Sony has released a much-anticipated Dolby Vision firmware update for its range of 4K TVs – A1, XE93, EX94 and ZD9 series sets are all supported – but much to the dismay of many customers, support for playback via HDMI or USB seems to be absent.
The upgrade doesn’t introduce support for Dolby Vision sources connected to a compatible TV via HDMI or USB, as first spotted by Trusted Reviews TV contributor John Archer. That means that those with a set-top box or media player – an Apple TV, for example – are unable to take advantage of the new-found Dolby Vision functionality.
Dolby Vision, for those unaware, is an enhanced version of High Dynamic Range (HDR). It offers brighter playback, a 12-bit colour depth – instead of 10-bit – and support for the transmission of metadata, letting content creators better dictate how their material is displayed.
Related: Best 4K TVs
What that essentially means, as we’ve noted in the past, is that Dolby Vision ensures brightness and colours look the same on a 4K TV in your living room as they do on a state-of-the-art high-resolution projector screen in your local movie theatre. The firmware update in question, however, doesn’t hold good on this promise.
Sony is aware of the issue and is apparently working around the clock to iron out the creases. There’s a good chance it will start rolling out a patch over the course of the next few days – but nothing’s set in stone.
Rest assured, though: a fix is definitely on the way, so sit tight.
Have you received the Dolby Vision update on your Sony-branded 4K TV? Let us know over on Facebook or Twitter @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
