Like me, you may have drooled and witnessed in awe the jaw-dropping Sony Bravia OLED A1 last year. Building upon the success of the flagship TV, Sony is back to bringing you an unprecedented visual experience with the new A9F OLED and Z9F LCD 4K HDR TVs.
The A9F OLED and Z9F LCD debut as the MASTER Series – a name Sony reserves exclusively for its best TV models. The MASTER Series is what it is – the highest quality TV that is capable of displaying images that faithfully convey the creators’ full intent. Sony says the MASTER Series provides picture quality that approaches that of a professional-grade monitor in a motion picture production studio.
That’s quite a big promise, but Sony is confident the MASTER Series can and will deliver the best visual experience. And here’s why Sony is so confident about its flagship series.
Both the A9F OLED and Z9F LCD boast the all-new next-generation Picture Processor X1 Ultimate. The new processor can intelligently detect and analyse each object in the picture through Sony’s new Object-based Super Resolution for ultimate accuracy and detail. Sony has also updated its Object-based HDR feature, now allows each object to be remastered individually for better depth, accurate texture and more realistic picture.
First on the MASTER Series, Sony worked closely with Netflix to introduce a Netflix Calibrated Mode. No, it isn’t a mere branding exercise. The unique mode was specially developed to mirror the same picture quality as a studio evaluation master for TV. Yes, as the creator intended.
The mode can be accessed through on simple menu setting. Once turned on, the mode faithfully reproduces the visuals, whether it’s the latest Netflix Originals series, films or documentaries.
Also, the MASTER Series is read for CalMAN, the industry-leading display calibration software from Portrait Displays. CalMAN is widely used by professionals to ensure quality control of the strict requirements demanded by content creators in broadcast, production and post-production.
The A9F also comes with the new Pixel Contrast Booster, Sony’s original panel controller for OLED which maximises dynamic range for enhanced detail and texture.
Like the A1 before this, the A9F features Acoustic Surface Audio, now an improved version called Acoustic Surface Audio+. Acoustic Surface is mind-blowingly cool, sound actually emits from the display itself. You can read more about it here.
The difference with the new generation is an additional actuator in the centre of the screen and an extra subwoofer channel. The TV now has a 3.2-channel sound system.
Despite not having conventional speakers, the Acoustic Surface Audio+ system delivers a rich, immersive sound, enhancing the viewing experience.
The new Z9F also features the new Picture Processor X1 Ultimate in addition to X-Wide Angle and X-Motion Clarity technologies. X-Wide Angle minimises colour shifts when viewed from the side. X-Motion Clarify on the other hand, minimises motion blur.
Both the A9F and Z9F come built-in with microphones that allow you to simply speak to the TV to do or watch what you want. The Android TV Hands-free Voice Search function power the Android 8.0 Oreo A9F and AZ9F TVs.
Pricing and availability
The A9F TV will be available in Malaysia from September 2018, while the Z9F unfortunately, won’t be sold in the country.
The 65-inch KD-65A9F goes for MYR21,999 and the 55-inch KD-55A9F is priced at MYR14,999.
Pre-orders are on the way now until 14 September 2018. As a pre-order offer, you’ll get an exclusive Glass Sound Speaker LSPX-S1 for free (worth MYR3,199) with every purchase of the A9F (both sizes).
