Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A

Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A review
Editorial Note:

Since this review was first published, Sony has issued an updated response to the critical issue of whether the X9005A series will be capable of working with future 4k formats. That response goes as follows:

"Sony always puts the customer as its number one priority, and Sony will provide all the necessary solutions to 4K TV owners to access future 4K content/services once they start in respective markets."

Sony hasn't yet backed this statement up with technical information on how potential hardware updates to the X9005A TVs might be introduced, but still - a promise is a promise! And since the lack of certainty over the 65X9005A's compatibility with future 4K content was the main reason we only awarded the set an overall score of 9 with our initial review, following Sony's statement of intent we do now feel it is appropriate to upgrade the 65X9005A's overall score to a well-deserved 10.

We've made a couple of minor alterations to the original text below, but for the most part we've left it untouched aside from adding this note.

What is the Sony KD-65X9005A?

The Sony KD-65X9005A is basically the point where 4K resolution (aka Ultra HD) gets serious. Not because the other 4K TVs we’ve seen to date haven’t already dazzled us with their 4K capabilities, but because with its 65-inch screen, living room friendly design and £6,000 price tag indicate we're getting a lot closer to 4K TVs inching towards the mainstream than before.

Does this mean you'll walking down to your local store and walking way with a 4K TV soon? At £6,000, obviously not, but the Sony 65X9005A goes out of its way to deliver a full-on premium living room experience, rather than just being a drab rectangle that happens to have more pixels in it than usual. It is, in other words, indicative of the kind of TV that will be affordable for most people in a two years or so, and which some brave souls might consider even now, not least as the 55-inch version (Sony Bravia KD-55X9005A) costs an oh so tempting £4,000.

If 4K TV is new to you, read our guide: What is 4K TV?

Sony Bravia KDL-65X9005A - Design

Its design is spectacular. The jet-black frame around the screen is beautifully polished, while the open-frame, chrome-like circular desktop stand is remarkably small, deflecting practically none of your attention from the mighty 65-inch screen.

Also eye-catching is the silver Intelligence Centre box hanging from the TV’s bottom, which contains the TV’s uber-powerful processing chips and also changes the colour of the light it emits in line with which source you’re watching.

By far the most striking thing about the Sony 65X9005A’s design, though, is the array of open speakers that sit flush with the glass screen in two glinting black extension ‘wings’.

The way these speakers have been sculpted onto the TV’s glassy finish is visually spectacular. But more important is their potential to deliver an audio experience miles beyond anything we’d customarily expect from a flat TV.
Sony Bravia KDL-65X9005A - Speakers

For starters, they’re front mounted, meaning their sound will project straight out toward you rather than having to be fired down as happens with most flat panel TVs. Also there are three separate drivers on each side, including dedicated tweeters. Separating the speakers out in this way should help the TV deliver far greater power without disrupting clarity than any conventional TV speaker array ever could.