The Sony BRAVIA 9 (K85XR90) Smart Mini LED 4K UHD TV is an 85-inch masterpiece that represents the pinnacle of modern TV technology. Priced at $4,799.99, this premium television combines cutting-edge picture quality, sophisticated smart TV features, and robust gaming capabilities, making it a compelling choice for both cinephiles and gamers alike. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the TV’s design, picture quality, smart features, gaming capabilities, sound performance, and overall value, helping you determine if it’s the right investment for your home entertainment setup.
Design and Build Quality
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is an imposing television, boasting an 84.6-inch screen (measured diagonally) that demands attention. The design is sleek and modern, with a minimalist bezel that maximizes screen real estate and enhances the immersive viewing experience. The TV’s premium anti-glare screen is a standout feature, ensuring that reflections and light disturbances are minimized, even in bright rooms.
The television sits on a multi-position stand, which can be adjusted to suit different spaces and preferences. Whether you choose a wide, narrow, or soundbar-friendly setup, the stand’s versatility ensures that the TV can be integrated seamlessly into your living room, media room, or home theater setup.
Additionally, the build quality of the Sony BRAVIA 9 is excellent. The materials used feel sturdy and premium, reflecting the high-end nature of the television. The TV’s frame houses up-firing beam tweeters, part of the Acoustic Multi-Audio+™ system, without adding bulk, maintaining a sleek profile despite the advanced technology housed within.
Picture Quality
1. Mini LED Technology and Backlighting
One of the most significant advancements in the Sony BRAVIA 9 is the use of Mini LED technology. Mini LEDs are smaller and more numerous than traditional LEDs, allowing for more precise control of brightness and contrast. This technology is powered by Sony’s XR Backlight Master Drive, which uses local dimming to optimize brightness in specific areas of the screen, resulting in deeper blacks and brighter highlights. The result is a picture that is incredibly dynamic, with a sense of depth that is particularly noticeable in HDR content.
2. Resolution and Refresh Rate
The 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) on the BRAVIA 9 ensures that every detail is rendered with stunning clarity. Whether you’re watching 4K content or upscaled lower-resolution media, the picture quality is consistently sharp and detailed. The native 120Hz refresh rate, combined with XR Motion Clarity™ technology, ensures smooth motion handling, reducing blur and judder even in fast-paced scenes like sports or action movies.
3. HDR Performance
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is another area where the Sony BRAVIA 9 excels. The TV supports multiple HDR formats, including HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG. These formats extend the contrast and brightness levels, enhancing the overall visual experience. Dolby Vision, in particular, stands out by dynamically adjusting the picture on a scene-by-scene basis, delivering a more accurate and vibrant image.
4. Color Accuracy and Contrast
Sony’s XR TRILUMINOS™ Pro display technology is a key player in delivering a wide and natural color palette. Colors on the BRAVIA 9 are rich and vibrant without being oversaturated, which is a testament to the TV’s ability to render content as close to the creator’s intent as possible. The XR Processor, which employs real-time processing based on a human perspective, enhances this by fine-tuning colors and contrast to deliver a picture that feels true-to-life.
The XR Contrast Booster 30 further enhances the TV’s ability to balance light output across the screen, ensuring that even the darkest and brightest parts of an image are rendered with precision. This feature is particularly beneficial in scenes with a high contrast ratio, where you want to see detail in both shadowed and illuminated areas.
5. Viewing Angles and Anti-Glare Technology
One of the challenges with large-screen TVs is maintaining picture quality from various viewing angles. The Sony BRAVIA 9 addresses this with X-Wide Angle technology, which maintains accurate color and contrast even when viewed from the sides. This feature ensures that everyone in the room enjoys a consistent viewing experience, no matter where they are seated.
Additionally, the X-Anti Reflection technology significantly reduces glare and light reflection, ensuring a clear and undisturbed viewing experience, even in brightly lit environments. This is particularly beneficial in rooms with lots of natural light or when watching TV during the day.
6. Upscaling and Clarity
Not all content is available in 4K, but the Sony BRAVIA 9 handles lower-resolution content exceptionally well, thanks to XR Clear Image technology. This feature upscales lower-resolution content by re-creating lost texture and detail, making older movies, TV shows, or non-4K broadcasts look better than ever. The clarity and detail achieved through this upscaling process are impressive, making it a great TV for those with extensive media libraries that include a mix of content resolutions.
7. IMAX Enhanced Certification
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is IMAX Enhanced certified, which means it meets the stringent performance standards set by IMAX for both picture and sound. This certification guarantees that IMAX Enhanced 4K/HDR content will be displayed with improved clarity, brightness, and contrast, making it a perfect choice for movie enthusiasts who want a cinematic experience at home.
Smart TV Features
1. Google TV Interface
The Sony BRAVIA 9 comes with the Google TV interface, which provides a user-friendly platform for browsing live TV, movies, and TV shows across various streaming services. The interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, with a focus on content discovery. Google TV learns from your viewing habits and preferences, offering personalized recommendations that make it easier to find something to watch.
One of the standout features of Google TV is its ability to integrate content from multiple streaming services into a single, cohesive interface. This means you don’t have to jump between different apps to find what you’re looking for — everything is accessible in one place. Additionally, Google TV’s search functionality is powerful, allowing you to search across all your apps and services simultaneously.
2. SONY PICTURES CORE
The inclusion of access to exclusive content on SONY PICTURES CORE is a unique offering that adds value to the BRAVIA 9. This platform provides access to a curated selection of movies and TV shows, including some titles that are not available on other streaming services. While the library is currently limited, future firmware updates promise to expand the selection, making it an enticing feature for Sony fans and movie buffs.
3. Voice Control and Google Assistant
The Sony BRAVIA 9’s remote control comes equipped with a built-in Google Assistant, allowing for easy voice control of the TV’s functions. You can use voice commands to control basic TV functions, search across streaming services, set timers, and even control compatible smart home devices. The TV also supports a hands-free mode, where you can use a wake word to activate Google Assistant without needing to pick up the remote.
Voice control on the BRAVIA 9 is responsive and accurate, making it a convenient way to navigate the TV’s features, especially for users who prefer speaking commands over using a traditional remote.
4. Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast Built-In
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), the latest wireless standard that offers faster speeds and more reliable connections, especially in homes with multiple devices. This ensures smooth streaming of high-resolution content without buffering or interruptions.
Additionally, the TV supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built-in, allowing you to stream content wirelessly from your compatible devices. Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, Android device, or laptop, streaming content to the BRAVIA 9 is seamless and hassle-free.
Gaming Features
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is not just a fantastic TV for movies and shows — it’s also a powerful gaming display. With features specifically designed to enhance the gaming experience, this TV is well-suited for both casual and serious gamers.
1. 4K at 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
One of the most critical features for gamers is the TV’s ability to display 4K content at 120Hz. This high refresh rate ensures that gameplay is smooth and responsive, with no lag or stuttering. Whether you’re playing fast-paced action games or exploring open-world environments, the BRAVIA 9’s 120Hz refresh rate delivers a fluid and immersive experience.
The inclusion of Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is another major plus. VRR reduces stutter and frame tearing, ensuring that the TV’s refresh rate matches the output of your gaming console or PC. This results in smoother gameplay and a more immersive experience, particularly in graphically demanding games.
2. Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) automatically switches the TV to game mode when it detects a gaming signal, reducing input lag to provide a more responsive gaming experience. This is particularly important in fast-paced games where quick reactions are critical. The BRAVIA 9’s low latency performance is excellent, making it a top choice for competitive gamers who need every millisecond to count.
3. Auto HDR Tone Mapping for PS5
For PlayStation 5 owners, the Sony BRAVIA 9 offers Auto HDR Tone Mapping, which optimizes HDR settings automatically when the PS5 is connected. This ensures that games are displayed with the correct HDR settings, delivering better contrast, more vibrant colors, and an overall more immersive experience.
4. Game Menu
The Game Menu on the BRAVIA 9 provides easy access to essential gaming settings, including screen size, black equalizer, and motion blur adjustments. This allows gamers to fine-tune their experience based on the game they’re playing and their personal preferences. The ability to make these adjustments quickly and easily is a great feature, particularly for those who like to tweak settings for optimal performance.
Connectivity and Ports
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is well-equipped with a variety of ports to connect your devices. It includes four HDMI inputs, with two of them (HDMI 3 and HDMI 4) supporting 4K at 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). This makes it easy to connect multiple devices, such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices, without needing to swap cables.
The TV also features an enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), which allows for high-quality audio to be sent from the TV to a soundbar or AV receiver with minimal latency. This is particularly useful for those who want to enjoy Dolby Atmos or DTS surround sound through an external sound system.
Additional ports include an RF input for antenna or cable signals, a Toslink optical digital audio output, an Ethernet port for a wired internet connection, and two USB inputs for connecting thumb drives or other devices. The variety of connections ensures that the BRAVIA 9 can accommodate a wide range of setups, making it a versatile choice for any home entertainment system.
Sound Quality
While picture quality often takes the spotlight, sound is equally important in delivering a comprehensive home entertainment experience. The Sony BRAVIA 9 is equipped with a 2.2.2-channel system, delivering 75 watts of power. This setup includes up-firing beam tweeters integrated into the TV’s frame, part of Sony’s Acoustic Multi-Audio+™ system. The result is an elevated soundstage that seems to follow the action on screen, enhancing immersion.
1. Acoustic Center Sync
For those using a compatible Sony soundbar, the BRAVIA 9 offers Acoustic Center Sync, which synchronizes the TV’s speakers with the soundbar. This creates a fuller and more immersive sound experience, with dialogue, music, and effects all working together seamlessly.
2. Voice Zoom 3™
Voice clarity is often a concern with built-in TV speakers, but Sony addresses this with Voice Zoom 3™ technology. This feature enhances dialogue, making it easier to understand without needing to turn up the volume. Whether you’re watching a quiet drama or an action-packed blockbuster, Voice Zoom 3™ ensures that dialogue is clear and distinct.
3. Dolby Atmos and DTS
The Sony BRAVIA 9 supports Dolby Atmos and DTS, two of the most advanced audio formats available. These formats provide a three-dimensional sound experience, with audio coming from all directions, including overhead. Whether you’re watching a movie or playing a game, the support for these formats enhances the overall experience, making you feel like you’re in the middle of the action.
4. 3D Surround Upscaling
Sony’s 3D Surround Upscaling technology further enhances the audio experience by upscaling standard stereo or surround sound content to a more immersive 3D sound. This feature is particularly effective when watching older content that wasn’t originally mixed for Dolby Atmos or DTS, ensuring that even your older movies and shows sound better than ever.
Additional Features
1. BRAVIA CAM Compatibility
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is compatible with the optional BRAVIA CAM, which adds video chat, gesture control, and Ambient Optimization Pro features. While the BRAVIA CAM is sold separately, it offers additional functionality that can enhance your TV experience. For example, Ambient Optimization Pro can adjust picture and sound settings based on the room’s environment, ensuring optimal performance no matter where the TV is placed.
2. Multi-Position Stand
The multi-position stand, mentioned earlier, is worth revisiting due to its flexibility. The stand’s ability to be adjusted to wide, narrow, or soundbar-friendly positions makes it easy to find the perfect setup for your space. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for those with limited space or those who want to integrate the TV with other audio-visual equipment.
3. Future-Proofing with Firmware Updates
Sony has a strong track record of supporting their premium TVs with firmware updates that add new features and improve performance. The BRAVIA 9 is expected to receive future updates that will enhance its capabilities, including the addition of studio-calibrated modes for Netflix, Prime Video, and SONY PICTURES CORE. This commitment to ongoing support adds value to the TV, ensuring it remains cutting-edge for years to come.
Price and Value
At $4,799.99, the Sony BRAVIA 9 is a significant investment. However, considering the cutting-edge technology, outstanding picture quality, advanced smart TV features, and gaming capabilities, it offers excellent value for those who demand the best in home entertainment. The inclusion of premium features like Mini LED backlighting, 4K at 120Hz support, Dolby Atmos, and IMAX Enhanced certification ensures that this TV is at the forefront of what’s currently possible in the market.
For cinephiles, the BRAVIA 9 offers a near-cinematic experience at home, with its excellent HDR performance, rich colors, and deep blacks. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag, high refresh rate, and gaming-specific features that enhance the overall experience. And for those who value smart TV functionality, the Google TV interface, voice control, and extensive connectivity options make the BRAVIA 9 a versatile and future-proof choice.
Conclusion
The Sony BRAVIA 9 (K85XR90) Smart Mini LED 4K UHD TV with HDR is a flagship model that delivers on all fronts. From its stunning picture quality and robust gaming features to its intuitive smart TV interface and impressive sound performance, this TV is a standout in the high-end market. While the price may be steep, the features and performance justify the investment, particularly for those who demand the best in home entertainment.
Whether you’re a movie enthusiast, a gaming aficionado, or someone who simply wants the latest and greatest in TV technology, the Sony BRAVIA 9 is a top-tier option that is sure to impress. Its combination of cutting-edge technology, thoughtful design, and premium build quality make it one of the best 85-inch TVs available today.
