In fact, the only model currently offered in a 77in version, which is the model we had on test, the Bravia XR A80K is just below the Master Series in Sony’s sizable line-up and offers nearly the same features. One of the two entry-level OLEDs in Sony’s 2022 lineup is the A80K OLED. It is placed in front of the Sony A75K in Europe and behind the Sony A90K OLED and Sony A95K QD-OLED. It takes the place of the Sony A80J OLED starting in 2021 and is substantially the same as its predecessor. The Cognitive Processor XR is the same, and many of the same features are present, including support for variable refresh rate (VRR), HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and the S-Center speaker input, which enables the use of the TV’s speakers as the Centre channel when a compatible Sony soundbar is connected. It is also compatible with the same Google TV smart platform and is offered in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch models like its predecessor. you can check our article on Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K review.
Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K review: Design
The Sony Bravia A80K has a clean, minimalistic design known as One Slate that provides it a slim, premium, and aesthetically pleasing appearance. This TV blends well with any environment because to its symmetrical design, regardless of the theme, couch style, color, etc. Users of the magnetic stand can position it in one of three different ways, allowing them to decide whether they want the TV to sit flat against the surface or to provide some room for other peripherals like a speaker or set-top box. The aluminum used for the TV’s sides and the stand increases the smart tvs longevity while also giving it a more upscale appearance. Like the TV, the stand is small and provides excellent stability. The TV can also be placed on a wall. Although the TV’s back is covered with plastic, the construction is of the highest calibre. Additionally, Sony has added a cover to the ports area to elegantly conceal them. Speaking of ports, the TV has three HDMI cable ports with eARC support, two USB ports, and three HDMI ports overall. It’s a good option for gamers who want to play console games on a large screen because the HDMI ports also support HDMI 2.1.
Features
These features primarily increase peak brightness in highlights and deepen blacks automatically and scene-by-scene. To provide complete DCI-P3 coverage (the colour space used for mastering movies intended for a digital cinema release and for Ultra HD Blu-ray discs), a wide colour gamut panel also works in conjunction with Sony’s XR Triluminos Pro feature and Cognitive processor XR. There are four HDMI inputs available, two of which support 4K 120Hz, have variable refresh rates (VRR), and have auto low latency modes (ALLM). In the US, the A80K also has an integrated ATSC 3.0 tuner. With 4K resolution video and Dolby Atmos audio available from stations broadcasting in the newest format, viewers can watch free over-the-air digital TV through these channels. After a sluggish start, ATSC 3.0 is beginning to take off in the US, and by late 2022, coverage is anticipated to reach 75% of markets.
Performance
When it comes to image quality, it’s no surprise at all that certain native 4K Dolby Vision-assisted video makes the Sony seem its finest. It comes as only a little bit more of a surprise to learn that “its best” is generally really good. Or, at least, it is once you’ve adjusted the menu item called “motionflow” to maintain plausible and fluid on-screen movement. Indeed, the A80K stands out for its proficiency and range of color. It uses a rich, complex color scheme that manages to be both vibrant and realistic at the same time. Even though the A80K is not the brightest screen available, the black levels are predictably deep, have a lot of variation, and give the impression of having quite wide contrasts. The whites it produces are just as balanced and detailed as all the other tones it produces, yet they lack a slight but noticeable punch. There is no denying that the Sony can appear a touch dark in a well lit space, even with HDR content. Even when viewing the hated televised sport, picture noise is negligible and on-screen motion can be adjusted till it is genuinely satisfying. The A80K can smoothly and easily draw even very fine lines while managing intricate and/or tight patterns. The viewing angles are extremely wide, as you might expect, and because the screen isn’t specially treated, reflections or glare don’t interfere. The Sony is also a highly competent upscaler, provided that some sufficiently low-resolution footage is fed into it. Off-air broadcasts in 1080p standard seem assured and credible; detail levels remain impressively high and there is also evidence of the same fluid motion control. The A80K maintains its composure even at 720p, making it one of the more forgiving OLED TVs available for the price. The A80K is a great gaming monitor, with input lag low enough for all but the most demanding games. That’s in “Game” mode, which only slightly coarsens the overall image in exchange for faster response times. Motion remains steady, and lighting also looks fantastic.
Picture quality
Our observations do not allow us to judge if the A80K is superior to or inferior than the A80J for 2021. There are minor variations here and there, with the A80K exhibiting superior color performance while the A80J is brighter. However, with real-world content, the differences won’t be obvious unless you compare the two side by side, so we’ll call them equal in terms of overall quality. also you will learn our article on Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K review. Regarding the A80K in particular, the TV had superb upscaling abilities, incredible colours and gradients, great performance right out of the box, breathtaking contrast as any OLED should be, excellent viewing angles, solid motion, and input lag that any gamer can fall in love with. There are undoubtedly other OLEDs that can go brighter and have more impactful HDR. Brightness in both SDR and HDR was good, but not as good as we had hoped. The TV can go a little bit brighter than our measurements, but as usual, doing so will result in some image accuracy being lost.
Sound quality
The OLED TVs in the A80K series from Sony have Acoustic Surface Audio+. Five actuators are placed in this location—three behind the screen and two on either side—vibrating it to produce full-range sound, together with two subwoofers for deeper bass. Other audio capabilities include Voice Zoom for enhancing speech, 3D surround upscaling, and Acoustic Audio Calibration to adjust the sound output of the set to your viewing area. We were astonished at how clear the speech was and how loud the speakers could get without sounding strained since we seldom ever rely on a TV’s built-in audio system these days while viewing movies. We also saw unique vertical and above effects emanating from the TV after switching to the Dolby Atmos sound option. Would the audio quality have been better with a separate Dolby Atmos soundbar? Probably. However, we believe that someone who doesn’t regularly watch action movies and who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on a soundbar would be happy with the X80K’s built-in audio.
Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K review: Gaming
However, it’s likely that you won’t be purchasing an expensive 4K OLED TV only for watching content. You might want to play a little game on it as well. We’re pleased to report that the Sony XR A80K has you covered for this. Consequently, the TV delivers good picture quality. The Sony XR A80K’s visuals take your breath away the moment you connect a console or a gaming laptop and start playing a game like Dirt 5 or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Games that are HDR-ready have stunning graphics with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and strong contrast. In contrast to the A80J from last year, Sony’s newest OLED also has two ports that support VRR and 4K at 120Hz. These ports are useful for gaming because they include ARC, eARC, and ALLM. Additionally, the TV’s features include Auto HDR Tone Mapping for PS5. When your PS5 console is connected to the TV with the latter, the TV’s HDR settings are instantly optimized. When in use, the PS5 detects the XR A80k automatically and adjusts the HDR settings to match the TV. As a result, the TV can handle colours and details accurately in both the brightest and darkest areas of the screen in high-contrast scenes.
Ports and Connectivity
Sony has been using two different port layouts, one with all ports facing sideways and the other with some facing sideways and the remainder looking downwards. Strangely, the 2022 A80K opts for the first configuration with all of its ports facing sideways while the A80J used the second. In essence, the layout is identical to that of the Sony X90K. Sony’s decision to make this change is unknown, but it has occurred nonetheless. From top to bottom, there are four HDMI ports for connecting all of your devices, two USB ports for powering or connecting external storage, a digital optical audio output for older equipment that does not support HDMI connections, a composite video input that also serves as an S-Center speaker input, an Ethernet port for connecting to your network wirelessly, an RS-232C port for controlling devices, an IR input, and the standard antenna/cable connector. In contrast to some of the other major producers, Sony includes a USB 3.0 port in the majority of its TVs, even the most affordable ones. This is undoubtedly a plus for Sony, who chose to do the obvious, as manufacturers typically don’t seem to enjoy using the newer USB ports and rely primarily on the antiquated 2.0 version, even for many of their top premium models. Additionally, like with other Sony TVs, we receive two HDMI 2.1 ports in addition to two more older HDMI 2.0 ones. Even while some other producers, like LG and Samsung, provide four HDMI 2.1 connections, two are still preferable than one. The issue is that one of them also has ARC/eARC functionality, so if you intend to use that, there is only one HDMI 2.1 port left. The Mediatek SoC is typically found in all TVs with only two ports, but at least the HDMI 2.1 ports in the A80K offer full bandwidth to support high frame rate gaming and all HDMI 2.1 gaming features.
Price and availability
The 55-inch Sony A80K we’re testing here is currently available and costs £1599 in the UK. Additionally, a 65-inch version is available for £2099, and a 77-inch model is available for £3499 for the utterly serious. These costs translate to $1599, $1999, and $2999 in America, respectively; once more, the US outperforms the UK. You are looking at equivalents in Australia of AU$3299, AU$4299, and AU$6999. also you read our article on Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K review.
Sony Bravia XR OLED A80K review: Conclusion
For most purposes, the Sony A80K performs superbly. Because it displays deep blacks without any blooming in dark settings, it performs best in dimly lit environments for watching movies. Due to its dark room performance and the wide range of colours it displays, it is great for HDR, but the HDR brightness isn’t high enough for the greatest HDR experience. Thanks to its wide viewing angle and exceptional reflection handling, it’s great for watching TV shows and excellent for sports in well-lit rooms, but it doesn’t get bright enough to significantly reduce glare. Additionally, it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth support for variable refresh rate (VRR), a quick response time, and minimal input lag, making it excellent for gaming.
