Sony Unveils Two Affordable Series of 4K Televisions (KD-X720E, KD-X690E)
(Sony)The KD-720E Series of televisions launches in June.
(June 18, 2017) Sony Electronics recently announced two new series of affordable 4K televisions: KD-X720E and KD-X690E. Both Series are priced to be ultra competitive, but lack some of the high-end technologies that can elevate your viewing experience. Nevertheless, Sony is known for squeezing quality out of its displays, and these televisions most likely will continue that tradition.
Sony has equipped its X720E and X690E televisions with the millions of pixels necessary for full 4K performance, in addition to High Dynamic Range compatibility (HDR10). Both series feature LCD panels with native refresh rates of 60Hz, backed by Sony’s version of image smoothing called Motionflow XR 240 (which uses some form of frame interpolation/insertion to smooth out fast moving images). Image management and upscaling is enhanced by Sony’s popular 4K X-Reality PRO processing engine.
Similarities between the two series continue on the audio front, where both feature sound processing using Sony’s ClearAudio+ and 5-Force simulated surround sound. They also carry onboard Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), a single Ethernet port, three HDMI inputs, and 3 USB inputs. On the remote control front, Sony has included dedicated buttons for Netflix and YouTube.
The primary differentiating factor (beyond available screen sizes) is that the X720E series is edge lit (versus the X690E, which is backlit). Both utilize Frame Dimming as opposed to Local Dimming, meaning that these televisions raise and lower backlight intensity across the entire panel (as opposed to multiple specified zones). Therefore, black level performance may suffer somewhat when compared to more expensive models.
Sony says both series are available for preorder from Best Buy, Amazon, and other authorized retailers. The x720E series is pegged to for retail availability in late June and the X690E should be in stores by early August.
Pricing (MSRP) and models are as follows:
KD-X720E
Sony has equipped its X720E and X690E televisions with the millions of pixels necessary for full 4K performance, in addition to High Dynamic Range compatibility (HDR10). Both series feature LCD panels with native refresh rates of 60Hz, backed by Sony’s version of image smoothing called Motionflow XR 240 (which uses some form of frame interpolation/insertion to smooth out fast moving images). Image management and upscaling is enhanced by Sony’s popular 4K X-Reality PRO processing engine.
Similarities between the two series continue on the audio front, where both feature sound processing using Sony’s ClearAudio+ and 5-Force simulated surround sound. They also carry onboard Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), a single Ethernet port, three HDMI inputs, and 3 USB inputs. On the remote control front, Sony has included dedicated buttons for Netflix and YouTube.
The primary differentiating factor (beyond available screen sizes) is that the X720E series is edge lit (versus the X690E, which is backlit). Both utilize Frame Dimming as opposed to Local Dimming, meaning that these televisions raise and lower backlight intensity across the entire panel (as opposed to multiple specified zones). Therefore, black level performance may suffer somewhat when compared to more expensive models.
Sony says both series are available for preorder from Best Buy, Amazon, and other authorized retailers. The x720E series is pegged to for retail availability in late June and the X690E should be in stores by early August.
Pricing (MSRP) and models are as follows:
KD-X720E
- Sony KD-43X720E 43” class 4K HDR Ultra HD TV, $899.99
- Sony KD-49X720E 49” class 4K HDR Ultra HD TV, $999.99
- Sony KD-55X720E 55” class 4K HDR Ultra HD TV, $1,099.99
- Sony KD-60X690E 60” class 4K HDR Ultra HD TV, $1,299.99
- Sony KD-70X690E 70” class 4K HDR Ultra HD TV, $1,999.99
