Sharp FQ8 vs Sony X75WL

Sharp FQ8 can achieve a maximum brightness exceeding 450 nits, which is a satisfactory result. Although it may seem that this value is not impressive, it still places it among the top televisions in this price range. In our opinion, this is also a value from which we will feel the richness of the image and the operation of any metadata, which cannot be said about darker devices. The television supports the advanced HDR format known as Dolby Vision. It is also equipped with DOLBY Vision IQ technology, which stands out for its ability to automatically adjust brightness and image colours based on the lighting conditions in the room. Unfortunately, it has been poorly implemented, resulting in significant inaccuracies such as artificial brightening of the image. Therefore, we do not recommend using this technology in this model. Additionally, the colour gamut coverage is around 94% thanks to the use of quantum dot technology, enabling vibrant and realistic colours. This set of features ensures that the image is not only intense but also full of details.

The luminosity chart for the X75WL Sony television showed a maximum value of 350 nits, which is unfortunately not an impressive result. The television does not surprise with its brightness, and all the HDR scenes we tested lacked depth and the appropriate light effect that should accompany HDR content. Additionally, the poor coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut makes it difficult for the television to reproduce rich colours, which significantly affects the overall viewing experience of HDR content. The lack of adequate brightness and weak colour coverage mean that HDR effects are very limited in this model.

The colour reproduction test in Sharp FQ8 was conducted in film mode, which out of the box offers the best visual capabilities, providing viewers with a colour experience closest to reality. Nevertheless, it cannot be described as exceptional, as there are still some shortcomings that affect the overall picture quality. Colour reproduction in Sharp FQ8 for HD content demonstrates significant issues with white balance. On the graph, the red line clearly rises, indicating excessive dominance of the red colour. This is also confirmed by tests using colour samples, which show that many colours deviate towards red. For example, in a scene from a film featuring a child, the image is very warm and unnaturally red. Similar difficulties occur with 4K HDR content, where there is also noticeable excessive presence of the red colour. It is worth noting this, especially for those who value faithful colour reproduction.

Regarding contrast for SDR, at the beginning of the gamma graph there is a strange characteristic, suggesting issues with reproduction. Subsequently, the entire line is below the reference line, indicating that the television does not achieve appropriate brightness and contrast values in standard content. Meanwhile, the EOTF curve for 4K HDR shows significant discrepancies. Such fluctuations indicate difficulties in maintaining consistent brightness reproduction, leading to unpleasant visual effects when viewing HDR content.

Colour reproduction tests for the model Sony X75WL are carried out in movie mode, which offers the best image settings, but it also has its flaws. The biggest problem with the X75WL Sony is the white balance – for both HD and 4K HDR content – which is characterised by a dominance of blue. As a result, the entire image feels too cold. The colour checker confirms these errors, showing that the colours lean towards cooler tones. In terms of brightness characteristics, the contrast gamma is at a fairly decent level, however, the same cannot be said for the EOTF curve. There are significant issues with maintaining appropriate brightness – the image is either overly bright or too dim, which impacts the visual perception of content.

After calibration, for SDR content, the white balance on Sharp FQ8 has been significantly improved, and all lines have come much closer to the reference line. Of course, they are not perfectly straight, but it's hard to expect better results from a television in this price range; they are really very good. Improving white balance means that colours are more natural and accurately reproduced, which positively impacts the overall visual experience. In terms of gamma, the strange jump at the beginning of the graph has not been eliminated, however, after this error, the entire line is much closer to the expected effect.

For HDR content, the white balance is somewhat worse compared to SDR content, but it is still significantly better than before calibration. It is worth noting that the improvement in white balance in HDR contributes to a more consistent and pleasant perception of colours, even though there may still be shortcomings. Regarding the EOTF graph and the associated contrast, our specialists noted that the lack of control over dynamic tone mapping settings hindered the achievement of significant improvement in this area. This leads to uneven brightness representation.

Despite the shortcomings resulting from the inability to adjust settings for dynamic tone mapping, Sharp FQ8 has gained a new perspective after proper calibrations. The improved white balance and better colour reproduction in SDR mode make the image more natural and pleasing to the eye. Although there are still areas for improvement, especially in HDR content, the television offers satisfying visual experiences, making it a noteworthy choice in its price range.

X75WL Sony is one of those cases where image calibration may not be highly spectacular, but it offers a very good improvement in the perception of colours. The white balance, for both HD and 4K materials, has been significantly improved – there is no longer a strong dominance of cooler shades. The gamma curve also appears more stable, which translates into better image quality. However, the biggest issue remains the EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness in 4K materials. Due to the technological limitations of the television (IPS panel and lack of local dimming technology), it is hard to speak of a significant improvement, as we cannot extract more from this model. Despite these limitations, the tonal quality of the image has been significantly enhanced.

The "10-bit colour reproduction" feature in Sharp FQ8 performs reasonably well, as we can see in the image with bulbs that shows slight connections between grey shades. For the best results, it is recommended to set medium, which does not reveal issues with grain smoothing or blurring of essential image elements. Alternatively, the "low" setting also proves to be safer and delivers positive effects.

As for upscaling, the Sharp FQ8 television plays back video without overscan, allowing for full use of the screen. The branches shown in the image are noticeably jagged, while the edges of the trousers appear without clear jaggedness, positively affecting the overall image quality. Additionally, the television offers an AI Super Resolution feature, which artificially sharpens jagged elements, enhancing their clarity.

In the case of low-quality tonal transitions, the television Sony X75WL performs poorly. The lack of any feature to improve tonal transitions results in noticeable imperfections in colour gradation. However, one can credit the quite good digital processing – the image is displayed without overscan, and overall it looks relatively good thanks to the added slight sharpness, which some users may appreciate.

Sharp FQ8 is equipped with a 120 Hz panel, with the possibility of achieving 144 Hz on PC, which in theory should translate to smooth motion rendering. The television offers functions for improving the smoothness of films and reducing motion blur, which is important for more dynamic content. However, the lack of Black Frame Insertion (BFI) technology combined with an average response time of the panel does not yield positive results. The effect is slight blurring of moving objects, and this may be more noticeable when watching sports or during intense gaming.

The X75WL Sony television is equipped with a 60 Hz panel, making it more suitable for watching films than for dynamic gaming. This model features a motion smoothing function called Motionflow, which allows the user to adjust the picture on a 10-point scale. Smoothness is responsible for adding intermediate frames, thereby increasing the fluidity of motion, while the image becomes more theatrical, minimising the cutting effect. Clarity reduces motion blur, which is particularly useful in fast scenes such as sports or dynamic actions in films. With this feature, users can adjust the fluidity and sharpness of motion to their own preferences.

Sharp FQ8 offers several significant features dedicated to gamers that can enhance the gameplay experience. First and foremost, the television is equipped with HDMI 2.1, which comes with certain advantages. ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) switches the television to a mode with minimal input lag when a gaming device is detected. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) reduces screen stutter by adjusting the refresh rate to the number of frames generated by the console or computer, providing smoother experiences, especially in dynamic games. Additionally, the television supports G-Sync technology, which synchronises the image with the graphics card, eliminating stuttering and screen tearing. Despite these advantages, FQ8 also has some limitations. The lack of support for HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) means that the television does not optimise dynamic range for HDR games. The Dolby Vision mode, although theoretically offering better image quality in games supporting this format, suffers from very high input lag.

X75WL is not the best television for gamers. It only has the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature and a basic Game Bar, which are not enough to satisfy more demanding users. In this price range, one could expect support for features like VRR or 120 Hz refresh rates - although in FULLHD, which are already standard - unfortunately, they are lacking here. This is a major downside for Sony, as the competition offers much more for gamers in a similar budget.