Having it large!

This 75in Mini LED adds another useful dimension to Sony's already diverse range, writes John Archer

- John Archer

Sony's big thing at the moment is to take an 'apolitical', open-minded approach to which TV technologies it uses, in a bid to make sure its range offers something for every type of buyer. This went into overdrive with the brand's current range, which introduced both its first Quantum Dot OLED TVs and its first Mini LED TVs.

Having loved the 55A95K QD OLED when we reviewed it in HCC #336, it's the X95K Mini LEDs - which Sony positions a step below the A95K sets on its TV range 'ladder' - that we're getting stuck into here, in the pleasingly epic 75in shape of the XR-75X95K.

This model sells for £2,499, which is only a couple of hundred quid more than Sony's 55in QD OLED, despite the huge increase in screen size. And the panel isn't the only thing about the 75X95K that's big. Its chassis is also chunky, to accommodate an unusually deep rear. Far from being embarrassed by its big butt, though, Sony has actually dressed it in an eye-catching moulded checkerboard pattern, and provided a bunch of similarly styled clip-on panels to cover the set's various connection 'bays'.

These hold a good rather than outstanding roster of connections, highlights of which are four HDMIs, two USBS and an Acoustic Centre Sync connection you can use for getting the 75X95K's speakers to join forces with those of Sony's latest soundbars. Only two of the four HDMIS support the gaming features of 4K at 120Hz and variable refresh rates, and one of these HDMIs does double duty as the TV's eARC port for passing lossless object-based audio to compatible soundbars and AVRs.

You also can't simultaneously have Dolby Vision and 4K/120Hz support; you actually have to choose between these key features in the TV's onscreen menus. And as ever with Sony TVs, the Dolby Vision HDR support is backed up by HDR10 and HLG playback, but there's no compatibility with the dynamic HDR10+ format.

In the zone