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Sony Bravia XBR-HX909 review: Sony Bravia XBR-HX909

Sony Bravia XBR-HX909

David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials
  • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
David Katzmaier
2 min read

The last Sony TV we reviewed with superb picture quality was the ultra-expensive KDL-55XBR8 from 2008, which also and not coincidentally featured the company's last example of a full-array local dimming LED backlight. That TV's spiritual successor, equipped with a similar backlight, is the ultra-expensive XBR-HX909 series, but all told, its picture quality fares less favorably against the competition. It does deliver deliciously deep black levels but they come with too many compromises, including issues with blooming and color accuracy, for a TV at this price level.

7.9

Sony Bravia XBR-HX909

The Good

Produces extremely deep black levels; video processing properly handles 1080p/24 material; relatively accurate color with linear grayscale; 3D compatible; 2D-to-3D conversion system works better than expected; numerous streaming video services; Excellent design with stylish monolithic exterior; energy-efficient.

The Bad

Extremely expensive; exhibits more blooming than competing local dimming LED models; black areas tinged bluer; subpar off-angle viewing; 3D exhibited ghost images along edges (crosstalk); does not include 3D glasses or IR emitter.

The Bottom Line

Although its black levels challenge the best ever, some other picture-related aspects of the Sony XBR-HX909 series don't live up to the high price.

If you extend your investment to include a pair or more of 3D glasses, an IR emitter, 3D content, and a device to play it, the Sony XBR-HX909 will deliver that third dimension to your brain. Many other 2010 TVs at this level are also 3D-compatible, and compared to the two we've tested, the HX909's 3D image quality falls squarely in the middle. Its other notable attributes, including best-in-class design and oodles of streaming video, will appeal to many of the buyers able to afford it, but those seeking the best-available home theater picture quality will probably want to look elsewhere.

Series information: We performed a hands-on evaluation of the 52-inch Sony XBR-52HX909, but this review also applies to the 46-inch XBR-46HX909. Both sizes have identical specs and, according to the manufacturer, should provide very similar picture quality.

Models in series (details)
Sony XBR-46HX909 46 inches
Sony XBR-52HX909 (reviewed) 46 inches

Design

Design highlights
Panel depth 2.75 inches Bezel width 2.2 inches
Single-plane face Yes Swivel stand Yes
Other: Stand can tilt back 6 degrees

The XBR-HX909 series looks almost exactly like the company's KDL-NX800 series we reviewed earlier. Both use Sony's "Monolithic" design scheme, and we really like the effect.

The TV is featureless black slab when turned off, dominated by a single pane of glass that extends almost to the edge of the panel on all sides. A sliver of black metal edges the glass and wraps around the edges, so when seen from the side or top it complements the subtle brushed silver of the low-profile stand. The logos and indicators are nearly invisible, at least until the word "Sony" lights up after power-on (the light can be turned off). The stand can both swivel and tilt back slightly--we're not sure why you'd want to tilt it however, since TVs are rarely mounted lower than the seating position.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
The HX909 looks like a black slab when turned off, and the screen blends well into the thick bezel.

Remote control and menus
Remote size (LxW) 9.8 x 2 inches Remote screen N/A
Total keys 58 Backlit keys 43
Other IR devices controlled 4 RF control of TV No
Shortcut menu "="">Yes On-screen explanations Yes

Sony includes one of the best remotes we've ever used. The logically sized and placed, flush-yet-still-tactile keys emit a satisfying low-pitched click. The concave shape along the clicker's length seems to send the thumb to the Home key and the middle of the big cursor control. We like the ability to control other devices via infrared or HDMI, but we wish the blue backlight also illuminated button labels other than "Home."

The game-console-inspired XMB interface arranges the TV's many Internet services, settings, inputs and miscellaneous doodads in an intuitive fashion, and while we'd love to see more customization and less clutter (how about the ability to "hide" unwanted interactive services or even entire verticals, such as the TV channels section, which is useless for cable-box users), the snappy navigation makes up for a lot. Shortcuts include a Favorites section that remembers oft-accessed inputs (you can also manually add items, like Netflix) and a context-sensitive Options section with quick access to scene modes, MotionFlow settings and Netflix options. In all, Sony's interface is the most polished of any TV maker.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
The shortcut menu allows easy access to numerous TV functions.

Features

Key TV features
Display technology LCD LED backlight Full-array with local dimming
3D compatible Yes 3D glasses included No
Screen finish Glossy Refresh rate(s) 240Hz
Dejudder (smooth) processing Yes 1080p/24 compatible Yes
Internet connection Yes Wireless HDMI/AV connection No
Other: Optional 3D glasses (TDG-BR100, $150/pair) and IR synch emitter (TMR-BR100, $50) required for 3D viewing; Optional USB Wi-Fi dongle (UWA-BR100, $80)

Although certainly well-equipped, the Sony XBR-HX909 lacks 3D glasses and an emitter, as well as built-in Wi-Fi, all of which are standard on the similarly-priced, flagship Sony XBR-LX900 series. On the other hand, the HX909 has our favorite type of LED backlight, known as full-array with local dimming (it uses standard white LEDs, not the Triluminous scheme found on 2008's XBR8 series), while the LX900 is stuck with a traditional edge-lit LED backlight. That's probably why the 52-inchers from each series cost the same--although at the HX909's price, it's still annoying to have to buy a separate IR emitter to sync the TV to the glasses. Every other non-Sony 3D TV we've seen, regardless of price, has the emitter built-in.

Sony offers a 2D-to-3D conversion system that can convert any video to 2D, while Panasonic's 3D plasma does not. And unlike Samsung's system, the one on the XBR-HX909 will also convert streaming 2D video, such as Netflix, YouTube, and yes, "Ford Models" et al, to 3D.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
Sony's $150 glasses are required for 3D, as is a $50 IR emitter.

Streaming media
Netflix Yes YouTube Yes
Amazon Video on Demand Yes Rhapsody No
Vudu video No Pandora Yes
CinemaNow No DLNA compliant Photo/Music/Video
Blockbuster No USB Photo/Music/Video
Other: Also includes Sony's Qriocity VOD, niche video services and podcasts with universal search, Slacker radio and NPR audio

The array of mainstream (pun intended) video-streaming services is more comprehensive than most makers', and while we'd like to see Vudu, with its high-quality streams, added to the list, Sony's Qriocity service and Amazon, which also offers HD streams on demand, help make up for the lack. Sony has also fixed the video quality of Netflix streaming on the XBR-HX909, so now it performs as well as we expect for that service.

If mainstream isn't your bag, Sony's plethora of lesser-known video services, most of which are not found on other Internet-connected TVs, might appeal. The list includes names like the Minisode network, blip.tv, style.com, howcast.com, Dr. Oz, Michael Jackson, Dailymotion, Golflink.com and numerous video podcasts like Attack of the Show, Gadget Pron, CNN Daily and NASACast--and yes, "Ford Models." Most are simply portals to the same videos found on the parent Web sites, and general video quality is poor. Sony offers a keyword search that covers most of the niche services, which reflect a similar zeitgeist to the web at large; there were 142 video results for an "iphone" search, for example. Unfortunately the search doesn't cover YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, and other major services.

Audio is extensive as well, aside from the lack of Rhapsody, and NPR fans will appreciate the up-to-date service offering hundreds of audio snippets. There's also a pay-per-listen classical music audio/video service from the Berlin Philharmonic.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
Sony's exclusive Qriocity service offers up high-def video-on-demand.

Internet apps
Yahoo widgets No Skype No
Vudu apps No Weather No
Facebook No News No
Twitter No Sports No
Photos Picasa and others Stocks No
Other: Other photo services include Shutterfly and Photobucket

Sony has ditched Yahoo Widgets on the XBR-HX909, although numerous other Sony TVs, like the LX900, the KDL-NX800 series and the KDL-EX700 series, have them. As a result it lacks the array of utilities found on most competing TVs.

The only nonstreaming applications the TV offers deal with viewing photos from Web sites, and in that arena the HX909 excels (although we'd like to see Flickr added to the list). Still, if you want to check the weather on this TV, you'll either have to get your app elsewhere--Verizon's Fios service has widgets, for example--or actually tune to The Weather Channel and wait for the ticker to hit your city. The horror!

Picture settings
Adjustable picture modes 9 Independent memories per input Yes
Dejudder presets 4 Fine dejudder control No
Aspect ratio modes -- HD 4 Aspect ratio modes -- SD 4
Color temperature presets 4 Fine color temperature control 6 points
Gamma presets 7 Color management system No
Other: Two modes for LED local dimming

That nine-spot under "picture modes" isn't a misprint; counting the three standard picture modes available from the main menu (Vivid, Standard and Custom) plus the six from the Scene Select menu (which also includes the nonadjustable Auto mode), tweakers have numerous adjustable presets to futz with. New for this year, Sony provides the choice of applying any preset, including any adjustments made to it, to just the current input or globally to all inputs. The result is a relatively confusing albeit staggeringly customizable array of settings, and we're willing to bet folks who care deeply about having different settings for every input/situation will be OK with the complexity.

The XBR-HX909 lacks the kind of adjustable dejudder found on Samsung and LG, but it does offer an extra dejudder preset compared to last year. The four presets are called Standard, Smooth, Clear 1 and Clear 2. The latter two incorporate backlight scanning, where according to Sony, "the rows of the LEDs in the backlight light up sequentially from top to bottom," which improves motion resolution. Clear 2 adds black-frame insertion, for what the company says is even better motion resolution, at the expense of some light output (a similar array of settings is found on Samsung's 2010 LED models, although they addressed by separate controls). Like Samsung, Sony also sports two modes for LED local dimming, as well as the option to turn it off--although doing so obviates the purpose for paying extra for the HX909 in the first place. See performance for more details on how these settings affect image quality.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
Advanced controls are extensive and include two modes that affect local dimming.

Other features
Power-saver mode Yes Ambient light sensor Yes
Picture-in-picture No On-screen user manual Yes
Other: Picture Off (sound-only) mode; optional automatic software update

The HX909 lacks the presence sensor found on the LX900 and the EX700 but still offers a few ways to reduce power use, including a brightness-limiting power-saver mode and one that turns off the picture yet leaves sound turned on. We didn't miss the TV Guide feature found on some other Sony models.

The onscreen user manual is among the best we've seen, with a full index and easy navigation. The prominent product support section also shows a Web site and phone number to call, along with the set's serial number and software version, to help communication with customer service reps. Speaking of software, we also appreciate the option to enable automatic updates when the TV is turned off. According to our tests this function consumes essentially the same standby power as usual, so we recommend using it.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
Sony's onscreen manual is among the best available.

Connectivity
HDMI inputs 2 back, 2 side Component video inputs 2 back
Composite video input(s) 1 side S-video input(s) 0
VGA-style PC input(s) 1 RF input(s) 1
AV output(s) 0 Digital audio output 1 optical
USB port 1 side Ethernet (LAN) port Yes
Other: RS-232 port; proprietary 3D Synch port for 3D emitter

While the number of HDMI and component-video inputs on the HX909 is standard at this level, we'd like to see an extra standard-def input here. The RS-232 port is nice to have for custom installations, but seems physically glommed-on since it sticks prominently from the back of the TV. Sony offers just one USB port, so if you buy the USB Wi-Fi dongle, there's no extra port for USB-based streaming files.

SONY XBR-HX909 SERIES
The back and side panels of the HX909 house plenty of jacks, including that protruding "Remote" box for RS-232 control.

Performance
3D picture quality: We compared the 3D picture quality of the HX909 directly to the two other 3D TVs we have in-house, the Panasonic TC-P50VT25 and the Samsung UN55C8000, and the Sony fell about in the middle. Our side-by-side comparison was helped by Panasonic's DMP-BDT350, which can output two full-HD 3D signals simultaneously via HDMI, and hampered by the fact that we had to switch between the three companies' glasses.

There were differences caused by picture settings (we again preferred the Panasonic's Cinema, which seems to have better shadow detail and color balance than the Sony's default Cinema, although of course both can be adjusted significantly) and screen size (bigger is better for 3D), and many of the 2D characteristics detailed below spill over into 3D, too. Sony does disallow more adjustments than Samsung and Panasonic; in all 3D picture modes local dimming, MotionFlow, and CineMotion are all disabled and impossible to adjust, while Backlight is pegged to Max.

As before, the basic 3D experience was very similar across the three TVs. The 3D effect was immediate and undeniable, and when watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," the sense of detail and depth was very impressive. The rain of burgers seemed to pop off the screen, and fine details like Clint's spiky hair were rendered beautifully. The computer-animated presentation wasn't as impressive to our eye as the stop-motion action of "Coraline," but in any case the Sony's 3D effect was as good as that of the other sets. That said, as before we still preferred to watch in 2D as opposed to 3D.

One main reason is the presence of an artifact known as "crosstalk," which appears as ghostly doubled images along the edges of the main image. Crosstalk was less noticeable on the HX909 than on the Samsung; but it was still visible, and to a significantly larger extent than on the Panasonic. One example came during the sequence beginning at 12:06 in "Cloudy" the microphones of the mayor showed the ghostly doubles on the microphone and teal top of Sam Sparks; the ghosts on the Sony were less obvious than the Samsung, but more-so than the Panasonic. In "Coraline" the differences were similar in areas like the bedpost in Chapter 4 or the letters on the Spink & Forcible sign. In the spiraling mice from Chapter 3 the Sony actually evinced less crosstalk than the Panasonic, with none of the amber ghost images seen on that plasma, but in most areas the plasma won.

On the Sony we also noticed some minor flicker in bright fields, like the overcast sky behind Bobinsky from Chapter 5. We felt the same occasional disorientation with the Sony as with the others, including some minor queasiness, especially when putting on the glasses initially--although never as bad as when we watched simulated 3D. We did find Sony's glasses the most comfortable of the three, and their wraparound style was effective at shutting out our peripheral vision--which can be a distraction itself with 3D.

[Update: August 10, 2010] After this review first published, we noticed another issue with Sony's 3D reproduction. When we moved off-angle by more than about one seat cushion to the right or left of the sweet spot, on a couch about 8 feet from the screen, the 3D effect diminished significantly, details blurred, and crosstalk increased quite a bit. The change was abrupt and directly related to how far we moved our head (and thus the glasses) off-angle. The other TVs we tested didn't show this issue.

Sony also offers a 2D-to-3D mode that, as mentioned above, can add a 3D effect to all 2D material, including streaming video like Netflix. We compared it directly that of the Samsung's system, and while the Sony's was a bit better in our view, both had enough issues, despite introducing more of a visible 3D effect than we expected, to prevent us wanting to ever engage the system. Watching "Avatar," for example, the effect of simulated depth was more pronounced on the Samsung at the midpoint of its Depth control than it was even on the Sony's High setting, but more depth tended to introduce more visible crosstalk and, worse, more nausea as we watched, especially with camera movement. As with true 3D, crosstalk was lessened on the Sony but still clearly visible in many scenes. In short, while simulated 3D may appeal to some viewers, we'll leave it turned off, thank you.

2D picture quality: In its favor, the XBR-HX909 delivered some of the deepest shades of back we've seen on any display, darker than the other local dimming sets and nearly as dark overall as our reference Pioneer plasma. It also handled 1080p/24 sources well. Its other issues however, namely excessive blooming, color drift over time, and a bluish cast to the image, spoiled its chance to unseat the best LCD and plasmas available.

TV settings: Sony XBR0HX909
Compared to other high-end TVs we've tested recently, the default picture settings available on the Sony XBR-HX909 were relatively inaccurate. Specifically, its grayscale in the most advantageous setting (Cinema, Warm 2 color temperature) was quite red overall. After our user-menu

7.9

Sony Bravia XBR-HX909

Score Breakdown

Design 9Features 8Performance 7