On today’s episode of You Asked… Is it the right time to upgrade your TCL TV? One of the closest TV comparisons we’ve done. And, Sony Bravia 9 or A95K?
Budget Mini LED Options
Dennis asks: On a tighter budget than an OLED TV will allow. There are some good deals right now on a 65-inch Panasonic W95A for $579 and a 65-inch TCL QM6K for $549. The TV will be in a dark room with no video games and no setup for a soundbar. It’ll mostly be used for streaming content and movies. Both seem like good TVs, but I feel like the unknown on both, as I can’t view them locally, is going to drive me crazy. Any recommendations?
Dennis, for your purposes, these TVs are very similar performers and both are great for the price. The main difference is brightness. The W95A is brighter in both SDR and HDR.
You’re probably thinking that doesn’t matter as much in a dark room, and for the most part, it doesn’t. But for HDR viewing, that extra bit of brightness can really bring highlights to life and make the experience special.
In our reviews, both TVs were very accurate in color right out of the box. They even share the same HDMI port layout, with two HDMI 2.1 ports and two 2.0 ports. They’re very similar.
Honestly, for the price, both are great. I know this probably isn’t helping you decide between the two.
One difference is the operating system. Panasonic runs Amazon Fire TV, and TCL runs Google TV. Both come with ads. Personally, I like Google TV, probably because I’m more familiar with it and prefer the layout.
That said, I’d still go with the Panasonic in this case. We have reviews of both on the channel, but my reasoning is simple: even if I’m not running the TV at max brightness, I want the extra headroom to go brighter if I need to.
85-inch Bravia 9 or 77-inch A95K
Patrick asks: I’m moving into a much bigger space than my small townhouse, and I’ve been given the green light to upgrade the home theater setup. I currently own a 65-inch Sony A80K, which I love, but I believe it will be too small for the new space. I’ve attached a picture of the lighting in the room. I’m stuck between two TVs: the 85-inch Bravia 9 and the 77-inch A95K. I love OLED, but I hear the Bravia 9 is close enough to make the brightness worth it. I’m not gaming, but I’ll attach a Panasonic Blu-ray player for optimum sound. I plan to purchase a Sony Theater Quad and use the SW5 bass module I already own. Could you help me choose?
I’d love to help. Judging by the pictures, there will be a good amount of light in the space during the daytime. My vote goes to the Bravia 9 for a few reasons. Two are exactly what you mentioned: brightness and how close it gets to OLED. The other is size.
The extra few inches really make a difference. You’re sparing no expense from the TV to the audio setup, so go big.
In our last studio, the A95K was in a part of the room that rarely saw use, and it was great. On the main media console, the A95L and Bravia 9 were staples because they were excellent to look at.
We have a video comparing the A95L and Bravia 9 that goes into more detail.
Based on the ambient light, the reduced burn-in risk of the Bravia 9, and the fact that the difference is minor, the Bravia 9 is my recommendation. It’s one of the best Mini LED TVs for a reason.
Upgrading to TCL QM6K
GDeepAK02 asks: Is it worth upgrading to the TCL QM6K? I’m thinking of going from the 75-inch 6 Series to a 75-inch QM6K.
We get a ton of questions about the QM6K. It’s solid, and most importantly, affordable.
I’d say maybe, depending on what you want. The QM6K has a lot going for it. Off-angle viewing is solid for a Mini LED TV. But compared to the 6 Series, you might be taking a step back in brightness. Most 6 Series models score higher than the QM6K.
Brightness isn’t everything, but it matters for HDR content, sports, and bright rooms.
Where the QM6K improves is in handling low-quality content and upscaling, thanks to an improved processor. It also runs Google TV instead of Roku, which may matter if you prefer one OS. If gaming, the QM6K has two HDMI 2.1 ports, while the 6 Series is all HDMI 2.0.
The upgrade can be worth it for these quality-of-life improvements, but if your content is mostly high quality, you may not notice a huge difference day to day.
It’s like upgrading a phone after a year: exciting at first, but it can feel more of the same if it’s not a major leap.
If you want the most noticeable upgrade, consider the QM7K. If budget is the issue, waiting for sales in October could make the QM7K or QM8K good options.
