Sony Bravia: For a big-screen experience

Though it looks good, there are some features of the Sony Bravia Z9D that fail to score

Sony's 65-inch Bravia Z9D (Rs 5,04,900) has a slim bezel and gold accents like its phones. It looks good even from the back, since most ports can be covered.

Switching it on with the light and full-sized remote, I was met with the rather dated Android 6 TV interface. Next, I got hold of my Prometheus Blu-ray and played it on a PS3. Well, the blacks and shadows were fabulous, but I had a better experience on an OLED TV. Also, the Z9D's screen seemed to reflect a lot. I then logged on to Netflix (using the dedicated button on the remote) and started watching The Amazing Spider-Man 2, a movie I had watched earlier on the OLED TV. The colours were definitely better reproduced.

The following day, I got hold of a special edition of The Sound of Music I purchased on iTunes and tried connecting to the TV as a Wi-Fi display from my PC; it was an uphill task and then I had to log in again on my home network. Finally, I connected my PC via HDMI and sat down for a big-screen experience. It was fabulous, but I'd have been happier with a home theatre to channel the sound — while the TV's speakers are loud enough to negate the need for a soundbar, I've heard clearer sound from TVs before. Next, I indulged in some Need for Speed on the PS3 and was impressed with the lag-free performance.

If you are looking to buy a big-screen TV, the Sony Bravia Z9D is right up there. However it definitely needs a software upgrade and better speakers.