I Got to See Sony’s New True RGB TV’s, Here’s How they Differ from the Competition

I Got to See Sony’s New True RGB TV’s, Here’s How they Differ from the Competition

The BRAVIA 7 II and flagship BRAVIA 9 II mark Sony’s official entry into the RGB category, with both models aiming for reference-grade cinema pictures translated into residential homes.

Even in ambient lighting, Sony’s new BRAVIA boast an incredible brightness. Photo by Nick Boever

Sony is at last unveiling its RGB mini-LED TVs to the world. Rather than introducing a full new lineup for the technology, however, it’s coming as a direct upgrade to the BRAVIA line in the form of the BRAVIA 9 II and BRAVIA 7 II.

As part of this launch, last April, I and a handful of other publications had the opportunity to preview these new models firsthand, while also getting a chance to better understand what sets Sony’s iteration of the technology apart from competitors, especially now that so many brands have come out with their own take on RGB LEDs.

What Makes Sony’s True RGB Unique

Like with other iterations of RGB tech, the new BRAVIA models have their white LED backlights replaced with three individual blue, green and red mini LEDs, allowing the TVs to reproduce color directly at the light source and eliminating the need to use a color filter. The difference is made in the backlight driver, which can individually control each red, blue and green light source in the TVs.

The obvious benefit with more precise backlight control is better color reproduction, and, indeed, Sony says these new BRAVIA TVs have the highest color volume yet. However, digging down deeper, the story goes well beyond color reproduction, with Sony explaining that the new driver also helps improve brightness and drastically reduce blooming.

In fact, according to Sony representatives, development of the driver was a collaboration between BRAVIA teams and Sony’s Pro Monitor teams, giving the new True RGB BRAVIA’s extra connective tissue to Sony’s film legacy in terms of picture fidelity.

That may be why Sony is choosing to kick off the launch with its “Cinema is Coming Home” message. From all appearances, while color is the bright, shiny takeaway for marketing, having seen the new BRAVIAs perform in person, it’s clear that Sony is gunning for reference-level cinema production when it comes to its new BRAVIA line. That might also explain why a 115-inch BRAVIA 9 II runs around $30,999.99 MSRP.

Having seen them side-by-side in person, it’s definitely not a 1:1 comparison, but it’s astounding how close the mini LEDs on the new BRAVIAs are able to approach the picture fidelity of Sony’s professional monitor displays.

A Look at the BRAVIA 7 II and BRAVIA 9 II

Sony’s True RGB TVs encompass two models: the BRAVIA 7 II and the flagship BRAVIA 9 II. Both models will be replacing the BRAVIA 7 I and the BRAVIA 9 I, respectively, with production of the prior models being discontinued after launch.

The BRAVIA 9 II, as mentioned, is the bigger of pair, offering more premium features on top of having a larger maximum screen size, ranging from 65 to 115 inches. The BRAVIA 7 II, meanwhile, runs from 50 to 98 inches.

The BRAVIA 9 II. Photo courtesy of Sony

The BRAVIA 7 II. Photo courtesy of Sony

Both get that Pro driver mentioned earlier for backlight control, and both also offer a wider viewing angle compared to Sony’s other TVs, maintaining a fairly consistent brightness and color ratio based on in-person viewing.

Over the BRAVIA 7 II, the BRAVIA 9 II also comes with:

Luminance Booster Pro, which creates color using both mini LEDs and LCD, allowing for more boosted colors on the 9,
Immersive Black Screen Pro, which minimizes reflections, allowing for fuller blacks even in brighter rooms,
A top located Beam Tweeter to provide more cinematic 3D sound,
And a “Mirage Stand” accessory that is meant to give it a floating appearance while eliminating the visuals of any cables being run behind it.

Both TVs also support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced out the gate and come with a built-in midrange speaker and subwoofer for cinematic audio. There’s also multiple pre-calibrated modes viewers can select based on platform and viewing preferences, as well as ambient light optimization that runs baseline.

Even at an angle, the image quality of these new BRAVIAs holds up substantially. Photo by Nick Boever

The two BRAVIA models will also be getting their own custom Leon Studio Frames as optional accessories.

Additional Considerations for Integrators

One thing to note is that while these new True RGB TVs are really leaning into that reference-level picture reproduction, the brightness these models can output (alongside the BRAVIA 9 II’s black screen treatment), shows that Sony is anticipating their use in high-ambient light environments as opposed to theater displays.

That’s not to say they couldn’t be installed in a theater if someone really wanted to (just look at how microLEDs are being used), but it does point to the idea that these TVs are being designed to bring cinematic-level video to the more casual open area living space/flex rooms, slotting into the same niche as OLEDs and mini LEDs while punching up and over with regards to picture quality.

Additionally, these two models are being launched with a new Sony product offering, the BRAVIA Theater Trio, which is a wireless home theater system consisting of a left and right speaker paired with a center channel soundbar tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, again tying another thread to the cinema connection. According to Sony, the system can generate up to 24 “phantom speakers” to create a wider, more immersive sound field, using an in-built USB-C microphone to help with calibration.

In talking with Sony representatives, the Trio was designed with the 115-inch BRAVIA 9 II in mind, but neither require the other in order to function.

Also, one last note, considering the recent developments with the BRAVIA line: During the press viewings, Sony did mention that the development of these BRAVIA models were not affected by the new deal with TCL, meaning production and development of the models was done purely by Sony, in case there were any questions regarding that.

Pricing and Availability

The BRAVIA 9 II True RGB TV is available for pre-sale at Sony, and other authorized dealers now. Pricing is as follows:

115-inch Class: $30,999.99 USD MSRP / $41,999.99 CAD MSRP (available this
fall)
85-inch Class: $6,499.99 USD MSRP / $8,999.99 CAD MSRP
75-inch Class: $4,599.99 USD MSRP / $6,499.99 CAD MSRP
65-inch Class: $3,599.99 USD MSRP / $4,999.99 CAD MSRP

The BRAVIA 7 II True RGB TV is available for sale at Sony, Best Buy and other authorized dealers.

98-inch Class: $8,999.99 USD MSRP / $12,999.99 CAD MSRP (available this
summer)
85-inch Class: $3,999.99 USD MSRP / $5,599.99 CAD MSRP
75-inch Class: $3,099.99 USD MSRP / $4,399.99 CAD MSRP
65-inch Class: $2,599.99 USD MSRP / $3,699.99 CAD MSRP
55-inch Class: $2,099.99 USD MSRP / $2,999.99 CAD MSRP
50-inch Class: $1,599.99 USD MSRP / $2,249.99 CAD MSRP (available this summer)

SOURCE: CEPro

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