Sony BRAVIA XR A95L 65-inch QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV

Key Features of Sony BRAVIA XR A95L 65-inch QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV

The Sony BRAVIA XR 65-inch Class A95L QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV is a high-end television that excels in various aspects, making it a compelling choice for consumers seeking top-tier visual and audio performance.

Key Features:

1. Display Technology: It employs the second-generation QD-OLED panel made by Samsung Display, providing excellent color accuracy and brightness. This technology enhances the overall picture quality, making it one of the best available in the market.
2. Design and Build: The BRAVIA XR A95L boasts a sleek, minimalist design. It’s notably slim, with the OLED panel measuring only 7mm at its thinnest point. The TV’s rear houses the Acoustic Surface Audio+ components and connections, expanding to around 30mm at the thickest part.
3. Sound Quality: It stands out for its superior sound quality, characterized by presence, dynamics, stereo effects, and punch, all emanating from the built-in speakers. This feature is significant, considering most flat-screen TVs often fall short in audio performance.
4. Interface and Smart Features: The BRAVIA XR A95L uses Google TV for its operating system, ensuring a user-friendly and responsive interface. It comes with a good selection of apps and supports 4K UHD HDR playback, including Dolby Atmos, enhancing the viewing experience.
5. Gaming Performance: The TV is well-suited for gaming, featuring low input lag (16.3 ms for 4K/60Hz and 7.9 ms for 120Hz), and supports various gaming features like VRR and ALLM, which are important for a seamless gaming experience.
6. Connectivity: While the TV includes four HDMI inputs, it’s worth noting that only two are HDMI 2.1, with one of these shared with the eARC port. This configuration might require users to choose between connecting multiple modern gaming consoles and an external sound system without additional accessories.
7. Environmental Consideration: Sony has designed the A95L with environmental consciousness, incorporating features like Dynamic Backlight Control and Power Saving Mode to improve energy efficiency.
8. Remote Control: The TV comes with two types of remote controls – a traditional button-heavy one and a more streamlined version with direct access keys to streaming services, featuring a backlight for ease of use in dim environments.
9. Additional Features: The BRAVIA CAM recognizes the viewer’s position in the room and adjusts picture and sound settings for an optimized experience. Additionally, it is designed to pair seamlessly with PlayStation® 5, enhancing the gaming experience.
10. Awards and Recognition: The A95L has been recognized with awards like CES® 2022 Best of Innovation and CES® 2022 Innovation Awards, underscoring its exceptional quality and innovation.

In conclusion, the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L 65-inch QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV is an outstanding choice for those seeking a high-end TV experience, combining cutting-edge display technology, excellent sound, and smart features. However, the limited number of HDMI 2.1 ports and the absence of certain streaming apps may be considerations for some users​​​​​​.

Specification

Performance

The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L 65-inch QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV has received high praise for its performance in day-to-day usage, highlighting several standout features and some areas for improvement.

One of the key strengths of the BRAVIA XR A95L is its superior build quality and user interface, which is built on Google TV. This interface is noted for being highly graphical, intuitive, and enjoyable to interact with, significantly enhancing the overall user experience. The remote control is also substantial and adds to the premium feel of the product.

In terms of visual performance, the second-generation QD-OLED panel from Samsung Display is a standout feature. It delivers excellent contrast, color accuracy, and brightness, making it ideal for various viewing experiences including movies and gaming. The peak brightness levels, measured at around 1,350 nits for peak white, are noteworthy, indicating that the TV can handle high dynamic range content impressively. Furthermore, the Auto Brightness Limiter (ABL) is not overly aggressive, which is beneficial for maintaining consistent brightness even during prolonged viewing of static images.

For audio, the A95L is considered one of the best-sounding TVs available. It offers robust built-in speakers that deliver presence, dynamics, stereo effects, and punch. This quality is especially remarkable for a flat-screen TV, where audio performance can often be lacking. Additionally, the TV offers speaker level inputs, allowing it to be used as a center channel speaker with an AV receiver, providing flexibility for audio setup.

The A95L is also highly rated for gaming, thanks to its low input lag and support for features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). These features contribute to a smooth and responsive gaming experience.

However, a potential drawback is the limited number of HDMI 2.1 ports, with only two available. One of these ports is shared with the eARC port, which could be a limitation for users who need multiple HDMI 2.1 connections for their devices.

Overall, the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L excels in its day-to-day performance, offering a combination of excellent picture quality, superior sound, and a user-friendly interface. While it has a few limitations, such as the HDMI port configuration, its strengths make it a top choice in its category for a wide range of users, from movie enthusiasts to gamers​​.

Pros

1. Exceptional Picture Quality: The QD-OLED panel provides excellent contrast and luminance, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, which enhances the overall viewing experience.
2. Superior Sound: The A95L is praised for its sound quality, featuring dynamic and impactful audio from its built-in speakers, making it one of the best-sounding TVs in the market.
3. Gaming Performance: With low input lag and support for features like VRR and ALLM, the TV offers a responsive and immersive gaming experience.
4. User Interface: The Google TV interface is user-friendly and highly graphical, making it easy and enjoyable to navigate.
5. Design and Build Quality: The TV sports a sleek, minimalist design, with thoughtful details like two types of remote controls, including one with a premium feel and a backlight.

Cons

1. Limited HDMI 2.1 Ports: The TV has only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is shared with the eARC port. This could be a limitation for users with multiple modern devices requiring HDMI 2.1 connectivity.
2. Lack of Some Streaming Apps: As of the latest review, the TV does not support certain streaming apps like Freeview Play or UK Terrestrial apps, necessitating the use of a separate streaming device for these services.
3. Color Calibration: Out of the box, the TV’s Professional mode, which aims to replicate industry standards, shows a slight imbalance in color with a tendency towards blue at higher brightness levels, which might require calibration for optimal viewing.

In conclusion, the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L excels in delivering a high-quality viewing experience with its excellent picture and sound, making it a strong contender in the high-end TV market. However, potential buyers should be aware of its limitations in terms of HDMI connectivity and the availability of certain streaming apps​​​​.

Final Thoughts

The Sony BRAVIA XR 65-inch Class A95L QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV stands out as a pinnacle of modern television technology, offering a blend of exceptional features and performance. Here’s an expert analysis highlighting its key aspects:

1. Visual Excellence: The A95L is equipped with a second-generation QD-OLED panel, a collaboration between Sony and Samsung Display. This panel is noted for its excellent contrast and luminance, delivering vivid colors and deep blacks, which are essential for a lifelike viewing experience. This makes it an ideal choice for movie enthusiasts and gamers alike.
2. Sound Quality: One of the most striking features of the A95L is its superior sound system. The TV is recognized for its dynamic, powerful audio output, providing an immersive experience even without external speakers. This aspect sets it apart in a market where flat-screen TVs often struggle to deliver high-quality sound.
3. User Interface and Build Quality: The A95L boasts a robust build and a user-friendly interface based on Google TV. The interface is highly graphical and intuitive, making it easy to navigate through various settings and options. The substantial feel of the remote control adds to the overall premium experience.
4. Gaming Performance: For gamers, the A95L offers a responsive and engaging experience, courtesy of its low input lag and support for gaming features like VRR and ALLM. The TV’s ability to render high-quality game visuals makes it a suitable choice for modern gaming consoles.
5. Connectivity: While the A95L has commendable features, a notable limitation is the number of HDMI 2.1 ports. With only two available, and one shared with the eARC port, users with multiple HDMI 2.1 compatible devices might find this restrictive.
6. Design and Size Options: The A95L is available in different sizes, catering to a range of preferences and room sizes. The 65-inch model, in particular, strikes a balance between a large, immersive display and a size suitable for most living spaces.
7. Environmental Consciousness: Sony has also incorporated features in the A95L that reflect a commitment to energy efficiency. Such features are becoming increasingly important for environmentally conscious consumers.

In conclusion, the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L excels in delivering a high-end viewing experience, combining its advanced display technology, excellent sound, and user-friendly interface. Its few limitations, particularly regarding HDMI connectivity, are important considerations but do not significantly detract from its overall performance and appeal​​​​.

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