The Sony X90J offers better overall picture quality, gaming performance, and room versatility for well-lit and dark settings but comes at a higher price. It also has superior motion processing, reflection handling, and a higher refresh rate which is especially good for fast-moving content like sports and action movies. The TCL S546 is significantly less expensive and still provides satisfactory picture quality and low input lag for gaming, making it a budget-friendly option. However, it falls short in brightness, sports content quality, and doesn't handle reflections as well, making it less suitable for very bright rooms. If budget is a constraint, the TCL S546 is a good choice, but if you're looking for higher performance across a range of uses and can afford the price, the Sony X90J may be the better option. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Sony X90J (LCD)
Very good for gaming
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Good for use as monitor
Best in class for upscaling
Best in class motion processing
Advantages of the TCL S546 (LCD)
The TCL S546 (LCD) has no clear advantages over the Sony X90J (LCD).
Key differences
Movies & TV
7.9/10
7.0/10
7.63/10
CONTRAST
8.21/10
6.4/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90J (LCD) and TCL S546 (LCD) are both good for movies & TV, though the Sony X90J (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Sony X90J provides a better viewing angle and colors out of the box, which enhances the movie-watching experience, but its local dimming isn't as competent as the TCL S546, which may affect dark scene performance. The TCL S546, on the other hand, boasts superior black uniformity, offering deeper blacks for cinematic content, but falls short with less accurate colors initially and a narrower viewing angle which can affect how the picture looks from side seats.
Sports
7.1/10
6.3/10
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
7.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90J (LCD) is good for sports, while the TCL S546 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90J is superior for watching sports due to its excellent motion processing and faster response time, ensuring that fast-paced action looks smooth and crisp. In contrast, the TCL S546 has only fair motion processing and a slower response time, which may result in blurrier images during dynamic sports scenes. The Sony X90J also handles reflections better, making it a better option for brightly-lit rooms, while the TCL S546 is weaker in this aspect, performing less optimally in such environments.
Gaming
8.2/10
6.6/10
8.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.6/10
7.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.0/10
10.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
4.6/10
80.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
60.0/100
8.2/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.9/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the TCL S546 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90J is noted for exceptional gaming performance due to its very good response time and good input lag, complemented by a 120Hz refresh rate, which delivers smoother motion. In contrast, while the TCL S546 offers good response time and very good input lag, its gaming experience is less optimal due to a lower 60Hz refresh rate, which may not be as fluid for fast-paced gaming.
Cartoons & Animation
8.3/10
6.6/10
7.0/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.8/10
7.4/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.0/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
9.0/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
4.4/10
6.8/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the TCL S546 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90J provides excellent colors out of the box, which is essential for cartoons and animations where vivid and accurate colors greatly enhance the viewing experience. In contrast, the TCL S546 is rated poorly in this aspect, meaning colors may not appear as vibrant or true-to-life, and despite both TVs having good color gamut and volume which contribute to richer on-screen images, the TCL's lower performance in delivering accurate colors from the start makes it less suitable for animated content.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.9/10
6.4/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
10.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL S546 (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90J excels in upscaling lower resolution content and provides impressive SDR brightness, making it a better choice for watching news and talk shows in comparison to the TCL S546, which offers fair performance in upscaling, indicating a possible degradation of picture quality for standard definition content. Furthermore, the Sony X90J's excellent colors out of the box and higher local dimming performance enhance its ability to display vibrant and consistent colors across various content, while the TCL S546's colors out of the box are not as reliable, impacting the overall viewing experience for everyday TV programs.
Cost
$998
$398
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Sony X90J (LCD) has a price of $998 and the TCL S546 (LCD) costs $398.
The Sony X90J (LCD) and TCL S546 (LCD) both have good picture quality.
Bright Room
7.6/10
7.2/10
5.2/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.3/10
8.6/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.2/10
7.9/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.8/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.0/10
The Sony X90J (LCD) and TCL S546 (LCD) are both good for bright room.
The Sony X90J and TCL S546 both have very good SDR and HDR brightness levels which are vital for clear viewing in bright environments, ensuring that the displays remain visible even under strong ambient lighting. However, the Sony X90J has poorer reflections handling compared to the TCL S546, meaning the TCL might be more suitable for a room with lots of light sources that could cause reflections on the screen.
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How the Sony X90J (LCD) and the TCL S546 (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
Sony X90J (LCD)
TCL S546 (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$998
$398
Brand
Brand
Sony
TCL
Release Date
Release Date
April 3, 2021
August 3, 2021
Full name
Full name
XR-65X90J
65S546
Screen Size
Screen Size
65"
65"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
4K
Screen Type
Screen Type
LCD
LCD
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
LED FALD VA
LED FALD VA
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
TV FEATURES
Operating System
Operating System
Android TV
Android TV
Sound Quality Score
Sound Quality Score
7.3/10
5.9/10
NextGen Ready
NextGen Ready
Yes
No
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
4
3
Coax Ports
Coax Ports
1
1
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
120Hz
60Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
None
None
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES
Picture Quality Score
Picture Quality Score
7.8/10
7.4/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
7.7/10
7.2/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
8.2/10
6.7/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
7.9/10
7/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
7.1/10
6.4/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
8.9/10
6.5/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
8.4/10
6.6/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
7/10
6.6/10
PHYSICAL
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
32.8" x 57.2" x 2.8"
32.9" x 56.9" x 3"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
35.6" x 57.2"
34.8" x 56.9"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
50.5 lbs
47.4 lbs
VESA Mount
VESA Mount
300 x 300
300 x 300
DISPLAY
Color Depth
Color Depth
10 bit
10 bit
Black Frame Insertion
Black Frame Insertion
Yes
Yes
Auto Low Latency Mode
Auto Low Latency Mode
Yes
Yes
Contrast
Contrast
7.6/10
8.2/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
8/10
5.7/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
8/100
6/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
8.3/10
6.9/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
8.6/10
8.2/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
7.9/10
6.8/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
6.8/10
7/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
6.4/10
6.9/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
5.3/10
5.4/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
5.9/10
6/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
10/10
5.9/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
10/10
4.6/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
7/10
7.9/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
7.4/10
8/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
8.1/10
7.6/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
7/10
8/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
9/10
4.4/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
8.8/10
6.3/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
8/10
7/10
SOUND
Speaker Setup
Speaker Setup
2.0
2.0
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
20 W
16 W
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Yes
DTS:X
DTS:X
Up to DTS Digital Surround, Bypass only
No
Get a great deal on the Sony X90J (LCD) or the TCL S546 (LCD)
About Sony
Sony stands as a highly experienced and widely trusted TV manufacturer, earning a reputation that surpasses all others. A Japanese company, Sony has been making TVs for far longs than it has been making Playstation game consoles. Sony's high-end TVs are often regarded as the ultimate choice for videophiles, representing the epitome of quality, albeit at a premium price point. Renowned for their advanced and precise motion handling, as well as their cutting-edge local dimming algorithms, Sony consistently delivers unparalleled performance in these areas. They include Google TV software with all their TV sets, which grants access to the largest selection of apps available and they also include Bravia Core which is a movie streaming platform specifically for Sony TVs that offers higher picture quality by using more bandwidth.
About TCL
TCL, the highly recognizable TV brand from China, has firmly established itself as the second-largest manufacturer in terms of sales volume. Renowned for striking an impressive balance between affordability, picture quality, and design, TCL TVs deliver a compelling overall package. While they have traditionally excelled in the low-end and midrange TV segments, TCL has recently made remarkable strides in the realm of high-end televisions, introducing impressive models that rival top competitors. Most TCL TVs use Roku software which is very user friendly and easy to use, but they have a few other models that use Google TV which has the largest app selection, but is not as user friendly as Roku.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
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CEO and TVs Editor
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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