Compared OLED TVs of Panasonic and Sony in 2025, identifying the superior sound quality - and it's evident which brand emerges victorious
In the realm of 2025 flagship OLED TVs, two powerhouses stand out: the Panasonic Z95B and the Sony Bravia 8 II. Both models participated in a recent OLED four-way showdown test, with the Standard sound preset at default settings on both TVs.
Speech Performance
The Panasonic Z95B projects voices outward with good clarity and detail, though some users have noted a slight sharpness and sibilance that can make speech sound a bit flat or thin. On the other hand, the Sony Bravia 8 II offers crisp, clear, and direct dialogue with excellent detail and dynamic nuance that helps convey emotional content well.
Bass Performance
When it comes to bass performance, the Panasonic Z95B delivers seriously punchy, room-filling bass that is tightly controlled, allowing other soundtrack elements to remain clear. The bass can even be physically felt through the floor during certain scenes, although it has some tonal limitations and can distort when boosted excessively. In comparison, the Sony Bravia 8 II's bass is decent and clean but less powerful and impactful than the Z95B’s. Bass can become more pronounced at high volume but loses control and comfort during longer listening sessions.
Surround Sound and Spatial Effects
The Panasonic Z95B boasts a sophisticated 5.1.2-channel, 160W Dolby Atmos system tuned by Technics, featuring front, side, top speakers, a subwoofer, and passive bass radiators. Its 360 Soundscape Pro system offers expansive spatial sound with an authentic sense of height and width, enhanced further by room calibration via Space Tune. The Sony Bravia 8 II, meanwhile, utilizes an actuator-based sound system tied closely to on-screen action that creates a wide and engaging soundstage extending beyond the screen boundaries. It does very well with spatial accuracy but is generally less elaborate than Panasonic's speaker array.
| Aspect | Panasonic Z95B | Sony Bravia 8 II | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | Speech | Clear but can be slightly sibilant and flat | Crisp, direct, with excellent detail | | Bass | Powerful, room-filling, tightly controlled | Decent but less impactful, cleaner at lower volumes | | Surround Sound| Advanced 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos, extensive speaker array tuned by Technics, includes room calibration | Actuator-based, tied to on-screen action, spacious but simpler |
During the test, the Z95B provided clear, strong speech throughout the scenes, while the Bravia 8 II had a fuller sound with a more bassy tone. However, neither TV could recreate the same 3D effect as the HW-Q990C soundbar in the Sinners scene.
In the Top Gun: Maverick scene, the Z95B delivered a wide soundstage with sound extending beyond the screen borders, while the Bravia 8 II's soundstage was not as wide but delivered sound effects with real clarity and a tighter overall balance. The Z95B's vivid height effects made the Darkstar flight test feel like the jet flew overhead, whereas the Bravia 8 II's performance in the same scene was not as immersive.
In conclusion, the Panasonic Z95B offers a more powerful and elaborate built-in sound system, especially in bass impact and surround sound depth, but may have some slight issues with voice naturalness. The Sony Bravia 8 II delivers clear and emotionally nuanced speech with a very good spatial soundstage, though with less bass slam and overall power. Both TVs are impressive in their own right, and the choice between them depends on the user's personal preferences and priorities in sound quality.
