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Overall navigation is intuitive enough, although the TV can at time seem sluggish to respond to commands. Two remotes are included, a standard lightweight IR controller and an overly sensitive touch pad Bluetooth alternative which takes a little bit of getting used to. Should both go AWOL, there's a physical control pad for volume and channel selection on the rear edge of the set.
The latest iteration of the brand's smart interface collates apps and services together in their own silo, rather than weave them into the main menus. Catch-up services are currently limited to BBC iPlayer and Demand 5, although there are a variety of other services onboard, including YouTube, Netflix, Mubi and Sony's own movie streaming offering. Dig a bit deeper and you'll also find quite a lot of twaddle you'll almost certainly never use.
Sound
The X9005B's wedge design has afforded Sony considerable scope when it comes to audio improvements. The wider base facilitates bigger bass drivers, resulting in a bold, bombastic presentation.
Behind the screen the brand has significantly upgraded its audio components, both in terms of circuitry and drivers, which now come coated in Mica glass fibre for greater rigidity. Power output is rated at a not inconsiderable 65w, with 12.5w going to the main stereo pair and 2 x 20 going to rear ported subs.
Value
The KD-65X9005 is a flagship Ultra HD TV and comes with a commensurate price tag, but there's no doubt it delivers in terms of premium bang for bigscreen buck. Build quality is uncompromising and technical finesse unimpeachable. The set compares well with rival same-size screens from Samsung, in the shape of the divisively curved UE65HU8500 which retails for £3,999 and Panasonic's TX-65AX802, which sells for £3,799 yet lacks Netflix 4K. In such company, Sony's range topper could almost be construed as a bargain.
