[Red503]


We just put this tv up on display on our store next to the Samsung F8000 and wow does it ever look good! The viewing angle on this tv basically unlimited. PQ is amazing also. The design is truely elegant, I think I'll either buy this or the new XBRs when they come in. If you have not seen it yet, I would definitely call around to see who has it in stock. Pricing is at $1998.

 

Oh btw, im new here! 

 

[6311]


http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/kdl55w955b-201403103661.htm

 

There’s just no sugarcoating this: the KDL-55W955B is the worst-performing Sony Bravia flagship HDTV we’ve reviewed in terms of picture quality. 

 

[steve1971]

No thanks I'll pass!

 

[*UFO*]

This tv is going to fill a nitch market. There are many people who prefer IPS panels for their strengths over VA panels. To each their own.

 

[steve1971]



Quote:
Originally Posted by *UFO*  /t/1523582/sony-55w950b-wow#post_24513347


This tv is going to fill a nitch market. There are many people who prefer IPS panels for their strengths over VA panels. To each their own.

I agree UFO that w950b will fill the nitch market and people will buy it and not care about black levels ect but its just sad that this tv is the follow up to the W900A and Sony didn't capitalize on the W9's success by making the w950b better. In my opinion they missed a great opportunity. That being said I just cant understand why in the world they went with a "Wedge" design on some of their 2014 TV's. I know its for better Audio but damn, to me its an ugly design. But as you said UFO: "To each their own" and best of luck to people who buy it.

 

[ozark]

Another review,

http://www.avforums.com/review/sony-w95-w955-kdl-55w955b-3d-led-television-review.10150

 

[*UFO*]

Aren't they measuring ANSI contrast? I feel like Sony went with an IPS panel on their 1080p flagship because of all the complaints people had about the w900a's viewing angles.

 

[tubetwister]

I have 2013 Sony with a Samsung SPVA panel and had a 2013 LG with an LG IPS panel . I watch the Sony and my Sammie Plasma and gave the LG to my son . I agree about preferring the VA type panels in my experience limited as that may be .


ofc I haven't seen the Sony mentioned here either . Of the 5 sets here 3 are SPVA panels one is Plasma and one ips . The ips is bottom of the list P.Q wise at least of the sets here anyway .

 

[tubetwister]

removed dbl post

 

[steve1971]



Quote:
Originally Posted by *UFO*  /t/1523582/sony-55w950b-wow#post_24513593


Aren't they measuring ANSI contrast? I feel like Sony went with an IPS panel on their 1080p flagship because of all the complaints people had about the w900a's viewing angles.

That was 1 reason UFO but the other is they wanted to go the Passive 3D route as well. But a bad choice in panel is all I can say.

 

[wasoha]


I decided to give this TV a shot since the 900a just isnt available in my area at all.

 

Colors are fantastic as the reviews say and it's certainly an upgrade from my old LN52A650. Whites are really white. Amazing clarity.

 

It's also true what they say about the blacks, however. Not very black. That's the one thing that my old samsung from 6 years ago did better. I'm going to try what one review suggested: Turning LED Dynamic control off, turning on the black corrector and using advanced contrast enhancer on low. We'll see if that restores the blacks without losing too much shadow detail. Probably wont have time to try until tomorrow.

 

[Shaee]

Seems to be a firmware update for this set. To correct the black issue, anyone can confirm?


Also, in the specs it's listed to have a dedicated subwoofer out , in the HD uk review photos it wasn't there.

 

[*UFO*]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaee  /t/1523582/sony-55w950b-wow/0_100#post_24565470


Seems to be a firmware update for this set. To correct the black issue, anyone can confirm?


Also, in the specs it's listed to have a dedicated subwoofer out , in the HD uk review photos it wasn't there.

The black levels can not be "fixed" by a firmware update. They are poor due to the nature of IPS panels.

 

[Shaee]

This post says different.

"I have my firmware upgrade set to off as I like to be in control but yesterday I noticed a new upgrade was available, PKG2.112EAU."

http://www.avforums.com/threads/sony-w95-series-kdl-55w955b-65w955b-bravia-tv-owners-thread.1862984/page-12

 

[*UFO*]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaee  /t/1523582/sony-55w950b-wow/0_100#post_24565812


This post says different.

"I have my firmware upgrade set to off as I like to be in control but yesterday I noticed a new upgrade was available, PKG2.112EAU."

http://www.avforums.com/threads/sony-w95-series-kdl-55w955b-65w955b-bravia-tv-owners-thread.1862984/page-12

He is not talking about native black level, just image processing. Software can not change a hardware based issue. IPS panels are great for viewing angles and color saturation but fail at contrast and black levels.

 

[wasoha]


I got the update. As stated, it doesnt help black levels.

 

I did return the TV today. I just hate those milky blacks. It's fine in medium to bright scenes, but dark scenes suffer. I'm going to wait another few months and then check out the options again. However, even so, the 950b makes the old LN52A650 I'm returning to look like utter ****. I didnt know what I was missing.

 

The colors are really striking on the 950b. MGS Ground Zeroes looked great. The colors looked so deep and full. People may complain about wide color gamuts not conforming to old standards resulting in "oversaturation," but I think it looks so much better. Can't wait for new, wider color standards to take effect in the coming years. It makes the old "correct" standards look dull and bland. It was a really sad moment seeing the game in my old TV again. 

 

I do hope Sony can sort this out in the future, I like some of their extra features that their competitors dont seem to have. However right now, when I look at the TVs in person, the Samsung tvs look better. Particularly the Samsung 8000 that they had on display. Maybe it was the settings/lighting, but those blacks even put the 900a they had on display to shame. The 900a had a lot more backlight bleed than the 8000 which had blacks as dark as the frame in store lighting. 

 

(they have a 900a on display but have no stock!)

 

[Shaee]

Got the 55w950b on Friday to test out, I'm not sure if I'll keep the TV.


Got the subwoofer out connection to work great with my Bic America F12. That was the main reason I was interested in this set. Sounds great, better than my 16 speaker 52" Mitsubishi LCD TV.


No ghosting that I could see. Viewing angles are good.

 

[LookN2Find]

This is so disappointing. It looks like last years's 65W850A will be the clear PQ winner over the 2014 Flagship 2K TV.

This is so frustrating, because it looks like we've stepped so far back in blacks levels & PQ this year that we would be thrilled with a panel as good as the 2013 when 2015 models roll around "next year". This makes it difficult to understand spending 3/4 the price for any new set.


Does anyone have any ideas or theories on what or if SONY will try to release a genuine 2014 flagship 2K TV toward the end of the year, or do IPS panels have us all doomed in regards of a real theater like experience/expectation from SONY this year?

 

[tubetwister]

I thought Sony is using mostly AUO MVA panels in the 2014 sets although the black levels in the review of the 55W950b above are more indicative of an LGD IPS panel .

 

[Dr.Shankenstein]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tubetwister  /t/1523582/sony-55w950b-wow#post_24589487


I thought Sony is using mostly AUO MVA panels in the 2014 sets although the black levels in the review of the 955b above are more indicative of an LGD IPS panel .

They are using AUO and Sharp for certain models, but LG is providing IPS panels for their passive displays. Sony should be using AMTRAN IPS panels for the passive tech, last years Vizio M-Series had some decent black levels for an IPS panel. If you follow most review sites for the last few years LG has ranked lowest in contrast/black level performance of any IPS panel manufacturer.