Sony KD-49XH9505
The XH9505 looks similar to the model it replaces, but it is the latest in a long line of superb 49in TVS from Sony
In recent years, Sony has put more effort into delivering a high-end 49in set than most of its rivals, and has been rewarded with What Hi-fi? Awards for the past three years running.
The KD-49XH9505 is looking to make it four in a row by cramming in more of Sony’s top tech than has been seen before in a TV this size. It is also available in 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in versions, which come with a more advanced sound system, an X-wide Angle panel that should improve viewing angles, and feet that can be placed in various positions to create a smaller footprint.
The XH9505 looks more or less identical to last year’s XG9005. The feet are now near-black rather than silver, but the rest of the chassis appears the same. It’s a shame Sony hasn’t slimmed the set down, as it measures a rather chunky 6.9cm. And those feet, while designed to accommodate a soundbar, still give the TV a wide footprint. Ultimately, though, this is a smart-looking set from the front, with the thin, brushed-metal bezel stylishly framing the on-screen action.
The XH9505 gets the remote control Sony launched with its premium sets last year. Not only is it a more ergonomic piece of kit, but Bluetooth functionality means it isn’t reliant on line-of-sight. The set’s connections are fairly typical. There’s no IR blaster now, leaving four HDMIS (one of which supports EARC), three USBS and an optical audio output.
While things might be familiar on the outside, it’s all change on the inside, with the XH9505 being lavished with Sony’s current top chip, the X1 Ultimate. This adds Object Based Super Resolution, designed to analyse and enhance the definition of individual objects in an image, and an enhanced version of Object Based HDR Remaster, which applies a similar approach to contrast.
The extra processing power also makes for a snappier user experience. Interacting with Android TV (the XH9505 launches with version 9, but will get an upgrade to 10) is more pleasant than before, with the set responding instantly to button presses.
Sony has also updated its own menu system, which sits alongside Android and is used to switch inputs, change settings and the like. These are clearer and better looking than before, and even include a picture and description for every picture setting.
Access to lots of apps
Android TV isn’t as neat an operating system as the bespoke systems used by the likes of Samsung and LG, but it is easy to use and gives you access to lots of apps. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ are all on board; Rakuten and Google Play Movies & TV deliver pay-as-you-go 4K content; and Sony has made BBC iplayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5 available whether you choose to use the Youview tuner or not.
It’s a shame that the Apple TV app is missing. You can use Airplay 2 to stream Apple TV content from an IOS device to the XH9505, but doing so sacrifices picture quality somewhat.
As well as supporting the Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats, Sony also supports IMAX Enhanced and Netflix Calibrated. We wouldn’t get too excited about these, though, as the former is currently a long way from widely available and the latter results in the dullest of dull pictures.
View Dolby Vision content using the default Dolby Vision Bright preset, and the experience is anything but dull. Watching The Witcher, it’s remarkable how much punchier the delivery is from the XH9505 than the XG9005.
Put aside what this says about Dolby Vision (how can both be ‘as the creator intended’?) and marvel at the enticing and cinematic performance that boasts a rich but balanced colour palette, lots of detail and excellent edge definition.
Motion is excellent, too. There’s a hint of shimmer as the camera pans down the tree in Stregobor’s conjured courtyard, but Sony’s motion processing smooths and sharpens movement without sacrificing cinematic quality.
A lovely picture – after tweaking
We switch from streamed Dolby Vision to disc-based HDR10 by spinning up the 4K Blu-ray of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and are a little surprised that the default Standard preset is in need of a fair bit of tweaking, which wasn’t the case with last year’s XG9005. With the out of the box settings, the image looks inauthentically vivid in terms of colours and a little dull in terms of brightness.
Tweaked accordingly, the XH9505 puts in a lovely performance. It’s still just on the rich side of neutral in terms of its colours, but that makes for a vibrant viewing experience that doesn’t veer into unrealness. Black depth is similar to that of the XG9005, which isn’t perfect, but the amount of dark detail is superior and the way that bright highlights punch through the dark is superb.
In the scene where the film’s heroes encounter a giant worm, Rey’s lightsaber pierces the gloom of the subterranean tunnels far more effectively on the XH than the XG. You can see more in dark scenes and they’re more exciting, too.
The XH’S local dimming still isn’t as sophisticated as that of top end backlit sets from Samsung, and so you get a faint glow around bright objects on otherwise
Even without room calibration enabled, this is a significantly weightier and punchier delivery than offered by the XG9005, but turning it on opens things up even further and smooths out the occasional hard edge. Combine that with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, such as Blade Runner 2049, and it’s a surprisingly cinematic performance for a TV this size.
Of course, a TV with downward-firing speakers has its limits, but for a 49in flatscreen, this Sony sounds excellent. The larger XH95 models get Sony’s
Acoustic Multi Audio technology, so should sound even better.
It may look the same as last year’s model, but the KD-49XH9505 features a number of upgrades that make it a better TV than the Award-winning XG9005 it replaces. The picture isn’t vastly better, but the increased brightness, richer colours and better dark detail combine to make it a more enticing and insightful performer. Add significantly enhanced sound and a snappier user experience, and this is an all-round cracker.