[doshin]

When will it be safe to buy a flicker free Sony?


I am plan to buy a Sony RPTV sometime in June. Do you think Sony will have incorporated their flicker fixes (new bulbs, circuitry) in the new sets by then? I think it's safe to assume that Sony will eventually kick the flicker problem, but the question for me is when. Do I assume too much?


And I have read that the flicker problem 'only' affects 1 percent of the sets. Is this accurate?


Lastly, can anyone recommend a different Silver/Grey ~50 inches, ~2K dollars with comparable PQ?


Thanks in advance

 

[Audioman1]

I have a friend that's a electronics repairman He fixes more sony products than any other units, He said he would never own a Sony Product.

But thats his opinion

 

[doshin]

True, but I am asking about a specific problem on specific models. Has anyone had the flicker fix and still have problems?

 

[EricD]

Quote:

I have a friend that's a electronics repairman He fixes more sony products than any other units

maybe because more sony's are sold than other units?

 

[Kryspy]

Hi,


I believe SONY has rectified the flicker problem in all new models going forward. I own a SONY KP46WT500 since Dec. 3 2002 and have never seen any flicker issues.

My model was released after the flicker issues starting flooding in.


Bottom line is all brands have their issues. Sony does not make theri own gun and lense system and are really therefore not at fault. To my recollection they have been extremely helpful to people in getting their sets fixed and/or replaced. Buy yourself a good service contract and you are good to go as you should with any expensive high end equipment.


Kryspy


P.S. Yes Sony sells a whole lot of TVs so repair rates will be higher.

 

[doshin]

Thanks for the info.


Though, when you say 'new models', do you mean brand new models or newer sets within the same model. Because I'm looking at the KP-51WS500 and KP-57WS500 and I believe they were released before your 46WT500?

 

[Kryspy]

I work at Future Shop in Canada and we have not had a flicker prone unit of a WS500 in quite a while. None this year to be precise.


Kryspy

 

[doshin]

Sweet. Thanks a lot!!!

 

[DRS]

If you go with one of the WS500 models you should be ok with a 2003 model. That's the rumor and the bulletin posted by sony hints at this. FWIW I've had my 2003 model for about 3 weeks with no problems, and with the picture tweaked it's the best I have owned and I have had a few different brands come through my living room

 

[technofan]

My personal experience with sony products were poor. I bought many Sony products in the past bec of the brand name. My Sony dvd player cant close the tray after only limited use. My Sony stereo suffered a broker relay switch which cost me $90 to get it fix at a Sony repair shop locally. My Sony boombox cant play the tapes any more even tho I hardly listen to tapes. On the other hand, my 14 years old panasonic VCR is still working well despite my wife dropped it on the ground once and the face plate came off. (I glued it back w/ crazy glue). My 14 year old panasonic CRT TV is fadding in color but it is still working. I let my kids play video games on it in the basement. My 8 years old 36 inch Toshiba CRT TV is still bright as new despite being on 6-8 hours a day. My wife loves watching TV and she stays home. I am not a Sony basher and I hope their products has improved recently.

 

[DRS]

Anecdotal evidence is pretty much worthless. However, I can understand your not wanting to buy Sony given your experience. I, on the other hand, have had great experiences with all sorts of electronic equipment including Sony.


FWIW I tried a Google search on consumer electronics repair rates and could not find any good statistics. I would be willing to bet that Sony's repair rate is not significantly higher than any other manufacturer's.


edit: consumer reports has some info on their website but it's subscription based.

 

[Mark Stamper]

GOOD LUCK..........I didn't, my Sony was a flickering *****.

 

[Kryspy]

There's always gotta be a one line fool to ruin a perfectly good thread with factual based information. We will assume that your situation was that of a unit within the doomed serial range. Sony admited the problem and rectified it. What gives?


Kryspy

 

[Mark Stamper]

Quote:

Originally posted by Kryspy There's always gotta be a one line fool to ruin a perfectly good thread with factual based information. We will assume that your situation was that of a unit within the doomed serial range. Sony admited the problem and rectified it. What gives? Kryspy

Well, OK, here is my story fool.


I had a 65WV700, which Sony said that series was free from the flicker. My set was delivered in late Oct. and started flickering around the 1st of Feb. At about the same time many other people got the flicker with the WV series which Sony said would not have the flicker.


I refused to have some tech come out and try to fix this very complex problem. Almost no one has had their sets look as good as before they started flickering after some lame brain makes a half assed attempt to properly fix the problem. They have all of the right parts but the install and final calibration of the guns and geometry and convergence among other things need to be done and quite frankly the techs do not have the time or proper knowledge to do this. I think the only person I would trust to set up the set after the work was done is an ISF tech.


regarding the serial numbers, the flicker happens outside of the range specified by Sony.


So I say good luck.


What gives, as far as I know Sony as rectified nothing.


http://www.***************.com/htsth...t=&Board=UBB35

 

[DRS]

Mark, do you still own the Sony?

 

[Joe_M]

My replacement TV was a 51WS500 made in March 2003. No issues so far.

 

[Mark Stamper]

Quote:

Originally posted by DRS Mark, do you still own the Sony?

I forgot that part of the story. No I do not have it anymore, after a lot of arm twisting, the store I bought it from gave me most of my money back.


mark