With the release of a new generation of consoles, the question of choosing the right TV has become more acute than ever. If PS4 Pro and Xbox One X have not yet reached stable 4K, then for new devices such a resolution has become the standard. In addition, there are a number of other requirements, from HDMI 2.1 to modern HDR standards. One of the TVs listed as PS5 Ready (Sony KD-55XH9096 model) came to our editorial office. Cybersport.ru compared it with other TV and shares his impressions.
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External attributes
Sony KD-55XH9096
KD-55XH9096 – 55 “TV. The expected minimalistic design is nevertheless able to distinguish the model from the general background due to the thin silver frame along the contour. The stand is not plastic, but metal, which is also a plus: it allowed to maintain strength while reducing dimensions.
Continuing the conversation about external attributes, it is worth noting the number of ports: the XH9096 is provided with four HDMI ports and three USB sockets, as well as a standard set of a LAN port, an optical output, a headphone or subwoofer jack and an antenna input.
For comparison, we took the TVs that the editors use to play on PS4. The first is another model from Sony that came out in 2016 – the KD-49XD8077. It also supports 4K and HDR, but is smaller (49 “versus 55”) and does not support both high resolution and high dynamic range. Another model was the budgetary Polarline 55PU11TC-SM of domestic production. It also claims HDR and 4K, but the PlayStation 5 refused to accept them – so the comparison will be at 1080p.
Window to reality
An example of edge lighting problems on a cheap TV
The main thing about the 55XH9096 is its screen. Most often, for modern TVs they use side LED backlighting, which allows to reduce the thickness of the device and reduce its cost. Among the disadvantages of this format are the lack of “honest” black color and often the appearance of “flashing” due to the uneven arrangement of the LEDs. Sony uses Full Array LED in its XH90 series: the LEDs are located under the entire surface of the screen, which allows you to dim or brighten areas of the image in a spot. As a result, for example, black color looks like the TV is disconnected from the network: there is simply no extra glow in the frame. In addition, the 55XH9096 features X-tended Dynamic Range, a dimming technology that delivers accurate images even in bright light or dark rooms.
An important feature is the simultaneous support of 4K and HDR modes: for example, the KD-49XD8077 offers a choice between high dynamic range and resolution, while the 55XH9096 can provide a combined mode. This also includes support for the 120 Hz mode: many TVs cannot cope with it at the declared sweep frequency, giving out in fact the standard 60 Hz.
KD-49XD8077 uses Edge LED, backlighting around the edges, which can cause light spots. Sony took care of the quality, so there are no such problems in this case, which can not be said about the model from the domestic company: the tested TV has a large bright spot at the bottom, and when looking at an angle, you can see uneven illumination of the screen surface.
A quiet revolution?
Side-by-side comparison of 1080p and 4K. At the same time, the difference is not as strong as when switching from 720p to 1080p
We were able to test the 55XH9096 with the PlayStation 5 and compare it to other TVs. The biggest difference was felt in dark gaming environments: the cheaper devices turned the shading into a uniform gray surface, while the 55XH9096 produced an honest black that was easy to see details. Thanks to 4K resolution, we also managed to see the difference between the two modes in Demon’s Souls, which Vladislav Machinae Zhivotnev could not do when playing at a lower resolution. The devil, as expected, was in the details: in the performance mode, the texture details were slightly reduced in the environment, and small graphical artifacts appeared on the water surface. At the same time, it is almost imperceptible from a distance.
Not everyone will be able to notice a significant difference between 4K and 1080p: PS5, due to high-quality anti-aliasing algorithms and increased performance, generally shows a decent picture at a lower resolution, so on a similar diagonal the difference is visible in very small details and upon very close examination. The same applies to HDR: the picture really becomes brighter and more naturalistic, but you can understand this only with a detailed comparison. At first glance, it may seem that there is almost no significant difference between the presence and absence of an extended brightness range, but the situation resembles that with good audio sources – once you listen to really high-quality headphones, to forever abandon cheap analogs.
As for 120 Hz, you have to be pragmatic for now, as there are essentially no games with a similar mode on the PS5. In some titles, this frequency is found on the Xbox Series X, but there are still only a few of them.
PS5 Ready TV tested
Nevertheless, from all of the above, a simple conclusion can be drawn: buying a TV from the PS5 Ready line is worth it if you already thought about changing your device. If your TV suits you, but you don’t want to chase 4K, it may be worthwhile to wait and wait for cheaper analogs or even a decrease in prices for the model range: PS5 gives out nextgen picture on standard TVs.
