Expert review of the Sony X90J TV
Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
- Thanks to the 10-bits screen, you can see a realistic color representation and many subtle color tones.
- Thanks to Full Array Local Dimming, you won't see much of a halo around lighter parts on the screen.
- The smart Cognitive Processor XR analyses and improves all images that you watch.
- Due to the limited viewing angle, the image quality is worse when you sit across the TV at an angle.
- For a powerful and rich sound, you need a separate soundbar.
First impression of the X90J
When I first take a look at the X90J, I notice it stands on 2 very slim leg stands. This is a familiar characteristic for Sony televisions nowadays. At the back of the TV, I find 4 HDMI ports, of which 2 support HDMI version 2.1. This makes the TV attractive for gamers. That's because you can receive 4K images with a refresh rate of 100Hz from the latest consoles. So games look even more detailed and smooth.
Wide color gamut and lively colors
The Sony X90J has a 10-bits screen. This means that the TV displays over a billion colors. Thanks to this, I can see various subtle tones of a yellow balloon when I view images with HDR support. It looks very realistic. The new Cognitive Processor XR recognizes objects in the image and improves the color representation. Brightly colored balloons in the foreground are displayed brightly, but also the blue sky in the background looks very lifelike.
High contrast thanks to Full Array Local Dimming
The backlight of the X90J works with Full Array Local Dimming. This means that hundreds of LED lights dim individually behind the dark parts of the image. That way, a black image is really dark and light objects on a dark background barely show a halo. A white can flying through the air with a black background looks very bright, without the white fading on the black.
Standard viewing angle
When I stand in front of the TV at an angle, I notice the viewing angle of the X90J isn't very wide. The contrast, brightness, and colors are getting worse and the image looks duller. You don't really notice this with normal use. When you often watch TV with a larger group or sit at an angle, the limited viewing angle is a downside.
Decent sound for standard use
The X90J has 4 speakers with a combined power of 20W. On the side of the screen, there are 2 tweeters that produce the treble. The TV doesn't have a subwoofer, but I find 2 bass reflex ports at the bottom. These enhance the bass of the 2 lower speakers. Movies, series, and music sound richer because of this, but I recommend a separate soundbar for a powerful sound.
Simple yet stylish design
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The screen rests on 2 sleek, stylish leg stands.
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The screen has a glossy plastic bezel.
The screen has a rather thin shiny bezel. The back of the TV is made of plastic and has a cubical pattern. When you're setting up the TV, you can choose between 2 positions for the leg stands. Do you have a small TV cabinet? You can put the leg stands closely together. When you put them further apart from each other, you'll have room for a soundbar under the screen. The leg stands look slim in both positions and they're barely noticeable when you're sitting right in front of the TV.
Extensive screen-filling smart menu
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The Google TV smart menu is clear and extensive.
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Bravia Core is the streaming service from Sony.
The well-known Android smart platform has a new version, Google TV. This screen-filling smart menu has a wide selection of apps. The most popular apps are already installed, like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Google TV provides personalized suggestions directly in the menu, like your favorite vlogger on YouTube. In addition, Sony offers their own streaming service app Bravia Core. With this, you can watch hundreds of movies from Sony and you get 5 new titles of choice for free.
Large pleasant remote
The remote of the Sony X90J is relatively long and has many buttons. The controls still feel intuitive, because the most important buttons are placed in the middle of the remote. With the 4 shortcuts to the most popular streaming apps, you can watch your favorite content in no time. Sadly, the buttons on the remote don't have lighting. The remotes from more expensive Sony televisions do have this.
Conclusion
With the Sony X90J, you're ensured of bright images with a realistic color representation. I find the Full Array Local Dimming very precise and think it provides a good contrast. This makes this TV very suitable for watching movies and series with HDR support. I do recommend a separate soundbar for a rich sound during movies and series. The sound of the TV isn't very rich or spacious.
