Sony announced the new MASTER Series Z9G 8K LCD televisions at CES last week. The MASTER Series products are considered the company’s best TVs and aim to provide better picture quality, color, contrast and clarity “approaching that of a professional-grade monitor.” They also include a Netflix Calibrated Mode and IMAX Enhanced certification features.
The new models have the latest generation Picture Processor X1 Ultimate for accurate detail and contrast. The Picture Processor X1 Ultimate has an algorithm developed for 8K that will intelligently detect and analyze each object in the picture, resulting in improved detail and contrast. The Z9G models have a new Sound-from-Picture Reality feature, which claims to reproduce the position of sounds on-screen so when actors are speaking, the sound appears to be coming directly from their mouths and not from a speaker off to the bottom.
“Continually innovating to exceed our customers’ expectations is a core element of Sony’s premium strategy,” said Mike Fasulo, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics North America. “Our new MASTER Series TVs combine larger screen sizes, 4K and 8K resolution, and unique Sony image-enhancing technologies to create an extraordinary and highly immersive viewing experience.”
The Z9G 98″ and 85″ class, which have massive 97.5″ and 84.6″ diagonal image dimensions, should maximize a super-large screen experience in the living room, according to the company, and the 8K resolution (at 16 times the number of pixels as standard HD) on both units means that hardly any pixel differentiation is perceptible.
The Picture Processor X1 Ultimate has been optimized to handle the 33 million pixels, and an 8K X-Reality PRO feature can upscale content using a dedicated 8K database for reference, resulting in more detailed upscaling. New 8K technologies have been developed for the Z9G series, including a Backlight Master Drive feature with full-array local dimming, as well as 8K X-tended Dynamic Range PRO. The Backlight Master Drive on the Z9G has ultra-dense LED modules which are independently controlled, and promise to improve contrast while enhancing brightness and achieving “pitch” blacks. To optimize the backlight system, 8K X-tended Dynamic Range PRO uses the saved energy to intelligently boost brightness in the areas where it is needed.
Sony has expanded the concept of Acoustic Surface Audio on the Z9G LCD TV with Acoustic Multi-Audio. This feature on the Z9G utilizes four front-facing speakers, two on the bottom and two on the top. This will mean that sound should come from the screen and not from where the speakers are located, and the TV has a center speaker mode for those with a home theater setup already in play.
For more information, visit www.sony.com.
Martin, a seasoned journalist and AV expert, has written for several notable print magazines. He’s served in key roles at Lucasfilm’s THX Division, NEC’s digital cinema division, and has even consulted for DreamWorks. Despite his illustrious career, Martin remains rooted in his passion for cinema and acting, with notable appearances in several Spielberg films, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He currently resides in San Francisco.
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