Sony BRAVIA XR OLED XR55A80J - 55-inch - OLED - 4K Ultra HD (UHD) - High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Google TV - (Black)

Product Information

And just because the A80J isn’t as bassy or spacious as its much more expensive sibling doesn’t mean it doesn’t sound very good by TV standards. It’s certainly weightier and more controlled at the bottom end than the LG C1 and G1, for example, and significantly punchier and more dynamic, too. If the menu screen does not have the same problem, it is not a malfunction. You can change the picture settings to suit your tastes. See the descriptions below. The stand has three different setup positions. The standard position lets the TV sit closer to the table. There's a narrow position for smaller tables, and finally, a soundbar position that raises the TV to give you space for a soundbar in front. We’re a bit late with the XR-55A80J – a year late in fact – but Sony’s 2021 second tier OLED is still available well into 2022 and has hit a price point that would make late adopters to the OLED market peak their head above the parapet with interest. With BRAVIA XR, everything you watch gets the true surround-sound treatment. XR Surround creates surround sound from the sides and vertically so you can experience 3D audio without the need for in-ceiling or up-firing speakers.

So far, the A80J has hit the right notes, but it’s within the features section where it becomes clearer what audience this TV is for and who it isn’t. Sony’s OLEDs use cutting edge “in-screen” speaker tech. This is a clever Acoustic Surface Audio+ custom technology exclusive to Sony that lets the TV use the screen panel as a speaker, providing robust audio that matches what you see onscreen. Where as Full Array LED models (X90J, X94J, X95J & Z9J) use Acoustic Multi Audio which cleverly places speakers all around the screen providing you with a truly immersive experience. Elsewhere there are a few picture modes to choose from in Netflix Calibrated Mode that presents titles as they were mastered in the studio. The A80J is certified for IMAX Enhanced, tuning its picture and sound in accordance with IMAX’s standards. BRAVIA Core is a streaming service that presents titles at a bitrate that’s close to the quality of 4K Blu-rays and it supports IMAX Enhanced standard too. version 4.2;HID (mouse/keyboard connectivity)/HOGP (Low Energy device connectivity)/SPP(Serial Port Profile)/A2DP (stereo audio) 2 /AVRCP (AV remote control) The big question is, of course, how much of the A90J’s awesome picture performance does the A80J offer? The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is 'most of it'.That isn’t the case: the A80J offers most of what makes the A90J great at a far more accessible price. It might not be quite as bright and punchy as its flagship sibling, or as sonically weighty, but in many other ways it’s just as capable. That makes it a remarkably crisp, detailed and dynamic performer for the money, with a superior sound system to its price rivals. This world-first TV picture processing, according to Sony, begins with a scene detection stage to identify and enhance the main focal points and, ultimately, adds a greater sense of depth to the image. The XR processor looks at multiple zones and other elements (colour, contrast, texture, depth, detail, etc) of each frame and performs a cross-analysis to work out the most important areas. I measured input lag at 16.3ms, which in the grand scheme of things is very good, though short of Samsung and LG, with even Panasonic ahead in the gaming stakes with their performance and features. Our minimalist One Slate design with a single pane of tempered glass keeps you focused on the picture for truly immersive viewing without distraction. This OLED TV looks and sounds beautiful, whether on a stand or mounted on a wall. In case it helps anyone, here is how I have improved it, at least for my ears. I used the equaliser in the classic smiley settings (as described here) which helped. Maximising the surround effect seems to work well and I also turned off Dolby compression.

The A80J, by comparison, is less immediately striking but a good bit more accommodating, with its fairly dainty feet positional in either a wide, narrow, or soundbar stance. When they’re in the narrow placement, the set has a footprint that’s a very reasonable 69cm (27.3 inches) wide. The A80J features the same aesthetic Sony has been pursuing with its OLEDs in the last couple of years. Its appearance is minimalist, and aside from the Sony logo in the bottom bezel there are few identifiers as to what brand this TV could be from, the A80J content to not present anything that would distract from the images drawn on screen. With its feet the A80J does its best Optimus Prime impression as it can transform into three different configurations. You could plant the feet out wide, or have them seated in the middle, or if there’s a soundbar to fit, configure them into an elevated position. There is the option of wall-mounting, the 53mm depth of the TV is not bad for an OLED, but both LG’s OLEDs and Samsung’s Mini LEDs edge it in those stakes. Interface If you want to connect your TV to a blu-ray player, games console, soundbar or soundbase then you'll need a HDMI cable. Acoustic Surface Audio+: sound comes directly from the centre of the screen with actuators behind the TV vibrating to create acoustics that move with the picture.Cognitive Processor XR: uses human perspective analysis to optimise hundreds of thousands of elements in an instant, for stunning contrast, and a picture that feels deep, natural, and real. The majority of titles will offer lossless 4K Blu-ray quality streaming up to 80Mbps using Sony’s Pure Stream technology. To non-techies this means they will look outright amazing compared to what you’ll find on Netflix and Disney Plus. Like all the TVs in Sony’s 2021 lineup, the A80J is equipped with the Cognitive Processor XR. Sony claims that this chip “understands how humans see and hear” and is “designed to replicate the way our brains think and respond” by simultaneously cross-analyzing the many different elements of the video and soundscape to figure out how to process them (in real time) to the highest level of quality, providing “a whole new experience that immerses you completely in the scene.”