The Sony Z9J is a flagship LED backlit LCD display that has set the bar extremely high for its technology and capabilities. In this review, we'll delve into what makes this TV so special and whether it's worth the investment.

One of the most notable aspects of the Z9J is its 8K resolution support, which is explicitly mentioned in the specifications but only in one place - on the input section. This suggests that the 8K support is separate from the other HDMI inputs and may be physically located off to the side of the TV. However, it's unclear whether the HDMI four (HDMI 4.2) supports 8K resolution or not.

In terms of gaming capabilities, the Z9J delivers almost everything that the latest gen consoles can offer, except for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). While this may be a drawback for some gamers who require VRR, it's worth noting that Sony may not have prioritized advanced gaming-specific features on this TV. Instead, the focus seems to be on delivering exceptional picture quality and a smooth gaming experience.

The Z9J's picture quality is undoubtedly one of its strongest suits. With an LED backlighting system and intense brightness capabilities, the TV can pull off HDR with finesse. The result is a viewing experience that's almost intoxicating, particularly when it comes to bright scenes like those in Gravity. The blackness of space was deep and immersive, while the shadows were detailed without any noticeable loss of clarity.

The panel itself is pristine, with no dirty screen effect and only a tiny bit of vignette in the corners. This level of image quality is rare in LCD displays, and it's clear that Sony has pushed the boundaries of what's possible with this technology. The XR cognitive processor does an excellent job of upscaling and cleaning up images, making even detailed scenes look sharp and crisp.

One question that arises when considering the Z9J is whether it justifies its high price tag. After all, some might argue that a Bugatti costs too much simply because it's expensive - but with a luxury item like this TV, the same logic can be applied. While Sony may not sell many of these TVs, they're clearly targeting those who are willing to invest in the best available technology.

Ultimately, the Z9J sets the bar extremely high for LED backlit LCD display technology and is an outstanding display that challenges all other flagship TVs on the market. When you set aside the specs and focus on the picture quality, this TV truly shines. It's a testament to Sony's capabilities as a display manufacturer, and it will likely be considered the non-OLED TV to beat for a long time to come.

If cost were no object, I might just take the Z9J over the A90J - which is already an exceptional display in its own right. However, for most of us, the Z9J's price tag is simply out of reach. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that this TV does show us what Sony is capable of, and it sets a new standard for LED backlit LCD displays. Whether you're a gamer or just someone who appreciates exceptional picture quality, the Z9J is definitely worth considering - even if it means taking a hard look at your budget and asking whether it's worth the splurge.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enThe future of TV is so brigh, I gotta...No, you know what, I'm not doing it.Not for this one.I mean, I'm not that cheesy, right?Welcome back, everyone.I'm Caleb Denison,and this is my review of the SonyMaster Series Z9J LED slash LCD television.Yes, a TV technology as old as... well,let's just say it's of legal drinkingage in the U.S. is still seeingimprovements even to this dayand even with promisingnew technologies on the horizon.For now, though, the Sony Z9Jreads an awful lot like the pinnacleof what an LED LCD TV can be. But is it?And even if it is, does it haveany business being as expensive as it is,or are many of us just upsetthat something that looks so awesomefeels so out of reach?Truth be told, I think this reviewis going to be part technicalanalysis and partphilosophical conversation.Are things about to get weird?I don't know. Stick around and find out.Before we get into it I just want to say a heartfeltthank you to all of you out therewho've been getting in the commentsand talking about these TVsand TV reviews in general.I see you. Yes, you watching right now.If you are commenting,I see you and I have a question for you.What would you like to see medo differently in these reviews,if anything? I love hearing feedback.Can't make any promises,but I want to know what you think.So get down into those commentsand start typing.And while you're down there, smashlike and subscribe, because every time you do,I feel it here deep inside.I do. Thanks, as always.Much love. OK, let's review a TV.All right, so where do I even start?Actually, let's startwith a quick recap of our unboxing videoin case you haven't seen it.Here's what you need to know.The TV comes packed inwhat some have referred to as a space suit.Apparently, the Z9D did as well.I didn't have the pleasure of unboxingthat TV, so, good to know.The TV is extremely heavy.I mean it, get a proto mount this TV to the wallif you buy one. You can afford the TV,so I know you can afford the pro install.It's a Google TV, which means that I findit extremely easy to set up and useand the UI is awesomebecause just about everysetting in here comeswith an explanation of what it does.So if you want to go messing around,you can do so somewhat better informedthan you might with other TV brands.Did I mention this TV is heavy?There is a tiny switch to turn off theinternal microphone for Google assistantso don't miss that during setup.And the power buttonis also comically tinyand precariously locatednear the input bay.The HDMI inputs, by the way,are labeled in an interesting manner,and I'll get to that in a moment.Also, this TV does have an ATSC 3.0 tuner,so if you live in an area broadcastingwhat most folks callNext Gen TV over the air,you can access it.Although at least herein the Portland, Oregon market,I've been less than impressed so far.Now, about those HDMIinputs. As I mentioned in the unboxing,one is unlabeled save the HDMI part,two are labeled 4Kone hundred and twenty hertz,and one is labeled8K, 4K one hundredand twenty hertz.Is there really a difference among them?Well, I asked Sony, and unfortunatelythey hadn't gotten back to me beforeI had to sit in front of this camera.So I did what you might do at home.And I grabbed the Xbox series,plugged it in to see what it had to say.And I'm going to tell you about thatin just a little bit.Still, we know this TV does not supportvariable refresh rate right now.And let's be honest, probably never will,which is something I'm going to leavefor the gaming section of this reviewand my final takeaway.So stick around I'm getting there.Yes, my enthusiastfriends, I will not forsake you.Let's talk about what happenedwhen I pulled out the X-ritei1 Pro, SpectraCalC6, and Calman Software.And, you know, I'm going to start withthe peak brightness measurements I got.But first, let me just say this.Outside of perhaps the Sony A90Jthe picture presets in the Z9Jare the most accurateI've seen straight out of the box.Pick Cinema or Custom,don't touch it, just watch it.You'll be thrilled.But if you do want to mess around withthe settings, there are two in particularwhich have a dramatic effecton how this TV performs.Specifically under the brightness sectionyou have the Auto Local Dimming settingand the Peak Brightness setting.Now, these do not necessarily workthe way that you might think.And they do seem to be in a sort oftechnical symbiotic relationshipwith each other. Auto Local Dimmingseems to have a profound effecton contrast in generaland also peak brightness.And the Peak Brightnesssetting has effect over both peakbrightness and the average picture level.Getting any more detailed than thatrequires a separate video.And maybe I'll do that.Should I do that?Anyway, in SDR with no adjustmentsto the custom mode,that's Auto Local Dimming mediumand Peak Luminance off,I got three hundred and eightynine nits peak.With Auto Local Dimming lowI got four hundred and thirty one,and with that setting at high I got threehundred and eighty onewhich is interesting.Now with AutoLocal Dimming fixed at mediumand peak Luminance set to low,I got seven hundred and eightyfour nits, at medium I got fourteentwenty two nits and set to high I got onethousand nine hundred and two nits.That's for SDR people.That is an insanely bright SDR image.Don't take this TV outside.But I mean you could take this TV outsideand still see it in full sun.Now with HDR, it was a similar yetdifferent story.I got variances depending on wherethe Auto Local Dimming setting was at.But with Peak Luminance set to high,I was maxing out at about fourteenhundred nits, which I thought was oddbecause the TV can clearly get muchbrighter than that.So I cruised over to the Cinemasetting, and whoa!Twenty five hundred nits peakright off the bat. So what was different?Well it was the Advanced Contrastsetting. Instead of offit was set at Medium. So I replicated thatover on the custom setting.And sure enoughTwenty five hundred nits.Now, just for grins, I went to Vivid modeand it zoomed up to thirtysix hundred nits.Wow. Now folks, these are test patterns.I have no idea what kind of Peak Luminancethis TV can do with real content,because I don't have a wayto measure for it.But I swear watchingsome content in Dolby Vision Bright,where the scene was mostly dark,but you had a couple of intenselybright highlights.I would not be shocked to know thatthe Z9J was pushing four thousand nits.Not at all surprised.There were actually a couple of momentswhile I was watching Matrix Reloaded,where I actually pulledone of these and said, wow!Everything from the reflection of lightin Morpheus’ shadesto the headlamps on the Audithat Agent Smith rolls in on,they were so intense, I literally gasped.Now, I don't want to skip overcolor accuracy, but the readings I gotwere impeccable, both for low luminancecolor and high luminous color.And the two point whitebalance needed very little adjustmentin most cases. Anthe default Custom settingit was a little heavy on the blue.I backed it off and I got under a Delta Eof one for both bias and gain.Unfortunately, I went to HDRand the two point white balancelooked better at stock settings.So in the end, I found a happy mediumand let well enough alone.Anyway, if you want to hire calibratorfor this TV, and I know you can afford it,go ahead and wish that person the best,because they have some very detailedwork ahead of them. But you know what?You could probably get awaywith just not hiring a calibrator.The TV is just so goodright out of the boxmost folks wouldn'tappreciate the difference, I think.So that's brightness and colorby the measurements.What about black levels?How's that backlight doing?Because I'll be the first to tell you thatif that back light is slow enoughthat I see fluctuations.I'm going to be very, very upset.Well, sluggishness is not a problemfor Sony’s backlight system.I didn't get any luminance shiftsin any of the content I watched.None. Zero. And I love that.As for halo and blooming,well, I'll be honest, this is a sectionI've been wrestling with a great deal,so I'm not going to overthink this.Let me just tell you what I saw, OK?I usually use closed captionsor subtitled textto see just how good a TV’s localdimming and backlight control is.And on the Z9Jyou can clearly see the bloomingright around the text.And honestly, it's made worseby the fact that the text is displayedso brightly because again,this TV can get super bright.Step off angle a bitand it will become even more apparent.The good news is,is that it's only around the text.It doesn't bloom up into the middleof the screen or well off to the sides.Now, if you count the local dimming zones,and you'll have to because evenwith a gun to their head,Sony won't tell youhow many LED back lights there are orhow many dimming zones are in play,you'll note that there are fewerthan many other TVs on the market,certainly far fewer than a TV with a miniled back light system.Yet, as is often the case with Sony TVs,I find their backlight systemto be so good most of the time,not all the time, but most of the time,that doesn't seem to be a liability.Now, before you once againaccuse me of being a Sony fan boythat loves all things Sony,please note that I have been criticalof the backlighting in a few Sony sets.Yes, I think Sonyhas something to its argument that it'snot how many zones you have,but what you do with them.But if we take the Z9J,backlight master drive monicker or no,the system is clearly quite advancedand very good at what it does.Blacks are deep black. Shadowdetail is excellent.I am not constantly bothered by the backlightlike I am with so many other TVs.Also, and this may seem like a side note,but this TV sounds fantastic as well.It doesn't pull off fakes aroundespecially well.And for that I'm gladbecause I hate fakes around effects.But it does havea surprisingly wide stereo feeland it has excellent bass responseand overall fidelity.Doesn't have the direct from screen appealthat you get from the A90J,but when it comes to sound,I have zero complaints.So that's the moredetailed critical analysis.Before I get into how it is to just watchand behold this TV,let's talk about gaming.The first thing you'll need to knowif you're connecting and Xbox SeriesX or s, the PlayStationfive or a 4K Blu ray playeris that you need to turn on enhanced HDMIin the Z9J’s settings.Go to settings, channels and inputs,make your way toexternal HDMI input settings,and then you can chooseone of two enhanced HDMI settings options.You may remember that stuff fromprevious videos, but here's the wrinkle.HDMI one on this TV appears not to support4K 120 at all. HDMI two and three doand you have to make a call.You can have 4K 120,but no Dolby Vision.Or you can have Dolby Visionat 4K 60.Or you can have Dolby Visionat 1080P 120.And that's what we've seen before.HDMI four, though,appears to be an enigma to.Here we get much more granular informationabout chromo subsampling capabilities.It's the only place for 4:4:4,4:2:2, or 4:2:0 is mentioned,and it's the only place that 8Ksupport is explicitly mentioned.This is interesting to mebecause that to memeans that this HDMI inputis separate from the rest.And physically on the TV, it is separate.It's way off to the side.Is it possible HDMIfour is not part of the MediaTek SoChandling the other HDMI inputs?I've got an ask inand I will update when I can.At any rate, you are notgetting VRR on this TV.That's just how it is.So is this TV good for gaming? Absolutely.You can get almost everythingthe latest gen consolescan dish out right now except VRR.And if you need that, well,then you need to look at a different TV.But the HDR effectfor gaming is fantastic.The smoothness of motion is excellent.Input lag is sufficiently lowand color is just so rich.I mean, some gameslooked more beautiful on this TVthan I've seen on any other display.With that said, I don't think Sonyis too concerned aboutadvanced gaming specificcapabilities on this TV.I don't think gamers are targeting this TVas the ultimate gaming experience.Now, if you're sitting there and screamingat me on the screen saying, “Caleb,it's so expensive,how can it not be the ultimate gaming TV?”Well, you got a fair point.I mean, if you pay this much, should yoube able to do everything that can be done?So the philosophical chatis coming in a moment.But first, I want to step backand tell you what I think about this TV.having watched it for many hours now.I love the picture quality.If ever there was a TVthat could woo me away from OLED,this is it. Honestly, if you said“Here Caleb, you can have this SonyA90J OLED or this Sony Z9J.Your pick, which one do you want?”I'd have a really tough time deciding.I mean, I still love an emissive displayand the wide viewing angles,but the way this TV pulls off HDRand the way it handlesits brightness power with such finesse,it's almost intoxicating.Also, the fact that the backlighting system is so goodpaired with that intense brightnessmakes it very difficult to seeblooming and halo because I mean,maybe it's just constricting your iris.I mean, I watchedseveral scenes in Gravity,and not only did I see all the stars,but I also felt likethe blackness of space was never anythingother than really deep black.And as for shadow detail, I watchedsome of the darkest content I know,and while the Sony didn't make anythingmore watchable or brighter than it wasmade to, look, I didn't miss anythingso long as the room was dark.Also, the panel is pristine,no dirty screeneffect, just a tinybit of vignette in the corners.I tell you what, I might just take theZ9J over the A90Jif cost were no object.The thing is, costis an object for most of us.I know a lot of us are thinking“What right to Sonyhave for charging so much for a TV?”To which I must answer“They have every right in the world.”Sony can charge whateverit wants for this TV.Is it right? Is it fair? Doesn't matter.Is it right or fairthat a Bugatti costs what it does?I mean, Sony isn't going to sella lot of these TVs.It isn't going to make many of them.It's a luxury item, pure and simple.Most of us can't afford one,and that's just how it is.But the Z9J does show uswhat Sony is capable of.It's an outstanding display.I think it sets the bar extremely highfor LED backlit LCD display technology.I think the XR cognitive processordoes the best job I've seen of upscalingand cleaning up images.I think detail is as fineas I've seen on any TV, and Sony’sreality creation algorithm really seemsto have come into its own here.Maybe because of the brightnesscapabilities. I mean, it's a flagshipTV to challenge all other flagship TVs.And when you set the specs asideand you take the picture for what it isafter Sony does what it does, this is theNon-OLED TV to beat right now.So if Sony's objective was to flex,it has done so successfullyand if it wanted to make its greenwith envy on the side.Well, I think it's done that, too.Thanks, as always, for watching, everyone.How does the Z9J make you feel deep down inside?Leave me a comment about that down below.Don't forget to like and subscribe. And here’stwo other videos that I think you'll like.\n"