QTV Shootout: Sony Bravia 9 vs TCL QM8 vs Samsung S95D

[JoshRazauskas]

As an S90D owner not surprised at all that the Samsung won but for Mini LED and it’s price it’s pretty impressive how well the TCL performs for sure.

[LEGOKRASS]

@QUANTUM TV
Thanx! There is one thing I never understood:
why aren´t TVs out of the box calibrated?
I mean, some TVs look aweful by default, but after calibration they look great.
For example, a calibrated QM851G comes very close to a Sony TV in regards of accuracy and processing (said one reviewer, forgotten which one). So, if you love Sony, get a TCL for 3 times less money. You know what I mean?

So, why do brands not calibrate their TVs??

[ArthurM]

S95D with a glossy screen would be spectacular. It's a great tv but the matte coating was just a very stupid choice.

[donnnnnnnn-oxjb]

Quantum (sorry for the wall of text), just for some context, I've owned several Samsung models: Q8FN, QN90B, S90C (which is my main set), and the 2024 QN85D, which I use mostly for gaming but also movies. I also bought and returned a 65" Hisense U8N. I mention this to give a little weight to what I’m about to say: the QN85D is seriously worth your time. It's not just better than the Q8FN—which is saying something—but it's also a giant improvement over the QN90B, which I never liked because of its blooming issues. The QN85D also outclasses the U8N, with way better overall black level performance and color production, despite having fewer local dimming zones. Even with the flagship QN90D Samsung went back to using a panel with shit native contrast ratio and lesser color gamut coverage.

One thing you mentioned in your video here really stood out, It's something I often talk about—native contrast ratio. Nobody else seems to talk about how critical that is, and it’s something that’s been lacking in recent Samsung models like the QN90C and QN85C. But with the QN85D, Samsung went back to basics, using a panel with excellent native contrast and fewer dimming zones instead of cramming in a ton of zones and sacrificing native contrast. The result? The color production and black level performance are just incredible—the best I’ve seen on any mini LED. During normal content, there’s zero blooming. You'd have to push it with specific YouTube blooming stress test videos just to get anything to show up and even then it does better than most TVs with far more dimming zones. It also has a new feature for SDR called HDR remastering and I think you'd really dig this setting.

It might not be the absolute brightest set, but it still hits well over 1, 500 nits, which is plenty bright, and it sustains 700 nits full field brightness, which is pretty impressive. Overall, this is a killer TV that’s flying way under the radar—there's almost no talk about it, and you can't find any reviews. It's exactly the kind of TV you could shine a light on, dude I know you'd love it! Honestly, it feels like a modern-day Q8FN in all the right ways with a lot of improvements. Will you consider reviewing it?

[donnnnnnnn-oxjb]

Check this out, Quantum—this ties right back into my last long-winded comment. I went through the specs of every Samsung QLED and Mini-LED from 2019 onward. The QN85D has the best native contrast ratio by miles since the Q8FN. It beats virtually all Samsung Mini-LEDs and QLEDs since the 2018 Q8FN in native contrast ratio, including the Q90R, the QN85A/B/C, the QN90A/B/C/D and even the whole QN95 series . Many of these models are as low as 1000:1, while most don't even reach 3400:1. But the QN85D stands out as something truly unique, with a native contrast ratio of 5600:1. Samsung really went back to their roots with this one—and this one only. You literally have to go all the way back to the Q8FN to get native contrast ratio this good on virtually any Samsung LED based panel.

I think it's really cool how you touched on the importance of native contrast yesterday. I never hear anyone talk about that, and then you have YouTubers like Classy Tech who always outright say it doesn't matter anymore, which is just stupid. Native contrast ratio is so important because it determines your baseline black level. Local dimming algorithms can only do so much, and having great native contrast really helps to pick up where those algorithms fall short. It also plays a huge role in color production. I'm just so surprised that Samsung has been putting out crappy panel after crappy panel with pathetically low native contrast, but I found the rare gem!

All right man I'm going to shut up about it now and just keep my fingers crossed. The only reason I'm pushing so hard to have you review this panel is because I respect you and think you'd really like it, it's a standout.

[jpaart]

what do you think about Panasonic re-entering the us market?

[shawnt]

Just picked up the S90D for gaming what settings would you suggest to get the best picture

[MattyDaddy]

Wow. 🎉 I get the Samsung for the win.. but didn’t see the B9 winning 2nd aka 1St for mini led lol 🎉 great video tho!! Seriously, should just about wrap these TVs up for now. 🎉. Now onto the the Hisense U9N and maybe an ADS paneled option like the 86”QNED90T or even the 75” U8N. :)

Btw. I have not found ANY reviews on the 86” QNED90t. I know rtings scored the 65” version (Va panel) really poorly. Lol 🎉

[krithlolz]

Wait in a full dark room the PQ of both s95d and s90d should be the same even with different coating (even contrast) atleastHDTVTest said so

[roadracerqx]

80% Live sports, news, documentaries….20% movies…bright room….75” Bravia 7, QM8, or Hisense U8M?

[AngeloOoOoOoOoOo]

S95D or A95L 77Inch?
Had an G4 83inch but it was not good.. like my g2 only with more brightness but curios green tint too (skin tone was ugly)

Ist the A95L good enough vor gaming on Ps5 ( maybe good enough for a future ps5 pro)

[mikej]

He's right about the native contrast ratio being important. The Bravia 9 has amazing backlight tech but as soon as light is applied the blacks are awful. I returned mine and now have the 83" LG G4 (I wish there was a QD-OLED at 83")

[LarryAsberryJr]

If it's anything like the QM8, the TCL QM7 looks to be a fantastic deal at $500 for 55 inches.

[chriskelly]

Is the S90D actually first place for SDR and HDR?

[mikelaster]

I’m not a professional like yourself in tv. I want to buy the TCL 851g but I know you had to adjust the tv to get that look on the TCL. I’ll screw it up trying to get the TCL to look like you have it.

[Caps]

I just ordered an ice age power cable for my s90d. Saw people discussing how much it helps the tv so I said I'm gonna try it. Do you use upgraded power cables? Im loving this tv. Mine came with 1106 firmware. But i dont have it online. Using my nvidia shield. Thanks for painting me in this direction!! Best $1697 ive spent.

[dvelilla]

Did you or did you not say a couple months ago you would choose the TCL over the Bravia 9?

[jerrymargaritajennings]

Hey Q, did hear Panasonic is launching from Amazon on September 18?

[wavebend]

just watched all of it, very fair review, the tcl qm8 comes so close to the bravia 9, even better in some scenarios, but isn't a jack of all trades in all scenes. bravia 9 just has that sony processing tax so it ranks better but marginally and the s95d beats all.

[jrstang]

Is the samsung s90d 48" the same as 55" and up?