Strange yellow push on SXRD

[supervij]

Hi everyone,

A couple weeks ago, I noticed that the picture on my Sony KDS-50A2000 rear projection HDTV has looked a little yellow. Actually, very yellow, on all inputs, whether it's the component cables from my PVR or the HDMI cable from my Blu-ray player.

I disconnected and then reconnected everything plugged into the tv but the yellow push was still there. I checked all my picture settings, but nothing had changed. In order to minimize the intense yellow, I changed the colour temperature from Warm1 to Cool, and moved the Hue from 0 to R10. That's helped a little, but not much.

The bulb is a few years old, but even when I replaced the previous bulb, I didn't have this yellow problem. I'm guessing that the problem is not with the bulb but with other components within the tv.

Has anyone had this happen or heard of this happening? If so, what was the solution? Any help here would be hugely appreciated! Thanks, everyone!

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by supervij

Hi everyone,

A couple weeks ago, I noticed that the picture on my Sony KDS-50A2000 rear projection HDTV has looked a little yellow. Actually, very yellow, on all inputs, whether it's the component cables from my PVR or the HDMI cable from my Blu-ray player.

I disconnected and then reconnected everything plugged into the tv but the yellow push was still there. I checked all my picture settings, but nothing had changed. In order to minimize the intense yellow, I changed the colour temperature from Warm1 to Cool, and moved the Hue from 0 to R10. That's helped a little, but not much.

The bulb is a few years old, but even when I replaced the previous bulb, I didn't have this yellow problem. I'm guessing that the problem is not with the bulb but with other components within the tv.

Has anyone had this happen or heard of this happening? If so, what was the solution? Any help here would be hugely appreciated! Thanks, everyone!

dude, your only a couple of years behind things. it's more than likely the OB (Optical Block) which was a flaw in the sets.

i think your too late to get in on the class action suit settlement. i have had my OB replaced twice but it didn't cost me anything. i am prepared for when the set goes into another OB failure or any other failure that i'm getting a modern tv.

i love my SXRD but i also know that once it starts to fail, i'm not paying to get it fixed. i've had it for well over 6 years, it's the best looking picture on any hdtv i've owned of it's time.

there are threads that already exist about this subject matter to so a use of the search function is in order.

also just googling SXRD troubles would yeild you thousands of hits.

sorry to hear about the set, if you have incredible luck, it will be nothing, but, since it's an SXRD it's the beginning of the end of the OB.

good luck to ya.

[supervij]

Thanks for the info, solarrdadd! To tell the truth, I didn't think it was the optical block because everyone talked about the "green blob", which I assumed was just that -- a green blob on one part of the screen. This is a yellow (close to green, though!) tint over the entire screen.

I've had this set since 2007, and aside from needing a new bulb, I haven't had any real problems with it. That's why I didn't get on the class action suit, I guess, cos I figured I got lucky with a good tv. Dum dum.

What would it cost to get it repaired, you think? Would it be worth it or should I just bite the bullet and get a new HDTV now?

[hometheatergeek]

Originally Posted by supervij

Thanks for the info, solarrdadd! To tell the truth, I didn't think it was the optical block because everyone talked about the "green blob", which I assumed was just that -- a green blob on one part of the screen. This is a yellow (close to green, though!) tint over the entire screen.

I've had this set since 2007, and aside from needing a new bulb, I haven't had any real problems with it. That's why I didn't get on the class action suit, I guess, cos I figured I got lucky with a good tv. Dum dum.

What would it cost to get it repaired, you think? Would it be worth it or should I just bite the bullet and get a new HDTV now?

Oh It's the OB alright. That was how mine ended it's life. It was fine one evening and I turned it on the next morning and it was all yellow. It typically happens around 100 hours after you change the bulb. I went a total of 8000 hours on my first bulb which was almost 5 years and sure enough right after I put in a new bulb it went bad. I had the 602000 model.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

Oh It's the OB alright. That was how mine ended it's life. It was fine one evening and I turned it on the next morning and it was all yellow. It typically happens around 100 hours after you change the bulb. I went a total of 8000 hours on my first bulb which was almost 5 years and sure enough right after I put in a new bulb it went bad. I had the 602000 model.

Yep, and if not then it's one of the SXRD chips going bad. The price of an OB repair alone gets you a mid-level plasma (i.e. Samsung 5500). Too bad Sony couldn't get around those problems as SXRD (LCos) is still the best tech for pjs (outside of the crazy expensive ones) and still looks better than most LED/LCDs today.

[supervij]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

The price of an OB repair alone gets you a mid-level plasma (i.e. Samsung 5500). Too bad Sony couldn't get around those problems as SXRD (LCos) is still the best tech for pjs (outside of the crazy expensive ones) and still looks better than most LED/LCDs today.

THAT pricey?! Hmmm...I guess I'll be saving up for a new tv then. Sucks, I thought I'd have essentially a new tv every time I put a new bulb in. This beast cost me $2500 all in, back in '07 -- tv plus stand plus delivery plus taxes. Hella pricey, but it had such great pq!

I agree about the fact that this tv had some of the best pq out there, even today -- before the yellow tint, of course!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by supervij

THAT pricey?! Hmmm...I guess I'll be saving up for a new tv then. Sucks, I thought I'd have essentially a new tv every time I put a new bulb in. This beast cost me $2500 all in, back in '07 -- tv plus stand plus delivery plus taxes. Hella pricey, but it had such great pq!

I agree about the fact that this tv had some of the best pq out there, even today -- before the yellow tint, of course!

Mind you I'm referring to Canadian prices and often there's quite the difference but when my original OB went green I saw the bill forwarded to my ext warranty. In 2009, in Canada, a new OB was almost $1700, add labor!!!

Some do advertise they rebuild but with the failure rate of these great sets it's just too huge to invest IMO. It did take a while for the green tint to get unwatchable so if not that bad yet..

Oh, and in Dec 2006 the same set was $3500 here, before taxes (15 crazy % here) so that might help feel a bit better Oops, I own a 60A2000 though.

[Captain Kirk]

I'd still try to contact Sony. A few people have had success getting discounts on new model TVs as they were originally doing back in 2010 or so.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by Captain Kirk

I'd still try to contact Sony. A few people have had success getting discounts on new model TVs as they were originally doing back in 2010 or so.

yeah, that's probably true, but he was thinking about having it fixed. if luck is on his side, sony will throw him a bone towards a new purchase. that usually is on models that they select though. still, better than no tv.

hell, if he just look at say last years models, he could still get a good deal on a really nice set. plenty to be found. for well under $2K, well under!.....

[supervij]

Sure, I was thinking of getting it fixed, but that was before pentatonic reported that his OB cost $1700+ to repair! No, a discount on a newer flatscreen is the way to go, I think. When I call them today, I'll see just how much I can get. Likely won't be much, if anything.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by supervij

Sure, I was thinking of getting it fixed, but that was before pentatonic reported that his OB cost $1700+ to repair! No, a discount on a newer flatscreen is the way to go, I think. When I call them today, I'll see just how much I can get. Likely won't be much, if anything.

cool, please report back on how it goes with sony, good or bad. this way others get to know what's going on.

good luck buddy.

even saving a little on a new set is nice; especially one that works correctly.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by supervij

Sure, I was thinking of getting it fixed, but that was before pentatonic reported that his OB cost $1700+ to repair! No, a discount on a newer flatscreen is the way to go, I think. When I call them today, I'll see just how much I can get. Likely won't be much, if anything.

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

cool, please report back on how it goes with sony, good or bad. this way others get to know what's going on.

good luck buddy.

even saving a little on a new set is nice; especially one that works correctly.

I forgot to mention that about 18 months ago, give or take a few, I called Sony Canada as I thought my SXRD was starting to suffer from a green push again (which it was not after all ) and they were still open to some type of help as they didn't say anything about being too late. They just asked me to send a few pics of the set showing it.

Whatever they do say on the phone, I would still try thru email support with a few pics since your set is obviously showing the defect clearly. While I believe the class action suit is over with, Sony has been known to do "goodwill" service.

Absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain (contrary to my sig you're out of the groove lol)

[supervij]

I called them a short while ago. The guy I spoke to asked me all the pertinent bits of info: when I bought it, where I bought it, the serial number, stuff like that. He told me that the problem is with a component called the optical engine. Then he emailed me a link, with which I must attach a couple photos -- one of the serial number sticker at the back of the tv, and one of the front of the tv with the tv on and set to a station where the yellow/green push is evident. Five business days they'll get back to me to let me know what they can "do for me". Things could be looking up!

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by supervij

I called them a short while ago. The guy I spoke to asked me all the pertinent bits of info: when I bought it, where I bought it, the serial number, stuff like that. He told me that the problem is with a component called the optical engine. Then he emailed me a link, with which I must attach a couple photos -- one of the serial number sticker at the back of the tv, and one of the front of the tv with the tv on and set to a station where the yellow/green push is evident. Five business days they'll get back to me to let me know what they can "do for me". Things could be looking up!

great news, not sure if they will fix it (of course you never know) at least they didn't say your outta luck, so that's good. keep us posted buddy!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by supervij

I called them a short while ago. The guy I spoke to asked me all the pertinent bits of info: when I bought it, where I bought it, the serial number, stuff like that. He told me that the problem is with a component called the optical engine. Then he emailed me a link, with which I must attach a couple photos -- one of the serial number sticker at the back of the tv, and one of the front of the tv with the tv on and set to a station where the yellow/green push is evident. Five business days they'll get back to me to let me know what they can "do for me". Things could be looking up!

If they still have stock of OBs (same thing as engine) they might want to repair as the parts will mostly gather dust, but if they didn't say no right away, it's a fantastically good sign. Repair would be free (maybe, probably lol) as a replacement set would involve at least a minimum amount of $$ from you. I'm in year 4 1/2 on the new OB and still going strong, so either way, smells really nice for you

[hoytereden]

My recent experiences with getting mine fixed are under the "SXRD is dying!" thread. The total cost was about $1300! It was under Sear's extended warranty so I didn't take the hit. Take the total with a grain of salt in that the prices are really inflated since they did a bulb replacement also and they list that at $435! That's a generic bulb and housing without labor!! My rebuilt Light Engine was $646 and the labor was $226.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

My recent experiences with getting mine fixed are under the "SXRD is dying!" thread. The total cost was about $1300! It was under Sear's extended warranty so I didn't take the hit. Take the total with a grain of salt in that the prices are really inflated since they did a bulb replacement also and they list that at $435! That's a generic bulb and housing without labor!! My rebuilt Light Engine was $646 and the labor was $226.

That's not as bad, but even if I love mine still, I wouldn't pay that much to get it fixed if I had to pay (and trust me, up here in Canuck land, it would def be more expensive). Knowing it would be a permanent fix (all things being equal) then I might consider up to maybe $250-300 since $500-600 gets you a base el cheapo LG 60" plasma.

[hoytereden]

I must say that the combination of the rebuilt engine and new bulb made a quantum leap in the PQ that was simply amazing!

[supervij]

Aw crap. They want proof of purchase. Hope I can find the receipt from seven years ago! Maybe Future Shop would have it in their records? Crap.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by supervij

Aw crap. They want proof of purchase. Hope I can find the receipt from seven years ago! Maybe Future Shop would have it in their records? Crap.

well of course they want that, you didn't expect them to take your word for it, did you?

depending on how long ago you purchased it, they may have records, but if your talking years, probably not. hey, i thought future shop only sold steelbooks?!?

good luck and in the future, keep all your receipts and owners manuals in a safe place. i still have mine for my SXRD and every ticket of service of it too! i have my receipts and manuals for everything i own. hope you find it.