The Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV is one of the best OLED TVs on the field and blows away the competition with its excellent picture quality, creative sound system, and enhanced Android TV variant. The screen features the widest range of colors we’ve ever seen, and the per-pixel backlight generates some of the best possible contrast.
The enhanced Acoustic Surface Audio+ from Sony provides sound right from the display and is nice enough that no soundbar is needed. It’s the best Sony TV we’ve ever seen and one of the market’s best TVs.
As Sony’s Bravia lineup’s second generation of OLED, it’s not just a main competitor premium TV, it’s a study of how well small improvements in feature sets and display panels and sound can combine to make an excellent TV. If you can afford it, it’s one of the greatest TVs you can purchase.
Review Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV
Design
The Master Series A9F is the latest from Sony, which was launched in mid-2018 as part of the Master Series line. But it has a system that borrows strongly from a favorite in 2017, the Sony Bravia A1E, given its newness.
As the Sony A1E, instead of traditionally attached feet, the Master Series A9F uses an easel-style kickstand to support the TV. The outcome is a screen that lies parallel with whatever panel or item of furniture it is placed on, but it also implies the panel is leaning away from a little, placing the display at an angle.
The front view of the TV is nearly all screen, with a 0.3-inch bezel around the top and sides of the display panel, and a slightly thicker 0.5-inch bottom bezel that also serves as the foot of the TV. The bezels are trimmed in black brushed metal, and the only branding on the almost bezel-less design is a single, subtle Sony badge in the bottom left corner.
There’s not just the angled kickstand in the back to support the screen. It also houses a fair amount of TV hardware, from a covered connector panel to a built-in subwoofer. The back stack adds significantly to the set’s general thickness, bringing the A9F to a significant 12.6 inches at the widest when fully stretched. Compared to most 65-inch TVs, the result is a relatively large footprint.
The A9F measures 57.1 x 32.9 x 3.4 inches without the stand being extended. It can not be separated from the platform itself, but it does have a weighted foot used in kickstand fashion, but it should be withdrawn for any wall-mounted setup. The A9F can accommodate a VESA mounting bracket of 400 mm x 200 mm, but it can not be installed directly against the wall owing to the thickness of the connected kickstand.
Specifications
| Price: $4,499.99 |
| Screen Size: 65 inches |
| Resolution: 3840*2160 |
| HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, IMAX enhanced |
| Refresh Rate: 120 Hz |
| Ports: 4 HDMI, 3 USB |
| Audio: Account surface auido+(3.2 channel) |
| Smart Tv Software: Android TV 8.0 |
| Size:Â 57.1*32.9*3.4 inches |
| Weight: 60 Pounds |
Picture Quality and Contrast
The Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV excels in delivering outstanding picture quality and impressive contrast levels. As an OLED panel, it offers individual pixel control, allowing for perfect black levels and infinite contrast. Each pixel can independently emit light or completely turn off, resulting in deep blacks and vibrant colors.
One of the notable strengths of the A9F OLED TV is its wide color range. The screen displays a vast array of colors with exceptional accuracy and richness. Whether you’re watching movies, TV shows, or playing games, you’ll experience vivid and lifelike images with true-to-life color reproduction.
Moreover, the per-pixel backlight technology contributes to the TV’s exceptional contrast performance. The individual control of each pixel ensures that bright areas are brilliantly lit while maintaining the integrity of dark portions of the image. This creates a striking contrast between light and dark elements, enhancing the overall visual experience.
Android TV and Smart Features
The Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV comes equipped with an enhanced version of Android TV, which provides a robust and feature-rich smart TV experience. Android TV offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, allowing you to access a wide range of apps, content, and streaming services.
With Android TV, you have access to a vast selection of apps and streaming services, including popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. You can easily download and install your favorite apps from the Google Play Store, expanding your entertainment options to suit your preferences.
The TV is powered by Android TV 8.0, which offers improved performance, faster loading times, and enhanced stability compared to previous versions. It ensures smooth and seamless navigation through menus, apps, and content, providing a hassle-free user experience.
FAQs
What makes the Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV stand out from its competitors?
The Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV stands out due to its excellent picture quality, creative sound system, and enhanced Android TV variant. The OLED display offers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and infinite contrast, while the Acoustic Surface Audio+ provides immersive sound directly from the display. The enhanced Android TV software offers a wide range of apps, easy navigation, and voice control functionality.
How does the picture quality of the Sony A9F OLED TV compare to other TVs?
The Sony A9F OLED TV delivers exceptional picture quality. Its OLED panel allows for perfect black levels and individual pixel control, resulting in deep blacks and vibrant colors. The wide color range and per-pixel backlight technology contribute to its impressive contrast performance. Overall, it offers one of the best picture qualities available in the market.
Does the Sony A9F OLED TV require a soundbar?
No, the Sony A9F OLED TV features the enhanced Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, which provides high-quality sound right from the display. The built-in speakers and subwoofer deliver room-filling 3.2 channel audio, eliminating the need for a separate soundbar. The audio performance of the TV is considered excellent and immersive.
What are the dimensions and weight of the Sony A9F OLED TV?
The Sony A9F OLED TV measures 57.1 x 32.9 x 3.4 inches without the stand being extended. It weighs approximately 60 pounds. The TV’s design includes an angled kickstand at the back, which adds to its thickness but provides stability. Make sure to appropriately setup your TV at the right viewing angle for your needs.
What HDR formats does the Sony A9F OLED TV support?
The Sony A9F OLED TV supports various HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and IMAX Enhanced. These HDR formats enhance color accuracy, brightness, and shadow detail, providing a more immersive and realistic viewing experience for HDR content.
Can the Sony A9F OLED TV be wall-mounted?
Yes, the Sony A9F OLED TV can be wall-mounted using a VESA mounting bracket of 400 mm x 200 mm. However, due to the thickness of the connected kickstand, it cannot be installed directly against the wall. The kickstand needs to be withdrawn for wall-mounted setups.
What smart features does the Sony A9F OLED TV offer?
The Sony A9F OLED TV runs on Android TV 8.0, providing a comprehensive smart TV experience. It offers access to a wide range of apps and streaming services through the Google Play Store. The TV supports voice control via Google Assistant, allowing for hands-free operation and quick access to information. It also features Chromecast built-in, enabling easy content casting from mobile devices or computers to the TV screen.
Conclusion
The A9F OLED Sony Master Series represents and shows the litter pick from Sony’s 2018 roster. Without losing design or quality, the excellent OLED screen provides bright colors and deep black levels. The built-in audio is great, providing room-filling quantity 3.2 noise without a soundbar. Finally, moving to Android TV 8.0 allows everything a stronger experience for smart TV.
The A9F OLED Sony Master Series still has its flaws, ranging from the clunky remote control design to a lean-back stand that may not work in some living rooms. But overall, the Sony Master Series A9F OLED is a worthy successor to the Sony Bravia OLED XBR-65A1E as our favorite Sony TV, offering a great alternative to the 65-inch Q9FN QLED TV from Samsung.
