Sony WS510/WS550 Owners Thread - Page 28

I've had a couple of friends tell me they replaced or had people replace their chips, but my solder fu is too weak to risk it. If I can get someone to fix it for less than $150, I'm willing to limp it along. Or just get one of those 73" Toshiba DLPs.

Just a quick question. Is the KP-51WS510 a Rear Projection LCD or CRT? I've tried to find the answer but I get the 2 different results.

Here it says it's an LCD rear projection...
http://www.ehow.com/how_7597907_repa...kp51ws510.html

but here it it says it's a CRT rear projection
http://reviews.cnet.com/projection-t...-20890071.html

It is a three-CRT system.

FYI: We opted to replace it and got a 60" Sharp LC-60LE632U and it's magnificent. While it was sad to see our beloved PimpVision® carted away for recycling - ashes to ashes and all - PimpVision® II has more than stepped up to bring the visual goods.

Howdy all.

Seems this thread still gets a post every once in a while, so I'll give it a shot:

I have a 51 inch WS550. Bought it back in 2003, I believe. It has been a trooper- through 2 moves and never had one problem. Lots of space and am more that happy with picture, so upgrading to a flat panel has never been a need.

I was using my PS3 as a Blu-Ray player. I had been using the PS3 HDMI output, with a HDMI-to-DVI cable into the set, no real problems, but I did notice that when on Input 7 (DVI input), I could hear a VERY faint 'beeping' sound coming from the set - probably once every 5 secs or so (this was not present when on any other Input or when the PS3 was off, so it was definitely coming from the TV). The beeping was so faint that any audio would drown it out, so it wasn't really a problem though I thought it was probably an indication of an eventual problem looming.

About a year ago, the PS3 took a crap and I decided to just get a regular ol' BR player. Went with a basic Samsung, and again used its HDMI out to my TV's DVI in. Worked well for about 4 months then noticed that, intermittently, I would lose the video on the TV, though the player kept playing (audio was present, which I got through my Receiver). This increasingly got more and more frequent so I sent the BR player back to Samsung. They replaced a board and sent it back. Worked fine, for about another 3 months, then same problem started again. Sent it back to Samsung. They couldn't replicate the problem (even though it was intermittent). Got it back, same issues. Replaced the HDMI to DVI cable - still intermittent problem. Whenever the video goes out, I can connect regular old composite video out and it works fine. I actually borrowed a different BR player from someone and using it, the same intermittent problem (loss of video) continues to occur. When the problem occurs using the BR player's HDMI out, I switch it to use Component output to the TV's component in and it works fine. So, it seems that the TV's DVI input is the problem.

Now, I know many feel that there isn't a lot of difference between DVI and Component, and I only need 2 component video inputs (one for my cable box, and now, one for BR), so I'm not in dire need of the DVI input, but I am a bit OCD and would like to fix it if something easy/cheap.

So, after all that, my questions:

Has anyone else experienced this or have thoughts on what the problem is?

Any thoughts/knowledge on fixing?

If I decide to attempt to pay for service - do they do this in your home or send it away, and any experience with service costs (parts excluded)? Obviously an old TV like this only has so much value so it has to be economic to pursue.

I am willing to attempt some DIY stuff, but probably nothing too crazy. When I look at the DVI input on the back of the TV (I haven't taken the back off yet), it would seem the DVI input is similar to a computer card, which maybe fairly straightforward to replace (plug and play?).

Thanks a TON for any feedback/thoughts!

My KDS-65WS510 did lose it's handshake periodically.

Unfortunately, now that the convergence has burnt out on it, it is sitting in my garage until I decide what to do with it.

We had nearly 10 great years out of the TV. I would hate for it to get thrown in the trash (all 300+ lbs of it).

I was wondering if anyone had any success in selling theirs, or at least had some positive experience in recycling it.

We had ours 10-12 years as well, it worked fine up until a couple of months ago when the convergence chip (or something similar) went out and the red color was a few inches off on each side, but ok in the middle I gave it away to the neighbor a few weeks ago.

A little preventive maintenance suggestion for the STK392 convergence chips:

We're still using the KP65WS510 we bought around Christmas of 2003. About 6 years ago we had a major convergence failure. Both 392 chips blew, and they blew the plus and minus 15v fuses.

I replaced those components myself, and while doing that I noticed that the heatsink compound on the 392 chips was completely dried out. When that happens, the heatsinks aren't effective and the chips burn up.

Since then I've gone in about every three years and replaced the heatsink compound with fresh compound. The chips haven't failed, and convergence is perfect.

It's alive!

Got it for free. Added a power cord, chips, and fuses. Still needs a cleaning and whatnot. Yeah, it's a 51WS500 and not a 510, but same difference, (I think).
Just figured I'd post quick while I'm reading this thread. Who knows, maybe it'll give someone else some hope for theirs in the future.