On March 9th, 2010 07:43 a visitor came here looking for "Sony yellow splotch" and that person was viewing the following page:

Sony Grand WEGA KF-42WE610 42-Inch HDTV-Ready LCD Rear Projection TV
Do not buy this product The TV performs perfectly until the optical block fails then you are in for a very expensive repair bill. Google Sony Optical Block and you will find ...

If somehow that page does not seem relevant to you here are some products with the description/reviews matching the search term :

1. Vivid, high-definition, slim-chassis LCD projection television with 55-inch screen and ATSC (HDTV) tuner; 62 x 37.5 x 19 inches (W x H x D)
2. Lightweight design with bright, high-contrast screen; CableCARD compatibility removes the need for a separate digital cable box
3. 3.28 million dots resolution for stunning detail and clarity; fixed-pixel display and constant light prevent image flicker
4. Live Color emphasizes blues and greens without affecting reds for a more natural, vivid picture
5. 5 watts per channel x 2 stereo sound and built-in 20-watt subwoofer for rich, lifelike sound; Dolby Virtual Surround simulates surround sound

Customer Review :

blue blob and stars

bought this tv in 2007
8 months ago started seeing a very small blue blob in bottom right of screen. THis has now grown to cover 25% of screen .ALso there are thousands of blue dots on screen. after sony wsa sued with a class action suit (i wasnt party to this) they extended the warranty until last year. I contacted them and they told me there was nothing they can do. Its a optical block defect.
DONT BUY IT

Rating :

Display Problem

My Sony LCD large screen TV is just over one year old. It has yellow splotch about mid upper screen. A close inspection of the screen reveals a circuit board trace like pattern that is yellow. The set has not been abused or exposed to temperature extremes. A UPS should be used with these units to keep the lamp cooling fan powered in case of a power failure. The lamps are at least $250.00 I would definitely recomend the extended warranty. Is the technology not proven on these large screens? Is the screen going to fail after 3 years when the extended warranty is expired? Sony will not stand behind their product after the warrany is expired. (mine is two weeks out) Other than the display problem the unit has performed flawless. It's a lot of money for a TV that doesn't last more than a year!!!!

Rating :

Very good HDTV

I've had this TV for about 2 months now. I've connected an HDTV cable box via HDMI, progressive DVD player via component input and TIVO through S-video. So far the TV has performed extremely well, no problems to report. I've also been very impressed with the sound this TV produces. It's so good that I don't normally bother to run normal TV through my AV receiver.

Standard definition looks better than I expected for both straight cable broadcasts and through the TIVO recorded on medium quality. DVD look very good, but the true HDTV sources really shine with this TV - the Olympics were amazing!

The display is bright enough that I actually watch it with the bulb in "reduced" mode (even in the day) to extend the bulb life.

I've had no problems, and as suggested for anything projection systems I've got the TV hooked up to a UPS in case of power failure, and I did spring for an extended warrantee with bulb replacement.

Rating :

1. 50 Screen Size (Diagonally)
2. SXRD Technology, WEGA Engine HD System, Cinema Black Pro
3. 16 - 9 Widescreen Aspect Ratio
4. Cinemotion Reverse 3 - 2 Pulldown
5. CableCARD Slot and ATSC Integrated Tuner

Editorial Review :

Thin, but powerful, the Sony KDS-R50XBR1 Grand WEGA SXRD Rear Projection HDTV is equipped with SXRD technology and offers a brilliant, colorful image pleasing to any pair of eyes. SXRD technology employs three Silicon X-tal Reflective Display panels, which aid in the response time of image changes and movement. Each one of these panels is associated to a primary color: red, blue or green. These panels combine their monochromatic colors into one creating a single, full color image that is displayed onto the screen via an energy-efficient high output lamp (RGB Image 1920 x 1080). Other features of the KDS-R50XBR1 include WEGA GATE Easy Operation Guide for easy channel and television function use as well as CineMotion technology, which provides reverse 3:2 pull down technology for smoother picture movement when playing back movies or other video sources on film. Sony's WEGA Engine system also minimizes signal distortion providing you with the best HD picture and sound for hours of viewing pleasure.

Customer Review :

green tint

I bought this TV 2/06,it's in a 2nd home so it only gets used 6 months out of the year. I noticed the picture getting darker last year but thought it was the projection lamp burning out. This year the green tint, plus an area of approximately 7x3 inches that looks like a water stain appeared. The stain is only noticeable when the TV is on and the screen is light in that area. I purchased a new lamp, it made no difference in the TV. I called Sony and was told since the warranty with them had expired there was nothing they would do,HOWEVER, they had an offer for me, they offered to sell me my pick from 3 different Sony models, at factory price, they would deliver it from their factory. They told me I had to let them know right now if I was going to accept or decline this offer. I asked them what they would do with the old set,they said when the truck brought the new set they would verify the serial number on the old set ,and that was that. Why on earth would they think I would throw out a set I paid $3000.00 for and buy a new one from them? They never said a thing about the optical block or any known defect. When I got off the phone I found this site and read all the other comments about this defect. I called RC Willey where I bought the set and found out I had bought an extended warranty through them(I'm still in shock,I never buy extended warranties on anything). Because of the people who take the time to write comments, I have a little knowlege when the TV repairman gets here,and hopefully there is a fix as some suggest. I looked at new TV's tonight and there is nothing that compares to the look of this Sony and the TV stand that was made for it. Wish me luck!

Rating :

Fixing Green Screen cost more than TV now

This TV gets a green tint that takes over. The extended warrenty with the company went until June 30th 2009. To replace the part cost $1500 with installation. Get maybe 2 years with a good picture then your out of luck. This is a bad purchase and I'm stuck with it.

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Sony TV disappointed me... I'll never buy SONY TV again!!!

I always loved Sony TV until I have this one. It's a big disappointment. At first the TV was working just fine, then it start to turn off by itseft. Sometimes, it turn off itself right after I just turn on. Then one day it just won't turn on at all. I thought the lamp was bad, so I replace the lamp but that didn't fix the problems. Called Sony and was told this is out of warranty because I have the TV a little bit over 2 years. They gave me a couple numbers to call for repair. They found out the circuit board of the TV is bad and the total call to fix this TV is $730. Plus they also told me the light engine will be next to be broken too. SONY TV SUCKS!!! I'll never buy SONY TV again!!!

Rating :

Optical Block Problems

Bought one in Feb'06 and the green glob showed up in May, by August we had a new one. It was replaced by Best Buy. And by the way, they were FANTASTIC responding to our needs! I hope nothing happens. We looked at other brands, even Plasma and LCD, just in case. But nothing compared to this Sony... Sonys reputation I'm sure is affected. They'd still be flying off the shelves like they were if this problem had not occured. It's not just another black 'Brick in the Wall'(pardon the pun). It's like a unique art piece. I THANK SONY for this technology!......UPDATE 10-8-08,Green Glob appeared,optical block replaced by Best Buy with the UPGRADED GLASS Optical Lens. Perfect picture once again,(it's even better, because the GLASS lens makes the picture even more dramatic) and a permanent fix this time. Completely happy!!........UPDATE June 22 2009...Still as beautiful a picture as ever. There is still NO EQUAL!!....Update Oct 15th 2009,...Still working great! I feel bad for those who gave up on Sony, reguarding this model. GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO(are PATIENT). If you gave up on this SONY, you don't know what you're missing!!! I'm sorry for ya.

Rating :

3+ years of repairs!

This particular 60" KDS-R60XBR1 product from SONY is a $3,500++ piece of junk. Within the first 8 months of purchase, we had the dreaded green tint. Repair #1 warranty. 8 months later, GREEN hue. SONY did pay for repair post warranty. Issue #3, lamp goes out! $350/repair. Issue #4 play DVD, goes green again! Issue #5, Lamp goes out again! Finally, this morning, the old red blinking light (4 times) means a service call AGAIN! 6 Issues in 3.5 years on a SONY and nearly $1,000 in repairs. It's like a bad relationship you keep going back to after a problem. Well, NO MORE! Off to buy a new 60" big screen. I don't know what the engineers were doing when they designed this at SONY. Must have been a team of new graduates. SONY is usually so reliable. My biggest gripe is that they should have had a total recall when so many problems arose and replaced the full TV with a different model.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. Stylish mirrored front clamshell with unique hidden external LCD and disappearing icons for battery and signal strength, message status
2. Built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and Internet surfing; mobile email and messaging via AOL, Yahoo!, and MSN
3. VGA camera/camcorder; Bluetooth for handsfree communication; quad-band connectivity for global roaming and EDGE data network compatibility
4. Up to 7 hours of talk time, up to 300 hours (12.5 days) of standby time
5. Includes: handset, rechargeable battery, charger, quick start guide, user manual

Customer Review :

Not as bad as all that

I had a bad year with phones. 12 years owning a cell phone without a hitch and this past year I went through 3. Two - my fault - washed w/o paying attention. They were the sony walkman phones. Loved them. After that I went with a cheaper phone: The z310a. This one was stolen on Halloween.

I did love it. I don't use a phone a ton, I don't use it for pictures or for music. This did the job. I loved all the little doo-dads - the blinking lights. The fun ring tones. I loved the color and the hidden icons and things.

It's a bare bones phone - but it had everything I needed and worked. It didn't stay charged very long, but I kept it charging in the car when I was driving or hooked up when I was in the house. I'd get 2 days max out of it - without using it.

The sound quality was fine. I never had an issue with not knowing who I was talking to.

It does scratch, but I had it for three months and would throw it in my purse with all the other stuff and it only had one little scratch on it.

The camera was awful, but I've read other reviews that said if you turn it sideways, the pics come out fine. I'll have to try that.

As I mentioned - I had it stolen in October. I was waiting for the z750a to become available (refurbished), but I've given up on that happening. I did love this little phone and will happily get it again.

Rating :

This phone is my sunshine, my broken sunshine

I loved this phone with all my heart until one day the screen had a dark spot in the middle. After about two weeks the dark spot became a giant yellow sunshine of dead pixels. Texting? forget it. I can't see what I'm typing! Want to know who called? Have to call them back to see the number show up outside of the giant sunshine.
Additionally, the speaker phone really is the pits. It's hard to turn it on and you have to crank the volume to the top to hear it.

Rating :

We thought AT&T has raised the bars on the quality & service not just on the fees.....

We purchased from Amazon.com one Motorola RAZR2 V9 Phone and two Sony Ericsson Z750 Phones along with a mandatory 2-year contract AT&T FamilyTalk Nation 550 Rollover Minutes.
Pros: $0.03 for all three phones, Rollover minutes.

Cons: just to mention few...
- The worst talk and standby time on all three phones particularly the Sony Ericsson, despite the fact all three of us use our cell phones only for very necessary or in emergency situations.
- More dropped calls than the competition.
- The quality of voice (connection) is a lot to be desired.
- You cannot program the phone on speaker ahead of time. You can activate it only after dialing or receiving a call - A SAFETY ISSUE while driving.
- The buttons on all three phones are arranged in such a way so that one can easily get connected to internet inadvertently. Despite disconnecting it immediately, you get charged by AT&T. The AT&T advice was to either purchase a new plan (for additional high monthly fee) or have the option of internet connection totally disconnected (without reduction in monthly charge despite reduced service). We end up to having to choose the latter.
- The ring tone of RAZR2 V9 when on speaker phone is laryngitic.
- The choices for the ring tones are severely anemic, unless you purchase more tones from AT&T.
- The voice command, as I understand it, can be activated only with additional monthly fee. The competition gave that for free on the less equipped phones.

WHY DID WE NOT CANCEL THE AT&T PLAN during the first ONE month of grace period?

This one goes to Amazon.com and its new stifling way of business: If you cancel or reduce the plan within the first SIX months, you have to pay $250 for each phone!!!
Perhaps I was too generous to include "$0.03 for all three phones" as a Pro for this, seemingly, deal; or more seemingly, ordeal.

Rating :

Cheap...

I liked this phone for a couple of months. Great features, easy to play games on. Looks great. People on the other line didn't like how I sounded. Then it stopped working. S/E should reinvent this phone with the same features but better quality.

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