Quick Specs
Our Verdict
Prosnn Infinite contrast thanks to Oled technologyn High-performance motion compensation enginen Responsiven Audio systemn HDMI 2.1 compatibilitynnConsnn Maximum brightness peak lagsn Oled and QD-Oled dis
Pros
- Infinite contrast thanks to Oled technology
- High-performance motion compensation engine
- Responsive
- Audio system
- HDMI 2.1 compatibility
Cons
- Maximum brightness peak lags
- Oled and QD-Oled displays
- Remote control not backlit
- Only two inputs are HDMI 2.1 compatible
Overview
Image quality
This Bravia A80L uses the same OLED panel as the LG 65C2. It is an Oled EX panel, which works in the same way as its predecessors: each pixel is made up of four sub-pixels (green, red, blue and white). Since 2019, the white and red sub-pixels have been larger to improve the panel's maximum brightness while maintaining a colour temperature close to 6,500 K. As always, with Oled technology, the viewing angles here are excellent. We measured a loss of brightness of just 20% at 45°, with no variation in black, which is, therefore, absolute. Only televisions equipped with a QD-Oled panel, such as the Sony A95K or Samsung S95B, offer the best viewing angles, with virtually no loss of brightness at 45°.This is now commonplace at Sony: out-of-the-box calibration is excellent. In Expert mode, we measured the average delta E at just 2.6, a value below 3, the limit below which the eye no longer perceives any difference between the colour displayed on the screen and the ideal colour. The colours displayed by this television in Expert mode can be considered faithful to those sent by the source and in line with the director's vision. The gamma curve - representing the accuracy of the distribution of grey levels - is very well reproduced. The average measured at 2.33 is fairly close to the reference value (2.4). As is often the case with Sony televisions, the average temperature is closer to 7200 K than the 6500 K reference value. As a result, the picture tends very slightly towards blue. The most important thing is the stability of the curve over the whole spectrum, which is the case with this model, but we would like to see a setting that gets closer to 6500 K.Oled technology allows us to obtain a contrast ratio that can be considered infinite since each pixel can switch off completely independently. The black can therefore be total, whatever the brightness of the white of the other pixels. Blacks are measured at less than 0.0049 cd/m² - our probe was unable to detect a lower value. This contrast is as impressive as ever, and you can enjoy every nuance of the image, even in complete darkness, without any blooming effect (the halo around light objects on a dark background).Like its predecessor, the Bravia A80L features Sony's Cognitive XR Processor, which is as powerful as ever. Scaling is very smooth in Expert mode, the most faithful mode. With the X-Reality Creation Pro engine manually set to maximum, the television does not hesitate to add detail at the risk of causing artefacts to appear. In some cases, the scaled version displays more detail than the native version. For its part, the MotionFlow motion compensation engine is finally up to scratch with the competition, and moving objects are perfectly sharp. Sony caow pride itself on doing as well as Philips, LG and Panasonic.
HDR
Audio
The Sony Bravia XR-65A80L features an Acoustic Surface Audio+ system comprising three 10W vibration motors that vibrate the OLED screen - a useful replacement for tweeters - and two 10W woofers behind the unit. The audio reproduction is exact and has nothing to envy the most high-end models. The new audio calibration process using the remote control microphone works very well, adapting the sound to the position of the TV and the viewer in the room.
Conclusion
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