We had a chance to attend the Sony press conference and tour their booth at CES 2017. TV highlights included:
- First OLED TV with Crystal Sound (AX1 series)
- New WCG/HDR LCD TVs (X930E/940E series)
- Dolby Vision for the AX1-, X930E/940E- and Z9D- series TV
- First Dolby Vision Blu-ray player (Ultra HD Blu-ray Players at CES 2017)
- New 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector (Sony Launches Smaller, Cheap 4K UST Laser Projector)
- The new VPL-VZ1000ES Ultra-Short Throw laser light projector (covered elsewhere)
According to Sony, the LCD-based Z9D series will remain the pinnacle of performance with the OLED-based A1X and LCD-based X930/X940 being at the same level, but one notch below the Z9D. Unfortunately, Sony did not reveal any TV specifications such as luminance or color gamut coverage. Nor did they provide pricing and availability details.
Sony’s soundbar HT-ST5000 and AV Receiver STR-DN1080, featuring Dolby Atmos, will be available first in North America in spring of 2017.
A1E Series of OLED TVs
Sony surprised those that had not been watching the news (or reading Display Monitor!) at CES 2017 with the introduction of two new OLED TVs: the new flagship XBR-A1E Bravia OLED. The OLED panels and acoustic surface sound system are sourced from LG Display, but the image processing and design are all from Sony. Image quality was stellar.
The A1E will be offered in 55”, 65” and 77” screen sizes. Sony was not sharing any details on specification, pricing or availability. That is not too surprising as LG Electronics seems to be as unsure of their product details as well.
The latest OLED panel technology will clearly be used including the nano cell/nano color technology described in the LG Electronics write up. The TVs will also feature what LG Display describes as Crystal Sound, which places two transducers on the backside of the thin, flexible OLED panel (see LG Display Shows Off Technology in Innovation Room).
However, Sony’s implementation is more sophisticated than LG Display’s. The flat panel can also be mounted like a picture frame with the back part of the stand doubling as another set of speakers.
The A1E will use Sony’s 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme and will incorporate support for Dolby Vision.
X930E/X940E Series of LCD TVs
In LED LCD TV, there are two new series: the X930E and the X940E, which also feature the 4K HDR X1 Extreme processor. The new XBR-X930E/X940E TVs will support Dolby Vision HDR as well. The X940E Series will only be offered in a 75” size while the X930E Series will come in 55” and 65” screen sizes.
The X930E is an edge-lit design that features Sony’s Slim Backlight Drive+, an evolution of Slim Backlight Drive. It is a further improved grid-array backlighting system in a slim form factor which allows for even more precise local dimming control by placing LEDs on all four sides of the backlight, using the intersections as “points of control” for backlight illumination.
The X940E is a full array backlit design but has all the same features as the X930E.
X-tended Dynamic Range PRO local dimming and boosting technology is installed on both series and manages the driving of the backlight points of control to coordinate with the content.
Z9D Series
The Z9D series will continue as the flagship models. The three Z series models have already been introduced and are promoted as delivering greater color accuracy along with greater detail in bright and dark areas than other LCD technologies. The Z series consists of 65-, 75- and 100-inch models launched at suggested retails of $6,999, $9,999 and $60,000, respectively.
For 2017, these models should gain support for Dolby Vision as well.
Image Processing
The Z9D, A1E and X930E/X940E series of TVs all use the 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme. This processor incorporates three new technologies: object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR and dual database processing. Sony claims it has 40% more processing power than its processor, the X1. It takes all incoming SDR content and remasters it to near 4K HDR quality. There did not appear to be any updates in this area as we reported on the same capabilities from IFA last September. Image processing modules from Sony include:
- The dual database feature is designed to accomplish noise reduction and upscaling to UHD resolution. Each database has tens of thousands of references to objects to help enhance picture detail in the upscaling process.
- Super Bit Mapping is designed to eliminate any banding but processing the image to create 14-bit equivalent gradation – even from 8-bit sources.
- Object-based remastering is designed to improve the color and contrast to create more true-to-life colors, contrast and textures.
- X-tended Dynamic Range PRO enhances HDR and non-HDR content by boosting and dimming the backlight levels precisely for each zone of the screen with a unique backlighting algorithm.
- 4K X-Reality PRO improves detail detail using Sony’s unique algorithm of reality creation database for any content such as TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital photos.
OS, UI and Content Access
The A1E OLED and X930/X940 LCD series of TVs will be powered by Android TV, which brings movies, TV shows and thousands of apps into the home. With Google Home compatibility, customers can voice-control the TV and ask it to perform commands via the Google Home device. Android TV also provides access to PlayStation Vue, a live TV streaming service of premium content, including sports, news and more, with no annual contract, as well as Ultra, a 4K HDR streaming service. With ChromeCast built-in, viewers can send content from their smartphone or tablet to the TV.
All of the new TVs are also the company’s first to integrate with the Google Home smart speaker, enabling consumers to issue voice commands to the TVs from the smart speaker. – CC
