- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Playing files from USB
- Apps
- Sound
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Panel technology: LCD VA (wide viewing angle) Brand: SONY Resolution: 3840x2160 Operating system: Google TV Model year: 2024
Our verdict
8.9
Overall rating
The Sony Bravia 9 is undoubtedly a top-tier product, with no hesitation in declaring it one of the best on the market. The manufacturer has clearly invested a great deal of effort into perfecting the dimming algorithms, ensuring they perform flawlessly. This results in an incredibly deep black and a strikingly vivid image. In HDR effects, the television excels, offering over 2000 nits of peak brightness that fills the room and immerses viewers in stunning visuals. While such figures are impressive on paper, the real-world experience surpasses expectations. Sony’s commitment to faithfully representing a film director’s vision is evident here, and the Bravia 9 succeeds. The television also provides an excellent user experience thanks to the Google TV system. The interface is intuitive, and with a vast library of applications, it offers access to a wealth of content tailored to individual preferences. Integration with Google Assistant makes it easy to search for movies, series, or music, and control other smart home devices. These features make using the television a pleasure and simplify daily life. However, not everything is flawless. The Sony Bravia 9 still has room for improvement, particularly with its HDMI port configuration. It includes only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which supports eARC, typically used for soundbars or home theatres. Given the premium price, one would expect at least four HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth. The lack of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) functionality might disappoint some users. Despite these shortcomings, the Sony Bravia 9 remains an exceptional product. It’s the first LCD television that can truly compete with OLEDs, offering infinite contrast and a top-tier display without compromise. The Bravia 9 is nearly perfect, combining superior image quality, modern technology, and meticulous attention to detail, making every viewing experience feel like a special event.
Advantages
Amazing brightness results of HDR materials
Very good color reproduction after calibration
Advanced motion smoothing system
Noticeable positive effect of the image processor
Faithfulness to the source material
Versatile GoogleTV operating system
Good (for a VA panel) viewing angles
Disadvantages
Only 2 HDMI 2.1 ports - including one ARC
Missing picture-in-picture (PiP) feature
Price
Movies and series in UHD quality8.4
Classic TV, YouTube8.4
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.2
TV as a computer monitor7.6
Matrix brightness9.5
Utility functions9.5
Apps10.0
Sound quality9.4
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Competing TVs in this price range
TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
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Contrast and black detail
8.6/10
Funkcja lokalnego wygaszania: Tak, ilość stref: 1920 (60 x 32)
Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).
Result
184,000:1
Contrast between the glare on the chameleon's skin and the black near the edge of the screen below. Scene from the Spears&Munsil test disc.
Result
98,500:1
Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).
Result
120,000:1
Contrast between the actress's face and the black film strip at the top edge of the TV. Scene from the movie Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
9,050:1
Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).
Result
5,800:1
The Sony Bravia 9 features a high-contrast VA panel supported by a backlight made of Mini LED diodes, with the 75" model boasting a remarkable 1920 zones. This combination, paired with advanced — and arguably the best — zone dimming algorithms, results in exceptional contrast and deep black levels. While it doesn’t quite match the black levels of OLED TVs, the performance is still impressive, especially compared to other televisions, which struggle to reproduce a director’s intended vision.
Looking at two test scenes from Oblivion and The Revenant, we can see the backlight algorithms at work, exhibiting mature handling of contrast that preserves black levels without compromising the original image. The blooming/halo effect observed in the second film is noticeably less pronounced in person, with the camera lens amplifying the effect. Additionally, challenging details in the second and third planes of the scene are clearly visible and not lost in the black, showcasing the Bravia 9’s ability to reproduce fine details.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
HDR effect quality
8.5/10
Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 96.0%, Bt.2020: 77.0%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
2199 nit
The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
1700 nit
The measured point is the flashlight on the rifle, which shines directly at the camera. Scene from the movie Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures).
Result
1717 nit
The measured point is the tail light of a helicopter flying at night. This is a very small light point, the essence of the HDR effect. Scene from the movie Sicario 2: Soldado (Lionsgate).
Result
1751 nit
The measured point is the sun visible directly between the clouds. The scene is very bright and should blind the viewer as in nature. Scene from the movie The Meg (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
1741 nit
The brightness performance of the Sony Bravia 9 is exceptional. Each scene reaches over 1500 nits, and the television can shine even brighter during movie playback. This level of brightness provides an extraordinary viewing experience, allowing for immersive interaction with high-quality video content. Thanks to its extensive coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the image is vibrant, and when combined with such high luminance, it almost feels alive. With its impressive peak brightness, viewers can fully appreciate the colour range, even in the most challenging scenes involving dynamic lighting changes. The Bravia 9 also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats, further elevating the viewing experience.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Considering the fantastic HDR capabilities of the Bravia 9, let's examine how the television performed with two demanding scenes mastered for high brightness. The first, from the film Pan, was stunning; it felt the sun was spilling out of the screen. Every detail was brilliantly reproduced, and the scene's representation was exemplary. There are virtually no complaints regarding Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk either. The delicate interplay of shadows and the intense light from explosions made a powerful impression. However, there is a minor downside: the main character's skin tone displayed slightly lower colour saturation compared to the reference. While this isn't a significant issue, it’s worth noting, if only as a journalistic point.
HDR luminance chart:
As expected, static HDR is not an issue for the Sony Bravia 9. Thanks to its high brightness and seamlessly functioning dynamic tone mapping feature, foreground and background details are rendered perfectly. When receiving a signal with dynamic metadata, the television can reveal even the most subtle background details with impressive clarity. Therefore, it's inaccurate to claim that high-brightness televisions don't benefit from formats like Dolby Vision or HDR10+.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
8.1/10
The "IMAX Enhanced" factory mode has remained the best option in Sony televisions for years, and it was used throughout the entire testing process. While it aligns closely with the reference compared to other predefined settings, improvements could be made for a better viewing experience.
In SDR materials, the gamma shows a noticeable boost, which leads to over-contrasting the image. Additionally, the beginning of the graph deviates significantly from the reference, resulting in merged details in the darker areas, creating an unpleasant uniform blotch. The EOTF curve in HDR content, on the other hand, appears mostly correct, with only minor deviations from the reference.
However, the most prominent issues affect the white balance. There is a persistent green colour dominance, leading to problems with grey tones and overall colour misalignment. This imbalance in the white balance gives the image an unwanted greenish tinge, negatively impacting the overall visual quality.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.3/10
The colour reproduction after the calibration process on the Sony Bravia 9 is nothing short of excellent. Regardless of the signal, whether SDR or HDR, the image comes remarkably close to the director's intended vision. Nearly every flaw in the image has been meticulously modelled and corrected to a high degree.
This impressive result can be attributed to the advanced tools available for calibration, which Sony has been offering in its televisions for years. Notable tools include the 2- and 20-point grayscale calibration and a very comprehensive CMS (Colour Management System). These features allow for precise adjustments, ensuring that the colours and overall image quality are as accurate and faithful to the source material as possible.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.1/10
The default quality of gentle gradation on the Sony Bravia 9 without enhancement, is relatively average for its price range and class. While the issue isn't evident with bright backgrounds, it becomes quite noticeable in darker scenes. This is demonstrated in the last two test scenes, where tonal transitions are visible, which may be off-putting to those particularly sensitive to image purity.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
8.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
When analysing the quality of tonal transitions and image scaling, especially for lower-quality materials, the improvement after activating the function for tonal transitions is clear. By default, the quality is quite average, but once the function is turned on, even at the lowest setting, the results are among the best we've seen. This feature can be enabled without worrying about negative side effects, such as film grain blur.
Sony's "XR" processor, which the brand has been touting for several years, lives up to its reputation for image scaling. The image quality is incredibly sharp while maintaining a very natural look. This reinforces that Sony's processing technology is one of the best available, particularly when handling lower-resolution content.
Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz: Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI: 1%
The maximum refresh rate of the Sony Bravia 9 is 120 Hz, the minimum for those primarily watching sports or other high-motion content. This refresh rate ensures the image remains sharp and smooth, even during fast-paced scenes. For more demanding users, Sony has implemented an advanced motion smoothing system, divided into three distinct segments: Smoothness (Film), Smoothness (Camera), and Clarity. These settings can be adjusted to various degrees, allowing users to fine-tune the picture to their preferences. For example, a setting with slight smoothing can be used to avoid the "soap opera effect," delivering a more natural and cinematic viewing experience. This level of customisation ensures that viewers can find their ideal balance between smoothness and clarity.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
An additional function designed to maximise image fluidity is "Cleanness," which uses black frame insertion (BFI) between film frames. This technique aims to "reset" the retina, enhancing the sharpness of moving images. We must commend the manufacturer for the effort put into its implementation. When enabled and set to the first level, this feature significantly improves the sharpness of dynamic content, while maintaining the television's maximum brightness.
Console compatibility and gaming features
9.4/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 120Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
1440p@120Hz:
No - 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
- G-Sync:
Yes
The Sony Bravia 9 television is equipped with four HDMI ports, but what is puzzling for a device of this class is that only two of them operate in the 2.1 standard. Despite this, it should not detract from the fact that nearly all features work excellently, providing a positive experience when using them. Games running in HDR10 or Dolby Vision benefit from low input lag, ensuring a comfortable gaming session. The solid implementation of the HGIG mode is a noteworthy feature, as, after proper calibration, it closely aligns with Dolby Vision.
Sony introduced the GameBar feature to its televisions last year, a standard for many manufacturers. This feature allows for quick adjustment of settings without exiting the game. Its implementation has been seamless, offering conveniences such as a crosshair grid, black level adjustment, and reducing the screen to gaming monitor proportions.
The Sony Bravia 9 will find its fans, particularly among PlayStation enthusiasts. It is a natural pairing since the console and the television share identical capabilities. However, more broadly speaking, despite the minor issues with Dolby Vision in games, the Bravia 9 remains a very good television for gaming overall.
Input lag
9.7/10
The delay time on the Sony Bravia 9 remains impressively low in all scenarios. Even the most dedicated gamers will appreciate the exceptionally low input lag, particularly when playing demanding 4K 120 Hz games with HDR, which measures just 10 ms.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 20 ms | 2160p60: 19 ms | 2160p60 DV: 20 ms |
| 1080p120: 10 ms | 2160p120: 10 ms | 2160p120 DV: 10 ms |
| 2160p60: 19 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 10 ms |
Compatibility with PC
7.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
The Sony Bravia 9 delivers excellent performance when combined with a PC, thanks to its low latency of just 9 ms, ensuring an immediate response between the mouse, eye, and screen. This is particularly beneficial for tasks that require precise, real-time feedback. The text readability on the TV is also commendable, especially when switched to "Game" mode, which provides the clearest display. In other modes, text might appear less readable.
The subpixel layout on the Bravia 9 is BGR, which doesn't significantly impact its use as a monitor. While operating systems aren't designed for this layout, causing slight blurring on edges in some cases, the difference is so minimal that only a few users might notice it.
Viewing angles
7.4/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 54%
The Sony Bravia 9 performs well in terms of viewing angles, thanks to the application of an angle coating. This reduces the typical colour degradation and contrast drop often seen in TVs with VA panels. While a significant deviation from the central axis does lead to some image instability, the overall viewing experience remains positive, offering better off-axis performance than many other VA panel-equipped televisions.
TV efficiency during daytime
9.5/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Average
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The Sony Bravia 9 excels in bright environments, with a peak brightness of 1600 nits. This allows for a comfortable viewing experience even when the TV is exposed to harsh angled light. Reflections are minimal and do not significantly affect the viewing quality, making it highly suitable for watching during the day. As a result, the Bravia 9 earns an almost perfect score for its performance in well-lit conditions.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Sony Bravia 9 (XR90): 1609 cd/m2
TV features
9.5/10
System operacyjny: Google TV
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV):
Yes
- Recording programming:
Yes
- Picture in Picture (PiP):
No
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast):
Yes
- AirPlay:
Yes
- Voice search in native language:
Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse:
Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV:
Yes
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker:
Yes
- Audio only mode:
Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen):
RF
- Backlit remote control:
Yes
- Teletext:
Yes
The Sony Bravia 9 benefits from the Google TV system, which stands out compared to TVs with proprietary operating systems. Google TV allows for the easy installation of applications from the official store and external sources via APK files. This flexibility makes it a more accessible option for users who want to expand their TV's functionality.
Additionally, Google TV offers various user-friendly features, such as connecting a keyboard with a touchpad, which makes typing queries more convenient. Voice control via the remote also works effectively, though there are occasional minor issues with translation. Google TV is regularly updated, enhancing functionality and adding new features, although some users have reported occasional performance hiccups.
Overall, Google TV is one of the most popular and efficient systems, offering a smooth experience with minimal lag or freezing. For those seeking an open, feature-rich system that maximizes the potential of their TV, Google TV is the best option.
Playing files from USB
8.7/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The built-in player in the Sony Bravia 9 performs well, handling a wide range of media files with ease. However, it does have a few limitations. Notably, it does not support certain subtitle formats like .sub or .txt, and its image format support is limited to JPEG and HEIC, which may be a drawback for users with diverse media collections. That said, these shortcomings are not major issues, as the ability to install third-party applications like VLC or KODI provides an easy workaround for those seeking broader compatibility. Overall, the built-in player offers solid performance, and with the flexibility of additional apps, users can enjoy almost any media format without trouble.
Apps
10/10
Sound
9.4/10
9.4/10
Subjective sound quality
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
We must admit that the sound from the Sony Bravia 9 impressed us. While we anticipated high-quality audio from such a top-tier product, the sound quality exceeded expectations. Every instrument is distinguishable, and the bass adds a solid depth to the overall experience. Without a doubt, this is the best-sounding television we've had the opportunity to test. Of course, we understand that many buyers of this kind of premium TV will already own a home theatre system. Thankfully, the Bravia 9 supports DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos, meaning there are no significant obstacles when connecting it to more advanced audio setups. This ensures a seamless integration for those looking to enhance their audio experience even further.