New video from Vincent at HDTVTest: BRAVIA 8 II vs A95L

A new video from Vincent Teoh has appeared on the HDTVTest YouTube channel, where for the first time we can see a direct comparison of the HDR effect between last year's Sony A95L and the latest model, the Sony BRAVIA 8 II MK.2. For a more comprehensive 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 – clearly brighter image and more details

And it can be summed up in one sentence: it's brighter. The new BRAVIA 8 II can achieve about 25% higher peak brightness, which translates to clearly better visibility of details in shadows, greater intensity of highlights, and a more dynamic image in HDR scenes, especially where luminance differences are crucial.

Better detail reproduction and closeness to a reference monitor

The new Sony model handles not only bright parts of the image – in many scenes, the final effect really approaches the level of a reference monitor. Particularly well executed were shots from "Pan" like for example, the flash of sunlight in the distance – in BRAVIA 8 II they appear clearer, more distinctly separated from the background, and simply look 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 was an emphasis on refining the algorithms responsible for image processing.

Gradient of tonal transitions – Sony returns to the top

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

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

Although the television itself is looking very good, as internet users rightly pointed out, most content simply does not utilize its potential. The comments under the video are filled with realistic voices, including one. User Mike-jm5wt summarized:

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

And there is some truth to that. Because although the differences between models are noticeable under controlled conditions and on reference scenes, in everyday use – Netflix, YouTube, streaming platforms – the effects tend to be more subtle.

However, 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, distortions arise from the characteristics of the camera lens. Nevertheless, it is hard to disagree with the opinion that better content would indeed be very welcome – especially on streaming services that the vast majority of users rely on today.

Or maybe the A95L was so good that it's hard to surpass?

You can't shake the feeling that perhaps... it's not the new model that made such a big leap, but rather that the A95L simply outpaced its time, setting the bar so high that the differences between generations are not 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