Sony Bravia XR A90J - The Ultimate 4K TV for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Gaming
Do you remember the launch of PlayStation 5, when Sony boasted the 4K gaming capabilities at 120FPS of the console and the public was left speechless in front of the very detailed images present in the presentation videos of some of the games available on the new console? We all loved it, but people did not pay attention to a crucial element: on what kind of TV will you be able to enjoy the capabilities of the new hardware?
After testing God knows how many TVs, we think we can finally say that we got our hands on the ultimate 4K gaming TV. And we are not just saying this from a gaming perspective on the PlayStation 5, but as an overall experience.
So today we are talking about the Sony Bravia XR A90J from the manufacturer's Master series and we will explain why we think it will be a reference model for the years to come.
Sony Bravia XR A90J Design
The first thing we noticed as we unpacked the TV was its thickness, or rather how thin it is. And if we started talking about the package, we have to give a big thumbs up on the way Sony packed the TV. In addition to the necessary creak, the thin edges are covered with rubber bands that serve as extra protection for transport and handling.
With a panel thickness of only 5mm at the thinnest point and a maximum of 41mm with all the electronics on the back, we can say that it is one of the thinnest TVs we have tested so far. This translates into a fragile product feeling and we recommend handling the TV very carefully to avoid any accident. But once put in position and with the legs mounted, the Sony Bravia XR A90J feels solid and sturdy.
The legs can be mounted in two positions: the first is a stealth approach, in which the body of the TV almost touches the surface on which it is positioned. The second one is designed for those who want to add a soundbar and lifts the TV about 7cm from the ground.
We mounted it in the first position and I must admit that it looks very good, and if you ignore the two fairly discreet legs, it feels like you have a screen integrated directly into the furniture. Now that is a look for 2022!
The only mention is that in the supine position, you will need about 130cm of space on the furniture. But I think when you consider such a TV, you know that it will take up a little more space than a standard 40-inch model.
The Sony Bravia XR A90J TV comes with a lot of connectivity options. The first ports that will catch your eye are the four HDMI ports. Here we have a combination of two HDMI 2.1 and two more HDMI 2.0. This also leads to a small problem, as one of the two 2.1 ports also serves as a method of connecting a soundbar via eARC, which means that if you also have a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series, you will have to switch the cable between them, or sacrifice functionality by connecting it via HDMI 2.0.
This is an aspect that should be considered and Sony is a little behind in the competition as others offer models with four HDMI 2.1 in the same price range. In addition, we have the standard connections you would expect from a TV, but the Sony Bravia XR A90J also offers something extra super interesting. If you use a home cinema audio system, the TV can be connected as a center speaker. We also found a CI slot, three USB ports (one of which is 3.0) and a LAN port for wired internet access.
Last but not least is the remote control. We have seen all sorts of different approaches for remote controls that accompany high-end TVs, and this model rises to the standards of the competition. I know I'm going to sound a little rude about that, but I like that it's big and heavy.
You feel it in your hand, and once you lift it off the ground, the button background lights will turn on. This way, you can use it well even in a dark environment. And in case you get tired of the typing arrows, you can use voice commands. You also have dedicated media control keys and shortcuts to a selection of popular applications like YouTube, Netflix, Disney or Amazon Prime Video.
Sony Bravia XR A90J: a custom hardware-supported software component
We have to admit that we did our homework before the tests started and the most common complaint about the Sony Bravia XR A90J was the lack of dedicated apps. But for the model we received the selection of available applications is very good. You have almost everything a normal user desires, like YouTube and Netflix, or if you just want to listen to music, Spotify and Deezer should be enough.
Chances are that this TV is comes with the latest version of Google TV. So if you have a personal server, you can install Plex or Kodi and link everything you need there.
One app we really liked was Bravia Core. It serves as an on-demand service and offers you credits with which you can unlock movies from a fairly large collection, all in IMAX Enhanced format, specially optimized for Bravia XR. In combination with DST sound technology you get the highest quality images and sound.
The best part is that you don't have to pay anything to try the service, the simple purchase of a Sony Bravia XR A90J gives you 10 movies to choose from, or 24 months of unlimited streaming. Live streaming is up to 80MB/s at 4K UHD resolution, so a wired internet connection is recommended.
The only thing we have to mention here is that once you've started an IMAX Enhanced movie, you'll have to manually switch to the profile with the same name in the TV menu. Unfortunately, the transition is not automatic and is necessary to enjoy maximum quality.
Cognitive intelligence seeks to emulate the behavior of the human brain that analyzes media content through eyes and ears. In this way, the Cognitive Processor XR analyzes colors, contrast, and detail individually to create the most realistic image possible.
Without going into deep technical details the brief description would sound like this: Bravia XR gives you an image quality very close to reality, so you experience the locations in movies as if you were there.
Sony Bravia XR A90J Technical Specs
Sony Bravia XR A90J General specs:
Pannel Type: OLED
Maximum Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
Diagonal (inch) : 55
Diagonal (cm) : 139
Maximum Refresh rate: 120Hz
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Smart TV: Yes
Operating System: Google TV
Processor: Cognitive Processor XR
Sony Bravia XR A90J Audio Specs
Output (RMS): 60W
Speakers: 2x 20W
Subwoofer: 2x 10W
Audio Channels: 2.2
Surround: DST Digital Surround
Sound Support: Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio
Sony Bravia XR A90J Connectivity
HDMI: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0
USB: 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0
Headphones output: Yes
LAN RJ-45: Yes
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2
Sony Bravia XR A90J Physical Specs
Size (with mounting support): 1282 x 709 x 317mm
Size (without mounting support) 1223 x 709 x 41mm
Full Package weight: 29 Kg
Weight (without mounting support): 18.6 Kg
Power consumption on stand-by: 0.5W
Power consumption on stand-by (connected to the internet): 2W (Wi-Fi sau LAN)
VESA support: 300 x 300
Sony Bravia XR A90J has the best image quality you've ever seen
From the first minutes spent in front of the Sony Bravia XR A90J we realized that we are dealing with something really special. And even though the 55 inch diagonal of the model we tested is quite large, we've never seen so much clarity in an image.
Once you enter the territory of 4K movies and HDR support, you risk being caught there more than you would like. But we have to admit, it's been a long time since we've had a binge watch. Even though the movie isn't great, Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead left us speechless. It offers Dolby Vision support, and in combination with the OLED panel of the TV, it offers very well pronounced colors, with an extremely good contrast and brightness so that you can watch the movie in a very bright room, without losing details.
Overall, Google TV brings significant improvements over Android TV and gives you a wide range of applications that you can install. What's more interesting is that it also integrates with Google Chromecast and smart features like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
They are run by a processor called the Cognitive Processor XR, which gives the TV a cognitive intelligence. This makes the Sony Bravia XR A90J the first model in the world to enjoy this technology.
Speaking of brightness, we want to point out that the OLED panel on this TV is extremely powerful. Sony claims that it can reach 1,300 nits, which is well above the HDR10 standard, but this is only possible with the Vivid image preset. Under the hood, this value is obtained by using RGBW pixels. This means that in addition to the classic pixels that combine red, green and blue to achieve white, this panel also includes a white subpixel that further enhances the brightness and gives it an even greater coverage of the color spectrum.
We liked that the Sony Bravia XR A90J does not try to create a necessarily vibrant image, as we see in the case of other TVs that seem to turn some frames into cartoons. Instead, the manufacturer is trying to provide a realistic viewing experience, and even if some colors are cooler, we can't say it bothered us. After all, our everyday reality is not only reflected in bright shades of red and green.
We think that gives the TV personality and makes it unique, as it renders the images in a realistic way, without necessarily trying to gain your attention through artificially processed images.
Motionflow and Film Mode technologies also contribute to the entire viewing experience. They significantly streamline the images and we were very pleased not to notice any so-called Soap Opera Effect. In this way, you will be able to watch movies at a higher frame rate than the original, also obtained by interpolation, but without the related shortcomings.
This is by far the best implementation of such a way that we have seen so far and we are very curious about the future of this technology which for users like us, who also know what a game at 100FPS or more looks like, it is extremely interesting.
This does not mean that only 4K movies will look incredible. Sony has done a good job on the processing side and even the FullHD content looks great, with a very low image noise level. Yes, it will look worse than the native resolution, but for 55 ″ TV, we can say that we are happy with the upscale performance.
For those who worry that investing in a Sony Bravia XR A90J could be ruined by the burn-in effect, the manufacturer has included a technology that protects the screen in the long run. This allows the processor to detect the hottest areas and automatically reduces the brightness only on those areas. And on the hardware side, behind the screen is a laminated aluminum substrate that helps better heat dissipation to prevent overheating.
Sony Bravia XR A90J Sound Quality
The Sony Bravia XR A90J uses an advanced audio system that transmits sound through the screen using vibrating actuators. In addition, it has two subwoofers, so the audio quality is very good, especially for an integrated solution.
The audio channels are very well balanced and you can actually walk with your hand outstretched to the screen and put your hand on the area where the sound is coming from. This effect is most visible in multi-party scenes, as you can immediately spot from which area of the screen your voice is heard, creating a camera effect full of people having a conversation.
The sound coming out of the screen also helps a lot in the relationship with the spectators. The sound is still reflected from the surrounding objects, but comes directly to you. This way you will always feel in the middle of the action, and in combination with realistic images you can even say that the experience is different from anything else you have experienced so far.
The volume is adjustable on a scale of 0 to 100, but we would not recommend anyone to go over 80 because from there it starts to get a little dirty. If you do not have very high demands on sound, the solution integrated here will be quite sufficient.
However, if you choose to use a home-cinema audio system, we would not advise to use the TV as a center speaker as there is a chance that the difference in specifications will make its presence felt, thus risking ruining the experience offered by a high-performance audio system.
Even if the TV gives you some sound settings, we can't say we were fully satisfied, but it's okay because no TV we’ve seen so far has given us the high-end quality you get with a dedicated audio system. It's not even the best sound I've heard from a TV, but we digress.
Sony Bravia XR A90J - Perfect for PlayStation 5 Gaming
We didn't come up with this subtitle, but we took it word for word from the manufacturer's page. In this case, however, we tend to give credence to those from Sony, as they are the same people who created the PlayStation 5.
Thus, in combination with the next-gen console, Sony Bravia XR A90J manages to offer a great experience. The two are connected using Bravia XR technology which automatically optimizes the settings. And we have to admit, they do it very well.
But we had a weird mess that we have to tell you about, even though it may not be relevant in every case.
We connected the console to the HDMI4 port which is signaled by the following line of text: 4K 120Hz. That indicates that this would be the right port for a console, right?
Well, yes and no. In our case, we think that the sample that came to the test suffered some damage in its journey because on the HDMI4 port it refused to run properly, the Game mode thus offering the weakest gaming experience, in which the images even if fluid , they often swayed and seemed to generate a kind of light artifact around light shades. It's hard to describe, but I think it's a physical defect.
We also tried to figure it out, but the only solution was to connect to the HDMI3 port, the only one that also offers eARC. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you want to play 4K at 120FPS you will have to give up Dolby Vision.
There are three HDMI connection modes in the TV settings: Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced Dolby Vision. Even if the latter gives you the best picture, Enhanced mode is the one you want to select if you have a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series.
Once we figured it out, I went into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 and set the game to Performance mode. What we got is an extremely fluid and clean experience, with no motion blur and which we have seen on a few TVs. This is also helped by the short response time, which at only 8.5ms is sensational for a TV. What's more, it's not even sold as a gaming model!
Unfortunately, we also have a pretty big downside here. Sony has not yet released support for VRR, but from what we understand it will be added as an update somewhere in mid 2022. This is a pretty big downside, especially for a TV that claims to be perfect for PlayStation 5, a console which supports this technology.
Sony Bravia XR A90J: final words and conclusion
The Sony Bravia XR A90J is the coolest TV we've ever gotten our hands on and the fact that this model offers an image quality comparable to the reality of our Earth is even more impressive. A new golden standard among TVs that few other models will match or surpass in the near future.
It has its disadvantages, like any other product, but the biggest obstacle to the purchase still seems to be the price. Even after the testing period, it is difficult for us to motivate a purchase of $2200+. But this is our situation, the ordinary user who would never use such a TV to its full capacity.
But like any other expensive product, there is a market, and those who have somewhere to shake 2200+ USD for the 55 ″ model and up to 7500 USD for the 83 ″ model will certainly have one of the strongest viewing experiences that a TV can offer in 2022.
