Live From CES 2017: Sony Enters the OLED Fray With New BRAVIA 4K HDR TVs

At CES 2017, Sony Electronics unveiled two new 4K HDR TV: the new flagship XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED and XBR-X930E/X940E series TVs. The BRAVIA OLED A1E Series marks Sony’s first major OLED TV release. 

BRAVIA OLED A1E TV Series
The XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED offers the combination of the superior picture quality of OLED powered by Sony’s 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme, the world’s first Acoustic Surface sound system, and its unique stand-less form factor. Thanks to OLED’s over 8 million self-illuminating pixels, the A1E series brings a significantly enriched visual experience with higher-quality black levels, rich and lifelike color, dynamic contrast, blur-less image and a wide viewing angle. The 4K HDR Processor X1 precisely controls thenumber of pixels and extends the capability of OLED to deliver a higher-quality 4K HDR picture.

“Sony continues to make consumer choice a priority especially for those seeking the very best viewing experience, and we are proud to introduce our new XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED series,” says Mike Fasulo, President and COO of Sony Electronics. “Sony delivers incredible innovation and excitement to customers with all of our premium 4K HDR TVs through a powerful mix of technology and our exclusive image processing.”

The A1E series also uses the first-of-its-kind audio technology to emit great sound from the screen itself. Taking advantage of the OLED’s backlight-less structure, Sony developed a new Acoustic Surface sound technology. Thanks to the unique design, the entire screen resonates with rich sound emanating directly from the screen itself. This allows a perfect unification of picture and sound unattainable by conventional TVs. It produces a wide sound and image synchronization from all angles, even off to the sides. Together with OLED’s exceptionally wide viewing angle, the A1E series offers high-end visual and aural experience regardless of viewing position. The Acoustic Surface technology lends to the design of the A1E series by doing away with conventional speakers usually located around the TV. The result is a unique stand-less form factor with no distraction from the picture.

Precision 4K HDR Dontrast with the X930E/X940E Series
Also introduced at CES, the X930E/X940E series features new LED backlight driving technology alongside the X1 Extreme processor, Slim Backlight Drive+. The Slim Backlight Drive+, an evolution of Slim Backlight Drive, is a further improved grid-array backlighting system in a slim form factor which allows for even more precise local dimming control. With its quad-edge LED structure and X-tended Dynamic Range PRO local dimming and boosting technology, it brings superior brightness and exceptional contrast – in fact it will deliver 10 times the XDR (X-tended Dynamic Range) contrast of conventional LED TV. The X940E features a full-array boosting and dimming backlight for precision contrast and incredible brightness.

The XBR-X930E/X940E series also features the 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme, which offers 40% more real-time processing power than Sony’s 4K Processor X1. The processor also takes all content and improves it to near 4K HDR quality. With object-based HDR remaster, the TV can detect, analyze and optimize each object in the picture individually to adjust the overall contrast for a more natural and realistic picture.

Both the new XBR-X930E/X940E and XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED series TV will support Dolby Vision, the HDR format from Dolby Laboratories, which when paired with Sony’s unique technologies will further enrich the visual experience.

Both series also will be powered by Android TV, which brings movies, TV shows and thousands of apps into the home in an instant. And with Google Home compatibility, customers can voice-control the TV and ask it to perform commands via the Google Home device, for a smarter connected home. Android™ TV also provides access to PlayStation Vue, a live TV streaming service of premium content, including sports, news and more, with no annual contract, as well as Ultra, a 4K HDR streaming service.

New Sony TV models and key features:

A1E Series (77”, 65”, and 55” Class model) 4K HDR OLED TV

• Features OLED display technology. 8 million self-illuminating pixels brings a significantly enriched visual experience with unprecedented black levels, authentic color, blur-less image and a wide viewing angle.
• Features Acoustic Surface technology: the entire screen resonates with great sound emanating directly from the screen itself. This allows a perfect unification of picture and sound that conventional TVs cannot deliver.
• 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme provides the ultimate 4K HDR viewing experience by incorporating three picture-enhancing technologies: object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping™ 4K HDR and dual database processing.
• Features vibrant, expanded color with TRILUMINOS™ Display, further enhanced for color accuracy.
• Uses 4K X-Reality™ PRO to produce stunning detail with Sony’s unique algorithm of reality creation database for any content, such as TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital photos.
• The cutting-edge design: The Acoustic Surface technology lends to cutting-edge design of the A1E series by doing away with conventional speakers usually located around the TV. The result is a unique stand-less form factor with no distraction from the picture
• Android TV lets you explore a world of movies, music, photos, games, search, apps and more, including PlayStation™ Vue and Ultra services. Voice Search to find content, ask questions and control your TV. With Chrome Cast built-in, you can easily send content from your smartphone or tablet to the TV. With access to Google Play™, you can enjoy what they like to do on a smartphone or tablet, from their TV. With Google Home compatibility, voice-control the TV via the Google Home device for a smarter connected home.
• HDR compatible to receive and process the new video standard signal with higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colors via Internet video services, HDMI and USB port. Supports Dolby Vision HDR format.

X940E Series (75” Class model) 4K HDR TV

X930E Series (65” and 55” Class models) 4K HDR TV

• Features Slim Backlight Drive+ with a unique quad-edge LED structure, allowing precise local dimming control which provides exceptional brightness and deeper blacks than a conventional full-array LED TV in an ultra slim design. (X930E only, the X940E is built in with full-array direct LED backlight.)
• 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme provides the ultimate 4K HDR viewing experience by incorporating three new technologies: object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR and dual database processing.
• X-tended Dynamic Range PRO enhances HDR and non-HDR content by boosting and dimming the backlight levels precisely for each zone of the screen with a unique backlighting algorithm. [i](10 times XDR contrast*)
• Features vibrant, expanded color with TRILUMINOS Display, further enhanced for color accuracy.
• Uses 4K X-Reality PRO to produce stunning detail with Sony’s unique algorithm of reality creation database for any content, such as TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital photos.
• The ultra slim design allows for flush with the wall mounting and clean cable management for table top mount.
• Flush swivel mount gives easy access to ports and connections, while allowing the TV to sit flush to the wall
• Android TV lets you explore a world of movies, music, photos, games, search, apps and more, including PlayStation Vue and Ultra services. Voice Search to find content, ask questions and control your TV. With Chrome Cast built-in, you can easily send content from your smartphone or tablet to the TV. With access to Google Play, you can enjoy what they like to do on a smartphone or tablet, from their TV. With Google Home compatibility, voice-control the TV via the Google Home device for a smarter connected home.
• HDR compatible to receive and process the new video standard signal with higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colors via Internet video services, HDMI and USB port. Supports Dolby Vision HDR format.