$275

BTW my vertical center is slightly off, even with maximum V_CENT adjusted in the service manual. Any other way to lower the picture? It was like this before I just didn't bother with it. Now that a perfect OB is in I want to make it perfect.

Can you send me the contact info. for future reference?

I have been away from the forums since I got my Plasma in 2012. Amazingly I still miss my 70 inch XBR2, that TV was awesome (when it worked) and if you're not into 3D I think they are worth repairing. (I even started looking for one again, the plasma just did not do it for me.)

If you're contemplating repairing your XBR OB go for it (but go with Robert M. for the repair).

Is there an engineering fault with these sets ?

Yes, the optical blocks fail within 2-4 yrs.

not mine!

last night while watching TV we heard a loud POP and the tV went out. This is the original bulb from 2004-2005 (I think). Glad I bought a spare! tossed it in and back in business

Are you saying you have never changed the OB Congratulations. I've changed mine 4 times.

no never.....I think Ive said it before in this post sometime back also. The message has been on for at least 4 years saying "bulb life is near its end". This TV has been one of my best purchases ever.....10 years

Only reason it was a best purchase for me was I got to use it for 3 years (although 6 OB replacements) and Sony ended up refunding me Full Purchase Price, Shipping Charges and Extended Warranty Cost.

Hoping someone on here can give me some direction. Having an issue with a KDS-R60XBR2 I gave away this weekend not displaying a picture anymore after transport from my house, it was loaded on it's back into a minivan for a short 5 mile ride. When the TV is turned on the power LED flashed green for about 30 seconds (while it warms up) then turns solid green )perfectly normal for the last 8 years). However, the picture is very dark black with a slight blueish tint (basically no picture). No remote control or manual controls on right side of TV bring up a menu. When I look through the air output duct on the read of the TV I can see that the bulb is lighting up. The Power LED is the only LED lit, the Timer and Lamp LEDs are never lit. I swapped the bulb for a known working blub just as an easy test, but the same problem exists.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd greatly appreciate it! I'm wondering if loading it on it's back in the minivan caused something to come loose during transport. Going to continue my searches and looking for the service manual for this model in the meantime. Thanks in advance for any replies!

Interesting... I replaced mine in 2013 with a Panasonic VT50 (65") after going through 3 OBs and needed a 4th at the time of replacement. A year later I had it ISF calibrated. The resulting picture was amazing and truly made forgetting the XBR2 rather easy. Ironically, the total price for the set with the calibration was still significantly less than what I paid the for the XBR2 alone. Plasma is now gone so I don't know what a suitable replacement would be since LCD/LED sets don't look quite right in comparison.


Perhaps you should consider getting your set calibrated if you have not done so already.

So.....purchased Plasma in 2013
ISF Calibrated Plasma in 2014
Plasma gone in 2015
Sounds worse than the XBR2

As for what you should look for now - of everything on the market today, LG OLED probably the best bet.

Sorry to hear that about your plasma. Major bummer. I hope you fare better in whatever your next purchase will be.

I find this interesting because it seems Sony handled this differently for different people. I first tried through customer service and had no luck. I then learned of a contact via Facebook but I did not get the same deal you did. I only got a replacement set (Bravia flat panel LCD 65") which was total crap in comparison. I ended up selling it and keeping my XBR2 for another year before I replaced it with the plasma. Maybe it was the fact you went through 6 OB replacements when I went through 3 (at the time I contacted Sony, I needed a 4th replacement). In any event, you really lucked out. If I had gotten the same deal you did, I would have gotten 4000 dollars refunded. Damn.

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anybody here - that preferably lives in Southern California - has any interest in my Sony KDS-R60XBR2 that needs an optical block replaced. In the nutshell, I purchased it in February of 2007 and in mid 2012 it went incredible hulk on me. I debated replacing the OB because I loved the hell out of the picture, but eventually decided to buy a new discounted KDL55HX850 after negotiating with Sony (my extended warranty had expired less than 6 months earlier). You'd think I would have gotten rid of the ol' beast by now but I was attached to it and I ended up sticking it in the hallway and throwing blankets over it. It's been there so long it's like a piece of furniture, but it's time to let it go due to space issues (well, that and my girlfriend is tired of bumping into it).

Anyway, I'm going to make one last concerted effort to find it a new home (and make a few bucks) before being forced to drop it off at some recycling place. If anybody who lives somewhere near Los Angeles has an interest in picking up an old Sony 60" XBR2 in perfect condition including a new bulb (I bought a the bulb when I didn't know it was the OB that was dying), manual, remote etc please contact me. I know I can sell the bulb online - and possibly some of the parts - but I'd prefer to sell the entire thing to someone who is either interested in bringing it back to life or, at least, can use/sell the parts much more easily than I can.

It should be noted that I'm the original owner (I have the receipt) and the TV has lived in a pet free home it's entire life. It's also in superb condition and, other than the OB going, never had any other problems.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions for getting rid of it.

Sincerely,

Steve in North Hollywood

Wow....Never knew when starting this thread that there would be so many problems with this series of sets. I must say that Sony sis right by me by sending me a refurbed 65" LCD which I subsequently sold. I then sold my 70XBR2 and bought an LCD which was a minor improvement, especially with my OB going out all the time. Now I have a 70" Sharp Elite and I love it. Hopefully it lasts until either OLED gets cheaper or some other tech comes out that improves PQ.

I still watch my 60 xbr2, only changed the bulb about 2 years ago, it came with an extra bulb, looks like it did on day one never a problem, knock on wood..........I wont buy a new tv till it dies, picture is great as you all probably know.....

I almost bit on a local 70" XBR2 for $550, said he had never replaced the OB and that he has just now for the first time replaced the Lamp. How could that be possible? I was tempted to walk him through the process to find out what the operating hours on the TV were in the service menu just to be sure... jajaja

My 70" XBR2 is till using the original lamp. I haven't used the replacement lamp yet. It's no longer the "main" tv in the house though. How do I find the number of operating hours?

Is there any benefit to changing the lamp? I am not familiar with the technology. Do lamps degrade as time goes by, or they just work or don't? Wondering if replacing the lamp will restore the PQ to original.

how do you find the hours?

Haven't been on here in ages, but my 60" is still going strong. Never had the OB replaced, and only a year ago swapped the original bulb with the one I received at the original purchase (wanted to make sure the replacement worked!) So I'm definitely one of the lucky ones!

Been thinking of moving up in size and replacing it, but still enjoy the picture. But then again, when I look at 4K sets on display and put my nose on the screen and see virtually no lag or distortion, I wonder if my picture is really as good as I think?:roll eyes: But I realize that they're running pristine demo loops and haven't seen one with real-world footage.

Would love to see a side-by-side comparison with this set and a new Vizio M-series 70"

Thoughts?

When I changed my 60" for a 65" Panasonic ST50 plasma. I noticed a big difference. The picture contrast and color are much better. My eyes were just used to the Xbr and did not noticed until they were side by side.

I don't know if anyone is still reading this thread but I will give it a try. After 9 plus years my SXBR2 70 has finally developed a green or yellow tint. My first thought was the infamous optical block. But here's where I am confused. If I switch from my Directv input over to the antenna in the attic and pull in an OVA broadcast I have a great picture and no green/yellow issue. Can someone explain to my why that would be? Could the problem be the DVR, he said hopefully but not optimistically.

Yes, mine's still alive and well, after one optical block and just changed the bulb.

Are you connected via HDMI? Try a different cable and/or component connections. But first, make sure the current cable is pushed all the way in both at the TV and the satellite box (and any AV Receiver or Processor in betwee) That can actually cause this, too, especially since your OTA picture is fine.

If anyone is looking for a bulb, I have at least one (and maybe two). I don't recall the part number, but let me know if anyone is interested in them. They are going to waste currently.

I am connected via HDMI from the DVR to my receiver and then via HDMI from the receiver to the TV. I will check the connections and if not loose try a different cable. Thanks for the suggestion. It will be great if that fixes it.

Absolutely I'd be interested in it (them), as I'm planning on keeping the set for a good while, even if I have to do another optical block. Thanks. Cost? Shipping, I'm in AZ.

Which part number is your set? I had a 70 and a 60? I have them stored in a closet. I'll send them for the cost of the shipping.

I have the 70, which is KDS-R70XBR2. The bub is the XL-5300, and the same bulb is used for the 70 and the 60 equivalent. I'll PM you my address for shipping calculation.

Thanks, that's great.