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In John Archer’s Expert Reviews assessment, the Sony Bravia 9 II’s HDR Professional preset paired unusually high measured brightness with low average colour errors—an impressive combination, though the conclusion belongs to one reviewer’s test of one sample, not a universal ranking. The 2026 flagship LCD also brings strong anti-reflection performance and capable built-in audio, but its high UK prices, limited 4K/120Hz HDMI inputs and viewing-angle blooming are meaningful trade-offs.
Why the HDR Professional mode stood out
Archer’s headline judgment was specific to the HDR Professional preset. He wrote: “The Bravia 9 II’s remarkable brightness, stellar contrast and immense, vibrant colour delivery combine to create the most engaging and spectacular ‘accurate’ mode I’ve seen on any TV.” That is a first-person verdict from Expert Reviews—not an industry-wide award or a claim that every viewer will prefer this setting.
To evaluate the television, Archer used Portrait Displays Calman Ultimate software, a G1 signal generator and a Klein K-10A spectrometer. His measurements describe the tested 65-inch K65XR95M2PB.UKA sample; they are not a guarantee for every unit or viewing environment. The full review was published on 25 September 2026: Expert Reviews: Sony Bravia 9 II review.
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Brightness, colour and measured accuracy
In HDR Professional mode, Archer measured more than 4,400 cd/m² on a 5% test window and 4,220 cd/m² on a 10% window. He also measured 99.8% coverage of the P3 HDR colour gamut. The set’s True RGB (RGB LED) backlight uses 1,530 separately controlled local-dimming zones, helping deliver the contrast that impressed him when viewed head-on.
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Across four HDR tests, the reported average Delta E 2000 errors were 1.3, 1.6, 1.9 and 2.9. Those are low average errors, but they do not mean every colour or scene is exact: the review notes saturation/luminance sweep errors just above five, a faint blue undertone in very dark shots, and occasional red tones that looked brownish.
Accuracy has a room and brightness trade-off
For SDR, Professional mode measured around 110 cd/m² at baseline and was described as best suited to a fairly dark room. Its grayscale errors averaged 2.6 in a two-point check and 2.1 in a multipoint check, while ColorChecker errors were below 3. In HDR, the mode combined the high brightness figures above with low average errors, but the occasional tone shifts remain relevant if colour fidelity is your priority.
For a brighter SDR picture, Archer preferred Standard. With Eco features disabled, he measured more than 800 cd/m² on most test-window sizes and around 1,000 cd/m² on a 50% window. He found its SDR-to-HDR conversion effective and its HDR picture brighter and more saturated than Professional while remaining balanced. Vivid pushed SDR and HDR too far in his view, and he considered it unnecessary given Standard.
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How the picture behaves in different rooms and seats
The Bravia 9 II is a high-brightness LCD, not an OLED. Its local dimming and anti-reflection filter help it produce an impactful picture in varied lighting, but the viewing position and the room still affect the result.
- Bright rooms: The review praises the anti-reflection filter and the brightness available in Standard mode. Strong ambient light can nevertheless make blacks appear greyer.
- Dark rooms: Professional mode is the more restrained SDR choice. In very dark scenes, Standard can raise black levels; Professional may show a faint blue cast in the darkest material.
- Off-centre seats: Contrast is strongest head-on. Blooming becomes more noticeable at viewing angles of about 30 degrees or more, so a wide seating arrangement is a compromise.
Gaming: strong picture, limited HDMI flexibility
The television supports 4K/120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Sony PlayStation Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Archer measured 9.8ms of input lag in Game mode at 60Hz and praised the bright, colourful presentation. He also noted slightly soft gaming motion.
The practical limitation is the port allocation: only two of the four HDMI inputs support 4K/120Hz and VRR. One of those two is also the eARC port. The set tops out at 120Hz and, according to the review, supports neither AMD FreeSync nor Nvidia G-Sync. Buyers connecting multiple high-bandwidth consoles or a gaming PC should check how those devices will share the two full-spec inputs.
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Sound and smart-TV features
The reviewed sound system is rated at 80W and comprises two subwoofers, two full-range drivers, two tweeters and two beam tweeters. Archer praised its broad, detailed soundstage, clear vocals and height effects with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X material; his reservation was that bass lacked depth and impact compared with what the rest of the presentation suggested.
Recommended Free Tools
The review lists Google TV, YouView in the UK, built-in Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, Apple HomeKit support and Sony Pictures Core. It also reports that buyers receive ten premium-priced movies on Sony Pictures Core, whose streams can reach 80Mbps when the internet connection supports that rate. Services, bundled content and availability can change by region and over time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Price and what to weigh against it
Expert Reviews listed the following UK prices on 25 September 2026. They are a dated snapshot, not current offers:
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| Screen size | UK price in the review |
|---|---|
| 65 inches | £3,499 |
| 75 inches | £4,299 |
| 85 inches | £5,499 |
| 115 inches | £22,999 |
For context, Archer noted that 65-inch Samsung S99H and LG G6 OLED models were available for £2,999 or less at review time, while the Hisense UR9S was listed at £1,999. Those comparisons are also a UK snapshot from 25 September 2026; the review does not report a controlled head-to-head test of those televisions. Its broader point is that the Bravia 9 II is expensive for an LCD set.
The choice is less about a single “best” technology than about which trade-offs matter in your room and setup:
- Choose the Sony’s strengths if very high HDR brightness, vibrant colour, anti-reflection performance and strong built-in sound matter more than minimizing price.
- Compare OLED alternatives if their pricing and picture characteristics better suit your budget and viewing habits; the review’s price comparisons are not direct test results.
- Check the two 4K/120Hz-and-VRR HDMI ports against your consoles, PC and audio equipment before buying.
- Consider seating angles: the review found more blooming at wider angles than when viewed head-on.
What to know about the reported eARC issue
At the time of Archer’s review, he reported an eARC bug that prevented correct audio pass-through. Sony was working on a fix, but the review gave no release date. That is a time-specific report rather than confirmation of the television’s current firmware status. If eARC is central to your setup, check Sony’s latest support information or confirm the issue’s status with the retailer before purchase.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
