Quantum-powered picture perfection with the Sony A95K (XR55A95K)

The Sony A95K 4K TV is the flagship model of the brand for 2022. It features a new OLED panel that uses quantum dots. This allows for brighter colours and more highlights as well as the usual benefits such perfect blacks and pixel precision.

The new panel is not manufactured by Sony, but the Japanese giant adds its processing expertise to ensure exceptional image quality, saturated colours and HDR. Google TV is sleek and complete, with many gaming features and an Acoustic Surface sound system. This OLED TV is amazing, with only two HDMI inputs and no HDR10+ support.

The Sony A95K 4K (3.840 x 2.160) HDR smart television uses Quantum Dot OLED technology (QDOLED). It is part of Bravia’s Bravia XR Master series of OLED TVs. It has two sizes, 55in and 65in. For this review, Sony provided the 55in OLED TV XR55A95K.

The panel of the A95K uses a blue OLED for self-illuminating each pixel. Quantum dots layers create the red and green subpixels. This solves the blue decay problem faster than red and green, and produces brighter images with more precise colours.

The image is powered by Sony’s Cognitive XR processing unit and runs the most recent version of Google TV. There are also support for HDR10 and HLG as well as Dolby Vision. However, HDR10+ is not supported.

The OLED TV features Sony’s stylish design. It has a stand that can hold the screen in two positions and Acoustic Surface Audio+, which uses the entire screen as speakers. Dolby Atmos support is also available. Bravia Cam is included to optimise sound and picture quality.

Design, connections, and control

The Sony A95K is a stylish, yet minimalist, model. This OLED TV is actually just a screen that is attached flush to a narrow metal bezel. The build quality of the OLED TV is superb. It has a matte black rear with a grid pattern for texture. Removable panels make it easy to manage cables and keep them tidy. The dimensions of the 55A95K are 1225x43x714mm (WDH), and 21.2kg with the stand.

There are two options for the stand: one that places it at the rear, so you only see the screen. The stand can be placed at the front so that the A95K can be mounted against a wall. Because the stand places the screen at an angle at the rear, it is likely to cause disagreement. However, both styles allow for soundbars without blocking the screen. You can wall mount the screen using a 300x300VESA bracket.

There are four HDMI inputs, three facing downwards and one facing sideways. The connectivity is good. One of the inputs facing downwards supports eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), and all HDMI inputs support HDCP 2.3 and 4K/60Hz. They also support high dynamic range in HDR10 and HDLG, as well as Dolby Vision (but no HDR10+).

Only two HDMI inputs are compatible with 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM (auto-low latency mode), as is the case for all Sony TVs. One of these inputs supports eARC, so anyone who has a soundbar as well as both the Xbox Series X consoles and the PlayStation 5 consoles won’t be able to take advantage of both.

Other physical connections include an aerial and satellite connector with dual tuners, an Ethernet port to make a wired connection, an optical output, AV inputs and AV outputs, as well as an Ethernet port that can be used for an Ethernet connection. Built-in Wi Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 2.0, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2 provide wireless connectivity.

You get two remotes, one basic and one more sophisticated. Sony’s controller has curved corners, a metallic effect, and a backlight. It is comfortable to hold and easy to use. The buttons are well-placed. Navigation and playback controls are included, as well as direct access buttons to Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+. You can also use the find your remote feature to locate your remote: just press the button on your TV or ask Google Assistant, and your remote will ring and flash.

Although the A95K includes Bravia Cam, it only adds to OLED’s already low price. The camera can also make video calls and track your location in the room. It adjusts the brightness and sound level based on where you sit. Bravia Cam is a technological throwback. There’s an alert mode for children who get too close to it, as well as the ability to control hand gestures.

Smart TV platform

Google TV is the smart platform for the Sony A95K. It has a clean interface and offers a variety of features and apps. It is easy to customize the layout and makes recommendations. YouView, Prime Video and Disney+ are all available.

Google Assistant is integrated into the platform. Voice search makes it easier to find your favorite content. The A95K is now a fully functioning smart assistant with support for Chromecast. It also supports Amazon Alexa if you’d prefer. However, no matter which smart assistant you choose they all offer hands-free voice control in case you lose the remote controls. Apple fans will be pleased to know that AirPlay 2 is now available and HomeKit support is also available.

Image quality

The default setting for the Sony A95K is Eco picture mode. This is less efficient, but it also uses too many blues in the greyscale and has over-saturated colors. Sony does not offer a Filmmaker mode. However, the Custom picture mode is very accurate. The DeltaE (error) for colours is two. However, the grayscale has a little too much blue. This results in an error of three.

These measurements are close to the visible threshold of 3. However, you can adjust the accuracy using the calibration controls. This will produce errors below 1. SDR images are stunning thanks to their precise image and the purity of the quantum dot filter. They have the same deep blacks as OLEDs, and extensive shadow delineation, and captivate instantly with their nuanced richness.

Another area where the A95K stands out is in its picture processing. This is an area that Sony excels at. The Cognitive XR processor does a remarkable job at upscaling lower resolution content and bringing out all the details without introducing unwanted artefacts. Unrivalled picture processing reduces compression artifacts and mosquito noise.

Sony’s motion handling is another area that is impressive and where they are a leader. The A95K can display excellent motion without any additional processing, and images appear clear of judder and other artifacts. True Cinema enhances motion without making it look smoother, and frame interpolation can be useful for fast-paced sports action.

There are some issues with the QDOLED display technology, but these are not specific to the A95K. These panels have a triangular subpixel structure. The green is at the top, while the red and blue are below. This causes minor colour fringing up close. It’s not recommended for use with a PC, or for text clarity.

The anti-glare filter is effective for direct lighting, but can make the blacks look darker than a purple/grey. If you want to enjoy the inky OLED blacks’ full potential, the A95K should not be used in rooms with lots of ambient light. The A95K can be used in any room with a lot of ambient light.

HDR performance

The new QD-OLED panel on the Sony A95K is a huge benefit when it comes HDR. It delivers a remarkable peak luminance of 930cd/m2 with a 10% window and 199cd/m2 for a full-field. These are impressive measurements for an OLED and the Sony can reproduce HDR content up to 1000 nits without having to resort to excessive tone mapping.

The A95K can be used to tone map, but it is also very effective. It has a precise greyscale and an EOTF that maps precisely the PQ target. The creative intent of an HDR grade is preserved regardless of whether it uses 1,000, 10,000, or 4,000 nits. The Sony supports HDR10 and HLG with Dolby Vision. HDR10+ is missing.

With HDR, the A95K can produce more vivid colours thanks to the use of quantum dots and Sony’s Triluminos technology. The DCI-P3 coverage is 100% while the BT.2020 coverage is an amazing 89%. Importantly, the saturation sweeps within BT.2020 of DCI-P3 are extremely accurate. This results in beautifully rendered colours with HDR content.

The A95K’s tone mapping with HDR10 content looks equally impressive. It can handle The Revenant’s difficult snowy landscapes without losing any detail. The brighter panel gives white vistas a real punch. While the tiny highlights of sunlight reflecting off the ice are rendered with incredible precision, the brighter panel is much more visible. This result creates a stunning visual experience that will delight film lovers.

Dolby Vision renders the vehicular chaos of Ambulance in Dolby Vision with sharply rendered 4K images and specular highlights. Brightly lit LA streets look great with vivid primary colours. This is a stunning performance that fully showcases the amazing OLED TV’s potential.

Sound quality

Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology is used in the Sony A95K. This transforms the whole screen into a speaker using rear actuators that vibrate it to produce sound. A brace of rear bass drivers improves the low-end performance. There’s enough juice to produce a solid sonic presence, which can be quite loud without causing distortion.

Overall sound quality is clear and detailed with clear dialogue and a well-defined middle-range. The frontal delivery is also evident. Although the bass drivers do a great job at generating low-frequency energy it is important to manage expectations. The Cognitive XR processor plays a key role in separating the music from the sound effects and placing them on the screen.

The A95K can now transmit lossless audio including DTS thanks to eARC. This is a rare feature these days. You can send audio from built-in apps to an external sound solution via ARC. There’s also an onboard decoding feature for Dolby Atmos soundtracks, and an auto-calibration feature which optimizes sound quality based upon the environment.

Atmos uses psychoacoustic processing for immersion. Don’t expect miracles. However, an audio input allows A95K to be the centre channel in multi-channel speaker systems. To enhance the soundbar’s central channel performance, you can pair it with a supporting Sony soundbar and its Acoustic Surface.

Verdict

The Sony A95K is a striking device that you can see right away when you open the box. It has a simple design and premium build quality, which helps justify the high price. While the stand may frustrate some and the Bravia Cam might feel like a throwback to the past, the Acoustic Surface sound system provides superior sonic performance than most OLEDs that are ultra-slim.

Sony’s world-class imaging technology is what sets this TV apart from its competitors. The QD-OLED panel promises brighter and more vibrant colours. The Cognitive XR processor produces exceptional accuracy, upscaling and HDR ton mapping. This results in a picture quality that is unmatched for consumer displays.