Sony Unveils Bravia 9 - The Bright Future of Flagship TVs
Sony recently held a grand event at the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Los Angeles to showcase their latest technology in TV creation. The event featured demos of movie magic such as Foley effects and soundtrack mixing, emphasizing Sony's message that the technology used in professional movie and TV creation trickles down into their consumer products.
The Bravia 9: A Mini-LED Marvel
The new Sony Bravia 9 is now the flagship model of the Bravia series TVs, taking the place of the Sony A95L OLED TV. The most noteworthy change is that the Bravia 9 is a mini-LED TV, a departure from Sony's previous preference for OLED as the premium technology in their TV lineup.
Tech Advancements Behind the Bravia 9
Sony's shift to mini-LED is due to two major technological developments. The first is the BVM-HX3110, a professional mastering monitor with an impressive 4,000 nits peak brightness, replacing the BVM-HX310 that capped at 1,000 nits. This advancement removes previous limitations on the peak brightness movies could be mastered at.
The second development is the XR Backlight Master Drive with High Peak Luminance, a new TV backlight technology used exclusively in the Sony Bravia 9 mini-LED TV. It boasts a 50% brightness boost over previous models and a 325% increase in local dimming zones, achieved through a highly miniaturized 22-bit LED driver. This technology allows for more refined image display with greater detail.
The Bravia 9's Impressive Demo
At the event, a demo showcased the Bravia 9's capabilities, comparing it to older models and competitor's TVs. The Bravia 9 displayed higher resolution and higher brightness, with a virtual absence of backlight blooming effects - a common issue with LED-based TVs, and a significant factor in OLED TVs' picture quality advantage.
The Future of HDR and TV Brightness
Although Sony has not disclosed the Bravia 9's peak brightness specs, its ability to reproduce intricate details in movies mastered at 4,000 nits marks it as a significant addition to HDR television. With movie directors and cinematographers exploring the limits of HDR, TVs like the Bravia 9 that can handle higher brightness levels will have an edge.
As OLED manufacturers struggle to push beyond current brightness levels, mini-LED technology like that in Sony's new flagship offers a higher peak brightness. With the future promising movies with an even wider dynamic range, Sony's mini-LED Bravia 9 is well-positioned to set a new standard in TV viewing.
