Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

Sony X900C TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
Sony X900C Picture
7.4
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
7.5
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.5
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.6
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.3
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Sony X900E

The Sony X900C 4k LED TV is very thin and has good color accuracy at an angle. However, the blacks are poor and not uniform, which means it is not a great choice in a dark room.

Our Verdict

7.4 Mixed Usage

If you can get past its poor blacks and uniformity, the Sony X900C is a good 4k TV that will look great in your living room. It maintains good color accuracy at an angle, has decent sound, and handles motion well.

Pros
  • Good color accuracy at an angle
  • Great design and very thin
  • Wider color gamut
Cons
  • Poor blacks
  • Poor uniformity
  • 7.4 Mixed Usage
  • 7.0 Movies
  • 7.5 TV Shows
  • 7.5 Sports
  • 7.9 Video Games
  • 7.6 HDR Movies
  • 6.3 HDR Gaming
  • 7.9 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated Aug 12, 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
8.5
Design
Style
Curved No

The top half of the Sony X900C is extremely thin (only 0.5 cm / 0.20"). The bottom half is thicker, but still relatively thin compared to other TVs. It will look great in any room.

The 55" version (XBR-55X900C) almost didn't fit on our testing table. It is the widest stand that we have tested this year so far. If you don't have a wide table, and you don't want to mount the TV on your wall, you might consider buying a third party stand (VESA compatible) like this one to replace the original TV stand. The stand on the 65" can be placed in the middle, solving this issue.

Design
Stand

Dimensions of 55" TV stand: 48.5" x 10"

Design
Borders
Borders 0.43" (1.1 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.5" (3.8 cm)
Picture Quality
6.1
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,045 : 1

It has an IPS panel, so the blacks aren't good. It also suffers from IPS glow, which makes the blacks 'move' when you change position.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge
6.5
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Peak 2% Window
370 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
370 cd/m²
6.7
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
5.052%
50% DSE
0.195%

The amount of DSE is average for an LED. The overall uniformity is very poor though, especially the corners.

6.4
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
IPS
Color Shift
23°
Brightness
35°
Black Level
75°

Due to its IPS panel, the colors retain their saturation even off-axis. The screen only gets darker.

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.

7.2
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.991%

The uniformity is also sub par. The edges bleed a little bit of light. The extreme thinness of this TV means that kind of uniformity issue is to be expected.

9.0
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
8.7
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
2.12
Color dE
2.7624
Gamma
2.19
9.4
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.28
Color dE
2.06
Gamma
2.2
8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

DVDs looks great once upscaled. If you watch a low-quality video and find the picture too grainy, turn on 'Digital noise reduction'.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

Cable TV also looks good once upscaled.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

Blu-rays looks very good when played on the Sony X900C.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

Native 4k content looks sharp and crisp.

7.8
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
86.26%
DCI P3 uv
91.93%
Rec 2020 xy
62.75%
Rec 2020 uv
70.35%

Set 'Color Space' to 'BT.2020' if you want a wider range of colors.

7.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
1.9%
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss

The semi-gloss screen reflects more light than normal. Also, there is a rainbow effect around direct reflections.
It does get very bright though, when you set 'Brightness' to the max.

10
Picture Quality
3D
3D
Yes
3D Type
Passive

The Sony X900C has passive 3D, which is great if you don't like the flickering of shutter 3D. Also, contrary to passive 1080p TVs, it can display the full 1080 lines of 3D Blu-rays. Note that if you sit too close, you will see a little bit of crosstalk on the sides of the screen.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
8.4
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time
14.8 ms
Overshoot
0.4 ms

The 14.8ms reponse time is good for motion. By default, the screen is flicker free at all luminosities, but you can add the flickering if you want via the 'Motionflow' setting.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 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

Sony TVs have excellent motion control. Set 'Motionflow' to 'True Cinema' and 'CineMotion' to 'High' to remove all the judder without introducing the soap opera effect.

10
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes
Inputs
6.5
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
35.1 ms
1080p With Interpolation
69.7 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
72.5 ms
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
35.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz
65.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
65.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
100.6 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
100.6 ms

In game or graphics mode, the 1080p input lag of the Sony X900C is 35.1ms, which is about the same as other 2015 Sony TVs. It is playable when using the motion interpolation feature.

Update 09/14/2016: When sending an HDR signal at an 1080p resolution, the input lag is 70.2ms.

Unfortunately, when an HDR signal is detected, the picture mode is automatically set to 'HDR Video' mode and cannot be change to game mode to have a lower input lag.

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

It is good for an overall PC monitor. Use game or graphics mode if you want chroma 4:4:4 or 1080p@120Hz.
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 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
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 Yes (1)
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,5)
CEC Yes
MHL Yes (HDMI 2)
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Sound Quality
7.7
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.35 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.54 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
5 dB SPL
Max
95.3 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
95 Hz

The TV gets plenty loud and has a decent low-end extension. The frequency response is OK up to moderate volumes. At maximum loudness the frequency response suffers a little bit, but it's still relatively consistent with lower volumes.

6.8
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.001
Distortion @ 80
0.023
Distortion @ Max
0.18

Minimal distortion at lower volumes, with a significant increase in distortion under maximum load, which seems to be characteristic of Sony TVs.

Smart Features
Smart Features
Apps

Major Apps Available

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

8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Android

The Android TV OS is good overall, and it is constantly improving.

It loses a few points, though, because the included smart remote isn't very good (at least not as good as Samsung's or LG's), so browsing apps or the web is a bit harder.

See our full review of Sony's smart features.

10
Smart Features
Ads
Ad-free
Yes
Opt-out
N/A
Smart Features
Remote
Remote Smart
Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 75 W
Power Consumption (Max) 201 W
Firmware PKG2.287.0010NAB