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Sony X800D TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
Sony X800D Picture
7.6
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.0
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.2
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
8.5
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.8
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.1
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.2
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Sony X800E

The Sony X800D is a 4k LED TV with good picture quality. It performs well in dark rooms due to the good native contrast. It handles motion very well, with little motion blur. It also has the bonus of a sleek look, and enough inputs to suit everyone. Unfortunately when viewed at an angle, the picture quality deteriorates. Note that the 49" model has a different type of panel which performs closer to the X700D, but with a wide color gamut.

Our Verdict

7.6 Mixed Usage

Good TV for mixed usage. Has good picture quality, and great motion handling. Lacks some of the features to improve picture quality found on higher end TVs, such as local dimming. Picture quality deteriorates when viewed from an angle.

Pros
  • Excellent motion handling
  • Wide color gamut
  • Low input lag
Cons
  • Picture quality degrades at an angle
  • Average peak brightness
7.0 Movies

Average TV for watching movies. Picture quality is good, but lacks features such as local dimming to improve it further. Native contrast ratio provides good dark scene performance.

7.2 TV Shows

Better than average for watching TV in a bright room. The whole screen can get bright enough to deal with glare. Picture quality is good but degrades when viewed at an angle. Android TV platform works well for casual watching in a living room.

7.6 Sports

Really good sports performance. Uniformity is better than average, and picture quality is good. Great at handling fast motion. Unfortunately picture quality isn't as good when viewed at an angle.

8.5 Video Games

Great for gamers. Very responsive TV, has low input lag and is great at handling fast motion. Picture quality is good.

7.8 HDR Movies

Above average for watching HDR in a dark room. Picture quality is good, but lacks features such as local dimming to improve dark room performance. Highlights don't get bright. Wide color gamut is great.

8.1 HDR Gaming

Good TV for HDR gaming. Supports HDR10 and displays a wide range of colors. Unfortunately can't produce very bright highlights. Input lag is low in HDR mode, and picture quality is good.

7.2 PC Monitor

Good for PC use. Supports a wide range of resolutions. Offers chroma support for clear text at all resolutions. Picture quality is good.

  • 7.6 Mixed Usage
  • 7.0 Movies
  • 7.2 TV Shows
  • 7.6 Sports
  • 8.5 Video Games
  • 7.8 HDR Movies
  • 8.1 HDR Gaming
  • 7.2 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated Aug 15, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
  3. Updated Aug 10, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 43" (XBR43X800D). Note that the 49" variation (XBR49X800D) has an external power brick, instead of the internal one in the 43". The 49" also has an IPS panel, so expect a lower native contrast ratio and wider viewing angle compared to the 43" model we reviewed and closer performance to the X700D but with a wide color gamut.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Sony XBR43X800D doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.

Size Model
43" XBR43X800D
49" XBR49X800D

Compared To Other TVs

Comparison picture

Top left: Samsung KU6300 (UN55KU6300). Bottom left: LG UH6500 (43UH6500). Middle: Sony X800D (XBR43X800D). Top right: Vizio M Series 2016 (M70-D3). Bottom right: Sony W650D (KDL40W650D).  Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

The Sony X800D provides a good picture quality and overall performance. For those looking for a TV to watch HDR content at a lower price, it is a good pick. It also works well for sports and video games due to the great motion handling. 

Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED
32" 43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

Although the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the Sony X800D both have a VA panel, they're quite different. The Samsung is available in various sizes, while the Sony is only available in a 43 inch or 49 inch size, and the 49 inch uses an IPS panel instead of VA. The Samsung has a higher contrast ratio to produce deeper blacks, and it has lower input lag, making it more ideal for gaming. However, the Sony has better response times that result in a clearer image in fast-moving scenes. The Samsung runs on Tizen OS, and the Sony runs on Android TV. Both platforms have plenty of apps available through the app store.

Video

Test Results

Design
8.5
Design
Style
Curved No

The X800D features an industrial design. It has a mix of design elements between the Sony W650D and the Sony X850D. It looks good, and feels sturdy. It is also quite thin which is good.

Design
Stand

The stand is metallic, and supports the TV well.

Footprint of the 43" TV stand: 8.6" x 20.1"

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x200

The rear of the TV is all plastic. It features a narrow VESA mount, and a zip tie for cable management. If wall mounted, some of the inputs are hard to access.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.39" (1 cm)

The borders are thin and look good.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.73" (4.4 cm)

The TV is quite thin, which is good. If wall mounted it will not stick out too far. Note that the 49" variation has a power brick, which may affect the mounting.

Picture Quality
8.3
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
3,877 : 1

Contrast ratio is good for the Sony X800D. The blacks are fairly deep and should procure a good picture quality in a dark room. Note that the 49" variation has an IPS panel, and so the contrast ratio is expected to be closer to 1000:1.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

There is no local dimming on the X800D. The video is for reference only.

7.4
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
411 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
273 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
273 cd/m²

The SDR peak brightness is average for the X800D, and it is about 100cd/m² less than what you get when in HDR mode. For a dark room, this result is enough but may be a bit dim for a very bright room.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
424 cd/m²
HDR Peak 2% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Peak 10% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Peak 25% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Peak 50% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Peak 100% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
375 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
375 cd/m²

The peak brightness is average. At around 375cd/m², it is good for dark room viewing, but may not be the best for a room with a lot of light. One thing is good though, it is that is does not change depending of the size of the test window and also it stays the same over a long period of time.

7.1
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.145%
50% DSE
0.175%
5% Std. Dev.
1.914%
5% DSE
0.121%

Gray uniformity is average on the X800D. The corners and side of the screen are a bit darker, but the center remains fairly homogeneous. Dirty screen effect should not be too much of a problem even for those watching sports like hockey, where it is usually very noticeable.

4.5
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
VA (except 49")
Color Shift
18°
Brightness
40°
Black Level
10°

Viewing angle is not as good as an IPS panel, but not bad for an VA. The X800D keeps a good brightness, even at an angle, but it does lose a bit of contrast. Note that the 49" variation has an IPS panel, and so the viewing angle is expected to be better.

7.5
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.773%

Black uniformity is relatively good. There is a bit of clouding on the test picture, but it should not be too noticeable during normal viewing.

9.0
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The Sony X800D has a good 10 bit panel but it is not perfect. You can see see on our test picture that there is some small banding in the dark blue, dark green and also in the grayscale.

Update 09/08/2016: Our original test was showing an incorrect color depth of 8 bit due to some incorrect drivers on our system, but after some correction to our test apparatus, we tested again the color depth and we can confirm that the Sony X800D does in fact have an 10 bit panel.

8.7
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
1.62
Color dE
3.3027
Gamma
2.24

Prior to calibration the results are good. The colors are a little over saturated, but the white balance is very good.

9.2
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.32
Color dE
2.6366
Gamma
2.18

The calibration is quite easy, and provides good results. All of the issues with the white balance can be fixed easily. The colors remain over saturated. You can see our calibration settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

The X800D does a good job with low resolution content like DVDs. Small details are conserved and the final image does not look too soft.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

Cable TV and other 720p content looks very good on the X800D.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p content like Blu-rays movies look very good and sharp once upscaled to 4k resolution. No details are lost.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

4k content looks clean and crisp.

8.2
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
91.03%
DCI P3 uv
94.35%
Rec 2020 xy
68.47%
Rec 2020 uv
74.43%

The X800D features a wide color gamut. It covers almost all of the P3 space, which is great. When watching HDR content, colors are rich.

6.3
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage
69.71%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage
43.025%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage
55.454%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage
34.183%
10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0%
IR after 2 min recovery
0%
IR after 4 min recovery
0%
IR after 6 min recovery
0%
IR after 8 min recovery
0%
IR after 10 min recovery
0%

Note here that there is no image retention on the 43" version of the Sony X800D. Since we did not test the 49" version, which is an IPS TV (the 43" is a VA TV), we cannot say whether the 49" is retention free or not. But since IPS TV are more prone to image retention, there could be a chance that there is some image retention to some degree.

7.5
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
2%
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss

The X800D has a semi-gloss finish which helps to diffuse reflections. They appear larger, but are easier to see through. Deals with reflections well enough to provide good performance in an average room.

0
Picture Quality
3D
3D
No
3D Type
No
2D to 3D
No

The Sony X800D doesn't support 3D.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
8.7
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 60 Hz
Response Time
13.2 ms
Overshoot
0 ms

Great motion performance. Response time is low which is good, and results in only a short trail following the logo.

8.4
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
BFI
Yes
BFI Frequency
100 Hz
BFI In Game Mode
Yes

The X800D doesn't have backlight flicker by default, but it is possible to achieve this by adjusting 'MotionFlow'. The flicker frequency of 100Hz is a bit strange.

7.1
Motion
24p Playback
Judder-free 24p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-free 24p via 60i
No

The Sony X800D does not present judder on 24p content when played from DVDs, Blu-rays or other 24p sources. Unfortunately even when using the 'CineMotion' setting, judder is present on both 60p or 60i, meaning that people who are sensitive to judder will notice when watching movies from a cable/satellite box.

5.0
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

The Sony X800D has a 60Hz panel. It can interpolate 30fps content up to 60fps. To do so without backlight flicker, change the 'MotionFlow' setting to 'Standard' or 'Smooth'.

Inputs
8.1
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
33.3 ms
1080p With Interpolation
49.1 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
49 ms
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
33.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz
35.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
35.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
33.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
33.2 ms

The input lag of the Sony X800D is quite low, which is good. To get the lowest input lag, select the 'Game' or 'Graphics' picture modes. This results in a lag of 33.3ms with an 1080p resolution, which should not be an issue for most people. When sending an HDR signal at 1080p, the input lag remains the same as under 'Game' or 'Graphic' mode.

Update 03/20/2017: The input lag has been retested with the latest firmware PKG6.0612.0004NAA.

8.0
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes

The X800D accepts a 120Hz signal, but has a 60Hz panel so it can only display half of the frames. It supports chroma 4:4:4 at up to 4k @ 60Hz. To display 4:4:4, set the scene to 'Graphics' or 'Game'. This results in an input lag of 33.3ms. It accepts a 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 signal only HDMI 2 and 3, and requires 'Enhanced HDMI' to be enabled in the input settings.

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 3
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

There is one component in on the rear, which is shared with the composite in. There is also a composite in on the side, but the adapter for it is not included. An example of the adapter can be found here

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 3)
USB 3 Yes (1)
HDCP 2.2 Yes
CEC Yes
MHL No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Sound Quality
7.2
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.68 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.87 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.94 dB SPL
Max
91.7 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
89.8 Hz

Average performance. The frequency response is decent at lower volumes, however, there is compression and pumping present under heavier loads. On the other hand, the maximum loudness and low-frequency extension are above average for a TV.

4.2
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.022
Distortion @ 80
0.087
Distortion @ Max
3.247

Poor distortion performance. The overall amount of harmonic distortion at 75dB and 85dB are very low. However, as we've seen with other Sony TVs, there's a dramatic jump in the harmonic distortion amount at maximum loudness. There was also audible aliasing present. However, these artifacts will be less audible in real-life situations.

Smart Features
Smart Features
Apps

There are loads of apps which come pre installed, and access to the 'Google Play Store' allows access to almost anything. A web browser is available, as are the typical popular apps, like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and HBO Go. The X800D also includes access to the 'PlayStation Now' cloud gaming service.

8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Android TV

The Sony X800D comes with a modified Android Smart OS. It can be a little slow to start up, but works well, feels refined and seems very stable.It has a wide variety of apps pre-installed with the option of downloading many more from the 'Google Play store'. The X800D is also 'Google Cast' ready, meaning that you can cast content from any compatible iOS and android device without any additional hardware. Photos and video can be viewed directly from an USB flash drive.  Access to the 'PlayStation now' cloud gaming service also gives access to many more games not available from the 'Google Play Store' .The X800D comes with a basic remote, but includes voice recognition which works well. 

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

There are no ads on this TV. Many featured apps add clutter on the home screen, though.

Smart Features
TV Controls

Controls are located behind the left side of the TV. They provide basic functionality and are easy to use, even when wall mounted.

Smart Features
Remote
Remote Basic

Remote features voice recognition. This is the same remote used by some other Sony TVs, like the X850D.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Manuals
  • Remote control
  • Batteries
  • RF Blaster

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 45 W
Power Consumption (Max) 96 W
Firmware PKG6.0306.0001NAA