All the major
brands showcased their latest models this month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. So far only Sony NZ has announced its 2020 range. Philip Wakefield looks at what’s on offer, as well as the latest Blu-ray releases.
THIS YEAR’S TVs will offer far more than 20/20 vision.
All the major brands showcased their latest models this month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
But so far only Sony NZ has announced its 2020 range (pricing and availability still to be confirmed).
The line-up will include its secondgeneration 8K LED TV. The firstgeneration model went on sale internationally last year but not in NZ.
The new Z8H will be available in one size - 85 inches - and boast not only eyepopping picture quality but also a new audio system that has tweeters built into the frame of the TV.
Sony says The Frame Tweeter vibrates the frame to emit sound as if it was coming directly from the screen, creating an immersive effect similar to Sony’s Acoustic Surface technology on its OLED models.
The Z8H also will have a backlit remote control for operating the TV with the lights off and, like the rest of Sony’s premium LED and OLED TVs for 2020, will offer Dolby Atmos audio.
The new LED TVs also will have wider viewing angles, expanded voice functionality, Google Home compatibility, and Apple HomeKit and Airplay.
There also will be a new ‘‘Ambient
Optimisation’’ mode that Sony claims will automatically adjust picture and sound for any environment.
Other brands will offer a similar feature called Dolby Vision IQ. Sony TVs will have Dolby Vision but not the IQ option.
Sony’s premium 4K LED range, the X95H, will be available in 55- and 65-inch models and have a new bi-amp audio system and a virtually bezel-less look so nothing distracts from the image.
While Sony is expanding its LED range, it will introduce only one OLED series: the A8H (55- and 65-inch options).
It sounds like an evolution of last year’s outstanding A9G but with the addition of Ambient Optimisation, two subwoofers to improve the Acoustic Surface Audio,
Dolby Atmos and, perhaps most importantly, X-Motion Clarity.
This will be the first time Sony has implemented X-Motion, a feature of its best LED TVs, on an OLED model.
Hopefully it will be just as effective in reducing if not eliminating one of OLED’s bugbears: blurred or smeary fast-moving sports footage.
Reportedly, it uses a ‘‘blinking system’’ that maintains brightness at a higher refresh rate for what Sony promises will be a ‘‘brighter and clearer picture’’.
It’s not yet clear if Sony will release a 48-inch OLED TV here, in a bid to make the technology more affordable and capitalise on those customers who want a premium TV in a smaller size.