Many problems Sony 46W4500

[Clare Newsome]

My Dad's 40W4500 is excellent (incidentally, he too had a slight wait while Amazon re-stocked) - no clouding problems, and he even prefers the backlight higher than i'd suggest! (But that's personal choice for you).

He said 'it's like Christmas has come early'. Even my Mum, who was deeply sceptical about the whole thing, thinks it's great.

I forgot to get the serial number of his set - i'll email him for that today and post it later.

 

[Anonymous]

i think thats the problem with some of the threads like this,because we expect great quality off the bat, we dont get people posting about how good there tvs are.

i have a sony 4710/4500 from JL and have experienced none of the problems mention on many sites regarding the new sonys!

it really is just your luck!

 

[cmf]

model nu, date and place made, please.

 

[Alsone]

Clare Newsome:

Firstly, we're not 'plugging' anything - we reviewed sets that looked (and still look, as anyone who saw them on display at our Show last week could have told you) absolutely superb: as many people on this thread with Sony sets have agreed with. I can assure you - with all the evidence you want - that there's no link between advertising and editorial on WHF.

Secondly, as soon as this issue was brought to our attention we've been pushing Sony for an answer, as there are obviously a bad batch of sets out there - including ones sent to some other reviewers - and Sony must account for this.

Whereas I agree its not WHF's fault as they can only test the product as sent to them, surely given the high level of customer dissatisfaction / reported alleged problems with this model, shouldn't WHF post an addendum to their review to the effect;

"Given the High Level of customer problems / dissatisfaction reported with this model in respect of clouding, WHF no longer feel able to stand by the original rating as given to the sample we tested and thus we are downgrading our review to 1 star and no longer recommending its purchase".

I have to agree with a previous poster, that many people purchase products soley based on WHF ratings and so to allow ratings to stand on products which clearly have what appear to be quite widely reported alleged problems is irresponisble in my opinion. Also, the biggest persuader out there for somone like Sony to tackle this issue is surely produced by respected review magazines regrading their product and recommendations in the light of those alleged problems.

 

[Clare Newsome]

We've altered our review of both W4500 sets to mention the clouding issue, with links to a story on the issue, and this thread. We've also consistently urged buyers (even before these issues emerged) to try before they buy.

But the fact remains that we've yet to see a properly calibrated set that shows the clouding - and I don't just mean review samples here - and the true extent of the problem is far from clear (your repeated use of the word 'alleged' shows you're hedging your bets, too)

We accept some people are having issues with these sets, and would urge them to get a refund or replacement from their retailer (as we've said from the start), and we will continue to push retailers and Sony themselves for updates on the situation.

However - and as several contributions to this thread that tend to get ignored attest to - the quality of an unaffected, well-calibrated W4500 remains exceptional, which TV buyers deserve to know, alongside the obvious and understandable dissatisfaction of other consumers.

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:

My Dad's 40W4500 is excellent (incidentally, he too had a slight wait while Amazon re-stocked) - no clouding problems, and he even prefers the backlight higher than i'd suggest! (But that's personal choice for you).

He said 'it's like Christmas has come early'. Even my Mum, who was deeply sceptical about the whole thing, thinks it's great.

I forgot to get the serial number of his set - i'll email him for that today and post it later.

Good to hear your dad's is ok Clare

Shame i didnt have such luck with the 2x 52w4500 i tried,never mind im happy with my 52w4000

 

[Anonymous]

Reading this and other threads on the topic, it would appear that most people with 40W4500s are generally quite happy, while the clouding issue is a much more concrete concern with the 46W4500 (and, to a lesser extent, with the 52").

If that is indeed the case, talking about consumer satisfaction with the W4500 in general might lead to some confusion. I know that I am reading worryingly few good reports in here about the 46W4500

 

[Anonymous]

rismondo:

Reading this and other threads on the topic, it would appear that most people with 40W4500s are generally quite happy, while the clouding issue is a much more concrete concern with the 46W4500 (and, to a lesser extent, with the 52").

If that is indeed the case, talking about consumer satisfaction with the W4500 in general might lead to some confusion. I know that I am reading worryingly few good reports in here about the 46W4500

I would like to hear from people who have a 46" model as well.

The impression I get from reading this forum and others is that the problem is more common with the 46" and above models.

I would be interested in thr 46w4000 model if I was satisfied that it handled motion well but was hoping for the w4500 as it has motion flow technology.

 

[Clare Newsome]

cmf:model nu, date and place made, please.

Here are the details for my Dad's new set:
Model No. KDL 40W4500Serial No. 4007588Assembled in SpainDate of Manufacture: 09/2008

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

Clare what about the the 46z4100b series, do you know anything about these models? Iam getting a terrible ghosting image in dark scenes that I dont know how to get rid of.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Haven't had a Z series in yet, so afraid not. Have you tried Sony's suggested settings to see if this helps?

 

[Anonymous]

I have to admit the settings do help, but they don't fix the problem.

Personally spending £1200 on a TV which needs settings to resolve a problem isn't really what you look for in a new purchase.

I am currently waiting on a call back from the repairs dept to sort out a change of sets.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Alsone]

Clare Newsome:

We've altered our review of both W4500 sets to mention the clouding issue, with links to a story on the issue, and this thread. We've also consistently urged buyers (even before these issues emerged) to try before they buy.

But the fact remains that we've yet to see a properly calibrated set that shows the clouding - and I don't just mean review samples here - and the true extent of the problem is far from clear (your repeated use of the word 'alleged' shows you're hedging your bets, too)

We accept some people are having issues with these sets, and would urge them to get a refund or replacement from their retailer (as we've said from the start), and we will continue to push retailers and Sony themselves for updates on the situation.

However - and as several contributions to this thread that tend to get ignored attest to - the quality of an unaffected, well-calibrated W4500 remains exceptional, which TV buyers deserve to know, alongside the obvious and understandable dissatisfaction of other consumers.

Thanks for the clarification Clare. Its good to see you have altered you reviews to least give it a mention.

As for my use of the word "alleged", I'm not hedging my bets so much as ensuring I can't be sued as I haven't experienced these issues myself. I prefer to stick to talking about allegations and giving opinion rather than stating something as fact for that reason.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi from New Zealand. I ordered my Sony 46W4500 yesterday and then read all this . Plasma is a non starter for me due to reflection issues so after viewing several Sony Sony 40W4000 sets I opted for the Sony 46W4500 . I got a great deal inc. a PS3 for 40 quid.

Its due for delivery in a few days so I'll let you know how it turns out. One point of difference is that the sets are Made in Malaysia. Personally, I'd prefer 'Made in Spain' but it will be interesting to see if clouding is an issue in our continent.

 

[Anonymous]

I like many others bought a kdl46w4500 on the back of the WHM review (this was before the links to the clouding issues!).

As per many other owners i am also suffering backlight bleed (clouding) particularly in the top left and right hand corners, this is only noticable during dark scenes when watching the screen in a dark environment. Yes i have followed Sony's recommended settings which make absolutely no difference whatsoever!

I have contacted Sony who originally gave me details of my local repairer only to receive a call from the repairer an hour later stating that he had received a directive from Sony stating the clouding is normal for this model of LCD!! Sony have now washed their hands with the problem.

I am now trying to get redress through the retailer.

 

[Anonymous]

After four days use my clouding has gone thank God. Although I do still get a certain amount of backlight bleed when the room and picture are dark. As this is my first LCD I'm not sure if all LCD's exhibit this to a degree.

Do the people with "perfect sets" also have this backlight bleed?

 

[Anonymous]

voyager1313:

After four days use my clouding has gone thank God. Although I do still get a certain amount of backlight bleed when the room and picture are dark. As this is my first LCD I'm not sure if all LCD's exhibit this to a degree.

Do the people with "perfect sets" also have this backlight bleed?

Was wandering the same thing, if anyone can shed any light, preferably the WHF team.

 

[Clare Newsome]

We always mention backlight bleed/uneven backlights in reviews where applicable, but we haven't seen it on the W4500 sets we've had in. And my Dad's set is fine, even in the dark.

However, there are some people who seem to be more consciously aware of how an LCD works - ie the very presence of a backlight - than others; in the same way some people more readily notice the 'rainbow' effect with DLP projectors; or the presence of 100hz processing (which can cause a motion-sickness sensation in some people); or the 'lattice' effect with LCD projectors.

This is one reason we use a wide range of reviewers when we test anything- between us, we'll notice all or some of the above to a lesser or greater degree, and can report it (typically you'll find that in reviews with phrases like "some of our testers felt the motion-processing a little unnatural - but it can be turned off if you're affected").

It's another reason why we urge everyone to try before they buy, and also to have no hesitation about returning a product to the retailer if for any reason they're unhappy with it.

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:

However, there are some people who seem to be more consciously aware of how an LCD works - ie the very presence of a backlight - than others; in the same way some people more readily notice the 'rainbow' effect with DLP projectors; or the presence of 100hz processing (which can cause a motion-sickness sensation in some people); or the 'lattice' effect with LCD projectors.

So much for modern technology hey? . Go back to to CRT, and get a great picture at half the cost. After all, we are only talking about a TV set for gawds sake..

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:
It's another reason why we urge everyone to try before they buy, and also to have no hesitation about returning a product to the retailer if for any reason they're unhappy with it.

That may not applicable in some places. In Switzerland, where I live, online shoppers in particular are not protected by EU directives: there is no automatic right to return a purchased item. If the manufacturer says "the clouding, and the bleeding, and the occasional puffs of black smoke from the top, all this is perfectly normal", then consumers have pretty much no recourse.

And that is why it's particularly important to know that you can trust a given manufacturer...

 

[Andrew Everard]

rismondo:In Switzerland, where I live, online shoppers in particular are not protected by EU directives

Well they wouldn't be, would they?

 

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify Clare,when you sit in a dark room is your father's TV uniformly black even when having no input? On mine I can even notice the bleed when on the PS3's home page at night.

Apart from the bleed which you can't see under normal lighting conditions this TV is superb when viewing HD. Even the SD picture is a lot better than I expected. My only niggle is the slight bleed, just not sure if mine has a fault or are they all the same. Just wish I knew somebody with the same TV to compare in a home as its hard to get the same conditions in a shop.

 

[Anonymous]

voyager1313:

Just to clarify Clare,when you sit in a dark room is your father's TV uniformly black even when having no input? On mine I can even notice the bleed when on the PS3's home page at night.

Apart from the bleed which you can't see under normal lighting conditions this TV is superb when viewing HD. Even the SD picture is a lot better than I expected. My only niggle is the slight bleed, just not sure if mine has a fault or are they all the same. Just wish I knew somebody with the same TV to compare in a home as its hard to get the same conditions in a shop.

Is yours similar to mine? (pics on page 18 i think)

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well the PS3's home page - being black - is as good as a blank screen!

But to answer your question: no, no bright patches. It's the same with the range of test sets we've seen. (This is all post-calibration, of course).

 

[Anonymous]

Villian2100, My picture is exactly the same as your post on page 19. Looks as though we have a fault then!

I'll phone my retailer to see if I can get another set. Hopefully get it checked in a back room of the shop in the dark before I take delivery.

Thanks for your prompt replies Clare.