The Sony KD-55AF8 TV with OLED display is the leading development of 2018 and a simpler version of the 2017 Sony Bravia A1, which clearly outperforms its competitors, but became famous for its excessively high price (more than 500 thousand rubles). Sony KD-55AF8 differs from it by changing the location of the subwoofer, which, according to experts, even ennobled the sound. I have prepared a review that will give a complete picture of the features of the model, conducted a comparative characteristic with other models of the manufacturer that are in high demand.
This model participates in best Sony TVs.
Screen
Diagonal - 54.6 ”(139 cm), resolution - 3840 × 2160 px. Supports 4K UHD, HDR, HDR10, Dolby Vision. The Sony X1 Extreme processor allows you to determine the depth of the frame, improve the image when viewing online with the processing of all 8 million pixels.
OLED technology has allowed the manufacturer to improve many parameters - this is an ultra-thin panel, a really deep black color, which is achieved by the ability to turn off pixels. Each pixel is controlled individually, which creates very clear detail. OLED does not require additional backlighting. Sony KD-55XF9005 and Sony KD-65XG9505 provide backlighting with diodes across the entire surface of the screen (Direct LED), which does not allow them to be as thin as the model in question, and may affect the uniformity of black.
You can control the image settings: adjust the color, brightness, contrast, black depth, smoothness of the display, select the expansion mode, turn on the light sensor to automatically change the brightness depending on the lighting in the room.
Good viewing angle - 178 °, high contrast and brightness (500 cd / m22). Although the KD-55XF9005 has a higher parameter (600 cd / m22, and the contrast ratio is 6000: 1), the OLED TV is not inferior, but rather superior in quality and realism of the picture. The smoothness of the image with fast movement in the frame is guaranteed by a refresh rate index of 100 Hz. For comparison: Sony KD-65XG9505 has it at 50 Hz, which does not protect against tears, loops in action scenes, and affects the picture quality in game mode.
Appearance
The size of the TV with a stand is 1226 × 717 × 255 mm. It weighs only 18.7 kg - an advantage of OLED in comparison with LCD: KD-65XG9505 weighs 23.5 kg.
On the back wall there are bezels that completely cover all connectors and wires that are laid in special compartments. Therefore, the TV looks very neat - even on the wall, even on the cabinet.
For wall mounting, the kit includes a standard VESA mount 300 × 200 mm and a stand for mounting on a table or cabinet. It differs in performance from other Sony models. In KD-55AF8 it is flat, without a leg, with a nice texture. With it, the TV looks much more elegant than with two legs, like in both models compared.
Connectors
The TV is equipped with a sufficient number of connectors: AV, 4 HDMI, 3 USB, Ethernet, Miracast, headphone output. There is Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. The compared models have similar outputs. But KD-65XG9505 still has SCART, RGB, VGA.
Sound
Sony KD-55AF8 is equipped with a special Acoustic Surface technology, the principle of which is based on the creation of vibration by two actuators mounted on the rear panel. Sound power is provided by 4 x 10 W speakers and a 10 W subwoofer built into the center of the rear wall.In terms of power and depth of sound, it differs significantly from Sony KD-55XF9005 and Sony KD-65XG9505: they have only 2 speakers, each of 10 watts.
Dolby Digital and DTS decoders make the sound more spacious, realistic. It can be output to wireless headphones. There is automatic volume leveling when switching channels (AVL).
Functions
Smart TV platform - Android, allows you to log in via a smartphone or Chrome browser on a PC. A sufficient number of settings and applications are provided. You can understand the nuances or get help through the interactive assistant.
Android turns the TV into a game console at the expense of processor performance. For example, here you can run games that slow down on your smartphone. For Android TV, there are multi-player versions of games with split-screen options.
Remote - with microphone for voice control. Google voice search works great and voice commands can be used inside installed apps. The remote control is ergonomic, with external buttons for accessing the application, store, cinema.
The TV can be networked with other devices. Recording to USB media is possible. Has a built-in memory of 16 GB. There is a child lock, a timer, the ability to stop viewing a channel and then display it from the pause point.
OLED panel burn-in prevention function, which is practically not found in competitors. Organic diodes have their own lifespan, and thanks to this function, it is extended. You need to run it no more than once a year for 1 hour.
In terms of consumption, the TV is not the most energy efficient - 392 watts. Competitors have 245/313 watts.
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits:
- great design. Looks better on the nightstand than on the wall thanks to the elegant stand. All wires and connectors are hidden;
- high-level image, good contrast, brightness. Deep realistic colors;
- the picture is smooth even in dynamic scenes;
- deep surround sound;
- Android OS works fine, no freezes;
- clear algorithm of application operation, simple interface, convenient control;
- voice control works correctly.
Disadvantages:
- according to reviews, there is a case of rapid pixel burnout, which led to the appearance of a black bar in the middle of the screen;
- some users find the remote not very modern.
Verdict
The TV price is 180,000 rubles, which corresponds to the described characteristics for an OLED TV. The model is distinguished by a soft high-quality picture and great sound, a huge selection of applications and settings, and a voice search. The Android hardware also elevates it above Sony's Linux TVs. There are still a number of disadvantages, but its merits are difficult to dispute. The main difference from Sony KD-55XF9005 for 100,000 rubles and a 65-inch Sony KD-65XG9505 for 200,000 rubles, OLED and Acoustic Surface technologies are used, which are responsible for the image and sound quality.
