e and overall I have been very happy with it. However, when viewing it in a completely dark room, I do notice a bit of light bleed around the edges with black screens, especially with HDR content. In your review you said you did not encounter this issue, but did you test it in a completely dark room? I am just trying to decide whether my set is faulty and should contact Sony. I have already exchanged one set because of this, and don’t want to go through the process of exchanging again, if what I am seeing is not actually a fault.
Regards
Paul
Hi Paul,
Glad you liked the review, much appreciated. I usually don’t watch movies in a completely dark room; during my nighttime viewing there is usually some low ambient light present, so this is how I typically test the TV’s I review. I also do testing with full room lighting to see how the TV handles and performs with this sort of lighting (screen reflections, how it affects contrast range, etc.)
So yes, within my testing environment, I did not detect any light bleed issues. However, as you most likely know, LED TVs can be notorious for light bleed and the amount of light bleed can vary from TV to TV even within the same model lineup.
With that said, depending on the amount of light bleed you are experiencing, your TV my not necessarily be defective. And sad to say, screen uniformity issues such as light bleed is an unfortunate part of LED TVs performance characteristics. So if you decide to exchange your current 900E, you run the chance of still having light bleed issues which could be more or less than what you are experiencing now. Or you could get lucky (as I did) and have none or virtually no light bleed issues at all.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Hi Milton,
I read your review and find it very helpful.
Black Friday is right around the corner.
I’m in a standstill between two models:
75X850E @ $1900
75X900E @ $2500
Would the X900E be considered a better deal at $600 more?
I don’t mind shelling out $600 extra since the TV (hopefully) will last about 6 – 8 years.
Any recommendation is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Daniel,
Regarding the screen sizes you are considering, the 75X900E would be the better option in my opinion for the primary reason of VA panel the 900E uses vs. the 75X850E’s IPS panel. IPS panels fall short in the areas of contrast and black levels which affects picture quality. For this reason the 75X900E will give you overall picture quality especially when watching TV in a dark room.
Regards,
Hi Milton,
Just hooked up a new 65 900e.
How do I ensure I’m getting the highest quality video feed from my xfinity cable box? For example, do I need to change any setting in the cable box to ensure it’s outputting the highest resolution at all times (i.e. 720 vs 1080?). Other cable box settings I need to know?
Thanks,
Bill
Hi Bill,
I’m not familiar with Xfinity cable boxes, but with other cable boxes I’ve used, I always make sure the resolution setting are set to the highest resolution output the TV can receive. If you’re not sure which one to choose, the Xfinity cable box should have an “Auto” resolution setting which will set the proper output for you.
Hope this helps.
I’m on the fence between the 850E 65 inch and the 900E 55 inch, they are the same price. is it worth loosing 10 inch of screen for the 900e better quality ?
Hi Ron,
Both the 850E and 900E will give you very good picture quality; however, I do prefer the 900E’s picture quality vs. 850E even though its not a night-and-day difference. With that said, if you really desire the bigger 65″ screen on the 850E, then I say go for it – you won’t be disappointed.
Regards,
I appreciate your excellent knowledge of tv’s and value your opinion.
I am looking at the 2018 model of the Sony 75inch 900f. Are there any important differences between the 900e and the 900f. The Price difference is $1500.
Hi Jerome,
Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated.
In my opinion, there isn’t much of a performance difference between the 900F and 900E. The 900F has a very slight edge in contrast ratio, which in my opinion will most likely not be visible while watching your typical TV content. So if you’re looking to save the $1500, I would definitely go with the 900E.