Model : KDL 52XBR6
Product Features :
- 16 9 Full HD 1080p Resolution 1920x1080p LCD Panel
- DMex compatible allows seamless feature upgrades
- BRAVIA Sync Enhanced HDMI CEC
- BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor
- Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit ACE
>> Starting to lose its appeal
I bought this TV in the last few days of 2008 when an attractive discount was offered if you also bought a Sony blu ray player It was a deal that I could not pass up It arrived in Jan 2009 and I have been for the most part thrilled with the unit The picture is excellent and the color is great
A few months ago my wife started asking about the vertical line down the right side of the screen I had trouble seeing it against a darker background but it was definitely there It s in about 3 inches from the right side running from top to bottom and it about 1/2 inch wide
I thought that it was the source that was no good and it would come and go Recently it has been happening more frequently and the line has gotten a little wider it s actually multiple close lines It shows up with the blu ray it showed up with my Comcast HD DVR and it now shows up with my DirecTV HD DVR HR 21 But it comes and goes without touching anything
I contacted Sony online who suggested that I change the socket that it is plugged into I have it on an expensive surge/power control unit The unit shows voltage and status and everything there is fine This is not a problem with the socket it s a problem with the panel I asked about warranty and unfortunately it s one year that s it
I looked on the web and found that someone else had the same problem with their same unit but their line is 3/4 inch in from the right whereas mine is about 3 inches
I thought that Sony was known for quality so this is a big surprise I don t recall ever having a problem with another TV before I was looking at a Sony laptop since I want all of this equipment to work together but this has changed my mind
If I were doing this again I would look at Panasonic or Samsung
I gave the low rating on picture quality because when the line appears it really annoys me If the frequency of appearance increases this is only going to get worse
>> Sony up s the ante
I have had this tv now for over a year and I must say I am still impressed This set replaced a 40XBR2 which I am loaning to my bro I wanted to go bigger and the idea of 120hz was appealing ever since I saw a demo of Spiderman 3 playing on a 120hz Sony Bravia almost a year prior For me the pq is outstanding I keep Motion enhancer on standard and it s excellent A lot of people falsely assume it s the 120hz that makes the pq look soap opera ish but it s actually the motion enhancer which can be turned off The 120hz is always on and has no negative effect on the pq at all The colors are excellent and the picture is smooth Watching Blu Ray films on this tv is a sight to behold it will make you a believer in movies again I game on this bad boy and it handles everything with ease My PS3 and 360 look outstanding and I never have to use the game mode except for when I play Rockband FPS with no lag The 4 HDMI ports and 2 Component makes this one tv that can handle all of your devices The sound is phenomenal as well it plenty loud and does the trick for those late nights when you don t want your surround sound going The menu system just like the PS3 and PSP is very easy to navigate There is a lot to love with this tv but there are a few negatives It like all LCD tv s may suffer from clouding and uneven back lighting if it does it should only appear in a very dark image and shouldn t be noticeable Mine is excellent in that regard and I have no issues with this My only wish would have been if they used the sort of glass bezel of my XBR2 that I loved Overall this is an amazing HDTV that handles the videogames and sports games watching the Laker s on this bad boy is a lot of fun It may be pricey but when it comes to quality and reliability Sony IMO cannot be beat
>> Great TV but Warranty difficult to deal with
I purchased this TV for about 2300 along with a free Sony Blu Ray BDS350 from Circuit City s going out of business sale in Jan 2009 The TV is great and I recommend it highly HD and blu ray blew me away I went back within the 30 day limit and bought Circuit City s 3 year warranty for 300 as I kept getting told that things can go wrong with these big LCD s I was told that the CC warranty covered more than the usual things and that they would often simply replace the defective TV with no hassle
On April 22 2009 I reported Mura clouding which had a flashlight effect from six points on the sides of the screen It doesn t show during TV viewing except during very dark scenes and became more annoying to me as time went on I first called the Circuit City warranty guys thinking the set might just get promptly replaced but no such luck They immediately turned me over to Sony saying the one year Sony warranty is in effect My receipt for the CC warranty shows it began at date of purchase and ends Jan 2012 so apparently in reality I bought a 2 year warranty not a 3 year and paid 300 Sony dispatched their repairman who came and looked it over on an early Sat morning when the TV was not warmed up enough for the problem to show He believed that and said he would come back He told me Sony needs proof of a problem and to try to get pics of it so not owning a camera I bought a drug store instant camera which did get sharp pics of the TV screen with or without flash But it just picked up the TV with its black screen with none of the white clouding showing on the snapshots The repairman thankfully did bring a real camera on his next visit took pics and left with the promise that Sony would call me in about 5 business days with the verdict By June 17 they still had not called so I called them and was informed that they did have a new back panel on back order and would call me for an appointment when it came in It might take weeks Then a few days later they called me because they had the part They promptly came and tried to install it taking ALL the guts out of the TV unplugging all the wiring inside it EVERYTHING down to the plain black frame itself then went to replace the panel but found they had ordered the wrong panel They put everything back together OK and I m still awaiting the correct replacement panel
I asked while they were working what if the new panel is the same way and they said then that s how it will have to be I guess So I think in that case I would try to go after the CC guys and threaten to make the warranty a disputed charge on my credit card unless they do something but we ll see
I ll update this review when I get the new panel
here is my update I got the correct new panel put in on 7/28/09 which is actually a substitute panel for the original which is no longer made It worked perfectly and gorgeously the first day and I thought my problems were over However by the second evening when the TV was very warmed up there was the same problem again that I had originally reported only with slightly different light shapes along the sides of the screen but just as severe as before So now will begin a new process of dealing with Sony and/or Circuit City Warranty people to perhaps install yet another panel get a replacement of the TV or get a refund of the original purchase price I love the TV better than all others I ve seen I just hate the problem If they will refund me though I will buy something else perhaps I guess plasma
8/7/09 I called Sony Customer Relations to inform them that the new panel did not work but before I could say anything the guy seemed unaware that the panel had been replaced and offered me a replacement of the same exact model 52 XBR6 but refurbished I then called Assurant Consumer Relations they have taken over Circuit City warranties and was run all around hell trying to talk to them about whether a replacement TV would cancel my Circuit City three year warranty First person we don t take care of that call contract sales I did they have nothing to do with this problem Consumer Relations is supposed to help you 2nd person No way will the warranty be in effect any more Are you crazy or something I tried once more 3rd person A very helpful experienced sounding guy No it shouldn t effect the warranty at all I only have to put a note on my computer that the MANUFACTURER is replacing it with the EXACT SAME MODEL and that I have reassured you the warranty is still in effect Sony had also said the same thing about their one year coverage So I called Sony back and agreed to the deal They will be delivering the new TV in several days The helpful guy at Assurant also mentioned that the refurbished TV is probably just part of a recall for a defective part which has now been fixed and thus it is probably not used but brand new This makes me hopeful as maybe if it was manufactured at an earlier time it could be a better model We ll see
8/21/09 The saga continues It s too bad that Sony isn t producing up to par as I ve heard the XBR9 has the same problem They replaced my TV with the refurbished new one and sure enough the same problem showed up within 24 hours Only a little worse since there is at least one splotch of white cloud even in the middle of the screen I don t think they can fix it A refund might be in order but it seems they will only give a partial to account for depreciation even though I first reported it within 90 days of purchase and it has taken me 4 months to get this far I m wishing I kept the first one with the new panel
9/09 Sony replaced my TV with another identical model this time it came with an older style but correct remote for this TV I guess that might mean it s one of the first 52XBR6 s to be manufactured There is NO MURA It is now November 17 2009 and still a good black screen with if I am precise the teeny tiniest bit of mura but no distraction at all Now I feel I finally lucked out Phew
