I've had an intermittent problem on my Sony KDF-E50A10 I can't switch from HD to standard resolution, or from standard to HD. Usually I'm stuck in whatever mode I started to the TV up in. Moving from one mode to the another results in a scrambled screen. There is sound. A quick power off, power on gets the set to work properly.

It's been exceptionally difficult to diagnose and I've had techs both from where I bought the TV and also from my cable company come and toy with the TV. Unfortuntely it's one of those problems where if you play with the settings enough, it seems to go away. This has happened every time I've had a tech come out. I also replaced the cable box once and that made it go away.

The worst part is I'm now out of warranty, and the issue is back. The last "fix" was moving from input 4 to 5. 6 months later and the issue is back, I've moved between 4 and 5 again, no results. The HDMI input is the same.

Anyone else ever had an issue like this? A year later I still have no theory on what's going on. Very frustrating...

I assume that the inputs 4 and 5 you talk about are component inputs and the problem occurs when you switch between an SD (either analog or SD digital) channel on your STB and an "HD" channel on your STB.
What resolution(s) are you using from your STB to the TV?
What happens if when the problem occurs you change the TV souce to another input and then change it back again?

I assume that the inputs 4 and 5 you talk about are component inputs and the problem occurs when you switch between an SD (either analog or SD digital) channel on your STB and an "HD" channel on your STB.
What resolution(s) are you using from your STB to the TV?
What happens if when the problem occurs you change the TV souce to another input and then change it back again?

Yes, sorry, 4 and 5 are component inputs on this TV.

I use 1080i/480i. I used to use 720p/480i, and after moving away from that I thought I had fixed the problem, but apparently not.

I just re-checked what happens when changing the input, and switching to another input and then coming back does clean up a scrambled signal, much like powering the TV off and back on.

Clearly the TV is not always sensing a resolution change since you have to force it to check the resolution by turning the set on/off or by switching sources when the problem occurs.

I'm having the exact same issue you are describing on a Sony KDS-60a2000. It has just started in the last week or so (I've had the TV since December). At first I thought it was the device (first noticed it on a PS2), but am now experiencing the issue on both HDMI and component inputs on the cable box as well. As you noted it seems to occur primarily when going from HD -> SD signal, but I've also had it occur when sitting on an HD channel. The issue doesn't seem to happen until after the TV has been on for an hour or so. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate them! Will likely be contacting Sony, though.

Any reason you can't set your STB to upscale 480i to 1080i thus eliminating the need for resolution change?

Any reason you can't set your STB to upscale 480i to 1080i thus eliminating the need for resolution change?

Well, obviously it's not a fix to what is definitely some sort of problem with the TV, but your post encouraged me to play with the settings a little more and "fix" the problem.

I found a setting that the TV tolerates, so thank you. 1080i/ Preserve 4:3 pic seems to make the TV happy while 1080i/480i really upsets it. It's too bad because standard broadcast looks really good in 480i.

Oh well. Thanks again.

Since your set is a 720p model you will probably do better with 720p/ Preserve 4:3 so that the SD programs are not upscaled to 1080i in your STB only to be downscaled to 720p in your TV.