Can anyone remember if there were many complaints about clouding on the 40w2000 when it came out, or is this the first Sony LCD TV generation to suffer from it?
Can anyone give me an idea of how much it might cost to get an engineers report?
My 40" W4500 had an annoying intermittent buzz coming from the top of the set. Electrosaver didn't want to know and were very rude over the phone, so I've had to get trading standards involved. The retailer agreed to have a look and refund if I sent it back.
After having paid £40 to send it back by courier they say there's nothing wrong with the set, trading standards tell me my only option now is to pay for a courier to bring it back to me ( another £40), and then fork out for an engineers report.
My 40" W4500 had an annoying intermittent buzz coming from the top of the set. Electrosaver didn't want to know and were very rude over the phone, so I've had to get trading standards involved. The retailer agreed to have a look and refund if I sent it back.
After having paid £40 to send it back by courier they say there's nothing wrong with the set, trading standards tell me my only option now is to pay for a courier to bring it back to me ( another £40), and then fork out for an engineers report.
Ordered the set 14th oct over the phone, delivered on the 29th, informed them of the fault within two days. Contacted trading standards when the retailer failed to comply within reason.
Unfortunately, enough time has passed to make an automatic refund unlikely. You need to get the set back and establish if the fault is still there and that may involve you having to pay the return carriage.
If when you get it back the noise is still there and is obvious from your normal viewing distance over the volume of a program, then you can write to Electrosaver and reject the tv and claim a refund, at the same time insisting they reimburse you for your costs so far.
If when you get it back the noise is still there and is obvious from your normal viewing distance over the volume of a program, then you can write to Electrosaver and reject the tv and claim a refund, at the same time insisting they reimburse you for your costs so far.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!. i was all set to get a sony 46w4500.i had done my home work for which tv to get.i decided early on that i wanted LCD and the sony seamed to tick all the boxes.then i happened to come across this forum and the alarm bells rang.now i don't know what to do.i'm pretty sure that i won't risk it with the sony so(when your'e going to spend £1200_£1500 you don't want to get it wrong)so now i am looking again.i really like the look of the samsung series 9 or maybe the 7.i also really like the look of the panasonic 46pz81b i know it's plasma but the freesat is a real bonus.
all i want is jaw dropping picture quality super detailed, deep blacks, no judder and decent conectivity for about £1500. please help clare or anyone else
p.s can any one recomend a really good online retailer like electro saver.there seams to be some massive savings to be had but i'm a little weary about some of these sites
all i want is jaw dropping picture quality super detailed, deep blacks, no judder and decent conectivity for about £1500. please help clare or anyone else
p.s can any one recomend a really good online retailer like electro saver.there seams to be some massive savings to be had but i'm a little weary about some of these sites
Madd4muff
For every dissatisfied customer there must be many many more which are very happy with their sony's.
Apart from that, no set/brand is perfect, if it was, everybody would buy the same one. If you happen to like the sony picture and can put up with some of LCD's compromises do what ClareNewsome and others have suggested in the past ... make sure the retailer you buy from is aware of any concerns you have and agree on a refund or exchange with the manager if anything should not be to your liking.
regards
For every dissatisfied customer there must be many many more which are very happy with their sony's.
Apart from that, no set/brand is perfect, if it was, everybody would buy the same one. If you happen to like the sony picture and can put up with some of LCD's compromises do what ClareNewsome and others have suggested in the past ... make sure the retailer you buy from is aware of any concerns you have and agree on a refund or exchange with the manager if anything should not be to your liking.
regards
I am also having trouble with clouding on my W4500.
I DO think (and i say this with a calm respecting tone) that WHF should retract the 'award' status on this tv (for a time) out of responsibility to their readers. They should make Sony aware of that fact and ask them not to feature it in any shop adverts etc (if indeed they are). Sure you can say that the "ones we have tested are fine" or "This seems to be a batch of Models", but at the end of it all, there are A LOT of these TVs circulating right now that have obvious screen defects. It is also a big consistancy with this model, compared to other makes/models. Until sony sorts it out, and handles the issue FAR better than they have so far, they should loose any potential 'extra' positive advertising from such reviews. This W4500 issue is, litterally i'm finding, littered ALL over audio/visual forums across the web.
I dont think that a quick mention of "some users have experienced clouding" is enough in a 'cons' section of a review. It should be stated that there have been a high rate or returns for this product and sony's advice, simply doesnt not work. Dimming contrast is unexcpetable one a tv that is sold on such a high contrast ratio. It barely makes a difference anyway....
Releasing a list of calibration settings is - frankly - an absolute joke. Its like saying, "You have spent £1000+ on a tv but you cannot have most of the settings over half way because it'll be a problem". That is something i would expect from a Technisonic or an Onn product sold at tesco and NOT a Sony Bravia.
Mine isnt as bad as some on this thread, but its there and i clocked it as soon as i turned it on. Annoyingly It IS an absolutely FANTASTIC TV. with 100 hz motion set to 'standard' Games are very smooth, especailly. The 360 on some games is simply astounding.
But of course, all of this counts for $*~t if there are clouds everytime you want to watch a film like batman/sin city/descent etc etc. completely destroying any sense of suspended disbelief.
If i decide to take it back, i have to deal with COMET which could be a pain. I know they like to test defects before swaps or re-funds. And unless they take it into the back and turn all the lights out, i dont see what they can test. Will keep you posted! I was in Currys the other day and randomly decided to ask some general advice, so gauge the reaction from them as they are a similar store. The sales guy didnt know what clouding was and looked at me like i had just caught the last shuttle from Mars. I'm not even confident he knew what the term 'backlight' meant. Sort of worries me about comet now, considering half the sets that accepted a 1080/24p signal in there store, they told me couldnt. They told me this, but refering to their consumer website! I could have bloody done that!!
plus their website is wrong on many fronts!
Buying a TV is now officially harder than buying a PC. I think the state of the LCD/Plasma market is a consumer mess right now.
I DO think (and i say this with a calm respecting tone) that WHF should retract the 'award' status on this tv (for a time) out of responsibility to their readers. They should make Sony aware of that fact and ask them not to feature it in any shop adverts etc (if indeed they are). Sure you can say that the "ones we have tested are fine" or "This seems to be a batch of Models", but at the end of it all, there are A LOT of these TVs circulating right now that have obvious screen defects. It is also a big consistancy with this model, compared to other makes/models. Until sony sorts it out, and handles the issue FAR better than they have so far, they should loose any potential 'extra' positive advertising from such reviews. This W4500 issue is, litterally i'm finding, littered ALL over audio/visual forums across the web.
I dont think that a quick mention of "some users have experienced clouding" is enough in a 'cons' section of a review. It should be stated that there have been a high rate or returns for this product and sony's advice, simply doesnt not work. Dimming contrast is unexcpetable one a tv that is sold on such a high contrast ratio. It barely makes a difference anyway....
Releasing a list of calibration settings is - frankly - an absolute joke. Its like saying, "You have spent £1000+ on a tv but you cannot have most of the settings over half way because it'll be a problem". That is something i would expect from a Technisonic or an Onn product sold at tesco and NOT a Sony Bravia.
Mine isnt as bad as some on this thread, but its there and i clocked it as soon as i turned it on. Annoyingly It IS an absolutely FANTASTIC TV. with 100 hz motion set to 'standard' Games are very smooth, especailly. The 360 on some games is simply astounding.
But of course, all of this counts for $*~t if there are clouds everytime you want to watch a film like batman/sin city/descent etc etc. completely destroying any sense of suspended disbelief.
If i decide to take it back, i have to deal with COMET which could be a pain. I know they like to test defects before swaps or re-funds. And unless they take it into the back and turn all the lights out, i dont see what they can test. Will keep you posted! I was in Currys the other day and randomly decided to ask some general advice, so gauge the reaction from them as they are a similar store. The sales guy didnt know what clouding was and looked at me like i had just caught the last shuttle from Mars. I'm not even confident he knew what the term 'backlight' meant. Sort of worries me about comet now, considering half the sets that accepted a 1080/24p signal in there store, they told me couldnt. They told me this, but refering to their consumer website! I could have bloody done that!!
plus their website is wrong on many fronts!Buying a TV is now officially harder than buying a PC. I think the state of the LCD/Plasma market is a consumer mess right now.
I got my 46W4500 on Friday. Shop installed and setup everything. Picture was stunning Freeview, SkyHD and DVD were great. Then, that night we watched a Radiohead Concert ...Glastonbury 2003 and the scenes were mostly dark. What a disappointment! light leaks out at three corners and my wife noticed it too. I've tried all the settings and will have another play tonight. If I cannot get it right, its going back.
FYI ... I'm in New Zealand and my set was Made in Malaysia so it looks like Spain is off the hook. Its just poor design I'd guess. Due to the location of my TV, Plasma is really not an option as reflection is a big issue.
The Sony is great if no blacks are present. Really sucks for a brand such as this!
FYI ... I'm in New Zealand and my set was Made in Malaysia so it looks like Spain is off the hook. Its just poor design I'd guess. Due to the location of my TV, Plasma is really not an option as reflection is a big issue.
The Sony is great if no blacks are present. Really sucks for a brand such as this!
Update:
I now have an engineer coming over on wednesday. Not really what i wanted, as unless he is around after dark - he won't see what the problem is. I did try and tell Comet this, but it seemed to fall on some exceptionally deaf ears. Plus i don't think this is fixable by an engineer.
They also won't do straight exchanges without this process happening first. Also as its used, they won't ever give a cash/card refund.
I'll never buy a Sony again now, not at least until i know they have eliminated such high rates of crushingly bad clouding from their sets. Despite this being a stunning TV, im now kicking myself for not ordering in the PHILIPS 42inch 9603.
How annoying.
I now have an engineer coming over on wednesday. Not really what i wanted, as unless he is around after dark - he won't see what the problem is. I did try and tell Comet this, but it seemed to fall on some exceptionally deaf ears. Plus i don't think this is fixable by an engineer.
They also won't do straight exchanges without this process happening first. Also as its used, they won't ever give a cash/card refund.
I'll never buy a Sony again now, not at least until i know they have eliminated such high rates of crushingly bad clouding from their sets. Despite this being a stunning TV, im now kicking myself for not ordering in the PHILIPS 42inch 9603.
How annoying.
>>>>For every dissatisfied customer there must be many many more which are very happy with their sony's. <<<<
That is true for any product. HOWEVER there are other threads like this on a few other other forums and it seems to be an unacceptable ratio of W4500 that are effected.
I have the TV, think its an excellent LCD, however the clouding completely ruins it. I would not have bought it if i knew i would have this trouble and the TV already had an established reputation for this FAULT.
Anyone have dealings with comet about this issue. I'd be curious to compare experiences.
That is true for any product. HOWEVER there are other threads like this on a few other other forums and it seems to be an unacceptable ratio of W4500 that are effected.
I have the TV, think its an excellent LCD, however the clouding completely ruins it. I would not have bought it if i knew i would have this trouble and the TV already had an established reputation for this FAULT.
Anyone have dealings with comet about this issue. I'd be curious to compare experiences.
professorhat
Well-known member
sebastian:it seems to be an unacceptable ratio of W4500 that are effected.
But how on earth can you know the ratio is unacceptable if you don't have the figures of the number of TVs which are working fine?
But how on earth can you know the ratio is unacceptable if you don't have the figures of the number of TVs which are working fine?
Enough for there to be numerous posts on this thread and other threads about it. Something that has not really happened with it's rivals !
Exactly.
OK forget the word 'ratio'. Just note that sheer amount of people that are consistantly writing on this and (from what i have seen, most/all) other major AV forums compaining about the w4500. I'm sure there are many satisfied customers that are not writing on this forum. I am ALSO sure that there are many other dissatisfied customers that aren't writing on the forum. I expect many have noticed but have yet to discover the term to descirbe the defect they are seeing.
regardless, this is a major floor in design or something, there are few models that have prompted so many similar threads across the web.
OK forget the word 'ratio'. Just note that sheer amount of people that are consistantly writing on this and (from what i have seen, most/all) other major AV forums compaining about the w4500. I'm sure there are many satisfied customers that are not writing on this forum. I am ALSO sure that there are many other dissatisfied customers that aren't writing on the forum. I expect many have noticed but have yet to discover the term to descirbe the defect they are seeing.
regardless, this is a major floor in design or something, there are few models that have prompted so many similar threads across the web.
Does anyone know if Comet will charge me if the engineer does not see the clouding (or selectively refuses too!). I hope not, as he is liable to turn up in the daylight hours!
something i didnt think about. as i know that some have had replacements and some have been refused.
Any ideas?
something i didnt think about. as i know that some have had replacements and some have been refused.
Any ideas?
It would be expected that if an engineer is called out and no fault is found that you will be charged. I'm not sure if Comet do any of their own repairs, so this might be out of their control. However, if you have not been warned you may be charged, I find it hard to see how they could do this.
I wish you all the luck in the world, but unfortunately it would seem from reading about people's experiences, that the backlight bleed/clouding issues present on almost all LCD's just happens to be at the poorer end of the scale on this model, and disgruntled customers will just have to learn to live with it.
I wish you all the luck in the world, but unfortunately it would seem from reading about people's experiences, that the backlight bleed/clouding issues present on almost all LCD's just happens to be at the poorer end of the scale on this model, and disgruntled customers will just have to learn to live with it.
Sad day...Got my tv replaced today and the clouding and backlight bleeding is worse..TV came without stickers on...I wonder if it just another reject...
Hmmm, I'm going to have to think about this overnight. Thing is, the clouding is annoying but not as bad as some have to put up with. I just find it absolutely horrific that we pay £1000 for a TV that has flaws when watching it under optimal cinema viewing conditions (ie dark), and we have to put up with it for fear of retailer scrutiny and a manufacturer that is sticking 2 fingers up at everyone that is lumbered with the dreaded 'Sony Clouds'.
I dont want to pay for an engineers report...(anyone know how much that will cost) but i'm one of those people that if i don't at least try, i'll always regret it. I would not go for a model exchange, if it was possible. Rather, switch entirely Totally lost confidence in this model. I will call up comet tomorrow and find out about charges.
No they didnt say that i would have to pay. But this is Comet we're talking about!
I exepct Panny and Samsung are making a packet out of all these forum topics on the w4500 everywhere!!
I dont want to pay for an engineers report...(anyone know how much that will cost) but i'm one of those people that if i don't at least try, i'll always regret it. I would not go for a model exchange, if it was possible. Rather, switch entirely Totally lost confidence in this model. I will call up comet tomorrow and find out about charges.
No they didnt say that i would have to pay. But this is Comet we're talking about!
I exepct Panny and Samsung are making a packet out of all these forum topics on the w4500 everywhere!!
If Comet did not warn you that it may cost you if they send an engineer, then they are unable to insist you pay.
How long have you had the tv for?
Also, did you speak to Comet regarding sending an engineer or did they pass you onto Sony or a repair agent?
How long have you had the tv for?
Also, did you speak to Comet regarding sending an engineer or did they pass you onto Sony or a repair agent?
Hi Alsina.
I spoke to Comet on the phone, It told them that i was experiencing a backlight problem (i mentioned 'clouding' but i assume they wont know what it was) and that patches of dim light were visable through the blacks when viewing at night or under dark conditions.
I asked if i could swap. They said they still need an engineer to see it first. They did not say anything about charging me if it was deemed 'satisfactory'.
They are not coming until Wednesday. Do you think i should call tomorrow and find out their policy on this kind of thing?
Thanks for your view on the matter. I could always shove a duvet over the TV and get him to go underneath!! haha! sounds stupid but he will at least see the clouding!
I spoke to Comet on the phone, It told them that i was experiencing a backlight problem (i mentioned 'clouding' but i assume they wont know what it was) and that patches of dim light were visable through the blacks when viewing at night or under dark conditions.
I asked if i could swap. They said they still need an engineer to see it first. They did not say anything about charging me if it was deemed 'satisfactory'.
They are not coming until Wednesday. Do you think i should call tomorrow and find out their policy on this kind of thing?
Thanks for your view on the matter. I could always shove a duvet over the TV and get him to go underneath!! haha! sounds stupid but he will at least see the clouding!
forgot to say;
I have had the TV since thursday evening. But wasnt in a position to call until early this morning.
I have had the TV since thursday evening. But wasnt in a position to call until early this morning.
I'd be inclined to phone Comet without letting on that you already have an engineer coming, just to find out their general policy in this situation. That way, if the engineer turns around and says there is no problem and there is a bill to pay, you can tell him you were not informed about it and refuse to pay.
If for any reason you are 'forced' to pay, make sure they send you a full written report before you part with any cash, that way you have something in writing if an opportunity appears in the future regarding a replacement/refund.
Also, when the engineer is with you, make sure you ask lots of questions and just as a side note, enquire as to who the chap works for i.e. works for Comet and is biased or is an independent engineer.
If for any reason you are 'forced' to pay, make sure they send you a full written report before you part with any cash, that way you have something in writing if an opportunity appears in the future regarding a replacement/refund.
Also, when the engineer is with you, make sure you ask lots of questions and just as a side note, enquire as to who the chap works for i.e. works for Comet and is biased or is an independent engineer.
Just read your last post.
If you've only had the set since Thursday, do Comet not have a 7 or 14 day period during which you can change your mind?
Was the tv bought in a shop or on their website?
If you've only had the set since Thursday, do Comet not have a 7 or 14 day period during which you can change your mind?
Was the tv bought in a shop or on their website?
It was bought at the shop. I'm not aware of any such 7-14 day policy but i don't think that they would have such a thing. Anyone else heard of this?
I think i will take you advice. And call them, just give a false name and enquire about it out of interest. I can also find out if they are an independant engineer. They call them 'COMET approved' engineers. I'm not sure if that means they work for them. Or its just a company that is contracted privately.
Either way, company bias may be a factor.
I think i will take you advice. And call them, just give a false name and enquire about it out of interest. I can also find out if they are an independant engineer. They call them 'COMET approved' engineers. I'm not sure if that means they work for them. Or its just a company that is contracted privately.
Either way, company bias may be a factor.
Currys and Argos offer 14/16 day returns policies, even if it's just a case of the customer changing their mind.
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