Sony’s 2017 TV range is turning into a procession of evidence that the brand is listening to its customers more than any other TV brand right now.
The recently tested models finally satisfied the Sony fan itch for a big-screen Sony OLED TV. The delivered most of the brightness and backlight blooming improvements to Sony’s Slim Backlight Drive technology we’d hoped for. And now we have the 65XE9005, which not only recognises the widely held view that LCD TVs with direct lighting handle high dynamic range pictures better than the more common edge-lit variation, but also makes its direct lighting system available for an unusually affordable price.
Design
While the 65-inch 65XE9005 feels noticeably more plasticky than Sony’s XE9305 and, especially, A1 OLED TVs while you’re setting it on its centrally mounted stand, from a distance it actually looks like a pretty premium TV.
The screen looks glossy and is mounted within a strikingly narrow black frame, while the desktop stand enjoys a handsomely gleaming metallic finish. This stand’s two connection ‘struts’ also thoughtfully contain a handy cable management system, so dangling wires don’t have to detract from the minimalistic elegance.
Connections are plentiful despite the 65XE9005’s relatively affordable price. A quartet of HDMIs all support 4K and HDR sources, three USBs are on hand to combine multimedia playback with recording from the digital tuner, while the now de rigueur network features can be accessed via integrated Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port.
Screen sizes available: 49-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD | 4K: Yes | HDR: Yes (HDR10, HLG) | Panel technology: Direct-lit LCD with local dimming | Smart TV: Yes, Android TV and YouView | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1447 x 830 x 60mm (W x H x D) | 3D: No | Inputs: Four HDMIs, three USBs, RF input, optical digital audio output, integrated Wi-Fi
Smart TV (Android TV and YouView)
Rather than using a proprietary TV smart system like Samsung, LG and Panasonic do, Sony’s smart TVs import Google’s Android TV and, in the UK, the YouView catch-up TV platform.
In an ideal world the 65XE9005 would provide a few more individual local dimming zones to reduce the extent of the backlight halos. But even as things stand the 65XE9005 delivers a more immersive and consistent HDR experience than most if not all edge-lit rivals - something that will appeal more to some if not many movie-loving AV fans than the more spectacular HDR gymnastics of edge-lit stars like the Sony 55XE9305 and
The 65XE9005’s main HDR weakness is actually its viewing angle. Watching HDR from much of an angle sees the backlight haloing issue become dramatically more noticeable - so much so that it could be a deal breaker for rooms where family members routinely have to watch TV from a significant angle.
Sound
The 65XE9005’s sound isn’t as successful as its pictures. It simply doesn’t have enough low-frequency power or depth to sound convincing with such movie staples as explosions and space ship engines, and this can also lead to treble details sounding a little over-exposed and brittle.
The speakers can even distort when the going really gets tough – though dialogue does somehow manage to always remain comprehensible and credible, and the sound creates a surprisingly large presence that extends well beyond the edges of the screen.
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