Not that long ago we got to check out the best of what Sony’s gonna be offering in
their TV lineup for 2019 at CES.
Well, somehow this one didn’t make it to the show, but maybe it should have.
Hi, I’m Carl with Abt, and this is the Sony XBR X950G series.
No, it’s not replacing the 900F, it’s actually a step up from that one, and a step
below the new Z9G.
Looks wise, it’s very similar to the 900F, and it comes in several sizes, 55, 65, 75
and 85 inches.
You can find all of our current prices at the links in the description below.
It’s got a thin bezel that doesn’t distract at all from the picture and a wide set pedestal.
If you plan on putting this on a stand though, make sure to keep the width of those feet
in mind.
Honestly, it’s not my favorite pedestal design, but I get it.
They keep the TV steady which comes in handy if it’s in a high traffic area of your home,
and there’s some decent cable management built in.
Plus, with them being so far apart, you can fit a soundbar in between without having to
alter the position of the TV.
And if you want to see how to put the pedestal together you can check out the details in
our pedestal installation video.
We’ll have that link in the description below.
Inputs, as you may have guessed, are on the back.
You get 4 hdmi’s, all of which are HDCP 2.3 compatible, and although they’re not
HDMI 2.1, you DO get an enhanced audio return channel, otherwise known as eARC, on hdmi
input number 3.
This is gonna allow for transfer of more demanding audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X,
with compatible products and the right cables.
There’s an RF input for an antenna, three type A USB ports, a composite input, RS232C,
and an ethernet connection to go along with wi-fi and bluetooth 4.2.
You’ll also get an optical audio output and a hardwired headphone output, although
if you have compatible bluetooth headphones you can take advantage by connecting those
wirelessly.
The TVs sound is amplified by 20 watts of power and utilizes Sony’s new Acoustic multi
audio technology which is supposed to make the dialog seem likes it’s coming straight
from the actors mouths on the screen.
It’s surprisingly better than the audio on the last few generations of Sony’s TVs,
acoustic glass models excluded, but it’s still lacking a bit in overall quality.
I imagine most people are gonna appreciate having some kind of external sound system
hooked up to this one.
Driving the picture on the X950G is Sony’s X1 Ultimate Processor which we were introduced
to on last year’s Z9F and A9F.
And it does a really nice job of enhancing the picture.
Coupled with full array local dimming you really do pick up a ton of detail in dark
and bright scenes.
Plus it helps with light blooming.
Now, I will say, this was NOT the most impressive TV for light bloom that I’ve ever seen.
It was much better when watching directly from the front.
As you move off to the side it becomes more noticeable.
Don’t get me wrong, I was still impressed with the picture, but it WAS something I noticed.
I didn’t feel like it was much, if any, different than what we saw on the 900F.
As far as formats go this one’s got support for DolbyVision, HDR10 and HLG, plus it’s
got the Netflix calibrated mode that we started seeing on a couple sets last year, and it
can play IMAX enhanced content.
There’s also several preset picture modes or if you really wanna get into the weeds,
you’ve got plenty of ways to tweak the picture through the menus.
Seeing it in person here, it’s definitely an upgrade over the 900, I just don’t know
how well it’ll come across on whatever you’re watching this video on.
The panel’s a native hundred twenty hertz and handles motion well.
There really wasn’t any distracting blurring or artifacting that I noticed.
As far as input lag goes, on game mode, at 1080p, 60 hertz, we measured it at 18 and half milliseconds
which was a good drop from the 94 milliseconds we were seeing on cinema mode.
The android operating system, 8.0 out of the box, makes moving through the
smart menus smooth and easy.
It’s a huge upgrade to the older system.
It’s smoother, faster, and in my opinion, laid out better.
And you can navigate all this using the supplied Sony remote which finally, thank you Sony,
has been updated.
But this set also features hands free, so you can voice search so you HAVE options.
This feature works great if you’re looking for anything, like your favorite YouTube channel or just
want to check the weather.
Now, I know a lot of what I’ve just described might lead you to think, “Why not just get
the 900F?”
Well, here’s some differences that might make this worth the upgrade.
You get bluetooth 4.2 instead of 4.1.
Nothing huge, but a difference.
The acoustic multi audio system is a big upgrade if you’re not planning on adding supplemental
sound.
eARC.
Huge upgrade if you have the right equipment and are looking for the best available audio.
Lastly, the X1 Ultimate processor.
When you’re upgrading your TV you typically want a better picture, right?
Well, here you have it.
This is gonna allow for better processing of more objects on the screen at the same
time, and it’s not just talk.
It DOES make a difference.
And, I guess as a little bonus, the remote looks and feels way better on the 950G too.
So with all that said, what would your pick be, 900F or 950G?
Make sure you let us know in the comments.
Also, if you’re interested in more info or have questions on the X950G from Sony,
or anything else we carry for that matter, be sure to contact our experts by phone or
email.
As always, we appreciate you checking out our video, and don’t forget to subscribe
so you get updates whenever we upload new content.