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Sony X930C TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
Sony X930C Picture
8.0
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.2
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.6
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.4
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.2
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.8
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Sony X930D

The Sony X930C is an excellent UHD LED TV. It can get very bright and has great motion control. However, it loses picture quality at an angle and its gray uniformity is sub-par.

Our Verdict

8.0 Mixed Usage

The Sony XBR65X930C is great overall. It has great native contrast, can get very bright, and has excellent black uniformity. The viewing angle and gray uniformity could be better, though.

Pros
  • Wider color gamut
  • Deep and uniform blacks
  • Great motion controls
  • Very bright
Cons
  • Limited viewing angle
  • Sub-par gray uniformity
  • 8.0 Mixed Usage
  • 8.2 Movies
  • 7.7 TV Shows
  • 7.6 Sports
  • 8.4 Video Games
  • 8.2 HDR Movies
  • 7.8 HDR Gaming
  • 7.7 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated Jun 30, 2015: Our testers have started testing this product.
  3. Updated May 22, 2015: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Test Results

Design
9.0
Design
Style
Curved No

The Sony X930C is very wide, due to its front facing speakers on both sides of the TV. It is thicker at the bottom than at the top.

The stand can be set to two positions. The wider one offers a bit more stability, but the narrow setting is good for smaller surfaces.

Design
Stand

Dimensions of stand (narrow): 11.5" x 24". Dimensions of stand (wide): 11.5" x 67".

Design
Borders
Borders 5.51" (14 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 3.50" (8.9 cm)
Picture Quality
8.8
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
5,005 : 1

The native contrast ratio of the Sony XBR-65X930C is great. We measured the same contrast ratio with the local dimming feature turned on, as measured on a checkboard pattern.

3.5
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

The Sony XBR65X930C's zones are vertical, due to its edge-lit backlight. The blooming spawns a bigger area than on the Samsung JS9500, but it is a bit less obvious, because the TV has a better native contrast ratio. Overall though, you will probably prefer the local dimming on the JS9500, because it is a bit more aggressive.

7.5
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Peak 2% Window
658 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
419 cd/m²
not tested
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness

The peak luminosity on a 2% window is only slightly lower than the Samsung JS9500's.

6.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.351%
50% DSE
0.199%

The gray uniformity is not very good on this TV. It has less dirty screen effect than the Samsung JS9500, but the screen is not as uniform overall.

4.2
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
VA
Color Shift
20°
Brightness
30°
Black Level
18°

At about 18 degrees off-axis, the picture loses saturation, and the blacks are not as great.

Update 01/06/2017: We have changed the methodology of testing. Since this is an old TV which we don't have anymore, we extrapolated the results from 2016 TVs.

9.6
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.637%

The black uniformity is excellent. LED TVs don't get much better than this.

9.5
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
8.2
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
4.37
Color dE
2.3884
Gamma
2.27

In movie mode, the presets are quite good.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.66
Color dE
0.9954
Gamma
2.22

After the calibration, the white balance is a lot better. The 10 pt controls are not very precise, and it doesn't have a color tuner.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

The TV has no problem upscaling lower-quality content like DVDs. For lower resolutions (DVDs, 480p and low-quality streams), enable 'Digital noise reduction' to get rid of some of the compression artifacts you'll see onscreen.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

Cable TV also looks good once upscaled. You can also enable 'Digital noise reduction' to get rid of some of the compression artifacts if you notice some.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p looks as good as it can on a 4k UHD TV.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

4k content looks great on the Sony X930C.

8.0
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
89.13%
DCI P3 uv
95.26%
Rec 2020 xy
65.09%
Rec 2020 uv
71.99%

The color gamut covers about 10% more of Rec.2020 than a normal TV when setting it to 'BT.2020'. It covers about 3% less than the JS9500.

9.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
0.7%
Screen Finish
Glossy

The glossy finish is excellent at reducing the amount of reflected light, which improves the apparent contrast ratio in a bright room. There is some rainbow glare around bright objects, though.
It currently holds our record for the maximum full screen luminosity (not peak). It can get very bright, which is great if you have a lot of windows. Keep in mind that it has a glossy finish, though, so you will want to avoid having a bright light opposite the screen.

9.0
Picture Quality
3D
3D
Yes
3D Type
Active

The 3D is good, without much crosstalk.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
8.2
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time
15.9 ms
Overshoot
0 ms

On average, the response time for the pixel transition is 15.9ms, which is quite good. Sony TVs also have the best features for controlling exactly how you want the motion to look. See the here for more details and pictures.

9.5
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
720 Hz
BFI
Yes
BFI Frequency
60 Hz
BFI In Game Mode
Yes
10
Motion
24p Playback
Judder-free 24p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60i
Yes
10
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes
Inputs
7.1
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
36.2 ms
1080p With Interpolation
67 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
71.7 ms
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
36.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz
59.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
59.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
58.8 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
58.8 ms

Under game mode, the input lag is average. It is definitely playable, and most people won't notice it. With interpolation enabled, the input lag is surprisingly low, enough to be worth trying it out on slower games.

Input lag with a 4k (with and without HDR) resolution is a bit high and not very good for gaming unfortunately.

Update 11/02/2016: Input lag results with the latest firmware update PKG3.531.0108NAB.

10
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes

As with other Sony TVs, little artifacts (flashing lines) are seen when a 1080p @ 120Hz signal is being displayed.
Update: With the new firmware update PKG2.463.0010NAB, This TV now supports 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4. To enable this, go to Settings - External Inputs - HDMI Signal Format - Enhanced (new).

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (shared)
Composite In 2 (shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 1
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth Yes
ARC Yes (HDMI 4)
USB 3 No
HDCP 2.2 Yes
CEC Yes
MHL Yes (HDMI 2)
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Sound Quality
8.8
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.13 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.28 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
3.77 dB SPL
Max
98.5 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
53 Hz

The bass extension and the loudness are excellent. The frequency response is also good and remains relatively constant even under load. This is the best sounding TV we have tested.

6.7
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.003
Distortion @ 80
0.003
Distortion @ Max
0.662

The TV produces minimal distortion at comfortable listening levels. However when pushed to its limits, which is not that easy to do, there is a dramatic jump in the amount of distortion.

Smart Features
Smart Features
Apps

Sony TVs switched to Android OS this year. It has been a rough start for the platform, but now at least Netflix, Hulu Plus, and some of the other most popular apps are there. It is a bit behind Samsung and LG, but it is improving every day.

8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Android

Android TV has become a good smart platform, with decent app selection and nice extra features, like integrated Google Cast.

We're not fans of the included Sony remotes, though, and while using your smartphone with the TV SideSync app makes a decent replacement, the experience still isn't up to the level of LG or Samsung. The touch remote is particularly unpleasant to use.

10
Smart Features
Ads
Ad-free
Yes
Opt-out
N/A
Smart Features
Remote
Remote Smart

Major Apps Available

  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • Hulu Plus
  • CinemaNow
  • Crackle
  • Pandora

    See our full review of Sony's smart features.

  • Smart Features
    Misc
    Power Consumption 94 W
    Power Consumption (Max) 248 W
    Firmware PKG2.237.0010NAB