Let me start by saying this: the Sony BRAVIA 9 is hands-down the most impressive TV I've tested this year. That Mini LED brightness? It's like staring into the sun (in the best way possible). My living room has massive windows, and for the first time ever, I don't need to close the blinds for daytime movie marathons.

The out-of-box settings are shockingly good - Sony clearly put work into their factory calibration. But as a self-proclaimed AV nerd, I spent hours tweaking. Pro tip: enable 'Professional' mode for granular control over every visual parameter. The local dimming makes dark scenes in shows like 'Stranger Things' look absolutely cinematic with inky blacks.

Gaming on PS5 is where this TV becomes magical. The 120Hz VRR support combined with Dolby Vision HDR makes 'Spider-Man 2' visuals pop with details I never noticed before. Saw individual raindrops on Miles' suit during a nighttime swing sequence - insane!

Sound quality deserves special mention. The built-in speakers deliver shockingly good bass response - I actually delayed buying a soundbar because they're that impressive. Dialogue in 'Oppenheimer' was crystal clear while explosions had proper weight.

Now for some real talk: assembly is a two-person job minimum. At 85 inches, this beast weighs over 100lbs. Also noticed very slight vignetting at extreme edges during all-white screens (like loading menus), but completely invisible during normal content.

After six months of daily use (including toddler paw prints), performance remains flawless. While expensive, it's justified by next-gen features that future-proof your setup. If you want OLED-level contrast without burn-in fears plus retina-searing brightness, this is your TV.