CES 2017

The pre-CES buzz surrounding Sony was that the company would soon introduce OLED. Turned out the buzz was correct: The main product the company unveiled at its CES 2017 press conference was its new XBR-A1E Series BRAVIA OLED TVs.

Sony’s first OLEDs will arrive later in 2017 in 77-, 65-, and 55-inch screen sizes (pricing info was not announced). The 4K displays support both the Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range formats, and they feature the same 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme used in the company’s flagship Z9D Series TVs . They also feature Sony’s wild new Acoustic Surface technology, which vibrates the entire screen to emit sound, thus eliminating the need for side- or bottom-mounted speakers.

Other new TVs announced by Sony at CES include the X940E (75-inches) and X930E Series, which will be available in 65- and 55-inch screen sizes (all prices TBA). The X940E has a full-array LED backlight, while the X930E Series uses the company’s new Slim Backlight Drive+ quad-edge LED backlight, which they claim provides even more precise local dimming and deeper black levels than a regular TV with a full-array backlight. As with the OLEDs, the new LCD models feature the 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme and support for Dolby Vision HDR.

An interesting news item to emerge from Sony’s event was that the company’s current flagship Z9D Series TVs can be upgraded to support Dolby Vision via a firmware update. Previously, it had been widely assumed that TVs required special hardware to handle the Dolby Vision format. As it turns out, the 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme used in the Z9D Series is so, well, Extreme that a Dolby Vision upgrade is possible.

Another product Sony unveiled at its press event was the VPL-VZ1000ES projector. A native 4K ultra-short throw model, the HDR-compatible VPL-VZ1000ES can be positioned as close as 6 inches from a wall and beams images up to 120 inches diagonal using a laser light source. The VPL-VZ1000ES is 40 percent smaller and 20 percent brighter than the company’s current 4K ultra-short throw projector, the VPL-GTZ1. At $25,000, it also costs half as much. Sony says the VPL-VZ1000ES will be available in April.

Finally, Sony had its new Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the UBP-X800, on display. With support for Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio discs, as well as DSD files on attached USB drives, the new player was clearly designed with audiophiles in mind. With support for Bluetooth wireless headphones, Sony has also considered the needs of late-night movie-watchers. The UBP-X800 will be available in April at a price TBA.