Sony BRAVIA 7 II K55XR70M2 55"

The BRAVIA 7 II's True RGB Mini-LED panel is a color accuracy nerd's dream, and the built-in audio is so good it'll make your soundbar jealous. Just don't buy it at full price when OLEDs are lurking.

The audio on this thing is a genuine surprise. We're talking a 4-channel, 160W speaker system that lands in the 98th percentile of our database. It's not just loud, it actually creates a convincing Dolby Atmos bubble without a soundbar, which is basically unheard of for a flat-panel TV. The gaming chops are also solid, with a 120Hz panel, VRR, and ALLM making it a perfect PS5 partner. The one head-scratcher is the picture quality score, which sits at a mediocre 37th percentile. That's the Achilles' heel: while colors are stunningly accurate, the contrast and black levels can't match an OLED, and blooming is still a thing if you're off-angle.

The elephant in the room is the LG C5 OLED. For similar money at the high end, the LG will give you perfect blacks and that infinite contrast, but its audio is a tin can compared to the Sony's built-in sound system. The TCL QM7K is the value king, likely getting you a bigger screen for less cash, but its processing and color accuracy won't touch the Sony's Cognitive Processor XR. If you want the most accurate, theater-like experience without a separate sound system, the Sony is the clear pick. If you're a dark-room cinephile who already owns a soundbar, get the OLED.

Pricing on this set is all over the map, with a staggering $1413 spread between vendors. At the low end around $687, this TV is an absolute steal for the audio and color accuracy alone. At the $2100 high end, you're stepping into premium OLED territory, and that's a much harder sell. If you're buying, hunt down the deal from the retailer with the lowest price and don't look back.

Sony just dropped a TV that actually does something new, and it's about time. The BRAVIA 7 II ditches the usual white or blue Mini-LEDs for independent red, green, and blue ones, calling it True RGB. The result is a picture that looks shockingly accurate right out of the box, with a color purity that makes most other LED TVs look a little, well, dirty. It's a genuine step forward in backlight tech, wrapped in a package that's a total powerhouse for audio and gaming. Just don't expect it to dethrone OLED in a dark room.

If you're a movie purist who watches in a pitch-black room and already has a dedicated surround sound system, this isn't your TV. The contrast and black levels simply can't compete with an OLED. Go grab an LG C5 or Samsung S95D and call it a day.

The Sony BRAVIA 7 II is a niche masterpiece. It's for the person who wants a single, clean setup with phenomenal sound and color that's true to the director's intent, and who doesn't want to mess with external speakers. It's a brilliant gaming display and a fantastic everyday TV. Just know that it trades the inky blacks of OLED for that audio and color prowess. If that's your priority, you'll love it.