I am lucky enough to have a premier Sony dealer here in Austin (A&B TV for those in CTX) that already has an SXRD unit on display (yep, the $12,000 70" beast) and holy ****, it's all that and a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.

I have some reservations though, voiced a while ago by several pro reviewers, starting with the whole LCD on silicon issue. Certainly we have seen a few flash in the pan concepts from a few mfrs that have been absolutely repleat with problems, to the tune of $14,000,000 in one mfr's case replacing bad units or substituting them for properly operating LCD or CRT units.

Has anyone else seen the SXRD TVs? What are your thoughts? I only sat with this TV for a few hours, and I was very impressed, but when the price tage is a over 10 grand for a TV, yes, the cost of a fairly nice car.... to watch TV and movies, I became very critical and saw things that bothered me.

Input pls.....

I saw a demo of one of new 1080i DLPs today. They wouldn't tell us what brand because the mfr was there and simply wanted opinion. Kinda sad, the rest of austin is out on the lake, I am in a dark room assessing video. . . ouch, ima geek. Anyway, as kick A as I thought (and still think) SXRD is, boy, for the lower price and potentially high reliability, SXRD is looking at a hard run against DLP. Keep in mind there are companies experimenting will 11 slice color wheels now, and 7 is currently not uncommon.

c'mon folks, I can't be the only one interested in the move from 720 to 1080 . . . .right?

Although not currently in a financial position to spend $13,000.00 on a display, I too have spent a couple of hours viewing the new Sony 70" SXRD rear projection television at a local high end video store. I recall reading an analogy that it is like looking through a pane of glass out a window, and that is pretty accurate until your face is within a foot or two of the screen. On high definition material the 1080p image is incredible, making the best plasma displays look as if they are lacking in detail in comparison. On standard definition sources the playing field is a little more even. Watching several torture test DVDs, the Sony exhibited one odd digital effect, whereby an area, such as a character's forehead or bare chest would blotch out. No user adjustments in the menu would eliminate this effect, but it was rarely apparent, and you pretty much had to be looking for it. I understand Sony will be releasing this technology in a 50" and 60" set by year's (2005) end. This is the best image I've had the pleasure of seeing short of two stacked 9" CRT front projectors.

Runco certainly makes great video products. As I recall, the double stacked projectors I saw demoed at an A/V show in New York were Sony G90Us. It looked like film.
I don't know much about the Denon, but I am aware it uses the new Teranex Realta chip, which more than justifies the cost of the player. So the million dollar question you need to ask is, buy the Denon now, or wait for Blu-ray/HD DVD? What makes this more complicated is recent talk between Toshiba and Sony on a single HD format, but when? If you want great video now, take the plunge. Would look great with the Qualia 006! You'd never want to leave the house.
Was invited to a friend of a friend's house to see his 52" JVC HD-ILA set. Although this television didn't impress me on the showroom floor at Best Buy, it looked very good in his house on both HD and NTSC material. Being a video guy, I'm sure he did some calibration using something like a Video Essentials DVD. And although it was a bit bright, I saw no noticeable artifacts from a distance of 12". It is a 1280x720 panel. I would say the Sony is still more involving, as it should be at three times the price, but the JVC seems to provide a very good picture for a retail price of $4,500.00.

for 4500, I'm sure it does, but given 2 yrs (from now) hella good DLPs and LCD/LCD variants will be available for a lot less. Early adopting, or in the case of this rather drawn out transformation of the american viewing mkt (if you will) 'middle adopting' has been pricey. The variants provide good picture, but at the cost of R&D and speedy push to market. DLP has been more relaxed in that aspect, not to say TI isn't balls out developing the next best thing either. And not to say the color wheel thing hasn't been a challenge either.

I guess the botoom line here is not unlike cars to some degree; all cars will eventually start looking similar in one way or another as computer modeling and efficiency start to play as large a roll as current computers allow in terms of drag for this example. So, to some degree, all monitors will start to look very, very similar in a given range as time goes on and tech slows or standardizes. The bottom line there will be corporate profit vs. cost of mfr.

Kinda makes you wish guns were still they way of the old west.

I have to say, I have done quite of bit of test viewing and comparing between a lot of sets, and I am genuinely surprised. I have started to consider an SXRD unit when previously I thought DLP was hands down the best way to go. The cost on the SXRD sets came down a LOT after launch.

I still don't think I am considering any other lcos sets, but Sony is now in the running with Toshiba, HP (no I am not joking) and just maaaaaybe Samsung.

I purchased a 60 inch Sony SXRD in Mar and I couldn't be more pleased. The picture quality is phenominal. I had researched other TVs, and decided this one was worth its cost and I have not been disappointed. There isn't any glare during sunlight conditions. I have it connected to an Onkyo 7.1 surround sound system and I am blown away. HD channels are simply amazing. I wish regular tv channels supported HD now, but when they do, I am ready. The picture in picture on this TV is awesome, although not as appealing as the 5 channels you can watch on the Mitsubishi DLP, but lets be real, how many shows can you actually watch and keep up with at once. I have only had the TV for a few months, but I am simply blown away. While the price was high, I must say it has been worth it.

as time goes on I have heard almost 100% glowing praise for these units. I was expecting more first run problems like back with the Vega V1, 200, and 250 XBRs, but the SXRD tech seems to be very solid and yeah, the picture is phenomenal, and this coming from a guy who is fairly anti-LCD

What model is this. I thought the SONY SXRD did not have PIP.

How do compare these to DLP's ??

the bigger question is whether or not LED based DLP is going to be reliable. It seems solid, but LEDS can be finicky as far as long term performance, look at your closest traffic light... all those LEDS should be live, its new tech yes, but I bet they aren't.

i purchased a 60" in 12/2005. it delivers an awesome picture, blew away otehr mfg's plasmas and even lcd's. but in the last month it has started to go green. after contacting sony and thier auth repair firm i ahve learned that they are having a problem with the light engine and waits of up to 2 to 4 weeks for parts. has anyone else heard of this?

unfortunately I have, I am going to hazard a guess that you XBR1 yes? If so, you may just have to wait, from what i have heard they are replacing the entire assy, its not JUST the chips or the primary board though the processing is a big part of it. Sony is known for green push with there LCD panels, its not too far out of the realm of possibility that this would extend to the SXRD chips. Try not to get too worked up, Sony CS is very poor, has been for years, so it will seem like they are back-burnering you for a while, but they will fix it. Let us know how that works out.

They removed my XBR1 8/29 and still have nothing to watch. The light engine is the culprit. The board couldn't be repaired and after 2 back order ship dates went by Sony agreed to replace the entire set. The picture was awesome, but Sony CS was/is the pits.

well maybe they will surprise you with a new xbr2........one could only hope. yeah, their CS is terrible. let us know how that all works out for you

while its only been a couple of weeks since i've been waiting for my XBR1 parts, its been a very frustrating time to talk with sony cs. no reply from a tech service rep after a week, even though they "should call you in 24 to 48 hours, but thats not written down anywhere" so says 2nd level sony cs support. when asking to escalate above 2nd level i am only given one option, mail a letter to the executive review committe in ft myers FL. and no they don't have email "but make sure you put your email in the letter." When asked the 2nd level support person claimed not to have a manager i could escalate to either. i did learn there are more than 190 units on back order and no date could be given. i am now asking for them to come get the 60" xbr1, the custom stand. refund my $ for that plus the extended warranty since this broke while still in the mfg warranty. anyone care to make a bet on the odds of that happening?

question, i just read all of these comments. I am having a problem with a solid green screen from time to time. Is this the green you are talking about. when i change channels and go back the screen is normal again. I am still under one year and would like to know what to do.

call the sony customer service asap at 800-222-7669 and open an event id # so you get it on record while still under your mfg warranty.

update: the day after sony recvd my letter reviewing this saga and requesting them to pick up up the tv, custom stand and give me a check for the tv, stand, ext warranty, delivery and sales tax --- the part arrived at the sony auth service firm. coincidence ? or just some one waiting longer but quieter missed out on their part? now lets see how the repair goes.

We have the green screen problem with our 60". Service tech out today, new light engine to be replaced. He told us 1-2 days but after reading this thread, I wonder. Spoke at length with Sony cs. They claim to have no knowledge to pass on re: pattern of this type of problem or any information to alleviate concerns that this is going to be an ongoing issue. I am afraid that I will be sitting here in another 6-7 months with the same problem. What are the thoughts out there?

document everything you can, if you have to write to them, use certified mail. There was a time when Sony CS was actually good, but that died with disco. Bummer.

green blob or green screen? from other forums on the net i have found out that it has to do with my comcast cable box and the hdmi software. are you running this same setup?

We have Direct TV and I don't know what the other is being a tech retard instead of geek. Wish I was geek. During my initial phone call with Sony cs they had me bypass surge protector but no change. From different forums I have been reading this seems to be a common problem with this model. Our prod. date is 03/06. Very disappointing.

bypass surge protection, lol, those ppl on the phone have a diagnostic list, but they have no idea what each point to the consumer actually means. i had time warner do that to me on the phone hwen I had already told them that there was zero loss past the d-marc, the signal was bad AT the d-marc, and silence, then, "well sir, do you use a power strip" to which I responded, "no, I have a primary MOV that feeds a regenerator that feeds all my equipment" more slince, then "let me transfer you to one of our techs"


sigh


if you have ever dealt with TW then you know, but overall yeah, the CS is terrible in part to poor supervision at sonys call centers, but moreover, the ppl one the phone only have a smattering of "training" in a LOT of areas.

I know its not really funny, but bypassing a surge protector becuase of the green screen error, lol

I have seen other discussions re: green blob vs. screen. We had blob now we have blob noticable at times but has spread into lots of green all over. Fluctuates as to degree but very noticable. Tech did calibrations to dx. I called repair shop today and OB (light engine) on B/O. Called Sony and 264 in transit with 112 of those to fill orders already on file. Now we wait and hope....

I just read your post and I have gone through the exact same thing with my XBR1. My TV began having discoloration at just 4 months old and have been battling over it since the 1st week of Sept. After 2 bad Light Engines and waiting for a 3rd on BO, I've been at War with Sony CS for the last 2 weeks. They are horrible to deal with! Was told the Tech. Rep. was to make a determination by last week and have been put off day after day after day. Finally today they called me to tell me they are exchanging the TV. I could feel my blood pressure finally go down as we spoke. They obviously know this is a huge issue and I think if you stay determined, you will have satisfaction.
If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them for you.

What is your prod date? It seems before 2/07 use one part# and after use a different #OB. Did you know before tech left that OB was bad or did you have a good picture that then went green again? I am documenting everything and have accepted that I will need to go thru another OB replacement (if 1st goes bad) before I start pushing for a replacement. Am getting tired of feeling everyday is St. Patty's Day when watching tv....

Sorry didn't get back to you sooner. Do you mean before 2/06? 10 minutes after the Tech left here after replacing OB, I realized this one was bad as well. I didn't notice it at first and he left so quickly. I'm not sure whether he noticed it or not? I noticed after I turned on an I Love Lucy Episode in Black n White. It was very noticable! The entire upper left is a shade of green and the center to bottom right is a light Pink/Purple. The Green appears sometimes in a Blob in that area, but mostly just a light shade of green over the entire area. The First OB had no dscoloration in the middle of the screen, just in the Corners. Dark Green in bottom right and Purple in the top left. They ordered the another new OB the following day and is still on BO, as was the one before. I've been doing this since Sept.4 when the Set wasn't even 5 months old yet. They know this to be a major issue and parts are on BO everywhere with no ETA. That's why they decided to replace mine and they were tired of fighting with me.
I hope this helps you in some way.

Yes, I meant 06. Didn't even notice that! I have been watching with interest all of the problems on another forum. Even if green blob/tinges not present with new OBs other issues have been there. My OB is on BO. Sony told me last week 200 some were in transit but my repair shop has not rec'd. When I commented to them that I knew of several cases of replacement OB's resulting in other picture issues she did say my tech would be doing picture calibrations? or whatever to make sure it is acceptable. Maybe I should lock all doors to make sure he doesn't cut and run before we do a thorough check. I'll see what happens next week.

Hi,
Sony confirmed the replacement yesterday. From what I understand, their standard offer on replacement of the XBR1 is either a Refurbished XBR1 or a 55A2000. I wanted neither. If I had to settle for the A2000 Series, I pushed for the 60" to get as much TV as I could get out of them, however they wanted $200 for Shipping. At first I didn't want to agree to that, but then I did for this reason. If you do an even up trade that they offer, you only end up with whatever balance you have left on the Factory Warranty from your Original TV. By upgrading to the 60", you start out new like you did to begin with. So, I felt it was worth the trade off. Most of the options I'm losing from the XBR1 to the A2000, I never used anyway and I can count on both hands how many times I've listened to the TV speakers which everyone says are inferior to that of the XBR. My only concern is what, if any difference I'll notice in the lower wattage lamp. I was told I should recieve it in 7 to 10 business days. Hopefully this all ends up OK in the end. We shall see.

I think that you will be quite disappointed with the a2000. Not only is the sound inferior, but the picture is not even close as well. It looks more like the 3lcd than than the xbr1 or 2.

Thanks for vote of confidence! The A2000 was my only option other than to receive the same TV I've had problems with since it's 4 months old. It wasn't too big a decision. As for the sound, I could care less. That's what a theater system is for. I guess I can only come out of this Vowing to NEVER BUY ANOTHER SONY PRODUCT AGAIN! It was my first and will be my last.

My blobs are yellow & screen is going yellow. Now awaiting a new light engine for my set

I have had min since 3/2006 and it now has the green screen issue on the top right side with a vertical line coming down as well. The company that Sony is using for the service is Qualxserv. Does anyone have experience with them? What is the liklihood of pushing for a replacement up front? I have heard that the new OB doesn't fix the problem. I paid $3200 new and now I can get the XBR2 for that price. Is the A2000 series worst? I have read good reviews.

Thanks,

Brian

I received a 60A2000 to replace my 50XBR1 last week. I gave it the weekend to view all the different programming I watch regularly and came to one conclusion. The A2000 Series doesn't even come close. Now I'm told there may be a problem with it since the pixelation is so bad, but I didn't care to wait for them to send someone out for this now too! I was able to manage a deal to replace this one with the 60XBR2, which they should have just done to begin with to save us both the headaches. I would recommend anyone who is considering a replacement with their XBR1 for the A2000 should go and see it in a showroom for themselves. My opinion is the picture is not near as clear or bright and with a much slower processor, the picture is not near as smooth.

I am sorry to hear that. I have heard good things on the A2000, and it is suppose to have the same 2.5ms response time. At this point Sony hasn't responded to my request for a replacement,so it appears I will have to let Qualxserv replace the OB part and hope that fixes it. If not then I will push for the new set. I have an issue, my room will not take anything larger than 55". I have a very nice entertainment center/bridge unit and I don't plan on replacing it.

Maybe an ISF configuration is in order to make it look great. I almost spent the money on my current TV but I am glad I waited since it would probably be wiped out by the new part.

I fell upon this board last night by fluke.....I have a 50 SXRD. Now the reason that I made this purchase is because I have always had the best bang for the buck w/ Sony. After reading what was posted here, I tossed in a DVD and low and behold, I have a major green blotch in my upper right corner of the screen. Unreal! The worst part is, I just moved to FL and I can't find my original paperwork for the unit. Will Sony help me with this? I didn't purchase the "extended" warantee, but the TV is less than a year old. Anyone know if I'm covered on this? BTW Happy new year to all.
Patrick Mc

I had the Samsung DLP60 which looked good but had some issues and Best Buy had to swap it out, so in May 2006 I swapped for the SXRD 60 XBR (I believe its the XBR2). I don't care for the speakers on the side, because I pump through my surround system, but what really is bugging me is the GREEN screen that started in November. I've been waiting almost 2 months for the replacement engine, and it is getting worse by the day....what a pain. Reading everyone else having the same problem is nice to know that I'm not the only one, but sucky for everyone.

Question> I went through Best Buy for the claim to fix it as I have the extended warranty, but its in its first year, so should I call Sony CS as well? I read how bad they are and how much of a pain they are, but do I need to get an Event ID# for safety sake?

Thanks

I have the Best Buy extended warranty too, and my tv was also still under Sony's warranty. After the 1st horrible experience with Sony CR, I just stuck with Best Buy's reps. I harassed them a bit, and at first all they did was send out a service rep (which took 2 weeks, because apparently they are swamped with Sony service calls). When the rep took a look and said that, from servicing the same problem the previous few calls he had completed, he could guarantee that we would not get the replacement part for at least a month, I harassed Best Buy a little bit more. Yesterday, Best Buy finally just said they'll pick up the TV and we should go to the store and pick out a new one on them.

So, yeah, long story short, give Best Buy a call. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're aware of this problem now.

Bought set Feb 06. Green blob appeared in April 06. Sony warranty service changed optics block May 06. Dec 06 green blob back. Sony warranty service changed optic block Jan 07. Also replaced burned out lamp. Picture now very nice! BUT TO MUCH SERVICE - BEWARE

So you got the TV swapped by Best Buy, did they make you pay again for the extended warranty? Because last time I swapped my TV out, I had to buy a new $400 warranty....don't want to do that again. What model TV did you switch to? What is everyone recommending since the greatest TV on the planet is junk.

I just got my light engine replaced today....the new one the put in was bad right out of the box, but way better than how bad mine was....so I wait again for another light engine...or talk to Best Buy about a swap....

Same green blotch here. Bought my 60" SXRD in Dec '05, and first had the problem in July '06. Sony replaced the optical block but the first one was defective and unwatchable. A week later they brought another that worked. In August the green blotch was back. I called Sony again, this time their warranty tech person said the image was 'within Sony specs' and left. The green blotch is stil there, seems to be growing, and when I called Sony today, Sony's response was basically TOUGH! you're 3 weeks out of warranty. SHAME ON YOU SONY. Best picture, maybe. Pitiful customer service definitely.

I've been reading all the frightening things about the SXRD...Now I'm continuing to watch my TV in a different light. I purchased my Sony in January of 2006 with a 2 year warrenty...so far I haven't seen anything that you are seeing on the screen. We watch this TV everyday for hours... Am I lucky so far or is this a hit and miss with this problem? I've even have give it the once over at night with no video input (black screen), to the very opposite... I don't see the blob in the middle, and nothing on the upper left and lower right. I've got my fingers crossed...with added prayers. Thanks for the heads up.

i just went to ken cranes and they had a floor model for 2499 I was really excited that I thought I would purchase it, but i felt that i first needed to go to Frys of course so I went to frys and then I was looking at 40" 1080p Dpl's and they were 1999. so i called Ken Cranes only 20 minutes ago to tell them i wanted the television, but before i left to go buy it i found this website and I just want to THANK ALL OF YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for letting me know what i would have been in for. BOY i Feel Great!

I am now not thrilled with SONY not taking care of a problem that they know exists even if you were out of warranty three weeks late. I have sony cameras, vx1000 and the vx2000. and I have a lot of other sony products, but i will now not deal with them because of the BS they are causing all of you. I love sony, but because of the negative feedback here, i am going to now look toward samsung and mitsubishi or even toshiba... Thanx again.

I have experienced the same problem with my 50" SXRD purcased in March of 2006. The yellow/ green tint started in December and has gotten progressivly worse over time. The standard and vivid modes are aweful and cannot adjust enough to clear out the green. I have since gone to the PRO mode and made some more corrections to get me through until the service tech can get out to take a look.
Has anyone had this fixed yet and what was the issue?

I am an early adopter and I waited for this TV to become available and bought it two weeks after it's release. I have loved it and have no issues until this past week. Now my screen is so green I can't stand to watch it. I called a TV tech from the yellow pages who is Sony Authorized and he told me, I should fight with Sony cc even though I have been out of warranty since Nov. He said it is going to cost about $1,000 to fix. He also said Sony cc has dwindled considerably since the 90's. Needless to say my wife is pi__ed and I am not happy that my pride and joy isn't going to do me any good for the big game next weekend. I have been a strong supporter of Sony and have swayed many friends to buy their products. Now I can't feel good about sending anyone to a company that doesn't stand behind their products.

I had the tech out last week and it is the optical block. From what I understand the part is about $700. With labor you are about right on the $1000 cost. Fortunatly I was still under warranty and the part is supposed to be in this week.
If this is a known issue with the SXRD, I would think you have a case against Sony to cover the cost.

I actually talked to another rep today at Sony and they said I have to have thier authorized service tech. from thier list come and evaluate my TV and if he says it is thier fault we will take it to the next level. It is going to cost me $95 for the rep to come out and he can't come for another week. I'll keep you all posted.

Good luck. I have been waiting for the part, ( Optical Block) which was supposed to be in stock, for a week now. I just found out yesterday that it is on back order with no ETA. This is crap. I have been watching this TV get worse for over a month now. I have contacted Sony to elevate this issue. I will keep you posted.
Has anyone else had success in getting a swap for a new set? You would think if this issue has been so widespread, Sony would get on the ball and get the parts avaiable.
I can't stand to watch the green people anymore.

I am hearing rumors of a class action suit from a friend at one of the bigger p/l firms in Houston. I will post more if I can get a hold of solid facts that I can post links for/to.

I had an attorney from San Diego e-mail me last night. I left him a meesage and we have played phone tag. I will let you all know what happens

http://www.sonysxrdtvclassaction.com/

This link above may interest all you SXRD folks out there. I just found this today.
I was also informed that the OB that was finally shipped on Saturday from Sony is in the hands of the repair shop as of today. It is scheduled for in-home service on Saturday. I will keep my fingers crossed.

I have been reading all the mail about the sxrd 60". I have faithfully been a Sony customer for more than 20 years and, I couldn't believe my eyes! Guess what? Yes I do have a Sony sxrd 60" and yes I do have the same problem, the green hue tinting. I notice this about 2 week ago. I have been out of warranty for around 2 months, I'm really worried that the service people are going to stick it to me bad,they are coming out tomorrow,what should I do? I am open to any suggestions.

I had Sony come to my house and I did not have the repair done. I just had him give me the estimate. I then called Sony CS and the put me thru to Customer Relations and they didn't bat an eye to fixing my TV (even though I am officially out of warranty) They are going to cover the whole $950 including both parts and labor. If any of you are having similar issues I would suggest you try Sony before you go to the next step.

Great news. I hope you don't have to wait as long as I have for the part. I expect the repair guy tommorow. I will keep you posted.

The repair guy made it Saturday and replaced the OB in about an hour. I can't believe how bad it really was. That unbelievable picture is back, I hope for good!

Hey Sonyfan7166,

Sonybluesman here, I canceled the service call, was to depressed to face the service charge. I will call Sony tomorrow, will keep you posted. Thanks for the advise.

Good Luck. From the feedback I have seen, Sony is well aware of the problem are are will most likley cover this for you.

I spoke to level 2 service-- have 2 yellow lines on the right side of my screen. i'm out of warranty and sony said they would cover it-- it's a known issue. service person came today and confirmed it's the optical block-- i gave her the event ID from my conversation with sony and she's going to handle it. we'll see.

The repair facility came to my house and replaced the optical block. Everything looks good again. Althoug I am happy everything looks good for the time being I am nervous a year from now the whole process is going to happen again. But until then I plan on just enjoying it.

Sony is abandoning, for now, the standard go *&^% yourself routine their CS generally has. The ONLY reason I can see for this is the lawsuits, word is getting around, and clearly they have done some cost analysis.

It is unfortunate that the only way these days to get a large corporation to comply is money in the form of litigation. Granted it has been this way for a while (ahem...Pinto), but it is still unfortunate.

We went into Best Buy today to discuss the green/yellow blob on our 50" Sony XBR. We bought the tv January 2006 and the problem came up March 18, 2007. Their customer service acted like they had never heard of this problem. I wonder where your Best Buy is located that you dealt with. They suggested we call Sony directly. After reading the reviews, it sounds like the problem with the Sony tv's is a common problem and I would think it is widely known throughout the electronics industry.

Best Buy has horrid customer service. I know this is off topic, but I went to return some memory I bought, which was the wrong type, and they wouldn't take it because it was the wrong kind. I said "no...really?!" to them but they wouldn't take it, still. I got so frustrated I threw the memory on the counter, cursed them out, and left the store. I will never shop there again.

Oh, and I have just started seeing the yellow lines on my TV. I am NOT happy, thankfully I bought the TV back in August, so it should still be under warranty.

It is, and there is a very large CA suit that covers the xbr1 and now a new suit for the 2. All you need to know is in this thread as i posted earlier, they have gotten a lot less aggresive with customers and throwing a new optical block at almost anyone who complains enough. Doesn't mean the problem is solved, there have been repeated reports that they are replacing the bad blocks with identical or serviced units, thus, expect the problem to come back. The other somewhat suspect thing they are doing is offering the lower end sxrd unit.....hardly a replacement....that plus a check for 2 grand would be easier to swallow.

that was useful wasn't it

an email just in from sony:

Dear Valued Sony Customer,

As part of the Sony commitment to quality, Sony is announcing that it is extending the limited warranty (parts and labor), in the United States, on the optical block of KDS–R50XBR1 and KDS–R60XBR1 model SXRD Televisions until October 31, 2008, regardless of purchase date. This extended warranty does not apply to the replaceable projection lamp and other parts that may be used in the televisions. All other terms of the Sony limited warranty continue to apply. No safety issue exists with the televisions. All other terms of the Sony limited warranty continue to apply.

Sony utilizes a network of hundreds of qualified independent third–party servicers to perform in–home television warranty service. Sony, through its authorized servicer network, will endeavor to repair your set within 30 days of your first contact. For diagnosis, warranty service, or if you are not provided a repair within 30 days, please contact Sony toll free at 866–850–8674.

In addition, Sony is announcing that for any owner of a KDS–R50XBR1 or KDS–R60XBR1 model televisions who paid out–of pocket expenses on or before May 1, 2007 for an estimate or repair service to replace the optical block, Sony will reimburse the customer by mail for the cost of the optical block and the labor expense to replace it, subject to the terms and conditions set forth on the claim form.

Click here for claim form
http://esupport.sony.com/docs/SonyTVOpticalBlockClaimForm.pdf?sssdmh=dm11.94923


To receive reimbursement, please follow completely the directions on the claim form. All claims must be postmarked by December 31, 2007.

Sony maintains its commitment to customer service and quality associated with its SXRD televisions.

Sincerely,

Sony Electronics Inc.

my 60" sxrd 1 has been fine since the infamous optical block was replaced. i did send sony a letter asking them to still come pick it up and bring a check as i didn't trust the future of the product. we finally agreed that they would refund me 100% of the 4 year extended warranty that i bought at the retailer.
has anyone had any repeat problems after a repair, if so how long after the repair.

The video on my KDSR50XBR2 had been getting progessively more yellow until I registered a call with CCity to get the unit repaired under my 4 year "Advantage" plan. Guy came out 4 days later, took one look at the TV, and said, "Optical Block. I'll order it and have it fixed free of charge in 7-10 days."

Part was backordered (you think?) but they came out 3 weeks later (last Tues) and fixed her. Less than two days later, the TV cannot be turned on... Same behavior as during the issue: comes on for a second, then shuts itself off. The Power LED blinks four times in a row.

CCity is now dragging their heels on a replacement, and I just learned that when they replace, they are free from all responsibility on their 4 year "hassle-free" coverage plan... of which I got only 18 months of use.

Now I guess I'll try to get Sony moving in tandem to see who can actually get me back up and running.

I stumbled upon this thread while researching Sony lcd rear projection TV's. I have seen on a few other sites a very similer sounding problem with the 50 and 55" Sony Class Grand Wega E series 3LCD set. (KDF-55E2000)

Is this the same problem as with the SXRD's? Has Sony solved this issue with a redesigne, or are they just going to continue fixing them as they go bad?

I am curious because I am thinking of grabbing a KDF-55E2000 as they will surely come down in price in a few months when the new models come out.

I've had my first gen SXRD 50" set for about a year and a half with no incidents. A few months ago my wife and I noticed a yellow hue over the whole screen,which we thought
was just certain channels of our Direct TV feed. It just got progressively worse over the next monthg to the point
after watching the white background of Family Guy,that I
started to get to the bottom of this issue. At first I thought it might just be a Digital (HDMI) issue. Swapped out different sources and connections and came to the
conclusion that it was defineately the TV itself. Has anyone noticed faint menu square blocks on the right portion of the screen? I can actually make out the words
"Press Menu" on the screen. It's as if there is something
blocking the path of the light,weird. Anyway,I guess the
difference between people having a "Yellow" or "Green"
hue to their screen has all only to do with how they have
their color settings adjusted,I'd assume. Contacted Sony
and they are willing to repair my set even though it's way
out of warrantee. Does anyone know if this is just an issue
with the 1st Gen XBR1,or the newer versions of the set that
don't have the "Dumbo Ear Speakers" on the sides? By the way,if the newer sets don't have this issue,why wouldn't Sony just give us that Optical Block that doesn't have the
inherant defect,than keep replacing one that will just keep
failing and upsetting their customers? I'm almost certain
that the only difference between the 1st Gen and the newer
versions is the speaker placement and the fact that the
newer one's will accept 1080P through the HDMI inputs.
(Boy did that get me mad about spending almost $4k on my
set and finding out that a few months later,they drastically dropped the price and added the 1080P inputs)
Still a very satisfied customer,besides the OB issue.

My friend has a SXRD Model KDS-R50XBR1 and after only 13 months it has a green bloch. So far Sony will not response to the problem. Anybody got any ideas.

Did changing the light engine fix the green problem?

Did replacing the light engine fix the "green" problem

outofmymind67 -

You indicate that Sony's standard offer for replacing an XBR1 is a refurbished XBR1 or a 55A2000.

How do you know this "their standard offer"? Since I am a disgruntled XBR1 owner, this is important to me. Feel free to pm me about your replacement experience at: acherrigan@yahoo.com

AVaddict -

You claim there is a California suit covering the XBR1 - can you elaborate or offer a site for this suit?

google is your friend.

I googled "sony class action xbr1"

Another UPSET SXRD owner. TV will be 2 years old in Dec. The $1200 job of replacing the lamp was done in Sept. of this year after almost the whole screen was green. Sony paid for it. Now, I too am getting the blinking red 4 times light. TV will not come on. Repairman came to fix it, said it was a bad "Q" box, or "Q" block, as Sony called it. CS said they'd pay for half. $800 for Q and $150 installation.

So, I pay $475 since I'm out of warranty. Did not buy extended. They just left, with my 50" tv in the back of their van. IT WAS NOT THE "Q" part. Diagnostics will take about a week. I did not have to pay - YET. I'm considering contacting an attorney. We've been without TV for 3 weeks and my fingers are sore from knitting.

This is an authorized Sony place we're dealing with. Sony reccomended them to us. Bought TV for $3599 at TWEETER in Houston. I do believe we'll be visiting them, again, tomorrow. IN PERSON.

ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT "Q" BOX OR BLOCK ISSUES?

One of the 3 fans has stopped running causing your set to shutdown (protection). Two of the fans are visible from the rear of the set. The other is attached to the optical block cover (not visible). The most common to fail is the larger lamp fan on the left side when facing the rear of the set. The info the tech had to go by pointed him to the fan driver, or "Q-box" as he referred to it. If it is an intermittent problem and the defective fan can not be isolated, replacing all 3 should solve the problem as long as the drivers and wire harnesses and their connectors are sound. If the optic block has been replaced, there is the possibility of a damaged connector or pinched wire which would have occured during disassembly/reassembly.

i just receivd this in my email, also the link to the sony website which SONY POSTED IN SEPT !!!!! i only copied the highlights, see the link for all the rest of the fine print gibberish. i've asked sony twice just to take back this poor excuse for a sony branded product and refund my $, no luck. why would i EVER buy a big ticket item from sony again?

esupport.sony.com/sxrdsettlement.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK



IN RE SONY SXRD REAR PROJECTION TELEVISION CLASS ACTION LITIGATION

This Document Relates to:

ALL ACTIONS

06 Civ. 5173 (RPP)

ECF CASE


A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

YOU ARE NOT BEING SUED. THIS IS NOT A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU.

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF A CLASS ACTION
SETTLEMENT IF YOU PURCHASED OR RECEIVED AS A GIFT A SONY SXRD
REAR PROJECTION HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION MODEL NUMBER
KDS-R50XBR1 OR KDS-R60XBR1 (THE “TELEVISIONS”)


As described in detail below, the Settlement of this class action Lawsuit provides for Sony to offer the following benefits:

(1) an extension of the limited warranty to provide in-home service or replacement of the optical block in your Television until June 30, 2009, and special benefits in fulfilling this warranty extension;

(2) the refund of expenses incurred to replace the optical block in your Television;

(3) the refund of money paid after July 15, 2006 for an extended service plan for your Television from Sony or its extended service plan provider, Service Net Solutions, and cancellation of that extended service plan, if you so choose;

(4) the refund of money paid to Sony for the exchange of your Television for an XBR2, A2000, or A2020 SXRD model television, if you required more than one repair of the optical block in your Television.

The problem you have is a defective Optical Block. I have the same problem a screen with predominantly green color that cannot be adjusted with picture controls. Sony is replacing the block free of charge and extended the warranty for this problem. There is a class action lawsuit against Sony to be decided in February 08, that if the block goes out after service, they will replace with a new tv. Go to Sony.com for assistance you can do a live chat with customer support and they are most helpful.

sorry folks, not much a mod can do aboot spamming

You should be worried the optical block is defective and it will happen again in 12-24 months...get involved with that class action suite.they need to extend the optical block for 5 years or replace the TV with a new one...you can write the court.

I am haveing a real bad problem with my TV. It is a Sony 50" SXRD with a model number of KDS-R50XBR1. When I am watching tv my screen goes blank and I lose sound, with the green power light flashing about 20-30 times and then I will get my picture and sound back after about 30 seconds. It started in january, it would go off maybe once or twice in about a 5-6 hour extent of wacthing tv. Now it is real bad, today it is going off about every TWO minutes. I have not been able to find anything online about this issue with this tv. Does any one know what is causing this or what I need to do to get this fixed.

Was wondering if any news is available on this lawsuit. My KDS-R50XBR1 has just started this greenscreen junk. TV is about 1 1/2 yrs old, no extended warranty.

Any advice on how to proceed this late in the game? Looks like Tweeter sold me a tv with a known problem.

After reading EVERYTHING associated with this thread, I think I know what to do:

1) Call Up Sony Customer Service & open a "Event ID".

2) Contact one of their suggested repair sites. They will fix problem for free.

I also called the lawyer representing us TV owners to let them know what happened today with me. I just contacted Sony today [2-23-08] because my tv was yellow & green. She wanted me to check inputs,etc on back of tv, even after I told her that I was handicap- having only 1 leg from a recent accident. She ended up giving me a few places to try and fix tv, but said absolutely nothing about the history of the problem- like she had no clue about any of this. I just stumbled across this site while googling, to see if I could find out more info. I was really upset that Sony's customer service didnt tell me anything about replacing a Optical Block for free, or anything about the class action suit.

I asked the lawyer to see if the court could direct Sony to inform people about this when they call.

I'd like to thank all of the people who had anything to do with getting this stuff fixed for free, as well as posting/informing on this site about the problem.

NOW FIX MY TV!!!!!!!!!!

I called Sony in the past about the discoloration of the screen. They told me to check all my connections and then blamed it on my cable provider. Yesterday, the lamp in my television went out. I went to the Sony website and stumbled across the class action suit. In the full length document, it states you have recieved this information because you own the set. I have owned the set for almost 2 years now. I registered it on their website the day I received it. It urks/worries me that some people that own the set and having these problems are not being notified. As I said earlier, I just happened to stumble across it while trying to find out a part number for my lamp. I thought that was one of the reasons for registering your purchase with Sony. I called Robert I. Law today, but he is out of the office. I was hoping to find out more information about the case. If anyone has any information regarding how the court case went, would you mind posting it?

Thanks

WE have the same TV, and are having exactly the same problem. It is going off about about every 15 minutes. Did you find out what was causing it? We have a monster surge protector. We wondered if that was the problem. Also, we have an HDMI cable running from our cable to the TV. I am thinking it is turning off just for a split second, and then turning itself back on. What are your thoughts?

Just experienced my third failure of my KDSR50XBR1. I purchased the City Advantage Protection Plan from Circuit City and have never been notified about this class action law suit. My first failure was the green tint anomaly. The second failure was uncommanded shut off with the red light blinking four times. My current and third failure is a repeat - I have the red light blinking four times. It has lasted 5 months from the last repair. I'll go to the web site for the law suit and download the information to get engaged. I plan on contacting Circuit City tomorrow to ask if they know about the recurring problems and the law suit. I'd assume the repair shop should have known about the issues Sony is experiencing. Does anyone have any immediate advice for me?

I am having the same problem tv wont turn on and the red light blinks 4 times, and i dont have extended warrsnty

The red light blinking 4 times is indicating a fan failure. I had the optical block failure, I'm now on my 3rd bulb in 2 yrs and now the fan issue.
Called over a week ago and described the symptom (won't turn on and red LED blinking 4 times) but I still got the pleasure of paying $65 for a service call just so the guy could come out and verify that the light was blinking 4 times. Waited 5 more days for an estimate and now he needs to come out again to figure out which fan has failed. Still no full estimate and to date no parts have been ordered.
This TV is the single worst purchase I've ever made. Anyone got any more info on the likely fan issue?
Thx,
=CPW=

any one with this red light blinking 4 times problem it is a fan problem and i fixed mine with a simple can of air spray. i used the air spray to clean out the moving parts of the fans. i sprayed the fans then used a vacum. my tv was not working for 3 weeks and it has now been problem free and running great for over a month now.

p.s. F!@#k sony cs

I just found this site and must say I began to get suspicious about my SXRD. I purchased it as a "return item" from the Best Buy in Brentwood, MO in August of 2006. I asked the sales guy if anything was wrong with it. He, of course told me no. After reading the history on this thread, it is clear to me that the problems with the XBR1 were well known before 08/2006. I am certain the previous owner either had a problem with it or realized the problems associated with it. Long story short, git the yellow picture and BB fixed the optical bulb, tech new exactly what was wrong before he even got here. Now just yesterday, I'm getting the shut down with the red blinking LED lights. BB is sending a guy to fix it, but honestly - I don't want this TV anymore. How much money will we all have thrown away after the concessions from the CA lawsuit are met. The TVs are still breaking, with different problems. We should contact the CA law firm with the new problems. Anyone other than those posted also getting "shut down with blinking red LED?"

I have the yellow blob. I called Sony gave them my model and serial # for my kds60a2000. I spoke to them about the class action lawsuit as my TV has the exact symptoms and was given an event # for repair. We called a trusted repair facility, then after waiting 2 weeks we are told our TV doesn't fall under the suit, but Sony would provide the optical block and we would have to pat the labor.
This seems very suspect to me. I know that my TV is the same as the original XBR; it just has the speakers on the bottom.
I paid $3600 for this TV. What should I do?

We purchased out KDSR50XBR1 in June 2006. Fortunately, we got the extended Circuit City warranty because we had the TV serviced 3 times already.

We had noticed the green blob on the side of the screen. Solution: Optical Block was replaced.

The picture became darker and darker and then tv wouldnt turn on at all.
Solution: Lamp was replaced.

TV wouldnt turn on and got 4 blinking lights.
Solution: All 4 fans were replaced. They were dusty!

And now the picture is getting dark again so I anticipate another lamp replacement is in the near future.

If it werent for the extended warranty I would be furious.

I know this much, it will be a long time before I ever buy another Sony TV.

i recvd this recently from sony in my email.

For easier viewing please visit
esupport.sony.com/EN/news/article58

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
If you own a Sony television, model KDS-R50XBR1, KDS-R60XBR1, KDS-70Q006, or KDX-46Q005, you could benefit from a class action settlement.
A federal court authorized this Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.
This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

If you purchased or received as a gift a Sony high-definition television model KDS-R50XBR1, KDS-R60XBR1, KDS-70Q006, or KDX-46Q005 (the “Television(s)”), on or before July 25, 2008, you may be eligible to receive a settlement benefit.
Some persons, including those who acquired a Television for resale or commercial use are not eligible, so read on to see if you qualify for benefits.
Generally, to qualify you must have purchased (1) a Television, and (2) a device that produces an output visual signal of 1080p and can deliver a 1080p signal to a Television via an HDMI port (“1080p device”). A partial list of these 1080p devices is attached to this Notice.
AVAILABLE BENEFITS:

$90.00 Cash Payment
If you previously contacted Sony Electronics regarding the PC Input capability of your Television, you will automatically receive a check for $90.00.

$180.00 or $60.00
E-Credit for past purchase of 1080p device
Submit a claim form, with the required proofs of purchase of a 1080p device, and you can receive: (1) a $180.00 e-credit (good towards the purchase of any item available on sonystyle.com) if you have a KDS-70Q006 or KDX 46Q005 Television or (2) a $60.00 e-credit if you have a KDS-R50XBR1 or KDS-R60XBR1 Television.

$75.00 or $28.00
E-Credit for future purchase of Sony Blu-ray Disc Player
If you purchase a Sony Blu-ray Disc Player between July 25, 2008 and 30 days after final approval of this proposed settlement, and you provide the required proofs of purchase, you can receive: (1) a $75.00 e-credit if you have a KDS-70Q006 or KDX 46Q005 Television or (2) a $28.00 e-credit if you have a KDS-R50XBR1 or KDS-R60XBR1 Television.

i'm still the humiliated owner of a 60"xbr1. the wondrous piece of sony quality engineering that is the optical block is failing for the second time. sony is now offering my the choices of replacing the entire set with a refurbished one with no warranty or replace the block again or for a low price of $700 i can purchase a 52"lcd. all i really want is for them to take back their piece of *$*$*. so, if do the "SONY MATH" i will end up paying my original purchase price of $5000 plus $700 plus new sales tax for the privilege of buying an "upgraded" lcd that is 8" smaller and sells on the street for $2000. and i have to give them the old set. it is obviously safe to assume that sony has determined if we're stupid enough to buy their brand we'll pay even more to get screwed by them.

Ok, so for starters, I bought my 60xbr1 late 2006, from Best Buy in Fresno which I was sold on the idea that I get what I pay for, buy the best, most reliable and dependable, 1080P, perfect match for the new BluRay or PS3, SONY WEGA XBR!! Now, thinking that after I bought this TV, it would be a while before I could afford a PS3 or BluRay player but I had bigger plan in store and the TV was the first step. I already owned a Sony 7.1 digital receiver, DVD recorder, DVD Carousel player and VCR as my living room component system with all Sony speakers to top it off.
After a couple months of ownership, I noticed the green haze at the bottom right of my screen. I had gone into Best Buy where I bought the TV and inquired on the green haze and the tech support (geek squad, as they say) said to try maneuvering my A/V equipment and maybe that was interfering with my TV. SO, I did that and trying to run all my wiring around the TV as to try to stay as far away from any A/V cords and such. This of course didn’t have any effect. Thinking that this was somehow my doing, I lived with it until I called Sony and of course, we were just outside of our warranty for them to do anything and they said they could send someone out at my cost. Again, I called Best Buy and their response was that I should have bought the extended warranty and that they could send someone out at my cost. Also, I had a problem with the TV where it would shut off when it wanted to and that it would flash a red stand by light 4 times whenever it wanted. Some days the TV worked fine and once in a while the TV would not turn on at all. Now, after getting the bad news that Sony and Best Buy would not stand behind what they sold to me, I resorted to a local TV repairman who said, “Oh yea, I’ve worked on a few of these already, it’s gonna cost over a thousand dollars to fix it and I would recommend just replacing the TV. Oh, and by the way, the PS3 and the BluRay player will not work with this TV as it will only receive a 1080i signal”. After hearing this, I was appalled, I felt so duped into buying this $4000 piece of Sony, I just could not believe it. He also told me that the bulb for this TV will go out earlier than what Sony sold us on as well and it will cost $250 to replace so plan on it. After this, I went ahead and bought a Vizio that is built right here in the USA, in SoCal no less. I mounted this in our bedroom as a back up for when the Sony would fail. The TV getting worse day by day, the green blob popping up all over the TV. Myself and my wife also called Best Buy and Sony and pleaded our case in the first part of this year. And once again, we were told that we should have bought the extended warranty and that they were not liable for anything. SO we lived with it up ’til May of this year when we moved to Galt and after 3 weeks here, the bulb went out, (big surprise, the repairman was right). We let the TV sit in the living room, disconnected, until I got a wild hair and searched the internet to find the answer and see if anyone else had the same problem and what the fix was if I could perform it on my own (I am an RV Technician by trade, I have worked on similar systems before). Not only did I find a website with inexpensive service manuals for anything imaginable, but I found this website as well as the website for the class action lawsuit. My wife and I again called Sony and Best Buy and this time, BestBuy said to talk to Sony about the lawsuit and that they were not

involved with the lawsuit, and Sony said that we would have to fix the TV, bulb and other problems before they could diagnose the Optical Block and repair that problem as that is the only item in the lawsuit. Now, my b-day was a few weeks ago and my mom, feeling pity for me and my wife and our poor investment, went ahead and bought a new bulb for us to install in the TV. After I did this, the TV was clear, no blob, no haze, but I found out, with the help of my xbox 360, there is no such thing as 1080P on this TV. And in viewing the TV in HD 1080i, there were still artifacts from not being as clear a picture as what "Full 1080P HD" really is. I have seen what it is like when viewing things on my computer or on my friend's Samsung that is Full HD 1080P. I can't believe, I had even bought an upconvert DVD player a few months after I had bought this TV thinking that it was going to give me a better picture because I was dissatisfied with the results. And for Sony's website to say that the TV upconverts to the native resolution... What a load of crap. Now, a few days after I replaced the bulb, the TV started showing the green haze at the bottom right of the screen, and the TV started shutting off again, even after I had cleaned the inside of the back of the TV where the service manual said that the fan is the issue and the TV may be overheating. In talking with a few consumers online here, I have found that the optical block is the overheating issue, this is causing the problem and now the wear and tear of the TV causing it to come up with more problems that will be in effect even if Sony replaces the OB. Has anyone been here before? What was Sony willing to do? What are my rights? I am so frustrated as to not be a Best Buy customer and nor have I bought anything Sony since finding Sony ducking and covering the first call to them. I would like to have the confidence to buy Sony again, but I am not so sure at this point. The first TV I bought was a Sony Wega (first gen. flat CRT screen) 32" almost 10 years ago. It is still going strong. How could Sony do this to so many people? Make a product that will only last through some BS maneuvers of telling consumers that "we" hooked up something wrong and buying time until the product is out of warranty so consumers will be forced into buying a new product. Not very good PR if you ask me.

Ok, the 4 blinks come back every so often. The blasted fan has a hard time starting even if I have another fan blowing with it as well. I tap the side of the set, just to the side of the fan and it kicks on when I push the on button first. When I opened the back of the set up, the fan was clean, and the connections were good. I assume the fan is either weak or the power supply ballast is going out. The Sony repairman is going to be here Thursday and he will take care of the OB and take a look at the fan situation. I hope this fixes this TV for a while. My Vizio is top notch though, every once in a while as the set heats up, it will start to hum, but I move the set on the cantilever wall mount that I have connected to it and the humming stops until the next time it decides to do it. My buddy bought a Bravia LCD flat panel with 1080P and it sucks. Not near as quality as my Vizio Plasma that simply displays in 1080I. I just don't understand how Sony execs are thinking. When the quality slips and you are just selling a name, sooner than later, people get the idea and start buying other brands. I am sad to say that I probably will not buy another Sony product again, just on that basis. I have become a smarter consumer, researching on the internet and reading magazine consumer reports. Thanks for reading.

it takes a very determined effort by a whole company, product mgmt, engineering and customer support to turn one of the most trusted brand names into the new equivalent of what POS actually means.
Piece Of Sony with all of the other previous meanings of the original POS.

had this exact same problem - it was intermittent at first happening once every few weeks and it would just start working after 2 or 3 tries but then it started getting worse - happening every couple weeks - then days - then hours ... until i got to the point that it just would not work. i figured out that on this model the four blinking lights meant that it was an overheating problem. so here is what I did.

I took the back off the TV which gave me access to the Lamp cooling fan on the lower left - it was caked with dust and not spining freely ... so I just cleaned it up really well and spun it around a few times and made sure it was moving easily... Then I put the back on again and it started up no problem. I think wheny you turn on the TV it checks to make sure the lamp cooling fan turns on correctly (among other things it checks) and if the fan doesn't start up the TV shuts itself down to protect itself from the excessive heat the lamp generates. With all the dust that was caked on my fan it didn't suprise me at all that it could be causing a problem. Taking the back off the TV is no big deal - about 6 screws and you can't really mess anything up. Once the back is off, the lamp fan has another cover that is held on by foru screws - you will have to take that off too but it is very easy and simeple. Once you are at the fan clean it up really well, make sure it is unobstructed and give it a few good spins to make sure it is spinning freely and it should eliminate the problem.

Purchased in Feb 2006. Just had optical block replaced last week by geek squad. The image had gone significantly yellow over time and the tech that came to diagnose ordered part. Part arrived and tech installed in just under 30 minutes. Part retails around 1800.00 so fortunately it is covered under extended warranty. Picture is back to brilliant! But for how long. Different tech coming out tomorrow to see about alignment of picture. Previous tech was convinced there were no adjustments so I asked that he not return. The picture seems to be too far to the left and too low. If I measure the gray bar screen there is 3/4 of an inch shift to the left and almost an inch down. Needless to say, it cuts off subtitles etc. I was concerned with the new optical block because the defective one had a cap on the lense witha rectangle opening in it. The new one does not. Not exactly sure what to expect tomorrow. If there is no adjustment I'm not sure what can be done. The replacement did return the bright crisp and clear picture that drew me to the SXRD to begin with.

I wanted to respond to you because our KDS-A2000 is doing the same thing. Yellow around the bottom and green. We called a Sony Rep. and they said maybe the lamp, we just replaced the lamp 90 days ago, oh well now we replaced the lamp again, it is still doing the same thing. Called Sony back and they said we were not under warranty for the Optical Block, called a Sony dealer and they said the same thing. Did Sony pay you for the Optical Block part, it is $ 850 dollars. The service call is about 300.00 dollars to put it in. Can you e-mail me, jeafra10@yahoo.com

Hi everyone,

I have had my tv for about two years now and am noticing the yellow haze at the bottom. Glad that sony is covering at least until June 2009. Does anyone know if the replacement part is the same part and will have the same problem in two years or has Sony fixed the problem with the optical block??

Thank you,
Kevin

The optic blocks have been failing on the 70" top of the line Sony's with costs over $5000 to fix. After turning a deaf ear for the last two years, Sony has finally stepped to the plate last October with an extended warranty. Unfortunately, after June, 2010 we're out of luck again.

Model: KDS-70Q006

This information can be found on the Sony eSupport web site at esupport dot sony dot com, directly at: http://esupport.sony.com/EN/news/article278

As part of the Sony commitment to quality, Sony is announcing that it is extending the limited warranty (parts and labor), in the United States, on the optical block of the KDS-70Q006 QUALIA televisions until June 30, 2010, regardless of purchase date.

For any customer who requires repair of the optical block on this affected model, Sony will cover the cost of the optical block repair (parts and labor) at no charge through June 30, 2010. This extended warranty does not apply to the replaceable projection lamp or the other parts that may be used in the televisions.

Sony is also announcing that for any owner of these model televisions who paid out-of-pocket expenses on or before November 30, 2008 for an estimate or repair service to replace the optical block, Sony will reimburse the customer by mail for the cost of the optical block and the labor expense to replace it, subject to certain conditions.

To receive reimbursement, please follow completely the directions on the claim form for reimbursement; all claims must be postmarked by January 31, 2009. See the claim form for complete terms and conditions.

All other terms of the Sony limited warranty continue to apply. Sony utilizes a network of hundreds of qualified independent third-party servicers to perform in-home television warranty service. Sony, through its authorized servicer network, will endeavor to repair your set within 30 days of your first contact. For diagnosis, warranty service, or if you are not provided a repair within 30 days, please contact Sony at (888) 649-7669.

I took the bulk of the previous post from another Sony post at the following thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-498008-p-61.html

From what I read from the Qualia 006 owners thread listed below, it appears the problem will be recurring.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-498008-p-61.html

Sony KDS70Q006, BLOWN BULBS AND GREEN/YELLOW HAZE.

I bought my TV in May 2007. I have had my TV repaired several times. So far we have had 4 new bulbs and 1 replacement of the optical block WHICH HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN!

My concern is that after the extended warrenty for the optical block expires in June of 2010, I will be eating the $5000 + cost to fix this again.

Replaceing the part with the same part is not correcting the problem and Sony needs to step up to the plate and correct the problems for good!