PICTURE QUALITY This model had very good high-definition picture quality. It did an excellent job displaying the finest detail. Color accuracy was very good, with images generally looking natural. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were only fair with darker areas of the image looking unnaturally illuminated. Dark scenes, in particular, were visibly lacking in contrast, giving images a flatter, less dynamic appearance. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. There was a slight uneven brightness effect that created cloudy areas most noticeable on very dark scenes. We routinely see this type of issue with many brands of LCD TVs, regardless of the type of backlight used (CCFL or LED). Though it's generally not a significant problem, it can vary in degree from TV to TV. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE This Sony has a wide viewing angle overall, better than that of most LCDs. It will provide the same picture quality, with fewer problems than most LCD sets, for typical viewing conditions--say, if your family is seated across a long sectional or in chairs off to the sides of the TV. With brighter scenes, like sporting events, the display did a fine job maintaining accurate colors and decent contrast whether we moved off to the sides or were viewing from above or from below screen. The picture did show some dimming from the sides but not to any point we found distracting. With dark scenes the display didn't fare quite as well. When viewed from the sides, the depth of black levels varied depending on the vertical position of the viewer's head. As we moved closer to the screen this limitation became even more apparent, especially if seated on the floor looking upward where black levels brightened significantly. This display's wide viewing angle is best appreciated when viewed at eye level to the screen.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE This Sony UHD TV delivers full 4K picture detail, but only decent HD-to-UHD upconversion. All native 4K content we played on this model, including movies and test videos from our Sony FMPX10 player, was presented in full detail with excellent image fidelity when played back via the TV's HDMI input. This model also supports video streaming of 4K programs via both Netflix and YouTube (among other emerging sources), and images were clean and revealed the super fine detail we expect from 4K (the loss of fine detail with 4K streaming content is an issue we've noted with recent Sony UHD's but this has been fixed with the latest firmware update). Using the TV's USB port, we were able to play back 4K videos stored on a flash drive which were encoded in both the HEVC and VP9 formats, as well as MP4. High-resolution photos were displayed in full 4K detail, and like the videos, revealed great clarity, taking full advantage of UHD's extra resolution. With regular HD content, the TV's HD-to-UHD upconversion processing fell short with only good performance, revealing some visible jaggies along the edges of diagonals when playing HD content. All four of the TV's HDMI inputs comply with the latest HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 specifications that support play back for 4K video at 60Hz, and copy protection, a requirement for compatibility with emerging 4K movie play back devices such as a 4K Blu-ray player.
MOTION BLUR This Sony TV has only fair motion performance, with significant blurring on our motion tests. Though its Motionflow feature does a very good job reducing motion blur, it also introduces significant image dimming and slight flicker, so we left the feature off. On typical program content, the blurring effect is often fleeting and may not bother most people. However, keen-eyed viewers may detect the loss of texture and detail on scenes with movement, especially in high-quality video such as a Blu-ray movie.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some LCDs, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This TV has fair sound quality with below average performance. It's acceptable for typical programming, but shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. With movies, dialog was generally clear, though somewhat muffled, while remaining well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Base extension was lacking (though what was present sounded a bit boomy), while the overall sound was somewhat closed in. The speakers can play to fairly loud volume levels without obvious distortion, a plus if you'll be using this set in a larger room or noisy environment. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system to this set.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was straightforward, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is easy to navigate. It lacks a dedicated menu button on the television console, so you can't access the menu if you lose the remote. The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the support stand to the TV is fairly straightforward, requiring the assembly of a few parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. Features include access to a library of applications via "Google Play/Sony SelectMovie streaming services include: Google Play Movies & TV.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes four HDMI inputs, one composite input, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, and Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing. HDMI and analog cable connections made to the rear-facing panel will protrude beyond the panel's slim depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, and a remote with batteries.
ABOUT ULTRA HD TESTING (for Ultra HD resolution TVs only): With four times the pixel count of HDTVs, Ultra HD TVs (aka UHD, 4K) are capable of reproducing superior detail over their 1080p-resolution counterparts. We test UHD picture quality using true 4K movie, video, and photo content to confirm these displays deliver detail to this format's full potential. We check the quality of 4K test videos and movies played from Sony's FMPX10 4K player via the TV's HDMI input, as well as 4K test patterns, videos and photos from a flash drive plugged into the TV's USB port. We also check if the TV can stream 4K content from Netflix or YouTube (if the service is supported by the TV), and also test how well the TV can upconvert 1080p movies from Blu-ray disc to the display's UHD native resolution while keeping artifacts such as "jaggies" on the edges of image content to a minimum. The best UHD TVs present high fidelity images that reveal the full quality of the best source content without degradation, or over enhancement. Ultra HD TVs use existing LCD (LED), or OLED panels and are subject to the same performance strengths and weaknesses of those technologies, as seen with viewing angle, motion blur, and black level, among others. When viewing Ultra HD TVs, the benefits of their finer-than-HD resolution are best appreciated on the largest screens, or from closer viewing distances.
ABOUT CR'S TV VIEWING CONDITIONS Our picture settings are optimized for a dimmer home viewing environment. If the settings we recommend don't suit your taste or your environment, use the picture controls to achieve an image you consider "just right."
ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
