The LCD and OLED TVs in Sony’s new BRAVIA XR line-up include what the company calls Cognitive Processor XR, which was created to more accurately mimic how the human brain detects and analyzes visual and auditory information.
The new processor is at the core of how Sony is differentiating its A90J, X95J, X90J, A80J, and Z9J TVs from other models that primarily rely on artificial intelligence to detect and analyze video elements like color, contrast, and detail.
Related: Sony Launches Native 4K Home Cinema Projectors
According to Sony, its new processor incorporates “cognitive intelligence,” which the company describes as the way a person’s brain receives information from a his or her eyes and ears. Conventional TV processors that depend entirely on artificial intelligence can only detect and analyze elements like color, contrast, and detail individually. Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR, on the other hand, was designed to cross-analyze every element at once, just as our brains do.
BRAVIA XR televisions include the MASTER Series Z9J 8K LED, MASTER Series A90J and A80J OLED, and X95J and X90J 4K LED.
Closer to Reality
To create a closer-to-reality image, Cognitive Processor XR divides the screen into hundreds of zones to better recognize individual objects. In just one second, the processor cross-analyzes a few hundred thousand different elements that make up a picture, similar to how our brains work.
Sony says this is an improvement over traditional AI video processing, in which the different elements that make up a TV picture are looked at individually and all elements adjusted to the same level. AI-only processing, the company says, can make the video look artificial and take the viewer out of the experience. With cross-analysis from the Cognitive Processor XR, each element is adjusted to its best final outcome, in conjunction with each other, for a more natural video image.
The new processor helps improve the viewer’s natural focal point on the screen, making facial features and skin tones appear more authentic and reproducing the depth, texture, and vividness of the natural world. BRAVIA XR TVs are designed to detect the main focal point in a scene and, by enhancing each detail in the object, ensure that it stands out with a natural sense of depth.
XR Sound
On the audio side, BRAVIA XR TVs feature XR Sound processing that can detect the position of the sound on the screen and place it in the right spot. While regular TV sound comes out into the room horizontally, BRAVIA XR TVs can send out sound in all directions, analyzing and upconverting audio to 5.1.2ch surround sound.
Sound from the TV’s frame or direct from acoustic glass (depending on the model) is positioned both horizontally and vertically, for more three-dimensional soundscape and more accurate dialogue positioning.
New Sony Pictures Streaming Service
In collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), BRAVIA CORE is where entertainment meets technology and was developed to add value and showcase unique Sony experiences. Pre-loaded on all new BRAVIA XR models, users can enjoy a selection of the latest SPE premium and classic titles and the largest IMAX Enhanced movie collection.
BRAVIA CORE is the first in the industry to feature Pure Stream technology, achieving near lossless UHD BD equivalent quality with streaming up to 80 Mbps. Learn more about this collaboration here.
GoogleTV
This lineup also introduces Google TV, a brand-new entertainment experience that brings together movies, shows, live TV and more from apps and subscriptions. The service enables users to find something to watch with personalized recommendations and bookmark shows and movies to a single Watchlist to keep track of what to watch. Users can even add to their Watchlist from their phone or laptop with Google Search
Sizes and Availability
Suggested retail price and retail availability will be announced soon. The line-up will begin shipping in March 2021.
MASTER Series A90J will be available in 83-inch class (82.5-inch diag.), 65-inch class (64.5-inch diag.), and 55-inch class (54.6-inch diag.) models.
A80J will be available in 77-inch class (76.7-inch diag.), 65-inch class (64.5-inch diag.), and 55-inch class (54.6-inch diag.) models.
X95J will be available in 85-inch class (84.6-inch diag.), 75-inch class (74.5-inch diag.), and 65-inch class (64.5-inch diag.) models.
X92 will be available in 100-inch class (99.5-inch diag.), X90J 75-inch class (74.5-inch diag.), 65-inch class (64.5-inch diag.), 55-inch class (54.5-inch diag.), and 50-inch class (49.5-inch diag.) models.
