Not at all, but with a show like CES I think it's best to hear what the companies have to say about the products they are announcing and we will then put those claims to the test in our independent reviews. I could ask those questions you mention but what would you expect the answers would be? And what use would that video be? We are certainly not scared to ask those questions and our reviews never hold back from giving you our honest opinion, but there's a time and a place for challenging questions, and a CES show floor is probably not that place, to be honest. At least Sony put forward someone for the interview and everyone knows that a CES Q&A is going to have a certain amount of marketing talk from the companies, it's what the event is all about. I'm sure you prefer this format than videos of me standing talking to the camera all the time...Thanks for the video phil. I was just wondering if you guys are careful when it comes to the type of questions you ask.
I’m sure you prefer this format than videos of me standing talking to the camera all the time...
there's a time and a place for challenging questions
Think you have done a great job with the videos and have asked all the relevant questions that are important to this years sets. Very imformative videos.Not at all, but with a show like CES I think it's best to hear what the companies have to say about the products they are announcing and we will then put those claims to the test in our independent reviews. I could ask those questions you mention but what would you expect the answers would be? And what use would that video be? We are certainly not scared to ask those questions and our reviews never hold back from giving you our honest opinion, but there's a time and a place for challenging questions, and a CES show floor is probably not that place, to be honest. At least Sony put forward someone for the interview and everyone knows that a CES Q&A is going to have a certain amount of marketing talk from the companies, it's what the event is all about. I'm sure you prefer this format than videos of me standing talking to the camera all the time...
Thanks for the video. Nice to finally have confirmation on just where the XG95 fits in. Many of us (me included) assumed it was a successor to the XF90, but here Gavin says the XF90 stays for 2019, with the XG95 being the step-up model. That explains why it's numbered "95" rather than "90", is only available in sizes from 55" and up, and why it's being released later in the year; it's considered more of a successor to the XE93/94.
If it's a higher tier model, may one hope for a few more dimming zones? Looking forward to hearing more about this TV, once it's in the hands of reviewers.
The LCD front has been disappointing from Sony ever since the legendary ZD9 was released about three years ago and no replacement still not released in terms of similar size in 65 and 75 inches. We have a high end LCD gigantic in size, ZG9 which features the all important 'backlight master drive' but added the headline grabbing 8K res, this moves the set out of most people's reach and virtually impossible to get inside your home, due to its sheer size.
Why Sony feels it can't incorporate 'backlight master drive' to XG95 for example, which is the next step down from ZG9? That would have given more choice to customers who're reluctant to go for OLEDs. Don't forget Panasonic has given up on high end LCD sets. Leaving Samsung and Sony to offer LCD alternative to OLEDs.
Last year the 'Master series' has been disappointing and this year it will be the same unless you can muster the giant ZG9! Unless the XG95 can exceed the contrast level of the old ZD9, then it's a worthless cause, if it can't even beat a 3 year old set.
So they are going to keep producing the XF9005? I thought they were ditching it and releasing the XG90 but only in 49".
Quoting directly from the video:
"...and it doesn't supersede XF90, so we're keeping XF90 running. But XG95 takes a lot of the technology we originally introduced with the Master Series into that lineup."
So it would seem so!
Could mean the XG90 is a premium 49”, step up from the XF90. Intriguing stuff
It is truly a bizarre move from Sony. When you have something as good as master drive, why not use it? They even managed to refine it for the 8k...(smaller)The LCD front has been disappointing from Sony ever since the legendary ZD9 was released about three years ago and no replacement still not released in terms of similar size in 65 and 75 inches. We have a high end LCD gigantic in size, ZG9 which features the all important 'backlight master drive' but added the headline grabbing 8K res, this moves the set out of most people's reach and virtually impossible to get inside your home, due to its sheer size.
Why Sony feels it can't incorporate 'backlight master drive' to XG95 for example, which is the next step down from ZG9? That would have given more choice to customers who're reluctant to go for OLEDs. Don't forget Panasonic has given up on high end LCD sets. Leaving Samsung and Sony to offer LCD alternative to OLEDs.
Last year the 'Master series' has been disappointing and this year it will be the same unless you can muster the giant ZG9! Unless the XG95 can exceed the contrast level of the old ZD9, then it's a worthless cause, if it can't even beat a 3 year old set.
Yes, OLED seems to be the better choice, in absence of high end 4K LCD reasonable size TVs.It is truly a bizarre move from Sony. When you have something as good as master drive, why not use it? They even managed to refine it for the 8k...(smaller)
They clearly pushing oled full steam...
Contrast is at x12 I believe for xg95 when it is quoted at x20-30 for the monster 8k fald...
When you see what pana oled and Samsung lcd are bringing in 2019, going to be a hard year for Sony and LG...
This is exactly what I meant. You are also correct that a PR rep for the company is usually there just off camera to make sure the interviewee stays on message. My other point is that I think you would rather I got these interviews and the story they want to tell, rather than annoying them and getting no official input? You can then discuss the merits of that message and your doubts here as normal with no restrictions. We then test the products as we do to see if they meet the suggested standards of performance and we do not shy away from being honest and open with our findings. Obviously, we have channels we can use to feedback concerns and suggestions to that are not public and we are always keen to work with companies to make sure they introduce changes that benefit our members. That isn't always public. I hope that explains our balanced position.I know you never want to insult a company but I feel sometimes the questions are all too mundane and just a bunch of marketing speak answers.
It's a really interesting point. But as Phil mentioned, realistically where would it actually get you? Do you expect Sony to actually answer? Lets do a thought exercise and I'll answer them for you as Sony...
Why have you gone back to the Backlight Master Drive in the ZG9?
We have a range of proprietary Sony technologies suited for different products to give the best picture available.
Why is the ZF9 so poor with blooming and blacks?
Our TVs give incredible picture quality and immerse you in a wide range of content. (Starts looking over at the Sony marketing team member just off camera)
Why are your midrange TVs barely available?
Our televisions are available in a wide range of stores. (signals to Marketing member who steps in and ends the interview.. "Ok, so that's all we have time for today")
I'm sure the journalists here have back channels to Sony to feed stuff like that back and get answers to readers questions. But like it's been said, there's a right time and a place. And CES is more about trying to understand the message Sony want to send out about this product and passing that onto the readers with commentary as needed. There will be other times to press them hard on difficult issues. I'm new here by the way and really enjoying the CES coverage.
The perfect example appeared to be your saying, "I'm not being horrible"... about the remotes and Gavin's oh look what I have here. I particularly liked his keenness and saying how pleased he was you liked it; when in fact you remained neutral, supposedly as not having had the chance to actually try it.This is exactly what I meant. You are also correct that a PR rep for the company is usually there just off camera to make sure the interviewee stays on message. My other point is that I think you would rather I got these interviews and the story they want to tell, rather than annoying them and getting no official input? You can then discuss the merits of that message and your doubts here as normal with no restrictions. We then test the products as we do to see if they meet the suggested standards of performance and we do not shy away from being honest and open with our findings. Obviously, we have channels we can use to feedback concerns and suggestions to that are not public and we are always keen to work with companies to make sure they introduce changes that benefit our members. That isn't always public. I hope that explains our balanced position.
Your probably 3 or so months premature on making any conclusion. And who wants to be premature?!I have been looking closely at the XG95 and it seems to be close to the XF9 than to an xe93 or ZF9...the contrast in particular is rated to a similar X6 to xf9
I hope they didn't just take the XF9 and added the ultimate processor and better Soc (wide angle for big sizes only) plus a new remote...and 4 full fat hdmi 2.0b
That would be a very bizarre/disappointing plus lazy move...
I was hoping it was closer to ZF9 and XE93...will see but not looking promising so far...
Too early for conclusions...I am hoping to be wrong. I just reflected on initial numbers...Your probably 3 or so months premature on making any conclusion. And who wants to be premature?!