Compare: SONY BRAVIA 3 vs TCL C7L

Sony Bravia 3 is a television that brings several important improvements over its predecessor while still staying true to its core. The biggest change is the design – slim bezels and sturdy metal legs make it look modern and fit much better in a living room than the X75WL. The improved colours thanks to the PFS filter and really good upscaling are also a plus. It is particularly with lower-quality content, especially in classic SDR, that the Bravia 3 can show its best side – colours look pleasant, the picture is clear, and thanks to the IPS panel, viewing angles are at a very good level. For a ‘classic’ TV, where comfort from various viewing positions in the room and decent quality of everyday content matter, it is perfectly suitable. A huge advantage remains the Google TV system. During our tests, there were times when the interface did not work as smoothly as we would have liked, and some features could freeze. However, despite these imperfections, the presence of Google TV is a huge plus – access to thousands of apps and a full streaming library compensates for minor shortcomings. Unfortunately, what was weak in the X75WL remains weak here as well. The IPS panel has very low contrast and does not offer local dimming, which means that watching movies in a dark room quickly loses its appeal – black resembles more of a grey, which effectively detracts from the enjoyment of viewing. Additionally, the option to record content to USB, which was available in the predecessor, has been removed. It is hard not to notice this and not to add it to the list of downsides.

So, who is the Bravia 3 for? Primarily for those who want to enter the world of Sony televisions at the most affordable price while valuing the Google TV system. However, it is not the most attractive option in its class – competition in this budget can offer models with Mini-LED backlighting, which outperform it significantly in terms of contrast and HDR. Therefore, the Bravia 3 is worth considering, but mainly when there is a solid discount. At regular price, it will be very difficult for it to stand out against its more cost-effective rivals.

TCL C7L is an incredibly successful Mini-LED television and a fully deserved successor to the hit model C7K. The list of advantages of this device is really long. At the top is the extremely high brightness of the panel. Thanks to this, the television handles brightly lit living rooms without any problems, offering a fantastic and dynamic image in HDR format. Huge applause is also due for the use of the new Super QLED coating – after professional calibration, the colours can be not only natural but also incredibly vibrant. The best part is that the screen does this regardless of what scene is displayed on the screen, which is often not the case for all TVs with RGB backlighting. C7L is also an excellent piece of hardware for gamers; you could even say it’s a true "multimedia powerhouse." It fully supports consoles and PCs, refresh rates up to 288 Hz, G-Sync, and low input lag that doesn’t increase even when enabling very demanding modes like Dolby Vision Gaming. The whole package is tied together by a well-optimised Google TV system, which in this generation of TCL devices runs noticeably smoother and more efficiently (at least that’s the impression we got during our tests). Of course, C7L is not a perfect device, and the manufacturer had to make certain compromises in this model. The biggest flaw of the C7L is the use of a less powerful image processor. Unfortunately, this translates to fairly mediocre digital processing and another construction limitation in the form of only two HDMI 2.1 ports. A more powerful setup has been reserved this year for the higher series, such as C8L. From a business perspective, this is fully understandable. Why? Because if TCL had put a better processor here, most people would probably see no sense in paying extra for the higher model. So even if some compromises exist here, the C7L series promises once again to be one of the most cost-effective Mini-LED televisions of the year. If you’re looking for a versatile, incredibly bright screen for movies, series, TV, or games – literally for everything – and at the same time don’t want to overpay for the top series, then yes... C7L is a brilliant choice that we can definitely recommend to you.

Bravia 3 in most variants, including the 65-inch model we tested, uses an IPS panel and unfortunately, this isn't the best news for those who value depth of image and truly velvety blacks. This technology has its advantages, offering decent viewing angles, but they come at the cost of very low contrast, which is particularly noticeable during evening viewing sessions when we expect the screen to go dark where it should. However, the list of problems doesn't end there. Our unit also showed noticeable imperfections in the blacks, which exacerbate the effect of their shallowness. For instance, in the scene with the helicopter, you can clearly see blooming in the corners of the screen and noticeable vignetting.

It's hard not to think that even a simple local dimming system could have salvaged the situation and added a bit of drama to the image, which is lacking here. Unfortunately, Sony has not opted for such a solution, and as a result, we have a repeat of last year's performance. So, Bravia 3 is not a television that will charm with cinematic depth of black. At night, instead of intense black, we are more likely to see grey pretending to be darkness, which may disappoint more discerning viewers.

TCL C7L is a Mini LED TV, which in the 65-inch variant we tested, is equipped with over 1000 local dimming zones. This, combined with the proprietary VA panel (called HVA 2.0 by TCL CSOT), delivers really decent results in terms of black levels and contrast. In most of the scenes we measured, the blacks and contrast looked really good, and in the easiest shots, the black was deep enough to almost resemble that seen on OLED screens. This is of course referring to the least demanding shots with a lot of black on the screen. However, when more bright elements appear on the screen, and black stops dominating as much, it is evident that TCL C7L – like most Mini LED TVs – has its issues with local dimming zone management.

This can be clearly seen, for example, on the black bars in films shot in the 2.35:1 panoramic format. Then, on the black bars or around small, bright objects, a pronounced halo effect, or a bright light glow, can appear. The contrast then drastically dropped – from laboratory values of around 200,000:1 to about 10,000:1, which is quite noticeable in a completely dark room. It’s worth remembering that this shouldn’t be treated as a flaw of the TV but rather as a characteristic of mini-LED technology. Of course, this effect becomes much less bothersome when we turn on at least some light in the room… which I definitely recommend doing during screenings on any LCD TV.

Bravia 3 does not hide the fact that it belongs to a group of TVs that are rather modest in terms of brightness. Our measurements showed around 370 nits, which is a value balancing on the brink where any HDR effect can still be discussed. For some, this is an acceptable level, while for others it is more typical for SDR materials, where spectacular flashes or vivid contrasts are not expected. The impression is that this is not a TV for those focused on the highest image quality in demanding film content. However, this does not mean that there are no advantages to be found here. Compared to its predecessor, the X75WL, the Bravia 3 has gained an additional PFS filter, which works similarly to solutions known from QLED technology. Thanks to this, the DCI-P3 color gamut has been significantly expanded, reaching over 91 percent, which in practice results in more saturated colours and a more pleasing texture of the image. As a result, even everyday content looks a bit more vibrant, and films and series can surprise with their colourful presentation, despite limitations in brightness itself.

TCL C7L is undoubtedly an extremely bright television. In synthetic tests on static patterns, it can achieve peak brightness of around 2800 nits. This is a phenomenal result, considering the price range it occupies. Unfortunately, tests with real movie scenes are not as spectacular as measurements of white squares. Brightness in real HDR footage drops in the C7L model to around 1200 nits. This is still a very good result, as this is the value at which the vast majority of contemporary films are mastered. However, when small, point-like elements appear on the screen, the brightness of these details drastically drops – even to around 400 nits – which somewhat diminishes the HDR effect. The television does this intentionally to maintain a better black level and to avoid a huge light bloom. This is somewhat explainable, but it also shows that Mini LED technology is not completely uncompromising in this regard. As for the HDR effect itself – alongside brightness, colours are of course key here. And these, thanks to the use of new, “super” quantum dots, are simply outstanding and among the best on the market. The television can achieve around 90% coverage of the ultra-wide colour gamut BT.2020 and 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut, easily matching the best RGB MINI-LED screens. Best of all, the C7L can maintain such high colour saturation regardless of the scene being displayed, which can often be problematic in competing RGB Mini-LED televisions.

We primarily tested the Sony Bravia 3 in movie mode, which immediately turned out to be the best choice among the factory settings. It's not a perfect picture, but compared to the eco mode that the TV suggests straight out of the box, the difference is evident and definitely better. In movie mode, there is a noticeable issue: the picture seems too warm, which is due to the lack of blue colour in the white balance. Nevertheless, in SDR content, the final effect can still be considered quite decent and satisfactory for everyday viewing. Much more serious errors arise in HDR materials. The Color Checker analysis showed significant deviations, and poor brightness management, combined with limited colour gamut coverage, further exposes the shortcomings of the picture in this mode. All of this makes HDR on the Bravia 3 look unconvincing and can ruin the impression left by the otherwise quite decent SDR content settings. Fortunately, it’s not a hopeless situation. Various errors can be somewhat mitigated, and some can even be completely corrected through professional calibration. That's why we decided to check how the TV would perform after such adjustments.

When it comes to out-of-the-box colours, a new feature in TCL TVs – including the C7L model – is the presence of a new picture mode called Filmmaker Mode. This is significant news, as such a mode was not previously available from this manufacturer. By design, as the name suggests, the picture in this setting is intended to be delivered with the full intent of the film's creator. After our tests, we can confirm that it is undeniably the best built-in mode in this TV if you value true-to-life colour reproduction straight out of the box. However, we certainly wouldn’t say it is perfect. Like most devices on the market, this C7L also had its factory faults. The white balance in Filmmaker Mode leaned towards a slightly greenish-yellow hue, mainly due to an excess of green component and a noticeable lack of blue. Of course, for the average viewer, this won’t be a drastic flaw, but if you value perfect whites, natural skin tones, and harnessing the full potential of these new "super" quantum dots from the structure, then the TV is begging for professional calibration.

Calibration allowed us to extract significantly more from ChooseTV 3 than we could have expected at the beginning. First and foremost, it managed to address the deficiency of blue, which previously caused a noticeable warming of the image. After a slight adjustment in white balance, most errors in the Color Checker measurements for SDR content practically disappeared. The whites took on a natural tone, and brightness management in gamma stabilised to an almost ideal level, not exceeding the threshold of what the human eye can perceive. So it is safe to say that in SDR content, after a few adjustments in the settings, ChooseTV 3 performs really well. It fares much worse, although still definitely better than before calibration, when it comes to HDR content. The white balance has been brought in line, but the limitations of the IPS panel are insurmountable. The lack of local dimming means that even the smallest elements can be overexposed, which is immediately noticeable. Colour-wise, the effect has also improved, although it is far from perfect – many errors still exceed the threshold of four, and even five delta E units, remaining visible to the human eye. It was already clear earlier that ChooseTV 3 is not a television designed to impress with HDR quality. Nevertheless, it is pleasing that in SDR content, after calibration, the picture can look really great and in this category, the television pleasantly surprised us.

After conducting a professional calibration, we were able to greatly improve the situation in the factory Filmmaker Mode. Following our adjustments, the errors in the ColorChecker test and across the entire wide colour gamut dropped below the threshold of human perception – that is, below a value of 3, which is indeed a very good result. The TCL C7L definitely benefits from such a treatment in terms of colour fidelity, and it's hard to deny that. However, the management of brightness in HDR content after calibration appears to be a bit worse. As I described earlier – even though we set this model up properly, when we turn on real film scenes on the television, it can manage its brightness in quite a peculiar way. It often brightens certain elements on the screen in a manner inconsistent with the creator's intent, which is visibly apparent on the EOTF graphs measured in specific films. Despite this flaw – or rather, this specific characteristic of the television – one cannot take away from it: after calibration, the C7L was able to reproduce the colours flawlessly.

In terms of the fluidity of tonal transitions, Bravia 3 performs really well. In brighter scenes, we didn't notice any serious errors – the screen handles colour blending almost perfectly and doesn’t create artificial contours that can spoil the viewing experience. Similarly, in darker segments, there are no major issues with colour gradation, although another problem arises here. Strong brightening and uneven backlighting of the panel in dark scenes make it difficult to definitively assess the gradation itself, because the effect is spoiled by the unevenness of the image. However, if we focus solely on colour blending, the result should be regarded as very good.

The next element worth discussing is the fluidity of tonal transitions. Here, it must be honestly acknowledged that in the TCL C7L, it simply looks good. In most scenes – especially in those brighter shots – there are absolutely no issues with gradients. In native 4K HDR content, the image is clear, and the transitions between shades are very smooth. It looks just as good in Dolby Vision mode, where during testing we noticed no digital defects or ugly colour banding. One could nitpick about very dark shots where a heavily compressed signal is displayed on the screen. In such conditions, the C7L can sometimes show minor imperfections, but in this model, it's not something that stands out significantly. Especially during regular movie viewings.

Bravia 3 brings something more to the Sony television family than just a shared name. It stands out primarily for its ability to enhance the quality of weaker materials thanks to the processor used. Of course, we won’t find the advanced XR chip known from more expensive models here, but nonetheless, it must be said that the image in lower resolution looked surprisingly good. The scaling worked effectively, and most areas of the screen were free from the typical excessive edge roughness found in budget constructions.

Also worthy of attention is the function that improves the smoothness of tonal transitions. In high setting, it works really well, effectively masking gradation imperfections without significant loss of detail. It does happen that the algorithm overzealously smooths elements that should remain sharp – for example, faces – however, in the overall assessment, the effect is beneficial. The best results were achieved precisely at the highest setting, and this is the option we could recommend to those watching lower-quality content.

This point could be called in a sense the Achilles' heel of the C7L model. Unfortunately, this television uses an older chipset from MediaTek – the Pentonic 700 – which has never been known for outstanding digital image processing. This is clearly visible in the functioning of the gradual smoothing feature, which is responsible for reducing jagged edges and removing digital noise. It simply works very poorly – when set to a low level, its effectiveness is practically none. The only small plus here is that the algorithm doesn't mess up anything else in the image and doesn't forcefully blur details. The upscaling, that is, the scaling of the image from lower resolutions to 4K, performs a bit better. It is simply adequate and does not stand out in any particular way against the competition. However, it cannot be denied that the C7L would greatly benefit in this aspect if the manufacturer decided to use the newer Pentonic 800 processor, which is now being found in an increasing number of competitive models.

Motion smoothness has never been a strong point of televisions equipped with 60 Hz panels, and the Bravia 3 is no exception. Nevertheless, Sony has included something that may appeal to those more sensitive to the way images are displayed. I'm talking about the proprietary motion smoother, Motion Flow, which gives the user plenty of adjustment options. With it, one can make the image smoother, almost theatrical, or stick to a more cinematic style with characteristic judder that many people simply associate with a filmic atmosphere. These functions work with content at lower frame rates, such as films and series recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second, which is the material we deal with on a daily basis. This is precisely where the motion smoother proves to be one of the most important features in everyday TV usage, and here, the Bravia 3 performs really decently.

TCL C7L features a native 4K panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which can even ramp up to 288 Hz at lower resolutions when using a PC. These are certainly very high and commendable figures on paper, but in everyday life, it's worth remembering that almost all dynamic content you display on this television will still revolve around a maximum of 120 Hz. To tame this dynamism, the TV menu includes a motion smoothing system called "Motion Clarity." It offers several predefined modes, including a user mode, which we highly recommend setting manually using our tried-and-true guides on our YouTube channel. You’ll find two key sliders available. The first one, "Motion Blur Reduction," is responsible for reducing blurring and improving sharpness in 60fps dynamic content, such as sports broadcasts. The second slider, "Flicker Reduction," allows for the addition of artificial frames in movies and shows recorded at cinematic 24 or 30 frames per second. This naturally allows for the complete elimination of the annoying stutter effect during camera movement shots.

Bravia 3 is not gear for e-sports enthusiasts or fans of late-night marathons with a controller in hand. The lack of 120 Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 ports shuts down the conversation before it even gets started. This is a TV for casual gamers who, after work, will fire up FIFA or racing games, not for someone who measures every frame in a spreadsheet. Nonetheless, Sony has thrown in a few nice additions so it’s not completely sparse. ALLM works as it should, automatically switching the TV to game mode (low latency). We even find a simple Game Bar here, which is clear and intuitive. However, the biggest curiosity here is the PlayStation Portal app. Thanks to this, you can launch PS5 games wirelessly and see them right on the TV screen. It sounds great, but it only takes a few minutes to feel significant lag. In our opinion, it's more of a showcase of capabilities than something that can be used day-to-day. If someone really wants to game, it's better to plug the console in with an HDMI cable and forget about wireless issues.

When it comes to gaming, the TCL C7L is simply an outstanding television for gamers. With the presence of two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, it provides access to all the key features that console and high-end PC owners require. We have a well-functioning ALLM mode with very low input lag and VRR frame synchronization, which operates within an impressive range from 48 to 288 Hz. Importantly, unlike some competitors, TCL has ensured a proper implementation of the console HDR10 HGIG profile and support for Dolby Vision in games. This is complemented by a very well-designed gamer panel, known as Game Bar, which even allows for editing its appearance and changing the theme to perfectly match the style of your console.

The only thing that can – and should – be critiqued here is the fact that the television only offers two full HDMI 2.1 ports, while the other two are older HDMI 2.0. This creates quite a significant logistical problem. Why? Because one of those fast ports also supports the eARC audio return channel. In practice, this means that if you connect a soundbar or home theatre system to the television, you’ll only have one available HDMI 2.1 port left. If you have two consoles or a console and a powerful computer at home, unfortunately, you’ll have to give something up or constantly juggle cables at the back of the unit while maintaining comfortable audio system control.

Here, the Bravia 3 shows its best side. Latency drops below 12 milliseconds in almost every resolution and mode, so the response to controller movements is instantaneous and there’s no sense of delay. It feels like the console and the television are speaking the same language, without unnecessary pauses and hesitations. The Dolby Vision Gaming mode deserves special attention. In its predecessor, the X75WL model, using this feature was simply a nightmare – input lag could reach over 100 milliseconds, which effectively ruined the enjoyment of gaming. In the Bravia 3, this issue has been completely eliminated.

It’s worth taking a look at the dry numbers here, because in terms of signal delay, the TCL C7L is absolutely top of the market. Our measurements showed that the input lag is extremely low, and for a 60 Hz signal, it’s only around 10 ms. When we step it up and fire up a game at 120 Hz, the lag drops to an almost imperceptible 6 to 7 ms. However, what’s even more important is that these values are maintained even after activating the Dolby Vision format in games.

The IPS panel combined with properly functioning 4:4:4 chroma support means that the readability of fonts is at an excellent level. Letters appear sharp regardless of the background colour or content, so working with documents or browsing websites doesn't strain the eyes. In this role, the TV easily deserves a very good, if not excellent, rating, as few models in this price range perform as well. However, if we look at the Bravia 3 from a PC gamer’s perspective, the picture isn’t as rosy. We won't find G-SYNC or Free Sync frame syncing with graphics cards or high refresh rates, so the TV isn’t the best choice for dynamic computer games. However, as a monitor for work, whether in a home office or a student room, it performs excellently, and in that respect, it's really hard to criticize.

When it comes to playing on PC, as I mentioned earlier, it's really seamless. The TV handles high refresh rates with ease: full 4K at 144 Hz, and at Full HD resolution, it can even ramp up to 288 Hz. Synchronisation systems like G-Sync and FreeSync work flawlessly here as well. So, for PC gamers, the C7L can serve as a great, massive monitor.

However, typical office work with text is a bit less impressive, all due to the panel behaving rather strangely in these conditions. When the highest refresh modes are activated, namely 144 Hz and 288 Hz, the clarity and sharpness of dark text on a light background are fairly average – the fonts become slightly blurred and jagged. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied by changing the screen refresh rate to a stable 120 Hz in the graphics card settings. Then, the text becomes perfectly sharp again, which is definitely worth remembering if you plan to use the C7L as a work screen.

Thanks to the IPS matrix used, colours do not lose intensity as quickly as with screens based on VA panels. Even when watching television in larger groups, when some people sit at an angle, the image remains clear and does not appear washed out. Of course, it isn't at the level offered by OLED organic matrices, where the image looks nearly the same from almost any position, but for an LCD television, the viewing angles in the Bravia 3 are among the best. This provides a sense of comfort and freedom, especially in larger living rooms or during family screenings, where it's difficult for everyone to sit directly in front of the screen.

Unfortunately, the powerful native contrast of the HVA 2.0 panel comes at a cost. We're talking about viewing angles, which in the C7L model are simply poor. This is, of course, due to the use of the aforementioned VA panel. It is a completely natural characteristic of this technology and something to consider when making a purchase. If you sit directly in front of the screen, the picture will impress you with its depth, but just shifting a few dozen degrees to the side on the couch will cause the colours to immediately begin to fade. By choosing this model, you're opting for a classic market compromise: you get brilliant blacks and fantastic contrast, but you lose out on viewing angles.

Bravia 3 performs quite well in daylight. The satin coating on the panel effectively reduces reflections, and the colours do not lose their vibrancy when stronger external light hits the screen. As a result, under typical home conditions, with blinds open or in a living room with a larger window, the picture maintains its clarity. However, it's important to remember that this is not a high-brightness TV. The Bravia 3 cannot compete with brighter models, so in very sunny rooms, there are moments when the screen simply doesn't stand out against the intense light. In normal conditions, it handles things without any issues, but in more challenging scenarios, don't expect miracles.

It's also worth mentioning how the TCL C7L performs during everyday viewing in a sunny lounge. As we've established, it's an extremely bright television, and it's this powerful luminance reserve (up to 2400 nits in SDR!) that allows it to perform brilliantly in very bright rooms – the picture simply cuts through the incoming light effortlessly. The only thing to be cautious about here is the direct reflections on the screen. The coating used this year on the panel is definitely more glossy than what we saw in last year's C7K model. The screen does a significantly poorer job of reducing point light reflections, which in unfavorable conditions – for example, when the window is directly opposite the television – can be quite annoying for some users. Nonetheless, in terms of raw brightness, the C7L is simply a powerhouse for bright lounges.

Smart TV Features

The biggest advantage of the Bravia 3 in everyday use is the presence of the Google TV system. Thanks to this, we have access to one of the largest libraries of apps and streaming services, so no matter if someone mainly uses Netflix, Disney+ or smaller platforms, everything is at their fingertips. The Google voice assistant also worked very well, able to respond to our commands quite "smartly". The Google TV system should, in theory, operate very smoothly, as Sony has been implementing it better than many cheaper competitors for years. Unfortunately, in the case of the Bravia 3, it isn't as nice as we would have hoped. During testing, we noticed some slight stutters in the interface, and some features, such as screen mirroring, simply refused to cooperate. One could get the impression that the processor in this model sometimes struggles to manage the demanding system, and not everything works as smoothly as we would expect.

Classic Features

Sony, even in its cheapest series, manages to remind us of its experience with various users. The set comes with two remotes. The first is modern and minimalist, with a small number of buttons, which works great when using apps and Google TV features. The second is a classic remote with a richer set of buttons and a numeric keypad, which will be appreciated especially by older individuals used to traditional solutions. This is a nice nod towards different user groups, and it must be said that Sony has solved it very practically. It’s a shame, however, that compared to the X75WL model, the ability to record content from TV tuners to USB memory has disappeared. The manufacturer has completely abandoned this feature, so if someone was attached to it, they unfortunately won't find it in the Bravia 3.

Google TV and Smart TV

The heart of the TCL C7L multimedia system is, of course, the Google TV operating system, which provides access to a gigantic library of apps and all the most popular streaming platforms on the market. The Smart TV in this model works flawlessly, offering full support for useful networking features such as Apple AirPlay and Chromecast. However, a huge and pleasant surprise is the overall performance of the software. We noticed that Google’s system on the new C7L operates much more smoothly, fluidly, and quickly than on TCL models from last year. A lot of this is thanks to better optimisation at launch. Unnecessary stalls and minor interface stutters, known from older models, seem to have been forgotten.

TV Features

When it comes to traditional antenna or cable television, the TCL C7L does not offer many additional advanced features. It is simply a basic receiver. The manufacturer did not attempt any revolutionary solutions here, so aside from the traditional program guide, you won't find anything special. A great nod to traditional viewers is the classic remote control, which defies the prevailing trend towards minimalism by still being equipped with a full numeric keypad, greatly facilitating quick channel switching.

Here Sony has really done an excellent job. The built-in player works quickly and doesn't "fuss" when starting different formats. We didn't need to reach for external applications like VLC, as the TV handled even files that can cause a lot of problems on other models – such as HEIC photos from Apple devices. It's a small detail, but one that shows the manufacturer wanted the user to have a sense of complete convenience. By inserting a movie on a USB stick or photos from a holiday onto an external drive, you can simply plug them in and start watching on the big screen straight away. No fussing, no installing extra software, no searching for workarounds. This is really rare in televisions, and it's fair to say that in this respect, the Bravia 3 truly surprised us pleasantly.

At the very end of the multimedia section, it’s worth mentioning the playback of files from external USB drives. During our tests, we didn’t encounter any unpleasant surprises here – the factory player handles all popular video and audio formats just as it should. Interestingly, the TCL C7L had no trouble playing photos saved in Apple’s native format, HEIC. This is an extremely rare feature in the factory apps of television manufacturers. And while the Google TV system obviously gives you unlimited capability to install external media playback programs, in the case of the C7L, the built-in tool is refined enough that installing additional software will probably not be necessary for anyone.

Bravia 3 plays in a rather flat manner, but makes up for it with loudness. It will work flawlessly for watching classic television because the dialogues are clear, and the mid-tones are easily audible. This type of characteristic will be particularly appreciated by older users, who primarily care about speech intelligibility. However, if someone expects something more from the sound, like stronger bass or a wider soundstage, it’s worth reaching for a soundbar despite everything. The TV supports modern codecs, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so an external sound system will easily leverage their potential. This ensures that with a relatively modest expense, one can achieve a much fuller and more engaging sound.

TCL C7L performs quite well and correctly. In terms of sound quality, there has been virtually no change compared to last year's model C7K. The manufacturer still uses a speaker system branded Bang & Olufsen in a 2.2 configuration. The only thing that can be quite annoying during viewing is the fact that after increasing the volume to higher levels – around above 50% on the scale – the volume no longer matches the scale visible on the screen. The audio system from B&O works great for daily watching of news or series at moderate volume, but if you're looking for good sound, it's worth getting at least a basic soundbar for the C7L.

SONY BRAVIA 3 vs TCL C7L

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

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Smart features:

Sound connection options

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

Senior accessibility

Smart TV Features

Classic Features

Google TV and Smart TV

TV Features

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements