Sony's OLED A1E 4K Television Hits Store Shelves

Sony's OLED A1E 4K Television Hits Store Shelves​

Sony(April 14, 2017) One of the more exciting tech reveals at CES 2017 was Sony Electronics new A1E BRAVIA 4K OLED TV. Sony, which has staunchly navigated the HD and 4K television marketplace using various LCD technologies, announced its future OLED-based line late last year. Now, buyers have access to the television model in stores nationwide. This is certainly exciting news for enthusiasts looking for options beyond LG’s successful OLED sets, but it also introduces much needed competition in the segment that’s sure to lower prices and spawn innovation.

Using LG’s OLED panel technology, the A1E pairs LG’s panel with Sony’s exclusive image processor and one of the coolest audio delivery systems in television history. The “4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme” advanced image engine is designed to deliver improved color accuracy, support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, and upconversion of non-HDR material via contrast optimization. It also delivers “Super Bit Mapping” which helps to smooth picture processing to eliminate banding and other nasty image artifacts.

The A1E’s speaker system is, unbelievably, the screen itself. Dubbed “Acoustic Surface Sound Technology,” Sony has taken advantage of the OLED’s backlight-less structure to allow the entire screen to resonate to create sound. Not only does this remove the need for bulky speakers, but it also helps to focus sound directionality from the screen. Low frequencies are created using a subwoofer hidden in the A1E’s easel support stand, which can be folded to the back of the television when wall mounted.

“With over 10 years of OLED experience Sony is pleased to introduce the BRAVIA OLED 4K HDR TV, its first large screen consumer OLED television,” said Kevin Brinkman, Director of Product Marketing, TV and Projectors, North America. “Our long experience with OLED technology, together with the new 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme, meant that this was the right time to return to the consumer OLED market. The A1E features a powerful mix of our exclusive image processing with a striking new design concept that is sure to make an impression in anyone’s home.”

The A1E's easel stand houses the television's subwoofer unit.The A1E’s Smart TV functionality is designed around Android TV, which delivers access to most of the typical streaming services in addition to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Starting mid spring, anyone who buys a new Sony Premium 4K HDR Ultra HD TV will receive a Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 4K movie to watch on Google Play and three months of access to Google Play Music.

The cost of the A1E is fairly competitive with available OLED models from LG. Introductory MSRP pricing is $4,999 for the 55-inch XBR-55A1E and $6,499 for the 65-inch XBR-65A1E. Pricing for the 77-inch XBR-77A1E will be released at a later date.

For more information visit Sony on the web.

 

[mechman]

I was hoping this one would be coming out soon. I'm thinking that it may end up being my retirement gift to myself!

 

[mechman]

Also, I checked out Sony's website and the prices are $1000 less than what Todd has up there.

$3999 for the 55"
$5499 for the 65"

 

[Todd Anderson]

Price wars are coming... just wait until we get deeper into 2017.

I'm sure Sony will have their A1E at CE Week for the flatpanel shootout... will be interesting to see how it performs next to LG's top model!

 

[JimShaw]

$20,000.00 or more for the 77"?????????????

If that is around the price, I don't think I could possibly convince my wife that would be a good purchase

 

[JimShaw]

Stopped by Best Buy today and discovered, possibly, the end of this month before the Sony OLED's arrive. Anxiously waiting.

Value Electronics' Flat Panel ShootOut should be exciting this year.

July 22-23
Sony 65” A1E OLED TV
Sony 65” Z9D LCD/LED
LG 65” W7 or G7 OLED TV
LG 65” SJ9500 LCD/Nano LED
Samsung 65” Q9 LCD/QLED

 

[Todd Anderson]

The Flat Panel Shootout is going to be stellar... I'll have more details on it soon.

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

This might be the first year that I get to make it up to the Shootout. It should be an exiting one!

 

[mechman]

This might be the first year that I get to make it up to the Shootout. It should be an exiting one!

Never, in a million years, did I think that you would beat me to this. It looks like you may.

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

Someday we will both make it and we can catch a hockey game together.

 

[Jon Liu]

I just gotta say, I am so glad that Sony is coming back into the consumer OLED market now. I absolutely love my 2016 LG OLED, but a little competition absolutely makes things better in the long run.

From reports that I am hearing from calibrators and the (few) new owners of the A1E, it is an amazing television that improves on practically every aspect where my LG "lacks", for lack of a better word.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'd assume that the 2017 LG models also improve upon last year's models, too.

That being said, Jon... how incredible are the 2016 OLEDs? I have 65-inch in my living room... it's absolutely gorgeous (and 4K streaming from Amazon is mind blowing!)

 

[Jon Liu]

Reports from calibrators on the 2017 LGs are there are worthwhile improvements in every aspect of the image quality. That's great news for sure!

However it looks like the edge might still be given to Sony in this race. It seems the LG panels along with the X1 Extreme processor simply make the Sony A1E the display to beat. Although, I'm more interested in side-by-side results and the Display Shootout should be a determination on just how much or how little the differences might be.

That being said, from the improvements that are mentioned, they aren't big enough for me to even be close to being tempted to upgrade. That, and they don't have 3D, which is still HUGE to me.

You're right, Todd, the 2016's are gorgeous and I am simply stunned at the picture it outputs. I've had mine for about 5 months now and I still continue to be as impressed as I was when I first brought it home. 4K content and UHD/HDR content can simply be jaw-dropping, but even standard 1080p content impresses the heck out of me, too. The level of contrast that these sets exude just make even Full HD/SDR content really, really shine.

Pairing the LG with the new Oppo UHD player has been a joy!

 

[JBrax]

I'm not in the market as I've recently purchased a new display but do look forward to laying eyes on these. I've always been a fan of Sony tv's and think their motion processing is top notch. Maybe I should start sweet talking the wife now huh?

 

[Todd Anderson]

This would be a good time... price drop now, because the sales this fall will actually sound reasonable! :-)

 

[JimShaw]

Saw the 55" today at Best Buy. The 65" will be in next week.

There sure was a lot of vibration on the panel when the sound was up.

My thought was, will all the vibration cut short the panel life?

 

[Todd Anderson]

Interesting observation, Jim. With the screen acting as a transducer, you really have to wonder about vibration. Although, I didn't read any reports of vibrations post-CES. I wonder if they had the TV mounted correctly?

 

[JimShaw]

Interesting observation, Jim. With the screen acting as a transducer, you really have to wonder about vibration. Although, I didn't read any reports of vibrations post-CES. I wonder if they had the TV mounted correctly?

It was not mounted. It sat on a cabinet with the stand that is part of the TV

 

[Todd Anderson]

Hmmm... that's interesting.

We need Robert Zohn to pop in here to give us his impressions of what might be happening... no doubt he has one in his store.

 

[Peter Loeser]

I didn't read this carefully enough the first time to realize they are producing audio with the display panel. That's really cool!

 

[Todd Anderson]

It's a step in the direction... especially with the thinness of the screen. Very cool. I gave Robert a little poke... hope he steps in to give us some experienced impressions.

 

[JimShaw]

Since the screen helps produce the sound, there has to be some movement/vibration in the panel

 

[Todd Anderson]

The separation of the low frequencies (into the stand) and high frequencies should make it imperceptible. At least you'd think it would be impossible to see.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Seems like the vibration would effect the picture quality.

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

What frequencies are they producing with the panel? I could not find where they stated it.