TV Size Matters

I’m still quite pleased with my eight-year-old 55-inch Sony LCD TV (thanks for the recommendation, Al), but am finding myself tempted by larger screen sizes and support for HDR content that new sets offer. I’ve noticed that while Sound & Vision reviews a wide variety of televisions, you almost always choose to highlight the smallest screen size in a given model lineup. While I understand it may not be practical to review flat-panel sets measuring 75 inches diagonal (and beyond), manufacturer specifications and even features can differ within the same model range. An example would be Sony’s X950G line where screens 75 inches and larger feature “X-wide Angle” technology from the brand’s Master Series sets, while smaller screen sizes in the range lack that feature. This could potentially make for a huge difference in image quality across the range, and is something I’d love to hear your take on.

Ed Kirchgessner / via email

Al Griffin responds: Sound & Vision often reviews the 65-inch model in any brand’s TV line because that’s the screen size manufacturers typically offer us for review. The 65-inch screen size is also generally the most popular model in a given maker’s higher- end TV lineup, though, as you note, certain series like Sony’s X950G range are beginning to provide features exclusive to larger screen sizes. For that reason, and also due to the increasing popularity of larger screen sizes, we’ve started to review larger screens when possible— the Vizio PX75- G1 in this issue, for instance, along with the TCL 75-inch 8 Series set in our February/march 2020 issue.