As expected, Sony brought the big, bright XBR-84X900 TV it showed at IFA in Berlin to Indianapolis this week for the CEDIA Expo. The 84-inch 4K resolution TV will be available for sale this November for $24,999 at about 60 retail locations that focus on custom installation (including select Magnolia Design Centers).
This is the biggest LED TV Sony has produced. It’s also Sony’s first passive 3D TV (all Sony’s previous 3D TVs have used active shutter glasses). With a 4K resolution TV, even passive glasses will deliver 1080p resolution to each eye.
Of course, massive resolution requires massive video scaling, because to date there are no native 4K video sources for the home theater. The XBR-84X900 incorporates proprietary upscaling with the 4K X-Reality PRO picture engine.
In addition to the X900, Sony also brought out two models in the XBR-HX950 line in sizes more likely to show up in people’s homes. Both the 55-and 65-inch models include the X-Reality PRO Engine, a two-chip digital video processor that optimizes any type of HD, SD or low-resolution Internet video. The TVs use full-array LED backlighting with local dimming for better detail in black, and improved brightness.
TV’s picture engine employs Sony’s Super Bit Mapping technology with 14 bit up-scaling, processing and pixel mapping to smooth gradation and improve the quality of low-tone pictures. Sony’s MotionFlow XR technology helps to reduce blur.
A full suite of internet options are built in including Sony’s Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited, as well as Netflix, Pandora, HuluPlus, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, Slacker and others available through Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
The 55-inch and 65-inch XBR-HX950, priced at $4,499.99 and $5,499.99 are available now.