Sony Bravia X82L Review (KD-75X82L): Fit for Sony Fans on Budget

Sony Bravia X82L Review Summary:

Editor’s rating: 3.70/5

When it comes to top-of-the-line televisions, the Sony Bravia brand name immediately springs to mind. Known for its luxurious offerings, Sony Bravia has recently expanded its TV lineup just in time for the festive season, introducing a range of new OLED, Mini LED, and LED TVs. One such new addition is Sony KD X82L 4K HDR LED TV. The TV comes in three screen sizes – 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75 inches. We have been living with a 75-inch TV for quite some time now. So based on our time with the TV we are here sharing our thoughts in this X82L 75 review.

Sony Bravia X82L Unboxing and Installation

Unboxing the SonyKD-75X82L is no small feat! This TV is heavyweight, both in terms of its size and the box it comes in. You’ll definitely need an extra set of hands to navigate this unboxing adventure. But fear not, the TV is well-protected within Styrofoam frames, ensuring its safe arrival. Here’s everything that you will find in the box:

1. The Majestic TV itself
2. Detachable power cord
3. Convenient Table Top Stands (no screws required, phew!)
4. A Remote Control (with batteries)
5. An Installation and User Manual (because let’s be honest, we all need a little guidance sometimes)

Sony knows that convenience is key when it comes to setting up your TV. That’s why they have made the process incredibly effortless. Forget about fussing with screws, because no tools are needed for this task. All you have to do is smoothly slide in the feet at the designated spaces on the TV.

But wait, there’s more! Sony offers you the flexibility to choose from two stand options. If your entertainment center boasts ample space, you can opt for the wide stance setup, ensuring a sturdy foundation for your TV. On the other hand, if you’re working with limited room and need to maximize every inch, Sony provides a closer option to accommodate your needs perfectly.

If wall mounting is your preferred choice for displaying your TV, it comes with VESA bracket mount compatibility. You can easily attach your TV to a fixed bracket, transforming your wall into a stunning canvas for entertainment.

Sony Bravia X82L Review: Design and I/O

The design of the X82L closely resembles its predecessor, the X80K lineup, with a sleek flat panel on the front that follows Sony’s signature Flush Surface design. I must admit, this design choice gives the TV a contemporary and minimalist look, devoid of any distracting elements.

Although the 75-inch X82L may appear massive compared to today’s TV standards, it is not as slim as some of the sleek sets available in the market. With dimensions of 65.95 inches x 40.78 inches (WxH) and a thickness of 2.72 inches, it has a slightly chunky feel. The front is smooth and black, while the back showcases a series of fins at the top and a subdued square panel occupying most of the space.

To maximize screen real estate and keep the focus on the display, Sony has implemented a narrow bezel design. This ensures that the screen takes center stage, capturing your attention.

Sony has also redesigned the table top stand, now offering sturdy T-shaped stands that sit flat on the table, providing a secure foundation and minimizing wobbling.

In terms of connectivity, the power cable connects to the right side of the TV, while the ports are conveniently positioned on the opposite side. They are arranged in a vertical line, facing towards the left. The TV offers two USB ports, an S/PDIF digital audio port, a yellow RCA video-in jack, an Ethernet port, a coaxial cable connector, and four HDMI ports. Among the HDMI ports, one supports ARC and eARC functionality, and all four adhere to the 60Hz HDMI 2.0 specification, rather than the newer HDMI 2.1 standard with support for 4K at 120Hz. Additionally, the TV has built-in Dual-Band WiFi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and Bluetooth v4.2, rather than the newer Bluetooth 5.0.

Overall, the TV features a sturdy plastic build that ensures durability. Its design is carefully crafted to seamlessly blend with the aesthetics of contemporary homes. The sleek and modern look of the TV makes it a suitable addition to any living space.

Sony Bravia X82L Review: Remote and Software

Sony has adopted a minimalist approach in designing the remote for the Bravia X82L. The remote features a sleek and streamlined design with well-spaced buttons, ensuring a comfortable and intuitive user experience. Despite its minimalist design, the remote includes all the necessary buttons for seamless functionality.

You will find dedicated buttons for popular applications such as Google Assistant, YouTube, YouTube Music, Netflix, and Prime Video, allowing quick access to your favorite content. It can also be used to control other connected devices like setup boxes, FireTV boxes, and other streaming devices. In my case, I was able to flawlessly control my Apple TV 4K with the Sony remote.

In terms of software, the Sony X82L is powered by the Android-based Google TV interface. One of the standout advantages of using Google TV is its seamless integration across multiple devices. Once set up on one device, it automatically syncs important settings and preferences to other devices running on Google TV. Moreover, the interface itself is notably cleaner and more refined compared to other versions of Android TV.

The Google TV interface offers personalized recommendations from various streaming platforms, creating a tailored homepage based on your preferences. Additionally, you can choose from a selection of animated wallpapers to display when the TV is not in use, adding a touch of style that blends harmoniously with your room decor.

The Apps section provides convenient access to recommended and installed applications, while the Library section offers quick access to your saved content. Google TV’s recommendations are robust and reliable, and you can easily add content from different platforms to your Watchlist, conveniently located in the Library. The Sony X82L also includes support for Chromecast and AirPlay, enabling seamless casting and streaming from compatible devices. Moreover, it is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s HomeKit, expanding the range of possibilities for smart home integration.

Sony Bravia X82L Review: Picture Quality

The X80K comes equipped with a 4K LED panel and Sony’s highly acclaimed 4K Processor X1 chip, known for its impressive performance in Sony TVs. The TV utilizes a traditional LCD panel with direct LED backlighting and frame dimming. While this combination has its limitations, Sony’s advanced internal processing ensures picture quality that outshines competitors’ LED TVs with frame dimming in the same price range. In simple terms, you can expect a level of visual performance that surpasses what is typically found at this price point.

During my review of the X82L, I paired it with the latest generation Apple TV 4K and Amazon FireStick 4K Max. Additionally, we tested the TV’s capabilities by playing content on native apps. Let’s begin with the picture settings. There are five picture presets available, including Vivid, Standard, Cinema, Game, Graphics, Photo, Custom, and Dolby Vision (Dark and Bright). The Custom option allows users to tweak all available picture options according to their preferences. Throughout this review, I preferred using the Cinema preset for HDR and non-HDR content, and Dolby Vision Bright for Dolby Vision content.

In real-world usage, the X82L provides a satisfying viewing experience. While it may not deliver the same level of picture perfection as some of Sony’s higher-end models or those from other manufacturers, we did not encounter anything that looked inherently bad on this TV. The X82L truly excels at upscaling regular HD or FHD content, preserving the sharpness of a 4K feed while watching live TV on DTH or streaming 720P or 1080P content.

One of the reasons behind achieving such upscaling prowess is Sony’s Object-based HDR remaster processing capabilities, which intelligently analyzes and enhances the colors of individual objects on the screen. This technology not only adds depth and texture to objects but also produces sharper images.

I watched “The Power Of Rings” on Prime Video via a native app in Dolby Vision, which, unfortunately, the Apple TV 4K only renders in HDR. The Sony Bravia X82L impressed us with its crisp and sharp image reproduction and accurate color rendering. However, one area where it falls short of expectations is brightness output. While this may not be an issue in most cases, it can affect the vividness of colors, particularly when viewing HDR or Dolby Vision content.

To test how the X82L handles dark scenes, I rewatched Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” The short answer is that it didn’t completely detract from the enjoyment, even if it lacked that full sparkling sense of magic. The screen’s inability to reach complete darkness, with a slight presence of blooming in certain full-black-screen scenarios, and the somewhat restrained brightness resulted in scenes lacking some of their natural excitement. However, considering the price of this TV, it’s a forgivable compromise. Although there is a Dynamic Contrast Enhancer feature that automatically adjusts the contrast settings according to the viewing environment, expecting OLED or MiniLED-level contrast won’t be realistic.

Due to the absence of an HDMI 2.1 and the lack of Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support, we were limited to testing games solely at a 4K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. During our gaming sessions, we had the opportunity to play AAA titles such as GTA5, Cyberpunk 2077, and Forza Horizon 5 at a 4K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. Overall, the gaming experience was satisfying. Specifically, the visuals in Forza Horizon 5 were breathtaking on the X82L display, which showcased excellent color representation and made the game’s visuals truly stunning.

The Sony Bravia X82L TV stands out in its ability to handle reflections, particularly in situations where there are a few lamps or moderate ambient light sources in the room. In such cases, the TV performs well and manages to minimize the impact of reflections on the screen, allowing for a clear and enjoyable viewing experience.

Sony Bravia X82L Review: Sound

Sony’s Bravia X82L impresses in terms of visual quality, but its audio performance is satisfactory. Equipped with a standard 2.0 channel speaker system that delivers a power output of 20W, Sony has included its remarkable calibration software, which we have observed to work like magic in its more expensive HT-A9 Sound bar system (review). This software optimises the sound based on the layout of your room. Sony also employs a specially shaped X-balanced driver to enhance audio clarity. The TV supports Dolby Atmos, but to truly experience it, you would need to purchase a Dolby Atmos soundbar such as the (review). While the overall sound quality is decent and suitable for news, reality TV, cricket, and football, the speakers do lack bass and offer a relatively narrow soundstage.

Sony Bravia X82L Review Verdict: Should you buy KD75X82L TV?

When it comes to televisions, premium models often captivate us with their remarkable picture quality. OLED models from reputable brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony are particularly impressive, but they come with a substantial price tag. Opting for a 75-inch model from any of these brands can easily cost you at least 4 lakhs, or even more in some cases.

However, while the X82L may not be Sony’s top-tier TV, it still offers a more affordable option within the premium brand range. If you’re specifically seeking a good Sony 4K Smart TV, the Bravia X82L is definitely worth considering. As an LED TV, it provides excellent performance, surpassing the picture quality offered by Chinese brands in a similar price range.