Sony 40W 4500 Not Happy at all with WHAT HIFI Magazine!

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Hi There,

I have just bought a Sony 40w 4500 TV that has taken me a long time to save up to purchase. To be honest after much web hunting for reviews & brochure reading & months & months later I had all but made my mind up that the Panasonic PZ81 42" with Freesat HD was the unit for me............... That was until I read the Sony review in the Dec 08' edition. After such a stirling review with no apparent faults & 5* ratings I just had to reconsider & change my mind.

After I had the unit for a few days & got over the initial excitement being my 1st 1080P flat screen I started to notice that in a darkened room there were grey areas in the corners & if you moved your position there were grey areas & cloudy grey bits in other areas too. I looked at the backlight & it was set at MAX as std from new. I turned it down , & down, & ended up with it on min with a lot darker picture overall & still I could see the grey areas as before but not so prominent. I then set the TV up with the backlight on min using the THX optimizer (you must do this & found on some Star wars DVD's) but although the picture was brighter & nicer than before the grey -outs were still noticable.

I then started to think...Is it me? So I typed in "Backlight issues on Sony 40w 4500" on google & couldn't believe how many people had similar & some cases much worse issues of this type. Please bear in mind at this stage the only reason I have this TV is down to the fact that the review in What HIFI magazine was so strong!

As it stands the TV is with a Sony Ctr evaluating it so no TV .... But from what I have read & feel so sorry for the guy with the W46 4500 on this site (that is not acceptable)! & neither is this: I do not expect to pay £900 for a TV that I am 80% happy with. I would just like to say:

WHAT HIFI, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION OF THE SONY 40W 4500 WHICH YOU RATE SO HIGHLY. I HAVE A TV NOW & LITTLE CHANCE OF A POSITIVE RESULT THAT I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THAT I BOUGHT SOLELY ON YOUR RECMOMENDATIONS. 1. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SONY PRODUCT & 2. I WILL NEVER EVEN READ, LET ALONE BUY A PRODUCT ON YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. IF I AS A CONSUMER CANNOT FULLY TRUST YOUR LEAD ON PRODUCTS I KNOW LITTLE ABOUT WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING THEM. I AM REALLY UPSET & I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE UNIT & IF IN YOUR REVIEW THERE WAS EVEN A HINT ABOUT BACKLIGHT ISSUES OR A STATEMENT LIKE " ONE OF THE BEST TV'S WE HAVE SEEN ALL YEAR! (WITH ONLY A FEW ISSUES SUCH AS SOME UNITS SUFFERING SOME BACKLIGHT PROBLEMS) ...GUESS WHAT, I WOULD BE OVER £100 BETTER OFF BE QUITE HAPPY WITH THE PANASONIC EVEN WITH ITS FEW FAULTS I KNEW ABOUT. THANKS A LOT GUYS I REALLY MEAN IT

There are lots of other people on web forums that also saw the review & bought the TV I am not the only one. The only hope I have is that Sony or someone will restore my faith as I am really gutted as saved so hard & will not be happy with a product I have just bought & probably have to own for a few years.

There will be some that say but look at the benefits over the plasma in clarity & sharpness & yes I have been following the plasma debate for months but honestly never actually knew about the backlight issues until after I bought it. If I have a failing its that I didn't type in negatives on the net about the sony, but I had it in all good faith that this TV was of the best quality so why would I?...After all, if there were any issues with the TV my trusted "friendly" magazine would steer me in the right direction wouldn't it & it wouldnt be rated so higly with a 5* rating would it????

Am I the only one with this problem?

Sorry to rant as really not happy at all
emotion-9.gif
 
Perhaps your research might not have been as in-depth as it should have been. These issues have been around for months.
 
Steady on!! Reviewers can only report on what they actually experience themselves. You cannot blame What Hi-Fi for this. As they have pointed out time and time again they have never seen a W4500 that had backlight issues. Despite this they have flagged the issues up by hosting long discussions about it on this website and by posting a link to those discussions within the online review.

I cannot comment on your individual set because I haven't seen it. When you say the set is 'with a Sony Centre', do you mean the retail outlet where you purchased it or an authorised repair centre? If you didn't buy it from a Sony Centre, where did you purchase it? What has the retailer said about the issue?

I'm sorry you are not satisfied with your set, but ranting on isn't going to get you anywhere. I hope you find a solution.
 
Yet again, we have to say that these problems were not present in the samples we reviewed, although the complaints of those who have seen these problems have been prominently raised on this forum in the past.

It seems to be a quality control issue on some display panels - was this problem in evidence on the one you looked at in the shop before you bought yours?

Your retailer should certainly replace the set if you're not happy with the quality of the picture on the one you've bought. Don't let the Sony Centre evaluate it any longer - reject it, and ask for a replacement or refund.
 
As others on here have pointed out, we can only report as we find and the Sony review sets we have tested have performed as described. But the clouding issue has been well documented in other threads and is the subject of much debate, so we certainly haven't ignored it.
 
I have to agree with mikey2008 - these issues have been around for absolutely ages and i'm surprised you haven't come across them already. Nevertheless, you have every right to take the set back for a replacement or refund. You are amply covered by the Sale of Goods Act 1979, and legally the onus is on the retailer to prove that the set is fault free and fit for purpose. It is not up to you to prove to the retailer that the set is faulty. Do a search on google for the sale of goods act - a good place to start is this excellent website http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ which will give you helpful advice. Their phone advice line is good too. Read up, chin up and take the set back to where you bought it armed with the information on that site and you shouldn't have a problem. Good luck!
 
Any LCD can suffer from clouding issues. The large Sony screens however do seem more susceptible than most.
 
PLEEEAASE NO MORE...we have all heard about the issues with a batch of these sets and its getting very boring
 
oeurf:PLEEEAASE NO MORE...we have all heard about the issues with a batch of these sets and its getting very boring

"Batch"?

We are still regularly getting these sets sent to us from Sony (we are a Sony dealer) with noticeable clouding. Thankfully the model is about to be replaced, so hopefully Sony can tighten up their quality control on their new sets.
 
Andy Clough:As others on here have pointed out, we can only report as we find and the Sony review sets we have tested have performed as described. But the clouding issue has been well documented in other threads and is the subject of much debate, so we certainly haven't ignored it.

I think the point being made is that someone going on just what is printed in the magazine will probably not gain an insight into reported issues with this set. You can argue that Mr Chips should have done more research, but such is the reputation of WHF that people will make buying decisions solely on the printed magazine reviews. Is it not time to comment more fully on the reported issues in the printed magazine?
 
Is there a problem with the Sony 40w4500 then? 😉

*happy owner of the Panasonic TH37PX80 🙂
 
Nobody forced you to buy a 4500, call me mr chips. I have a W4500 and it is every bit as good as the review said it was. And I did not buy it on a recommendation or because it got *****. It was the best picture I have seen on an LCD and IMO as good as any plasma at the price level.
 
call me mr chips:

Hi There,

I have just bought a Sony 40w 4500 TV that has taken me a long time to save up to purchase. To be honest after much web hunting for reviews & brochure reading & months & months later I had all but made my mind up that the Panasonic PZ81 42" with Freesat HD was the unit for me............... That was until I read the Sony review in the Dec 08' edition. After such a stirling review with no apparent faults & 5* ratings I just had to reconsider & change my mind.

After I had the unit for a few days & got over the initial excitement being my 1st 1080P flat screen I started to notice that in a darkened room there were grey areas in the corners & if you moved your position there were grey areas & cloudy grey bits in other areas too. I looked at the backlight & it was set at MAX as std from new. I turned it down , & down, & ended up with it on min with a lot darker picture overall & still I could see the grey areas as before but not so prominent. I then set the TV up with the backlight on min using the THX optimizer (you must do this & found on some Star wars DVD's) but although the picture was brighter & nicer than before the grey -outs were still noticable.

I then started to think...Is it me? So I typed in "Backlight issues on Sony 40w 4500" on google & couldn't believe how many people had similar & some cases much worse issues of this type. Please bear in mind at this stage the only reason I have this TV is down to the fact that the review in What HIFI magazine was so strong!

As it stands the TV is with a Sony Ctr evaluating it so no TV .... But from what I have read & feel so sorry for the guy with the W46 4500 on this site (that is not acceptable)! & neither is this: I do not expect to pay £900 for a TV that I am 80% happy with. I would just like to say:

WHAT HIFI, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION OF THE SONY 40W 4500 WHICH YOU RATE SO HIGHLY. I HAVE A TV NOW & LITTLE CHANCE OF A POSITIVE RESULT THAT I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THAT I BOUGHT SOLELY ON YOUR RECMOMENDATIONS. 1. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SONY PRODUCT & 2. I WILL NEVER EVEN READ, LET ALONE BUY A PRODUCT ON YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. IF I AS A CONSUMER CANNOT FULLY TRUST YOUR LEAD ON PRODUCTS I KNOW LITTLE ABOUT WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING THEM. I AM REALLY UPSET & I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE UNIT & IF IN YOUR REVIEW THERE WAS EVEN A HINT ABOUT BACKLIGHT ISSUES OR A STATEMENT LIKE " ONE OF THE BEST TV'S WE HAVE SEEN ALL YEAR! (WITH ONLY A FEW ISSUES SUCH AS SOME UNITS SUFFERING SOME BACKLIGHT PROBLEMS) ...GUESS WHAT, I WOULD BE OVER £100 BETTER OFF BE QUITE HAPPY WITH THE PANASONIC EVEN WITH ITS FEW FAULTS I KNEW ABOUT. THANKS A LOT GUYS I REALLY MEAN IT

There are lots of other people on web forums that also saw the review & bought the TV I am not the only one. The only hope I have is that Sony or someone will restore my faith as I am really gutted as saved so hard & will not be happy with a product I have just bought & probably have to own for a few years.

There will be some that say but look at the benefits over the plasma in clarity & sharpness & yes I have been following the plasma debate for months but honestly never actually knew about the backlight issues until after I bought it. If I have a failing its that I didn't type in negatives on the net about the sony, but I had it in all good faith that this TV was of the best quality so why would I?...After all, if there were any issues with the TV my trusted "friendly" magazine would steer me in the right direction wouldn't it & it wouldnt be rated so higly with a 5* rating would it????

Am I the only one with this problem?

Sorry to rant as really not happy at all
emotion-9.gif


Ok, this is not going to be an anti WHF rant, but there will be some criticism, not as harsh as the Op though!.

All reviews must be read as a guide, mags. will have their preferences and dislikes, it is buyer beware.

The internet has much knowledge and misinformation.

BUT, the fact is ,if you do not feel the product is fit for purpose and you can show poor quality you have the right to return the item and have a full refund.

If you can use the internet to generate credible support for your complaint, and also contact Sony, ask for advice, you should be able to get a refund.

I owned a Sony CRT, and I know things have changed but Sony in Newport were exceptional with their support, try and get in touch with a supportive voice in Sony and see if they can help.

Contact trading standards, ask for consumer purchasing/ law advice.

I have reservations with many of WHF reviews and lack of simple details/information ( too many reviews in too little time)

BUT this does nor mean that you should follow blindly and can blame them, it's awake up call to every one.

It's your money , your choice and ultimately your decision.

Truly, if you can show fault, they have to refund you,.

Stay calm be constructive and used a print out from this forum showing the WHF people being aware of these issues from their forums.

Get your money back and by a plasma!

Regards

Matt
 
smithdom:Is it not time to comment more fully on the reported issues in the printed magazine?

I think it's been pointed out quite often that the website has a far bigger readership than the printed magazine. And anyone reading that review in the magazine now is reading a magazine which is several months old, so publishing anything in the latest magazine isn't going to help those people if that's the only thing they're foolish enough to base their decision on.
 
professorhat:

smithdom:Is it not time to comment more fully on the reported issues in the printed magazine?

this isn't going to help those people, if that's the only thing they're foolish enough to base their decision on.

Harsh?

But it does show the power of print and why those with the pen should wield it, with perhaps more caution and respect.
 
Harsh? Not really. It takes me back to the time when my Mum said, "If <insert best friend's name here> told you to jump off a cliff, would you do that too?"

Honestly, in my opinion, by the time you've got to the age you can afford your own TV, you should either have (a) learnt the above lesson or (b) learnt that you have to take responsibility for your own actions - whining and blaming it on someone else because they "told you to" is literally childish.

It's about time a lot of people in this country recognised this (and I'm not just talking about buying Sony TVs!).
 
professorhat:

Harsh? Not really. It takes me back to the time when my Mum said, "If <insert best friend's name here> told you to jump off a cliff, would you do that too?"

Honestly, in my opinion, by the time you've got to the age you can afford your own TV, you should either have (a) learnt the above lesson or (b) learnt that you have to take responsibility for your own actions - whining and blaming it on someone else because they "told you to" is literally childish.

It's about time a lot of people in this country recognised this (and I'm not just talking about buying Sony TVs!).

True, but we're all capable of being mislead, by people with whom we put our trust in.

The masses are easily lead by the knowledgeable, it is the way of man. ( and women ( Stan). Why do you kee going on about women. stan?)
 
There are of course two angles to look at the complaint from 'Mr Chips'.

Firstly you could argue that he should have done some more research himself and used the internet to do so before buying however he went to the first place I used to go to before 'discovering' this site - The What HiFi mag.

Surely it is sold on the basis of offering an insight into what is available and what is recommended based on tests and subsequent reviews.

Is this not what the Star Ratings and yearly awards are used by the general public for?

As such he trusted in their recommendation and went ahead and bought the Sony.

On the other side of the coin, What HiFi can only test what is put in front of them and I have no doubt that the set they tested worked perfectly as per the final review and recommendation they gave.

They could have however (and this is not a criticism but a possible suggestion if a similar thing occurs) published an update to the review in the magazine some time ago based on what they were hearing on this site about certain batches of problem Sony 40w4500's and referred people to the site to make up their own mind.

I am not aware this was done.

After all, the major thread about this was started on 24th October 2008, has had in excess of 130,000 views and 650 replies - a major thread in anyone's eyes.

Surely, sometime between october and now something could have been put in the magazine as an update?

Like it or not, people trust and rely on What HiFi to almost make their minds up for them and they almost always get it right - that's why they are where they are!

The original (?) thread... http://whathifi.com/forums/t/144898.aspx

However what is done is done this time around and 'Mr Chips' needs to be able to sort it out.

Your contract is with the company you bought the TV off and you should deal with them first.

There is a well documented history on here alone about problems with some batches of this model and if they aren't aware of it, Sony most certainly are.

I would take it up with the retailer first (Showing them your proof of problems) and if they suggest you contact Sony Direct, inform them that it is their resposibility to do so not yours.

If you still have no joy inform, not threaten, the retailer of the sale of goods act (fit for purpose etc) and see where this gets you.

If this fails you could always inform them that you will be standing outside the store leafleting each and every customer about their poor customer service (making sure you are not on their property). I said I would do this not long ago at Currys and suddenly, as if by magic, they immediately agreed to change my set.

If this still has no effect, THEN contact Sony yourself and appeal to their better nature.

Failing all of that, you may be forced to go legal.

I suspect that if you handle it calmly but firmly, and go in knowing your rights if you need to quote them, that you will will get a replacement set - whether you go for another Sony is however up to you.

The Citizens Advice Bureau is another port of call you may wish to visit first.

Good Luck - and if you get the chance buy the Panasonic TH37PX80 - you won't be disappointed.

Perhaps us as the general public and What HiFi as the perceived font of all knowledge in this area, can all learn from these events and handle it better the next time around 😉
 
A nicely constructed answer, I'm tired so please ignore typos.

Capitan: Like it or not, people trust and rely on What HiFi to almost make their minds up for them 'and they almost always get it right' - that's why they are where they are!

I agree whole heartedly up untill this point! , why they are so popular? could this be reflected by the OP, not using his own eyes and trusting 'experts'

' If this fails you could always inform them that you will be standing outside the store leafleting each and every customer about their poor customer service (making sure you are not on their property). '

One must be careful doing this, the leaflet must only contain 'correct facts' as I too have threatened this. They must not be opinions but factually correct.

Good Luck - and if you get the chance buy the Panasonic TH37PX80 - you won't be disappointed.

Agree , again.
 
matt41:I have reservations with many of WHF reviews and lack of simple details/information ( too many reviews in too little time)

matt41:But it does show the power of print and why those with the pen should wield it, with perhaps more caution and respect.

matt41:True, but we're all capable of being mislead, by people with whom we put our trust in.

Thought I sensed a theme developing...
 
The potential clouding issue did get mentioned in the last ultimate guide (published December) and features prominently in a re-test of the Sony (alongside other 40-42in sets) in our forthcoming March issue, out next week.

I'll only repeat again that we've yet to see clouding on any Sony W4500 set we've either tested or recommended our friends and family to buy, once the set is correctly set-up.

Again, we'd stress as with any purchase that if you're unhappy with the product, send it back!
 
Clare Newsome:The potential clouding issue did get mentioned in the last ultimate guide (published December) and features prominently in a re-test of the Sony (alongside other 40-42in sets) in our forthcoming March issue, out next week.

The WHF forums are a great resource with the power to change people's buying decisions. The magazine carries even more authority and there will always be some who read the magazine but don't find the forums. You are now responding to the huge forum activity on this issue with commentary in the magazine - I don't think anyone could reasonably expect more.

Of course the March issue will quickly become history, and yet the sets affected by these issues will continue to appear in the buying guide tables for a while. The tables are very limited in space, but if some way could be found to flag up contentious issues in the tables, perhaps just a symbol with a key saying "refer to the WHF forums for discussion on some issues with this set", this might encourage readers to do more research before buying.
 
smithdom:
there will always be some who read the magazine but don't find the forums.

Well there's a whathifi.com URL on every page of the magazine, plus an additional flash on every buyer's guide page that says "read the full reviews at whathifi.com", and those reviews up here clearly flag the potential clouding problem (and have done for some months now) some people have had.

Also, more than 10 times the people visit the website every month than buy the magazine.

But i'll talk to our Buyer's Guide editor, too, about whether we can make it even clearer in April issue.
 
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