Hisense A6N vs Sony Bravia 9 (XR90)

Unfortunately, the quality of HDR effect on A6N is not impressive. A peak brightness of 250 nits does not allow for spectacular effects, and HDR is rather pale, resembling more of a regular SDR. This state of affairs will not satisfy more demanding users who want to enjoy high-quality film materials. Additionally, the color gamut coverage is also not very impressive – DCI-P3 at 82% is an average result that does not fully allow for enjoying vibrant colors in HDR materials.

The brightness performance of the Sony Bravia 9 is exceptional. Each scene reaches over 1500 nits, and the television can shine even brighter during movie playback. This level of brightness provides an extraordinary viewing experience, allowing for immersive interaction with high-quality video content. Thanks to its extensive coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the image is vibrant, and when combined with such high luminance, it almost feels alive. With its impressive peak brightness, viewers can fully appreciate the colour range, even in the most challenging scenes involving dynamic lighting changes. The Bravia 9 also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats, further elevating the viewing experience.

In the category of color reproduction, the Hisense A6N model in Filmmaker Mode leaves a lot to be desired. Although the name of the mode suggests that we should expect faithful reproduction of cinematic colors, the reality is different – the television has significant problems with image quality. The issue with white balance is particularly noticeable, both for HD and 4K content, which is heavily skewed by the dominance of blue. This results in artificial, cold tones, as clearly seen in the comparative photo below. The Colour Checker test additionally confirms these errors, which are exacerbated by low color gamut coverage. The gamma brightness characteristic shows a serious problem with maintaining a level of 2.4 – the graph is significantly below the reference value, leading to excessive brightness and washed-out blacks. The EOTF curve for 4K content also indicates brightness issues – at the beginning, there is a substantial peak due to the TV's excessive brightness, which negatively impacts image quality. Such image characteristics do not allow for full enjoyment of watching films and require manual adjustment.

The "IMAX Enhanced" factory mode has remained the best option in Sony televisions for years, and it was used throughout the entire testing process. While it aligns closely with the reference compared to other predefined settings, improvements could be made for a better viewing experience.

In SDR materials, the gamma shows a noticeable boost, which leads to over-contrasting the image. Additionally, the beginning of the graph deviates significantly from the reference, resulting in merged details in the darker areas, creating an unpleasant uniform blotch. The EOTF curve in HDR content, on the other hand, appears mostly correct, with only minor deviations from the reference.

However, the most prominent issues affect the white balance. There is a persistent green colour dominance, leading to problems with grey tones and overall colour misalignment. This imbalance in the white balance gives the image an unwanted greenish tinge, negatively impacting the overall visual quality.

Hisense A6N offers options and tools in its settings for correcting numerous image settings that we have utilized. When it comes to white balance, we managed to eliminate the excess blue color – this effect is clearly visible in the comparison photo below, where the boy in the image almost "comes to life." A significant improvement can also be observed in the gamma brightness characteristics – the TV no longer has serious issues with overly brightening the entire image. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for 4K content, where the EOTF curve could not be fully corrected due to the exceptionally low brightness of this model. For HDR content, we use dynamic tone mapping, which allows for the recovery of many details despite the boosting of mid-tones in the image. In the case of this TV, it provides more benefits than drawbacks. The errors that are still visible in the color palette test and Colour Checker for 4K materials stem from low color gamut coverage and are difficult to eliminate due to the characteristics of the television. Nevertheless, the tonal quality of the image is significantly better, which is why we recommend calibrating the factory settings that are far from ideal.

The colour reproduction after the calibration process on the Sony Bravia 9 is nothing short of excellent. Regardless of the signal, whether SDR or HDR, the image comes remarkably close to the director's intended vision. Nearly every flaw in the image has been meticulously modelled and corrected to a high degree.

This impressive result can be attributed to the advanced tools available for calibration, which Sony has been offering in its televisions for years. Notable tools include the 2- and 20-point grayscale calibration and a very comprehensive CMS (Colour Management System). These features allow for precise adjustments, ensuring that the colours and overall image quality are as accurate and faithful to the source material as possible.

Let's check how the A6N handles low-quality materials. When it comes to smoothing tonal transitions, the lack of posterization reduction or smoothing of tonal transitions in low-quality materials, such as television or DVD, may be noticeable for more demanding viewers. As for digital processing, the model was presented correctly, and the branches were free of characteristic jaggedness – the image is very plastic and soft, which may appeal to people who prefer this kind of image style.

When analysing the quality of tonal transitions and image scaling, especially for lower-quality materials, the improvement after activating the function for tonal transitions is clear. By default, the quality is quite average, but once the function is turned on, even at the lowest setting, the results are among the best we've seen. This feature can be enabled without worrying about negative side effects, such as film grain blur.

Sony's "XR" processor, which the brand has been touting for several years, lives up to its reputation for image scaling. The image quality is incredibly sharp while maintaining a very natural look. This reinforces that Sony's processing technology is one of the best available, particularly when handling lower-resolution content.

The 60 Hz panel in the Hisense A6N will likely please those who enjoy watching movies, as the TV offers an "ultra motion smoother," allowing us to adjust the motion blur – either more choppy or smoother, theatrical. As for trailing, it performs quite average – noticeable trailing can be seen, especially on dark backgrounds, which is a rather typical feature in this tier of TVs.

The maximum refresh rate of the Sony Bravia 9 is 120 Hz, the minimum for those primarily watching sports or other high-motion content. This refresh rate ensures the image remains sharp and smooth, even during fast-paced scenes. For more demanding users, Sony has implemented an advanced motion smoothing system, divided into three distinct segments: Smoothness (Film), Smoothness (Camera), and Clarity. These settings can be adjusted to various degrees, allowing users to fine-tune the picture to their preferences. For example, a setting with slight smoothing can be used to avoid the "soap opera effect," delivering a more natural and cinematic viewing experience. This level of customisation ensures that viewers can find their ideal balance between smoothness and clarity.

The Hisense A6N is a television that will likely appeal to casual gamers, primarily due to its 60 Hz panel, which may not satisfy more demanding users. Nevertheless, it offers several conveniences that can enhance the gaming experience. The television supports features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and Dolby Vision, allowing for better image quality and smoother motion in games that support these technologies. Furthermore, the low input lag ensures quick responses in-game, which is crucial, especially in dynamic titles. With these features, although the television is not the ideal choice for demanding gamers, it provides solid support for those who value comfortable gaming without complicated settings. It is an ideal solution for individuals who want to enjoy gaming without high hardware requirements while still having access to modern technologies that improve the gaming experience.

The Sony Bravia 9 television is equipped with four HDMI ports, but what is puzzling for a device of this class is that only two of them operate in the 2.1 standard. Despite this, it should not detract from the fact that nearly all features work excellently, providing a positive experience when using them. Games running in HDR10 or Dolby Vision benefit from low input lag, ensuring a comfortable gaming session. The solid implementation of the HGIG mode is a noteworthy feature, as, after proper calibration, it closely aligns with Dolby Vision.

Sony introduced the GameBar feature to its televisions last year, a standard for many manufacturers. This feature allows for quick adjustment of settings without exiting the game. Its implementation has been seamless, offering conveniences such as a crosshair grid, black level adjustment, and reducing the screen to gaming monitor proportions.

The Sony Bravia 9 will find its fans, particularly among PlayStation enthusiasts. It is a natural pairing since the console and the television share identical capabilities. However, more broadly speaking, despite the minor issues with Dolby Vision in games, the Bravia 9 remains a very good television for gaming overall.