Living with a Sony 70LCD SXRD BRAVIA KS70R200A

[Slapper]

all good... lets hope it all goes your way, which i reckon it will

[m4rk1ll3r]

Service engineers are flat out so can't look at my TV until Monday but I'll post their findings etc.

[m4rk1ll3r]

Engineer arrived yesterday and confirmed it is optical block, I asked him if he had had a lot of these and he nodded. Took some pictures however couldn't get into the service menu as he had the wrong sequence photocopied so will be back just to record the lamp and panel times.

 

Additionaly he said that Sony generally replace the set rather than the offending chipset however they haven't had to deal with a 70inch as yet.

 

Incidentally I couldn't find a service manual online for a KS-70R200A or the routine of how to get into the service menu - that worked, if any of you know how please let me know.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

[Slapper]

 

m4rk1ll3r;66261 wrote:

Additionaly he said that Sony generally replace the set rather than the offending chipset however they haven't had to deal with a 70inch as yet

 

so new tv coming?? or not. i wonder what they would give you if they replaced it

[m4rk1ll3r]

 

Slapper;66360 wrote:

so new tv coming?? or not. i wonder what they would give you if they replaced it

 

I just assumed he was talking about a like for like but now you come to mention it I guess it could be a complete replacement eh to phase out the faulty ones once and for all?? I had thought about a refund but I wouldn't get as big a tv for the money yet so would rather keep the one I've got as long as it is fixed period.

 

Just waiting for engineer to come back and take the lamp hours etc before the options are known.

 

Mark.

[m4rk1ll3r]

Finally got into service mode (which IS actually the same routine as most Sony models) and got the lamp time hours etc (3000) so now a report goes off to Sony to see what they are going to do about it.

 

There was an issue of getting a decent picture of the green blob effect as it depended what was on screen, greenish pictures showed up the problem best. I used superman returns but saving P-Ryan is also good but best of all is the PS3 in the mornings as it has a greeny-aqua backdrop in default mode that shows the problem nicley.

 

A 70" x-series bravia please Sony if you cannot fix or replace my current model.

 

Mark.

[spacies]

Good luck mate.

That sure is one big ass TV!

[Jabz10]

 

m4rk1ll3r;65879 wrote:

I was hoping things wouldn't have to get ugly.

 

 

 

Got this back from Sony at 11:30 less than an hour after contacting them which is pretty good I have to say - lets hope the issue itself gets resolved in an equally efficient manor :cool:

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Mark,

 

Thank you for contacting Sony NZ.

 

Please follow the link provided to contact your closest Sony Authorised service centre to get your KS-70R200a looked at by a Technician. Due to it being 2 months out of warranty we will cover the warranty as long as its due to manufacture fault (just like any Sony Warranty). Please get the Sony Authorised service centre you choose to authorise this with Sony’s ASC team so you won’t be charged.

 

http://www.sony.co.nz/products/servicecentres.jsp

 

I hope this helps resolve your query. If not, or more information is required, please contact us on 0800 SONY NZ (0800 766 969).

 

Kind regards,

 

Hi mark can you please send me your correspondence on this, jai AT nztivo.net

I have a 50" SXRD that is a year old and I'm starting to see the yellow staining in the top left hand corner and the bottom right hand corner. However only on the component inputs, so i am wondering if it is the source. I don't see it on RF or HDMI.

Looks like I will have to test further. What the best material to see this fault with?

Will post up a pic later.

[Slapper]

oh boy does this mean my 70" is on a count down too:(

if it is i hope its sooner than later

[Jabz10]

Don't worry..... well not yet anyway....

 

I have a couple of Tivo's plugged into the rear components via scart RGB to component converters. I plugged the sky stb directly into the front component and the yellowing disappeared. So I have to do some more tests.

 

AVS forums mentions to check on the memory stick screen, however our PAL units don't have that. I'm also looking for a link to the PAL SXRD service manual if anyone knows where to d/l it.

[Nigel Beale]

you struggle to get Sony service manuals on the web. (free anyway)

They tend to be a little cryptic anyway, hardly anyone knows what alot of the settings actually alters, even sony field techs.

 

The ISF guys in the US try to clean the optics on the units they work on, although I don't do that as offically in NZ one be a registered sparky to open a cabinet with 230~240v inside.

I also don't enter a Sony service menu(and no one else should) inside the warranty period otherwise you lose your warranty. When I spoke to Sony last they would review this on a case by case arrangement for me. (very difficult to become a Sony repair agent and as I am not a repair outfit, only calibrate the imagery so I fall outside the parameters)

 

I also don't see mention of my ISF forums about this optic block issue, so I wonder if the calibration "effect" may lessen the possible burn in and overheating issue. Or lengthern the time period until it happens.

 

I calibrated 50"SXRD not so long ago and noted that the default settings had very strong gamma settings(no defaults could get near the EBU standards) and the contrast levels could be driven far to high for normal viewing. What this means is the blocks are running at maximum at average picture levels, not at peak picture levels as they should. Effectively straining the system.

 

Maybe a strong case for why the burn in photos, in that thread are so strong visually.

 

To see the fault outlined above in this thread you need to send the screen a full field image isolating the primaires and such like. A video generator is best, but the DVE calibration disk also contains reference material which should show up the fault clearly.

 

For those in CHCH I can check your displays for you if you like. (without actually promoting a calibration i suspect that calibration will probably add some life span to the optical block)

 

Regards

[m4rk1ll3r]

I get the GREEN blob effect with every source two hdmi and componant so its the TV for me.

 

As mentioned earlier any greenish picture shows up the problem really well as the greens will not match PS3 wins the highlight prize tho.

 

All I did when I rasied the issue was submit an inquiry to the support area of sony.co.nz

 

hth

 

Sony did ask for a copy of my invoice today sso they are weighing up the options no doubt. So far I have to say I have been impressed with the service from Sony and the engineer, I hope they don't go and spoil it.

 

Mark

[Nigel Beale]

I have just heard back from my US collegues, they have seen this issue and can be a common ocurrance. Pretty much like that site higher in this thread alludes to, overheating is the likely cause. It might be covered even if outside warranty.

[Jabz10]

I have re-checked and pulled the Tivo's and scart to component converter out of the loop. Reconnected the Sky back up via component and changed to Discovery channel, I could see it most effectively with the Discovery channel program intro screens the full white with blue writing during every add break.

 

I saw no yellowing/green discoloration whatsoever with the Sky decoder connected directly to the screen, so that rules out the my screen being affect by this issue.

 

I thought the scart to component converter is faulty but I don't think so since I swapped it for the 2nd Tivo one, so it is the 1st Tivo itself. Will try Composite out.

[tkr001]

 

m4rk1ll3r;66494 wrote:

I get the GREEN blob effect with every source two hdmi and componant so its the TV for me.

 

 

 

As mentioned earlier any greenish picture shows up the problem really well as the greens will not match PS3 wins the highlight prize tho.

 

 

 

All I did when I rasied the issue was submit an inquiry to the support area of sony.co.nz

 

 

 

hth

 

 

 

Sony did ask for a copy of my invoice today sso they are weighing up the options no doubt. So far I have to say I have been impressed with the service from Sony and the engineer, I hope they don't go and spoil it.

 

 

 

Mark

 

So what was the outcome Mark?

[Jabz10]

Yes did they repair ? Replace optical block?

 

Here;s the strange thing I am seeing this yellowing on the top left corner and lower right corner, through any source that is converted into another signal or connector?

 

I don't know how to make sense of that.

But I have 2 x RGB Scart to Component converters connected to TV, I see the yellowing on these inputs.

I have a HTPC connected via a Geforce 9600GT with a DVI plug to HMDI into Tv's 2nd HDMI input, I see yellowing on this input.

 

I am waiting for MySky HDi to be installed on Sat, will then see what happens with the HDMI input for that.

[m4rk1ll3r]

quick update is Sony have asked for an inspection of the lamp which should be done next week, I'll post more when i have it.

 

i have been travelling for the last month hence the tardy response and sloooow progress, back onto it now tho.

 

Cheers

 

Mark.

[Jabz10]

So you still have a functioning TV? Will the inspection take place at your premises?

 

I have called Telectech Sony service centre, and they will send someone to asses the TV, I mentioned I want it to stay here and functioning for the Olympics.

It was purchased in March '07 so is out of warranty. Teletech guy said if it is the optical block issue will be Warranty.

[m4rk1ll3r]

 

jabz;69018 wrote:

So you still have a functioning TV? Will the inspection take place at your premises?

 

 

 

 

hi jabz

 

Yes and Yes.

[Jabz10]

Teletech came over today, to asses; didn't have any visual inspection tools or signal generators. Just a visual check. He says it looks like the start of the yellow stains, green blob issue. Lamp hours were 2000hrs..

 

i mentioned directly connecting Sky via component havent replicated the issue, but HTPC to HDMI and tivo to scart to component can clearly see the issue.

He concentrated on the HTPC to HDMI connection, changing background colours for him, can only see the issue on a white background.

I mentioned Sky is due today for HDi install. He said see how that performs and let him know, in the mean time he will notify Sony that there is an issue.

[jakenz]

Question for Masterpiece:

 

I have a 50" SXRD that I'm happy with (no green blob) and have calibrated to a basic level - contrast, brightness, gamma, etc - but I haven't touched the detailed white balance adjustments. Pretty happy with the natural picture I get.

 

Recently though I noticed, while up close to the TV (<2 feet), that there seems to be a noticeable divergence between the red, green, and blue colour components to the image as projected onto the screen/front of the TV that I've not noticed before. It is most obvious for whatever reason in the bottom left of the TV, and when there are two blocks of contrasting colours with a sharp edge between them.. e.g. white text on a black background.

 

Questions:

 

• I've moved several times since I got the TV - could this have caused the lens etc to have moved out of original alignment?
• Can this be corrected via adjustment in the service menu?
• Could correction result in a perceived, if only subtle, improvement from the sitting position (3m+ away)?
• If so, is it complex to do, or should I enlist a specialist (I'm in Wellington - anyone up here you know of who'd visit to do this?)

[Nigel Beale]

Convergence is the word.

 

There is a some adjustment with convergence in the Sony SXRD, although limited in that it is fairly global.

Its can be an issue with any projector or rear projection system. My AE900E is a little off, still within manufacture tolerance spec though.

Quite often there is nothing you can do if the panels(light box) are fixed. Usually the manufacture has some limits for pass/fail for a unit to be repaired replaced. (within warranty)

 

When convergence is off it can make the image look out of focus all the time. Infact it is how the panasonic projectors work with smooth screen by a defocused blue channel which bleeds into the slight gap between pixels.

 

I am working on a brief about a tour, to be passed by AudioENZ first of course if you are interested.

 

Balancing the whitebalance with those user controls can be hit and miss with SXRD's. Quite often getting them balanced will result in a washed out image as I found out not so long ago.

 

regards

[jakenz]

@ Masterpiece - yes, convergence (or lack thereof) is exactly what I was trying to describe.

 

I for one would be interested in having you take a look at my SXRD TV should your proposed tour take you through the Windy city...

[m4rk1ll3r]

Latest.....

 

Sony reckon it might be the Lamp and are sorting a replacment to try...

not sure how good that news is if it does prove to be just the lamp then on one hand I still have my big ass TV which I love, but on the other hand the lamp has only done half its expected hours so could end up costing a fortune if it needs replacing every 12 months, 'cause they 'aint cheep.

 

I still need convincing so will wait and see (TV engineer seemed to think it was optical block at the time as well) so who knows.

 

Mark.

[Slapper]

mine came with a spare bulb, did yours,, it was all sealed within the box the tv came in