Sony Bravia 9 Review: Is This Budget MiniLED TV Worth Your Money?

joe603

New member

First Impressions​

The Sony BRAVIA 9 has a premium design that looks fantastic in any room. It's thicker than most modern TVs, but its thin bezels give the TV a sleek look when viewed from the front.
The back of the TV is made entirely of plastic and has the familiar checkerboard pattern similar to many other recent Sony TVs. The inputs are on the far left side of the TV when facing the front, so theyre accessible if you have the TV mounted flush to the wall. There are also plastic covers tohide the inputs section and partially hide the feet. You can also run cablesthrough the TVs feetto help with cable management. On top of that, the TV comes with cable ties to help manage cables further.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 has outstanding build quality. Its thick metal frame is solid, the TV has some weight to it that makes it feel sturdy, and it barely wobbles in both the low and high stand positions. There are no issues with build quality, and the TV feels premium and sturdy.

Introduce​

Parameter
Sony Bravia 9​
Picture​
SonyBravia9.jpg
Reference Price​
$2698​
Model Year​
2024​
Specific Uses​
Entertainment​
Built-In Media​
Power Cable, Remote Control, Stand, Manuals​
Highlight
Display Size: 65 inches
Display Type: 4K Mini LED
Color Technology: XR Triluminos Pro
Brightness and Contrast: XR Backlight Master Drive
Processor: XR Processor
Smart TV Platform: Google TV
Streaming App Support: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, etc.
Voice Control: Google Assistant
Audio Support: Dolby Vision, Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X
Gaming Features: Auto HDR Tone Mapping, Game Menu
Target Device: PlayStation 5

System​

Parameter
Sony Bravia 9​
Operating System​
Google TV​
Internet Applications​
Prime Video, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Max, Disney+, YouTube, Sony Pictures CORE, Google TV​
Remote Control​
Bluetooth​
Controller Type​
Remote Control​
Control Method​
Remote​
System Experience
The Sony BRAVIA 9 delivers a solid overall performance with its smooth Google TV interface, making it user-friendly for navigating through a wide selection of apps. While there are occasional minor glitches with settings that can be resolved by restarting the TV, this is infrequent. The presence of ads in the smart interface is a downside, as they cannot be disabled. However, the TV excels in content accessibility, allowing users to easily cast from their devices or play videos from a USB stick, enhancing the viewing experience. Overall, the Sony BRAVIA 9 is a strong choice for users seeking a feature-rich smart TV.

Display​

Parameter
Sony Bravia 9​
Aspect Ratio​
16:9​
Display Technology​
Mini Led​
Screen Finish​
Flat​
Has Color Screen​
Yes​
Resolution​
4K​
Refresh Rate​
120 Hz​
Viewing Angle​
178 Degrees​
HDR Format​
HLG, HDR10, Dolby Vision​
Backlight Technology​
Mini-LED​
Backlight Setting​
Full Array Local Dimming​
Backlight Configuration​
Direct-Lit​
Picture Enhancement​
XR Triluminos Pro, XR Clear Image, XR Processor​
Motion Enhancement​
XR Motion Clarity​
Viewing Experience
The Sony BRAVIA 9 delivers an impressive viewing experience with exceptional contrast capabilities, especially when local dimming is set to High, enabling deep blacks that can compete with OLED displays. Its blooming performance is commendable, with minimal blooming noticeable in most content, although some issues arise during bright scenes and from off-angles. The TV excels in HDR color gamut coverage, particularly in the DCI-P3 color space, although it does exhibit some undersaturation in certain colors.

While the black uniformity is outstanding, the gray uniformity is only decent, with some noticeable effects that may vary by unit. The viewing angle is mediocre, showing degradation in quality as viewers move off-center, making it less suitable for wide seating arrangements. However, the reflection handling is superb, effectively minimizing glare in bright environments despite some rainbow smearing. The unique BGR subpixel layout may pose minor clarity issues for PC use, but it does not significantly impact video or gaming performance. Overall, the Sony BRAVIA 9 is a high-performing television that excels in contrast and HDR capabilities, making it a strong contender for cinematic experiences.

Audio​

Parameter
Sony Bravia 9​
Audio Channels​
2​
Surround Sound​
Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X​
Audio Output​
Surround​
Audio Input​
HDMI​
Speaker Description​
Acoustic Multi-Audio​
Speaker Output Power​
70 Watts​
Audio Experience
The Sony BRAVIA 9 delivers a well-balanced sound profile that enhances dialogue clarity, making it suitable for various viewing experiences. While it offers some bass, it may not satisfy those seeking impactful low-end sounds. The TV's ability to maintain clarity and balance even at high volume levels is commendable, and its overall distortion performance is good, remaining mostly undetectable at moderate volumes. Overall, the audio performance of the Sony BRAVIA 9 is solid, providing an enjoyable listening experience without significant drawbacks.

Features​

Parameter
Sony Bravia 9​
Compatible Devices​
Smartphone​
Tuner Type​
ATSC​
D x W x H​
13.38"D x 56.88"W x 33.38"H​
Mount Standard​
300 x 300 mm​
Power Consumption​
507 Watts​
Line Voltage​
110 VAC 60 Hz​
Other Features​
X-Wide Angle, X-Anti Reflection, Studio Calibrated Modes - NEW! Prime Video, Netflix Adaptive, Sony Pictures CORE, Exclusive features for the PlayStation 5, XR TRILUMINOS Pro, Google TV with Google Assistant, AirPlay 2, Game Menu​
Motion Smoothing
The Sony BRAVIA 9 delivers a strong performance in handling low-quality content, effectively smoothing out artifacts while maintaining detail. Its excellent response time minimizes blur with fast-moving objects, although it does exhibit some black smearing during dark scene transitions. The use of pulse width modulation for backlight control is generally well-executed, with flickering at 720Hz being mostly unnoticeable, though it may affect those sensitive to flicker. The optional motion interpolation feature enhances motion clarity in slower scenes, yet it struggles with faster movements, resulting in noticeable artifacts and stuttering. Overall, the Sony BRAVIA 9 showcases impressive capabilities in content processing, but some limitations in motion handling and dark scene performance are present.

Connectivity​

Parameter
Sony Bravia 9​
Connectivity Technology​
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet, HDMI​
Bluetooth Version​
5.3​
Screen Mirroring​
AirPlay 2, Google Cast​
Wireless Technology​
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi​
Usb Ports​
2​
USB2.0 Ports​
1​
USB3.0 Ports​
1​
HDMI Ports​
4​
Connector Type​
USB, RS232C, Optical, Ethernet, HDMI​
Signal Format​
digital​
Sharing Direction​
Mobile to TV​
Hardware Interface​
USB​
Connecting TV
The Sony BRAVIA 9 offers a strong gaming performance with its incredibly low input lag in Game Mode, ensuring a responsive experience for gamers. However, outside of this mode, the input lag increases significantly, leading to noticeable delays when using the remote. The TV excels in compatibility with the PS5, supporting 4K at 120Hz and HDMI Forum VRR, though it does have limitations with 1440p resolution. Its HDMI 2.1 ports facilitate high bandwidth for advanced features, but the eARC functionality occupies one of these ports, potentially limiting connectivity options. The support for Dolby Vision and an ATSC 3.0 tuner enhances its 4K content viewing capabilities, while the built-in speakers can serve as a center channel when paired with compatible Sony soundbars or receivers. Overall, the Sony BRAVIA 9 is a capable TV for gaming and 4K viewing but has some limitations in remote responsiveness and soundbar compatibility.

User Feedback​

Pros
• Stunning picture quality with high brightness and contrast
• Crisp clarity and vibrant colors
• Extraordinary sound quality
• Excellent gaming features
• Easy to set up
• Customizable settings for advanced users
• Good performance in bright rooms
• Effective local dimming for deep blacks

Cons
• Display panel quality issues, particularly with vignetting in the corners
• Remote control could use more dedicated buttons

Overall Impression
The 85-inch Sony BRAVIA 9 is a remarkable television that excels in picture quality and sound, making it an excellent choice for both casual viewers and gaming enthusiasts. Despite the notable issue with display panel uniformity, many users appreciate its performance, especially in bright environments. The TV offers extensive customization options, catering to tech-savvy users. While the price may be high, many feel it is justified by the overall quality and features, making it a strong contender in the premium TV market.
 
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