02-05-2019 (See Below for Our Original Reaction to this TV)
UPDATE: In all fairness, I owe SONY an update and after using the TV daily for the last two months I've come to respect the picture quality of this TV. In watching network news, we can clearly see the difference in camera quality, especially when side by side interviews are taking place. The newer HD camera's pop out a clean, crisp image which 4K wishes it will do so well. Older camera's still show nicely but the clarity is visible. We will have to wait for COX to update with industry in the FCC's anticipated roll out of ATSC 3.0. Our question now is: are all these high end sets that we are buying, especially the very expensive QLED and OLED sets ... are they ATSC 3.0 ready or are they, as the FCC reports now, still NTSC at the core?
I also need to report that we have been successful going right to a DVD or right to NETFLIX or right to MSNBC or HIST Channel without jumping through hoops. Our initial fear was that SONY's lend-lease program would aggravate us sitting by sitting but it has not.
Bottom Line: We changed the overall rating to 5 Start based on the picture quality only. This is simply because the picture is so enjoyable and from one sitting to the next does not disappoint. No bleeding, blacks stay black but do not conceal the Film Noir images.
Our 1st SONY was a glass semi-flat Trinitron, a 12" art deco push button carry around TV which lasted 40+ years. Our 2nd TV's were Sony Trinitron FLAT SCREEN TV's which we kept until we could no longer lift them (Over 25 years). If the heritage quality persists in this X900F unit, we will not need to buy another. We'll simply enjoy the ride. Cheers.
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ORIGINAL REACTION TO THIS TV:
We've just set up our NEW Sony X900F. So don't take this as a final or full review. I will update as necessary. And we may not even keep the set.
We specifically requested (and checked the box for same) plain brown carton packaging. The Amazon order system agreed. For nought. It arrived in its original SONY box, advertising blazing so bright you could see what it was from a block away. So much for the first bump in the road.
After laboring to get the wall mount done and the TV hung, we sat back with one desire: to watch a DVD or Netflix show as a reward for a hard day. We just wanted to see how good, if at all, the TV was.
At power up, four small colorful "clocks" appeared, interacting with each other, and after 5 or ten minutes, these were replaced with a small gray swirling clock in the center. At least 30 minutes later the screen was still giving us the clock and now reporting it was "Checking For Updates". When this finally finished, the screen changed to a legal contract screen and it asked (sort of like Windows does) if we would download the updates now, including new APPS, and that it would take approximately 60 minutes to complete. Fortunately there was a "SKIP" option and so we moved on still hoping to watch a DVD.
The next screen was a Google instruction to log-in to Google. It wanted our GMAIL account & password and if not available, we needed to start one. There was no skip. We did have a GMAIL account, like many people, and so logged in just like we would log into GMAIL. Once in more legal screens related to Android and our willingness to abide by the US Laws regulating use. No skip button, no way out. ACCEPT or back out and do without the TV.
Exasperated, but knowing we could return the set, we hit the ACCEPT button and the TV then went Android feature by Android feature soliciting our agreement to install & use. This time there WAS a skip or a "no thanks". We opted out of the next four or five requests until the TV finally went to look for a cable connection or any live HDMI inputs. Finding none, I just pressed the "Netflix" button on the TV and everything became normal. We logged in, Netflix came right up and we finally were able to see the TV after an hour, maybe a little longer, of wondering "what in the world did we get into here ???".
I need to mention for those enamored with the idea of having your own 4K TV that its money better spent on a cheaper simply HD 1080P set. We are on COX cable. Cox has no 4K programming and has no plans to implement 4K.
Netflix prompted us, before showing us the selections, if we would accept UHD 4K streaming for only an additional $3.95 per month. We said "Okay". When we went to the Netflix selections, the UHD 4K selections were marked as such, about 1 in 75. In otherwords, NETFLIX has very few UHD 4K selections to stream. And it will probably be awhile because their portfolio of selections are simply regular DVD quality shows with a good many HD shows. The point here is: we were duped again.
So, no brown paper double packing, no warning that this TV was an Android device just like the smart phones, no warning that there was no way to just use the X900F as a simple TV or monitor, and of course, whenever you start up the TV you are aggravated by slow boot, incessant sales pitches, reminders that such & such is not set up, etc etc.
SONY & Amazon are like 3rd world Bazaar table sellers with glittering gold teeth, a smile to catch anyone's attention, but not a word of truth or helpfulness in the marketing of their products. My advice if you have not bought a set is get something simple like the Visio D series or just a large monitor and plug in what you want to use. If you already have a 1080P flat sceen.... keep it and save your money. The picture on the X900F isn't any better than 1080P because that is all companies are streaming or cabling. What a rip off.
We may or may not keep this aggravating thing.
Hope this helps someone.
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| Brand Name | Sony |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 97 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 69.7 x 7.6 x 42.5 inches |
| California residents | Click here for Proposition 65 warning |
| Item model number | XBR75X900F |
| Batteries | 2 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Color Name | Black |
