Sony A80J OLED TV Review (XR-55A80J, XR-65A80J, XR-77A80J)
Sony A80J OLED TV review: you can stop looking now
RRP $ 2,300.00
“The Sony A80J is an impeccable television. One of the best that has ever been made. "
advantages
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Impeccable picture quality
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Excellent sound quality
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Google TV platform
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Excellent out-of-box settings
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Flexible stand options
disadvantage
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Certain game features are missing
I think about OLED TVs all the time; And not just because I'm a TV reviewer and I tend to spend too much time thinking about my job. In all honesty, it's because, like you, I watch quite a bit of TV at home, and because I don't own an OLED TV myself (a discussion for another time), I spend a lot of time wishing myself TV did own an OLED television.
Yes, I am an unabashed fan of OLED televisions and I do not apologize for it. It's the perfect black levels of OLED, and most importantly, the superior contrast that catches most people's eye, but what really seals the deal for me is the TV tech's lack of LED backlights – backlights that work in one making dark space noticeable all the time thanks to very annoying effects that plague LCD televisions, which are referred to as "blooming" and "halo".
With Sony, LG, and Vizio all making OLED TVs now, there's a hearty buffet of options to choose from, but if I were to buy an OLED TV this year, the Sony A80J reviewed here would be one of only two I would consider would pull.
Which is the other I come to that. First, let me explain why I think the Sony A80J OLED is one of the best TVs you can buy this year.
Out of the box
Riley Young / Digital Trends
Riley Young / Digital Trends
Riley Young / Digital Trends
OLED TV panels are so thin and noticeable that a five year old could frame one in PlayDough and it would still look like a work of art. Fortunately, Sony's approach to OLED TV design is significantly superior.
With wafer-thin metallic-black bezels and sturdy metal feet, the A80J OLED TV exudes a business-class aesthetic – neither overly conspicuous nor a bit dreary or boring. The remote that came with the TV is standard Sony tariff – no backlight, sorry – but it does the job.
There are two positions in which the metal feet can be oriented. One position throws the TV low toward its supporting media stand or sideboard, the other lifts the bottom of the TV slightly to accommodate a soundbar without blocking the screen. It's a chic look, but keep in mind that the feet reach the edge of the TV in both configurations, which makes for a wide stand that requires an equally wide media stand.
To install
Riley Young / Digital Trends
One of the most notable features of the Sony A80J is its out-of-the-box image accuracy. Select the preset picture settings “Cinema” or “Custom” and viewers hardly have to do anything to ensure that they are getting the best possible picture quality.
Of course, accuracy isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for. While accuracy dictates that a television must have a relatively warm color temperature in order to best represent the creator's intent, many viewers tend to prefer a cooler color temperature setting. For this reason, many will prefer the TV's standard picture mode, which is a little brighter and more vibrant.
When it comes to photo editing, Sony's has historically been the best.
For TV enthusiasts, however, it should be noted that the white point and color measurements I obtained using a SpectraCal C6 colorimeter (profiled on an x-rite i1display Pro) along with the Calman software are some of the most accurate I have seen how it comes from a television factory. In fact, many other TVs struggle to get the same ultra-low error counts after a professional calibration that the A80J gets out of the box right out of the box with no adjustments required.
Riley Young / Digital Trends
features
What makes a Sony OLED TV look like a Sony OLED TV isn't the OLED panel – it's actually made by LG Display – but the TV's processor. And when it comes to image processing, Sony's has historically been the best.
The A80J continues that legacy. Although the influence of the Sony marketing department is not neglected, the so-called Bravia XR Cognitive Intelligence Processor, which drives the image of the A80J, delivers images that are optimized so that they do their best without ever noticeably dropping the ball. That said, if Sony's newest, most powerful processor compromises its magic, you'll never believe it.
Aside from the top notch workmanship, the A80J is a very capable smart TV that runs the latest version of Android TV, now Google TV. As for smart TV interfaces, it has quickly become one of my favorites. Not only is the Google Assistant seamlessly integrated into the TV for controlling smart home devices, but the TV itself can also be controlled from other smart home devices, including the Google Home app on a mobile device.
Riley Young / Digital Trends
Perhaps the best part of the Google TV platform is that once it is set up on one device, it pushes all the essential settings to other devices that are running the platform. For example, having set up a Chromecast with Google TV at home, when I logged into my Google account on the A80J, I found that it was already logged into all of my favorite streaming apps. I didn't have to enter usernames or memorize complicated passwords. All I needed to stream was quick authentication with my phone and I was seeing my favorites in seconds.
If the A80J falls short anywhere in terms of features, it must be due to its lack of full support for certain gaming features typically associated with the latest HDMI 2.1 specification. While the A80J has two HDMI 2.1 ports and can support up to 4K resolution at 120 Hz with HDR, both the variable refresh rate (VRR) and the auto-low-latency mode (ALLM) are not yet supported. While future support for these features could one day come via an update, historical delays make me skeptical if they come in the near future. I discuss the impact this deficit has on gaming a little below.
Sound quality
Riley Young / Digital Trends
The days of making fun of televisions for sounding awful are far from over – many of the televisions I test were meant to be sold with a warning sign begging buyers to pick up a soundbar before they check out . But certain Sony TV models – and Sony OLED TVs in particular – are setting new standards in how good a TV can sound, even if thinner than an iPhone.
I think most people will be amazed at how good this TV sounds.
To generate the sound, the Sony A80J has attached two converters to the back of its OLED screen. That way, the screen itself makes up most of the sound that you hear. Supported by a small “subwoofer” recessed into the back of the television, the built-in on-screen loudspeaker system creates a remarkably full, dynamic and lively stereophonic sound signature. While I was able to force the A80J's sound system to distort at higher volumes, I think most people will be amazed at how good this TV sounds. With an emphasis on dialogue clarity and voices that seem to come from where the actors' mouths are on the screen, not only will viewers be happy to understand what is being said, but they will also be entertained by the way it seems like the voice is also coming from the actor's location on the screen.
picture quality
Riley Young / Digital Trends
Having been amazed by the picture quality of OLED televisions for almost seven years, I sometimes find it harder and harder to say something new or unique about the latest models. The improvements in OLED image quality have been gradual improvements over the past few years – and this is true this year as well – but the incremental changes that the A80J OLED brings are a matter of finesse but are very welcome nonetheless.
The A80J just seems to take everything to the next level.
With a Sony OLED you start with a base of perfect black tones, paint in lively yet precise colors and then gild the lily with sparkling HDR highlights and precise fine details. I should also point out that the A80J's handling of motion – be it the cadence of a 24fps movie or the fast-paced action of a sports broadcast – is some of the best I've seen, and that includes Sony TVs past. The A80J just seems to take everything to the next level.
And yet, it's not Sony's best OLED TV. What would be better?
Not the brightest TV on the floor
Sony's A90J OLED TV made many headlines this year as one of the brightest OLED TVs you can buy. LG also has a brighter OLED model, the Gallery Series G1, which has similar brightness claims.
One of the reasons brighter OLED TVs are big news is because one of the few complaints about OLED TVs is that they don't get anywhere near as bright as LED and even newer backlit mini LED LCD TVs . For those who watch TV with lots of natural light (or lots of bright lights on fire) during the day, an OLED TV doesn't have the pop or contrast that an LED-backlit TV does. Brighter OLEDs are intended to question this notion.
Whether they do this successfully is a debate for another article. My point is that the A90J is a brighter OLED TV and therefore could be considered marginally better. But as I said, if I were to buy an OLED TV now, it would be the Sony A80J or maybe the LG C1 OLED. Neither of these are the brighter, better OLEDs, but they'll make most people (me included) pretty happy.
Not the absolute best for gaming
Riley Young / Digital Trends
The only reason I buy a LG C1 OLED TV over a Sony A80J OLED TV is for next-generation gaming purposes. The LG C1 OLED offers four full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports that support all available next-generation gaming functions at the same time and can all be addressed via an entertaining and somewhat handy gaming dashboard.
The Sony A80J OLED just doesn't do much for gaming, which may seem strange given that Sony is making the new PlayStation 5 console. But what most people don't realize is that the A80J is still an excellent TV for playing games. Sure, it may not offer a variable refresh rate (VRR) and some other features that some competing TVs have, but it will still be fine for most casual gamers. Only the hardcore gamers have to consider looking elsewhere. In other words, unless you know exactly what makes HDMI 2.1 play without looking up, then you can count on the A80J to deliver a great gaming experience with low input lag, great graphics, and smooth movement.
My recording
Sony's A80J offers some of the best picture quality you will find on a television and is only surpassed by televisions that cost many times more. It's also one of the most user-friendly TVs to buy thanks to its Google TV platform and impeccable standard picture preset options. It sounds great too. All in all, the A80J is a wonderful package and I highly recommend it.
Is there a better alternative?
The Sony A90J and LG G1 OLED TVs are a bit brighter, but whether they're better TVs really depends on the viewing environment. Most people will find the A80J bright enough, with excellent contrast and sparkling HDR highlights. The LG C1 could be a better alternative for those looking for the latest in gaming features.
How long it will take?
As with all OLED TVs, there is a slight possibility of burn-in caused by viewing the same picture for a long period of time, day after day, month after month. If you watch the same news channel for many hours a day, you shouldn't buy an OLED television. However, for most normal considerations, burn-in is not a problem. Apart from this consideration, the Sony A80J should reach far into the future even without full HDMI 2.1 support on board.
guarantee
Sony offers a one-year limited warranty on the A80J OLED TVs. More details can be found here.
Should you buy it?
Yes. The Sony A80J is a standout TV and an excellent choice for most buyers looking for great picture quality and sound.
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