Sony's TVs have been remarkably inconsistent in their backlighting this year. Some have been good, some bad, and it has varied from screen size to screen size even within the same model range, as in this case.
The 40in model was poor in this regard, the 46in version very good. We can only report on what we find.
We can only comment on the models we have seen - both review models and sets in shops etc - and in our experience this backlight issue is getting more widespread.
Last year, every Sony we reviewed was fine once calibrated; this year the majority (though not all) of review sets have had backlight problems, even after set-up.
I may be one of the 'lucky' ones here but my backlight bleed is barely noticable. I have a very slightly brighter patch in the top right corner of my screen but it's really not too bad. It's only slightly noticeable (if you're looking for it) in a dark room and dark scene with backlight set at 5 (my usual day time setting). Generally for 'dark' viewing conditions I have the backlight set to 2 (I've set it to this in the 'cinema' mode). When viewing with this setup you cannot notice the backlight bleed at all on my set. Maybe worth trying on your test set to see if it gets any better? The only downside to this is that you have to re-calibrate the set for both 'normal' AND 'cinema' modes!
When will Sony ever fix this backlighting issue? It happens on mine! It is very annoying, it's like going to the cinema and having someone kicking your seat, it's ANNOYING!
It's weird as I've seen it on many Sonys since the W2000 (and I wasn't really into TVs much before that), and also on other manufacturers. I think it's something to bear in mind when buying a Sony, but don't personally believe it's more likely than it's ever been before, perhaps just that more people are aware of it? Or that if a set does have it, it's worse?
Uneven backlighting has been affecting Sony TVs for years, including the award winning W2000 and 4000. If anything, it's gotten much better since the 2000. Why is WHFS&V more concerned with this now than they ever were before?
This tv set lost 1 star because of the uneven backlighting. Altough it has a same technogy, same software etc, its 46 inch brother received 5 stars. I wonder if someone could explain this.
Comments
Sony's TVs have been remarkably inconsistent in their backlighting this year. Some have been good, some bad, and it has varied from screen size to screen size even within the same model range, as in this case.
The 40in model was poor in this regard, the 46in version very good. We can only report on what we find.
We know it's annoying, that's why we keep mentioning it, and we're as frustrated as everyone else by this.
We can only comment on the models we have seen - both review models and sets in shops etc - and in our experience this backlight issue is getting more widespread.
Last year, every Sony we reviewed was fine once calibrated; this year the majority (though not all) of review sets have had backlight problems, even after set-up.
I may be one of the 'lucky' ones here but my backlight bleed is barely noticable. I have a very slightly brighter patch in the top right corner of my screen but it's really not too bad. It's only slightly noticeable (if you're looking for it) in a dark room and dark scene with backlight set at 5 (my usual day time setting). Generally for 'dark' viewing conditions I have the backlight set to 2 (I've set it to this in the 'cinema' mode). When viewing with this setup you cannot notice the backlight bleed at all on my set. Maybe worth trying on your test set to see if it gets any better? The only downside to this is that you have to re-calibrate the set for both 'normal' AND 'cinema' modes!
When will Sony ever fix this backlighting issue? It happens on mine! It is very annoying, it's like going to the cinema and having someone kicking your seat, it's ANNOYING!
Clare: thank you very much for your response.
It's weird as I've seen it on many Sonys since the W2000 (and I wasn't really into TVs much before that), and also on other manufacturers. I think it's something to bear in mind when buying a Sony, but don't personally believe it's more likely than it's ever been before, perhaps just that more people are aware of it? Or that if a set does have it, it's worse?
At any rate, it shouldn't happen.
Uneven backlighting has been affecting Sony TVs for years, including the award winning W2000 and 4000. If anything, it's gotten much better since the 2000. Why is WHFS&V more concerned with this now than they ever were before?
Yep, exactly the same on mine, three times I took TV back and three times on three new sets exactly the same problem!
It's actually rediculous and the people in the Sony centre just stared blanky at me shrugging their shoulders. This will be the last Sony I buy.
Plasma is the way forward for me, it's a shame with this set becuase other than the clouding the TV is amazing!
This tv set lost 1 star because of the uneven backlighting. Altough it has a same technogy, same software etc, its 46 inch brother received 5 stars. I wonder if someone could explain this.