Wow!! What a difference a bulb makes!!

[Steelmaker]

OK so I've just replaced the bulb in my 5 year old Sony KDS60A2000 (2nd one) and oh...my...God!! The difference is incredible!! I am 100% convinced that this bulb gives off more luminance than either of the previous bulbs I've had in the set (including the factory bulb that came with it). As a result, EVERYTHING is so much crisper, more detailed, more "alive!" It literally feels like I have a brand new TV and I don't think I'm imagining things. I didn't notice this big of a difference the first time I replaced the the lamp nor do I recall the TV looking this good when I first got it. I mean the brightness is "LCD" like in it's appearance and the way all of the images "pop." I even had to dial down the iris from medium to low it was so bright!

I'm telling you, it's a crying shame that Sony abandoned the SXRD technology and didn't further evolve it because to my eyes, this set still holds it's own against all but maybe Kuro and the highest end plasmas on the market today. Gonna be real sad to let this one go (it's a tank and the wife wants it out of the living room and replaced with a flat screen). The 2000-3000 series SXRD is just possibly the best TV Sony has ever built!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

OK so I've just replaced the bulb in my 5 year old Sony KDS60A2000 (2nd one) and oh...my...God!! The difference is incredible!! I am 100% convinced that this bulb gives off more luminance than either of the previous bulbs I've had in the set (including the factory bulb that came with it). As a result, EVERYTHING is so much crisper, more detailed, more "alive!" It literally feels like I have a brand new TV and I don't think I'm imagining things. I didn't notice this big of a difference the first time I replaced the the lamp nor do I recall the TV looking this good when I first got it. I mean the brightness is "LCD" like in it's appearance and the way all of the images "pop." I even had to dial down the iris from medium to low it was so bright!

I'm telling you, it's a crying shame that Sony abandoned the SXRD technology and didn't further evolve it because to my eyes, this set still holds it's own against all but maybe Kuro and the highest end plasmas on the market today. Gonna be real sad to let this one go (it's a tank and the wife wants it out of the living room and replaced with a flat screen). The 2000-3000 series SXRD is just possibly the best TV Sony has ever built!

A question, did you change because the other was dying? I'm asking because I'm going on over 6 years with the original bulb. I calibrated lately and it had to be tweaked so am wondering if I should change the bulb even if it's not showing sings of going?

Oh and did you get the oem lamp or another brand, that might explain the difference (though I doubt it as every reviews I' ve read point to the oem as best.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

A question, did you change because the other was dying? I'm asking because I'm going on over 6 years with the original bulb. I calibrated lately and it had to be tweaked so am wondering if I should change the bulb even if it's not showing sings of going?

Oh and did you get the oem lamp or another brand, that might explain the difference (though I doubt it as every reviews I' ve read point to the oem as best.

Hey Pentatonic,

Here is the link to the one that I ordered. I'm farily positive it's an aftermarket brand, especially considering the price. I only bought a "cheapie" because I was planning on getting rid of it anyway.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AJ6WAW

I'm telling you, if I didn't know any better I would swear this bulb is of a higher wattage than the ones I had before because the difference was quite shocking to me. Either that or I just had two lemons before!

It was weird because both of the previous bulbs behaved very differently. With the factory bulb, my TV actually gave me a warning that it was about to go out (though the bulb actually lasted about 2 months beyond me receiving the warning). When the bulb went out, it was instant! I just turned the TV on one day and I could actually hear the "pop" where the bulb blew. On the second bulb, I was watching the TV one day and just all of a sudden it faded to a very dim image. No warning, no instant burn out.

As it stands, I'm trying to stall as much as I can with my wife about getting rid of this set because frankly I still love it! It has been a wonderful TV for us and now the picture looks better than it ever has before! I have always been a big believer in supporting quality and this set has just been an incredible work horse for us!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Hey Pentatonic,

Here is the link to the one that I ordered. I'm farily positive it's an aftermarket brand, especially considering the price. I only bought a "cheapie" because I was planning on getting rid of it anyway.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AJ6WAW

I'm telling you, if I didn't know any better I would swear this bulb is of a higher wattage than the ones I had before because the difference was quite shocking to me. Either that or I just had two lemons before!

It was weird because both of the previous bulbs behaved very differently. With the factory bulb, my TV actually gave me a warning that it was about to go out (though the bulb actually lasted about 2 months beyond me receiving the warning). When the bulb went out, it was instant! I just turned the TV on one day and I could actually hear the "pop" where the bulb blew. On the second bulb, I was watching the TV one day and just all of a sudden it faded to a very dim image. No warning, no instant burn out.

As it stands, I'm trying to stall as much as I can with my wife about getting rid of this set because frankly I still love it! It has been a wonderful TV for us and now the picture looks better than it ever has before! I have always been a big believer in supporting quality and this set has just been an incredible work horse for us!

Thanks and agree, these sets with Lcos SXRD were exceptional sets. I really don't feel any need to change as far as PQ is concerned. I'm planning for the future somewhat and I will bring in a pj before I change sets and keep it till it dies.

The bulb might explain the brightness thing being a different one. I guess mine is just not ready to be changed then (wonder how many darn hours I have on it now, it's been playing for a long time)

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

Thanks and agree, these sets with Lcos SXRD were exceptional sets. I really don't feel any need to change as far as PQ is concerned. I'm planning for the future somewhat and I will bring in a pj before I change sets and keep it till it dies.

The bulb might explain the brightness thing being a different one. I guess mine is just not ready to be changed then (wonder how many darn hours I have on it now, it's been playing for a long time)

I'm amazed that you are still on the factory bulb after six years! Either you are a very casual movie/TV watcher or you lucked up and received the "Incredible Hulk" of bulbs for that set!

Regarding the picture on these sets, I know that on paper the newer plasmas have deeper blacks, greater contrast ratio, smoother motion, etc. I mean the measurable's don't lie. However nothing convinces me that those sets blow mine out of the water. When I do upgrade I hope to blown away by the difference but something tells me that won't be the case!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

I'm amazed that you are still on the factory bulb after six years! Either you are a very casual movie/TV watcher or you lucked up and received the "Incredible Hulk" of bulbs for that set!

Regarding the picture on these sets, I know that on paper the newer plasmas have deeper blacks, greater contrast ratio, smoother motion, etc. I mean the measurable's don't lie. However nothing convinces me that those sets blow mine out of the water. When I do upgrade I hope to blown away by the difference but something tells me that won't be the case!

On paper yes, though a plasma would not be the best for my viewing habits, at least during day time. And I haven't seen many lcds or leds even that I like so much better to warrant a change. As far as the bulb, I just don't want to go play in the service menu to check for hours but until my daughter left about 1 year ago it had to be going on average 25-30 hrs/week, so I got to be at 5000 hours at least. It won't die, I keep on wanting to buy a spare thinking it will die on me, but it doesn't

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

On paper yes, though a plasma would not be the best for my viewing habits, at least during day time. And I haven't seen many lcds or leds even that I like so much better to warrant a change. As far as the bulb, I just don't want to go play in the service menu to check for hours but until my daughter left about 1 year ago it had to be going on average 25-30 hrs/week, so I got to be at 5000 hours at least. It won't die, I keep on wanting to buy a spare thinking it will die on me, but it doesn't

A bit of advice, go ahead and buy it! Nothing sucks worse than having to wait 3-4 days for your bulb to show up so you can watch a movie! . At least you'll have it for when your bulb does finally go out.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

A bit of advice, go ahead and buy it! Nothing sucks worse than having to wait 3-4 days for your bulb to show up so you can watch a movie! . At least you'll have it for when your bulb does finally go out.

I did think about it, what's keeping me from doing so is that new bulbs do come with a warranty, but short, I don't want to buy and end up waiting longer than the warranty is valid. Of course I could just install it right away, but I'm curious to just how long the original will last.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

On paper yes, though a plasma would not be the best for my viewing habits, at least during day time. And I haven't seen many lcds or leds even that I like so much better to warrant a change. As far as the bulb, I just don't want to go play in the service menu to check for hours but until my daughter left about 1 year ago it had to be going on average 25-30 hrs/week, so I got to be at 5000 hours at least. It won't die, I keep on wanting to buy a spare thinking it will die on me, but it doesn't

I have a 50A2000 SXRD from Nov 2006, and I am still on my first bulb too. I bought a spare bulb 6 years ago, and it is still sitting in the box.

I am also still on my original optical block. I don't want to jinx it <knocks on wood>, so I haven't changed my bulb. Steelmaker, can the improved brightness from your new bulb negatively impact your optical block lifespan? I honestly have no idea.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I have a 50A2000 SXRD from Nov 2006, and I am still on my first bulb too. I bought a spare bulb 6 years ago, and it is still sitting in the box.

I am also still on my original optical block. I don't want to jinx it <knocks on wood>, so I haven't changed my bulb. Steelmaker, can the improved brightness from your new bulb negatively impact your optical block lifespan? I honestly have no idea.

No clue. Though I don't think one has anything to do with the other. I was lucky in that my TV never had the optical block issue either. All I know is that I have fallen in love with this TV all over again. At this point I am pissed that Sony abandoned the Lcos technology. Who knows where they could have taken it if they had continued to evolve it!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I have a 50A2000 SXRD from Nov 2006, and I am still on my first bulb too. I bought a spare bulb 6 years ago, and it is still sitting in the box.

I am also still on my original optical block. I don't want to jinx it <knocks on wood>, so I haven't changed my bulb. Steelmaker, can the improved brightness from your new bulb negatively impact your optical block lifespan? I honestly have no idea.

6 years ago, that's funny but I do understand. So I guess we seem to be the lucky ones, though I did go through 1 OB. Under warranty so not a biggie ans has been perfect since. If your OB had to go, I'm sure it would have.

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

No clue. Though I don't think one has anything to do with the other. I was lucky in that my TV never had the optical block issue either. All I know is that I have fallen in love with this TV all over again. At this point I am pissed that Sony abandoned the Lcos technology. Who knows where they could have taken it if they had continued to evolve it!

LCos projectors are pretty much the top of the crop, it def is a great technology but they couldn't make a flat panel. If the tech was still used in rear projections, they would probably be up there PQ wise IMO