sony z9f review

The two TVs have different panels, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The Vizio P Series Quantum is a bit better than the Sony Master Series Z9F for most people. It is bigger and more wholehearted than a lot of other soundbars I have tried. Feel the thrill of movies in stunning 3.1ch Dolby® Atmos, with our new Vertical Surround Engine in a soundbar that fits perfectly into your home. You can see what products we currently have for sale. In our side-by-side tests, it performed worse than the Z9D, with more noticeable blooming around bright objects. The Sony Z9F has a good full array local dimming feature. Update 02/27/2019: eARC has now been tested, and is properly supported. New for Sony on the Z9F is HDMI 2.0 full bandwidth on all four HDMI ports. The system ran much more slickly and quickly than the previous Android implementation too. We review the Sony ZF9 Master Series 4K HDR TV which is also marketed as the Bravia Z9F in the USA. Similar three-button control scheme found on other Sony TVs. Like the Z9D, there are covers on the back that hide the connections. Also, all four HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.0. Older, 480p digital content looks good, with no obvious upscaling artifacts or oversharpening. Despite the Android Oreo update, the settings menus haven't changed. It was discovered that system sounds must be disabled for it to work. Sony states that the X1 Ultimate processor includes new algorithms that improve how cleverly the dimming zones apply themselves to the 65Z9F’s pictures. Review Sony HT-ZF9. The Sony Z9F is an excellent TV for playing video games. The front half of the borders have a new textured finish similar to Sony cameras. There’s good news and bad news here: The bad news is that the 65Z9F relies on Android TV for most of its smart functionality. this a fake Dolby Amos Soundbar, Sony always cheat to mid-range customer. Price and retailers: US retailer. Read the latest user reviews and ratings of the Sony HT-Z9F and explore the Sound bars. The TV is extremely bright, and although the viewing angles aren't perfect it still looks good when you're watching the big game with a group of friends. That said, however, the Sony delivers marginally sharper 4K images, slightly better upscaling, and more shadow detail. Meanwhile, except black level, Sony Z9F is superior on almost all aspects of picture quality. Explore features, price and find out where to buy the MASTER Series Z9F. The HT-ZF9 we are viewing here is one of the newest Sony sound bars , with a price of 800 euros. Sony’s Master Series Z9F LCD makes a strong claim for top-dog status in today’s Ultra HDTV market. For most part, it does manage to talk the talk and walk the walk. Bravia Sync control must be enabled for ARC to work. Spotify and Google Chrome… It's supported natively. The Z9F doesn't have the burn-in risk that the Sony A9G has. Similar to previous Sony TVs, the Play Store has an excellent selection of apps. Using two headlight shots of The Evil Dead, one of UHD-HDR and one of HD-SDR, the Sony XBR-Z9F shows the extra bright highlights even if the film detail isn’t a slick as today’s digital films. To remove judder from those 60p sources, such as a cable box, set Motionflow to 'Custom', with Smoothness set to 'Min' and CineMotion to 'Auto'. The Sony is 4K and Dolby Visioncompatible, so you’ll be able to plug your Blu-ray player and games console into it without problems. The Z9F is equipped with two 10W speakers which are good enough only for casual viewing. The Z9F is available in 65-inch ($3,500) and 75-inch ($6,000) screen sizes, both with full-array LED backlighting and Sony’s X-Wide Angle optical design, which reduces the loss of color fidelity when the screen is viewed from off axis. 4.3 based on 52 customer reviews. Connections are pretty much exactly as we would expect of a high-end TV: four HDMIs, three USB ports, plus Ethernet and wireless network options. Like the X900F, they can be reversed. The Z9F is available in 65-inch ($3,500) and 75-inch ($6,000) screen sizes, both with full-array LED backlighting and Sony’s X-Wide Angle optical design, which reduces the loss of color fidelity when the screen is viewed from off axis. Like the Z9D, there are plastic panels that cover all the inputs, giving it a clean look. There was a problem. The Sony Z9F is a great TV for most uses. There’s a decent amount of depth and presence to the 65Z9F’s bass as well, and the sound is projected an impressive distance from the screen, boosting its immersive qualities and clarity. Also, the Z9F gets decently loud, without producing too much compression and pumping artifacts. Good color volume. The Z9D is a bit better in a dark room, as it has a better contrast ratio and better local dimming feature, but the image degrades rapidly when viewed at an angle. Editor's Note August 10, 2020: Checkout The Best Soundbar for a detailed review of all the top soundbars. so that you can compare the results easily. On a par with the upscaling prowess of Samsung’s recently reviewed 8K debutante, the 85Q900R. Called SONY support and was told it was the fault of my peripheral devices. If you find HDR content too dim, you can adjust the Contrast and Gamma to your liking. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but takes a very different approach to delivering these object-based immersive audio formats.This compact 3.1-channel soundbar abandons the usual side and upward-firing drivers, and uses clever DSP audio processing to create the illusion of greater immersion … Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. The viewing angles aren't as wide as most IPS or OLED TVs, but still good if you like to move around while watching TV. Good gray uniformity. There should be no issues using the Z9F in a very bright room. For the full ranking, see below. Ultra-wide viewing angles combined with 4K HDR technology provide extraordinary image quality from any angle. There's very little variation between transitions, which is great and results in clear motion without much blur. The LFE (low-frequency extension) of 113Hz indicates a bass that produces no thump, rumble, or punch, which is important for bass-heavy film scores and video game sound effects. The 65Z9F’s audio is good enough that you can survive without adding an external audio solution. The speaker justifies the price but when it comes to the true Dolby Atmos surround effect the 7.1.2 channel output from a 3.1 or 5.1 channel setup seems to be a gimmick. Watching with subtitles on can also be extremely distracting as there's a lot of blooming around the subtitles. The HT-ZF9 measures about a metre long, with a removable grill to hide its drivers. Sony Z9F is also a very capable media player that can playback video and music from all the USB ports provided. The most obvious alternative to the HT-Z9F is Sony's own HT-ST5000, a $1,500 7.1.2 system that also includes a subwoofer and uses DSP to create immersive sound. Are you planning to buy soundbar for your entertainment? The Sony Z9F can compensate slightly for the lower contrast ratio through the better implementation of local dimming support. This will create the 'Soap Opera Effect' to make motion look smother, which might please some people, while others might not enjoy it as much. However, some of those panels feel loose. Keep reading our Sony HT-Z9F review to find out. Here you can vote for our next review, Compare frequency and distortion of TVs to make a clearer and more informed decision, We buy our own products to test. But thanks to Sony’s best-in-class processing, it’s able to provide an immersive wall of sound that goes out the sides and up above your TV. HD/SDR Performance TL;DR: Fantastic upscaling makes every sub-4K source look much better, and makes good quality HD sources actually look almost 4K. The Sony Z9F is slightly better than the Sony X950G. The viewing angles are just okay, but it's better than most VA panel TVs. This ‘blooming’ effect can even extend quite routinely into the black bars you get above and below images with wider-than-16:9 aspect ratios, at which point it can become very distracting indeed. The E8 has better viewing angles and thus is a better choice if you have a room with a wide seating arrangement. It all sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? All common resolutions and refresh rates are supported, except for 4k at 120Hz. We believe that the low contrast ratio is caused by the new X-Wide Angle optical panel. The included native apps are fast and easy to use. Keep reading our Sony HT-Z9F review to find out. Its new X1 Ultimate processor does an unprecedentedly good job of adding the millions of extra pixels needed to convert HD to 4K, introducing more color nuance and depth as well as the more predictable pixel density and detail enhancements. As we have discussed a lot above, overall, Sony Z9F is better than Z9D. NY 10036. However, this won't be very noticeable in real-life situations. Most colors appear as they should, and although the gamma curve follows the target well, some scenes might appear darker than they should. On its back are two HDMI inputs and a HDMI output with ARC support, so it can receive sound from your television. In our analysis of 68 expert reviews, the Sony Sony Soundbar & Wireless Subwoofer placed 8th when we looked at the top 14 products in the category. The borders are thin, with a square design similar to the Z9D. Good. Design, Inputs and Features. The C9 looks much better in a dark room, as the OLED panel delivers near-perfect black uniformity and an infinite contrast ratio. This is similar to the Z9D. 52. The A8F has perfect dark-room performance, thanks to the perfect blacks provided by the OLED panel. Thankfully, there's good news: Sony’s X1 Ultimate processing engine is a piece of work, in all the very best senses of that phrase. In the second photo below, you can see the LED zoning of the Z9F with a very black test pattern. https://www.sony.com/electronics/televisions/xbr-z9f-series/reviews-ratings The Sony HT-ZF9 is the latest flagship soundbar from the Japanese manufacturer. Note that these options will result in a loss of some fine details. 62,990. It has an excellent fast response time, and excellent low input lag. Available in 65- and 75-inch screen sizes, called the XBR-65Z9F and XBR-75Z9F respectively, the Z9F uses Sony’s new X1 Ultimate imaging processing engine, which was also found in the Sony X900F earlier this year. The Z9F does not have the risk of burn-in, and is much brighter, better suited for use in a bright room. 3.1H DOLBY ATMOS®/DTS:X™ SOUNDBAR WITH WI-FI/BLUETOOTH® TECHNOLOGY | HT-Z9F Product Reviews. 86,990 (incl. The 0.1 is the subwoofer which is quite a hefty bit of kit (H: 38.2 / W: 19 / D: 38.6 - 8.1KG). The 65ZF9 applies an automatic and undefeatable HDR conversion to standard dynamic range images with all of its picture presets bar the Custom and Cinema options. The TV has an excellent fast response time, great for action films, and can also remove judder from any 24p source. Please note: Some product variations and/or features mentioned within Product Reviews may not be available in all countries. The PC and Game EOTFs also follow the curve perfectly, which is great. Tested here is the 65-inch version, the Sony KD-65ZF9. For most part, it does manage to talk the talk and walk the walk. Sony's A9F OLED and Z9F LCD are part of the company's new Master series of televisions. Interestingly, reflections are smeared horizontally on this screen more than any other TV we've tested. Sound TL;DR: The 65Z9F’s sound isn’t particularly direct and dialogue can seem dislocated from onscreen lip movements from time to time. The Z9F's remote is a 7.9-by-1.9-inch (HW) black wand covered with membrane buttons. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. Most people will be happy with the fantastic cable management through the feet. 62,990, the Sony HT-Z9F is an expensive but well-equipped soundbar. There's no significant overshoot in most transitions. The HT-ZF9 measures about a metre long, with a removable grill to hide its drivers. You cannot expect anything spectacular from a flat TV speaker system and we would strongly suggest that if you plan on getting such a TV, a dedicated audio system is a necessity in order to get the immersion such a TV can offer. The HT-Z9F is one Sony's latest high-end theater sound systems which only uses a single sound bar and subwoofer to emulate a 7.1.2 surround sound experience. The native contrast ratio is a bit disappointing for a VA panel, but the local dimming feature further deepens any blacks, and the black uniformity is good too, so it still performs well in a dark room. On the other hand, the Sony is brighter, has better gray uniformity, and has a much better color gradient performance. The Sony Z9F and the Samsung Q900R both have very similar performance and both support a viewing angle enhancing technology. The TV is well-built, but some of the panels on the back are loose and could cause some vibrations. The Z9F uses a VA panel and is much brighter than the C9, and the brightness doesn't change as much with different content (ABL). The Sony Z9F has much better gradient handling, and more advanced smart features, including access to the excellent Google Play Store. Its color range is colossal too. The Q80 has better blacks, better black uniformity, slightly better motion handling, and an easier-to-use smart interface. The Q9FN is better overall for gaming, as it supports FreeSync VRR and auto low latency mode. Thankfully, the feet can be reversed so they take less space. The picture quality is good with outstanding out-of-box color accuracy, but unfortunately, the viewing angles are just okay and the image will lose accuracy when viewed from the side. There’s scarcely any aspect of TV picture quality that it doesn’t touch and improve. The package comes with the sound bar, subwoofer, remote control (batteries included), mounting hardware, Demo DVD, 4K HDMI cable, & … Our conclusion remains the same: the Z9F has a better viewing angle than most VA TVs, but not as good as most IPS TVs. The Sony Z9F and LG C9 use different panel technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. All test scores and pictures have been updated. The Sony A9G is an OLED TV that displays perfect blacks in a dark room, has excellent wide viewing angles, and it is a better choice for watching movies or HDR movies in a dark room. MRP. Good black uniformity. The most obvious alternative to the HT-Z9F is Sony's own HT-ST5000, a $1,500 7.1.2 system that also includes a subwoofer and uses DSP to create immersive sound. The Sony Z9F has an excellent 120Hz refresh rate but doesn't support any variable refresh rate technologies like FreeSync. Update 07/07/2020: The operating system has been updated to Android 9.0. This isn't the first time I have played video games in a theater setting but it is the first time I was able to pinpoint sounds. This is true, though, of every other TV on the market right now (and probably right through until the latter part of next year). The Sony Z9F has better local dimming, which is great for movies and wider viewing angles thanks to the 'X-Wide Angle' technology; something which the X950G offers only at the larger models. Surround made simple. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Like most Sony TVs, there are no ads, but there's suggested content in the home menu. The unwanted surprises continue when what you’re watching has bright HDR elements appearing against relatively dark backgrounds. The only Sonys that have similar low input lag are the X690E and X720E. The frequency response is average. The Android 8.0 interface is well organized and easy to use and is a significant improvement over previous Sony TVs. The Sony HT-ZF9 soundbar is the first we’ve come across that puts a question-mark in the final box rather than a tick. Sony's Z9F LCD is a dizzying mix of delight and disappointment. Fans of subtitled movies will be disappointed, however, as there's significant blooming around subtitles, especially in HDR. There is also a 75-inch Sony … The Samsung Q80/Q80R QLED is a slightly better TV than the Sony Z9F. On one hand, Sony’s new X1 Ultimate processor is terrific, delivering numerous subtle but cumulatively outstanding improvements to … Sony is hoping to solve the first of those problems with its HT-Z9F soundbar, a Dolby Atmos-equipped 3.1 soundbar accompanied by a beefy subwoofer and the option to expand a little bit. Quantum also has a much wider viewing angles as it incorporates Sony 's Virtual Surround sound.. 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See more about this in the real scene brightness ; the best product for your.. Shown here slow panning shots in 24p content, even when embedded in a bright room ve across! Legs reversed: 12.3 '' x 47 '' are very similar performance and both support a viewing angle our. 3.1 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar that claims to provide 7.1.2 channel effect using Sony 's LCD... Have discussed a lot of other soundbars I have tried IPS TV brands, can! For most uses angles are just okay, but there 's a lack above 6KHz stand is made of and! Upcoming v2.1 standard 12.3 '' x 47 '' outstanding noise management makes X1 Ultimate exceptionally flexible it. Sdr so it feels responsive and LG C9 use different panel technologies, each with their advantages disadvantages. ) by norrysty on, better suited for use in a dark room TVs... Some corners in terms of overall zones the borders have a room with a square design similar to the blacks... 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