New footage from Vincent at HDTVTest: BRAVIA 8 II versus A95L

A new video from Vincent Teoh has appeared on the HDTVTest YouTube channel, where we can see for the first time a direct comparison of HDR effect between last year's Sony A95L and the latest model Sony BRAVIA 8 II MK.2. For a fuller picture, a studio monitor was also placed between these two televisions as a reference point for comparing image quality in professional conditions.

BRAVIA 8 II MK.2 – noticeably brighter image and more details

And this can be summarised in one sentence: it is brighter. The new BRAVIA 8 II can achieve approximately 25% higher peak brightness, which translates to noticeably better visibility of details in shadows, greater light intensity, and a more dynamic image in HDR scenes, especially where luminance differences are crucial.

Better Detail Reproduction and Proximity to Reference Monitor

The new Sony model handles not only the bright parts of the image – in many scenes, the final effect really approaches the level of a reference monitor. Shots from "Pan" like the sun shining in the distance particularly stood out – they look clearer in the BRAVIA 8 II, more distinctly separated from the background, and simply appear more natural than in its predecessor.

This is also a clear step forward compared to last year's BRAVIA 8 (2024), whose tonal gradation was – let’s face it – disappointingly average. In the new Sony model, it is evident that there has been a focus on refining the algorithms responsible for image processing.

Gradation of tonal transitions – Sony returns to the top

In his material, Vincent praises the fluidity of tonal transitions, which – as he himself emphasises – has returned to the highest level for which Sony has been renowned for years. It is these details, imperceptible at first glance but crucial for the overall perception, that make the BRAVIA 8 MK.2 appear as a more mature product.

Internet users comment: it's not the equipment, but the content that makes the difference

Although the television itself looks very promising, as internet users have rightly pointed out, most content simply does not utilise its potential. In the comments under the video, voices full of realism dominate, including one. User Mike-jm5wt summed it up:

“Maybe instead of better and better televisions, we just need better and better content?”

And there is something to this. Because although the differences between models are noticeable in controlled conditions and on reference scenes, with everyday use – Netflix, YouTube, streaming platforms – the effects can be subtler.

It is worth remembering that we are talking about material from YouTube, and the platform itself uses strong compression, which significantly affects image quality. Additionally, there are distortions resulting from the characteristics of the camera lens. Nevertheless, it's hard not to agree with the opinion that better content would be very welcome – especially on streaming services, which the vast majority of users today rely on.

Or could it be that the A95L was so good that it’s hard to surpass?

One can't help but feel that perhaps… it’s not the new model that has made such a big leap, but that the A95L has simply outpaced its time, setting the bar so high that the differences between generations are no longer quite so spectacular today. And that’s why this test is so interesting – it shows that sometimes evolution can be more valuable than revolution.

Source: HDTVTest