Plagued with problems on the Sony Bravia KDL- 40W4500
Hi
First of all I have read the other problem page on the 46W4500 and I had noticed the same on my 40W4500 last year when I bought it whilst 'trusting' What HIFI magazine reviews! I am writing now as I have been away to Asia for a while so I have not had the chance.
Firstly I do not care what anyone says in Sony's defence, The 40W4500 is Plagued with Backlighting issues. I even saw this in Thailand where the Sony shop had 5 of these sets side by side and EVERY set had Backlight bleed as they were playing the same dvd!!
I find it very hard to believe that What HIFI missed this problem! Did they test these sets in Low light conditions?? im scratching my head on this one. I have heard that the 2008 batches were affected especially the 09/2008 batch (look at the back of your set) and I know that the sets that What HIFI tested were 08-09 batches. All of these are affected in some way.
I just hope that What HIFI can learn from this and test the future sets with greater scrutiny. Also the Sony settings i.e turning the Backlight down etc doesn't work.
I unfortunately bought my TV from Cheapelectricals.co.uk and they are not excactly world famous for customer service so it looks like im stuck with this lemon. My tv looks like its got 4 20th century fox searchlights in every corner!!
Cheers again What HIFI, what a waste of £850.
It's frustrating, I can understand that, but it seems very unlikely to me that the WHF team saw this issue and decided not to report on it - I just can't see Clare et al sitting back nowÿmischievouslyÿlaughing because of all the pain they've caused to people who bought the TV on the back of their review. It's very clear that not every set has this problem since there have been numerous posts from people with the set who say they are happy. Clare has even said that her dad (or father in law, I forget now) bought the set and didn't have a problem.
So yes, you've every right to be angry but you should be concentrating that positively by going to your retailer for support and, if no help there, then the manufacturer, then on to trading standards etc. to get a resolution. It's also a lesson learnt for everyone perhaps on why buying from the cheapest online retailer isn't always the best thing to do, shown by the lack of customer service you've indicated when there is a problem.
At the end of the day, blaming people for just reporting what they saw isn't going to get you anywhere.
I bought one of these a month ago, and am very pleased with it so far. I watch films late at night, in an almost totally dark room, and the backlight bleed is virtually unnoticeable on the vast majority of Blu-rays/DVDs I've watched on it so far. The only time I have seen it is by looking hard, and in only a few scenes on a couple of discs.
The set does need to be probably set up, not just have the backlight reduced (e.g. by using the THX Optimiser on Star Wars DVDs, or a similar system calibration disc). It may also help to have some low ambient lighting behind the set (it will also help to reduce eyestrain!).
Backlight uneveness is a bit nore noticeable if there is no actual input (e.g. switched to an HDMI input before the source is turned on) - but from what I've read elsewhere, even a very expensive Pioneer Kuro Plasma displays the same trait!
If you're right about dodgy batches of these screens, then obviously that's a problem and if so, Sony should come clean. But I don't think that has really been established yet.
There no backlight uneveness on kuro plasmas electroman! Thats a cast iron cert
I would also bear in mind that if Sony were aware of the issue on the TV do you really think they would submit a dodgy set for review??
Surely they would ensure that WHF were sent a set that was as good as it gets! If so, how could WHF spot the issues??
It is unfortunate about the issues but like they always re-itterate, test products with your own eyes and ears.
Messiahs right! i worked in the car industry in the early nineties and a car was never lent to the press unless it was vetted tweaked and generally properly sorted! I would hazzard a guess that is true in most fields
What setting have you used for the screen?
Many, including myself have found that low backlight 2 or 3 gives the best overall results and some of the previous posters have been complaining of bleed when their backlight was on 9 or 10 - That's a bit like complaining of engine noise when you drive everywhere in first gear.
I have no connection with Sony but I also have no problem with my 40W4500 which I tend to view in a very dimly lit room. No bleed, fantastic picture.
It's dispicible to know that they actually sent out those botched sets. Your not telling they/or someone from Sony didn't have the slightest inkling that these new sets would suffer problems. Another misery added to the many, many others in this world.
God will burn us all one day, we're so incompetent.
garethwd:Messiahs right! i worked in the car industry in the early nineties and a car was never lent to the press unless it was vetted tweaked and generally properly sorted! I would hazzard a guess that is true in most fields
I read something a while ago on another hi-fi website that there are one or two manufacturers who's kit always gets very good reviews, but that the same kit bought off the shelf never sounds quite as good ... unfortunately (I can't recall the website, but it was another hi-fi mag) they weren't brave enough to name names!
I would expect you're right, although some faulty stuff occasionally gets through (perhaps from manufacturers who are naive enough not to play the system?).
Messiah:I would also bear in mind that if Sony were aware of the issue on the TV do you really think they would submit a dodgy set for review??
Surely they would ensure that WHF were sent a set that was as good as it gets! If so, how could WHF spot the issues??
It is unfortunate about the issues but like they always re-itterate, test products with your own eyes and ears.
Believe me, Sony's haphazard approach to sending out review samples is simply not that sophisticated - proven by the fact that at least one of their test models is a dodgy one (several rival titles got sent the same, cloudy set).
This is why we've asked to see a range of models - and we've yet to see a properly calibrated set that has any problems. That includes my Dad's set (bought off the shelf from Amazon) and examples bought in a range of places by colleagues' friends and family. The fact we've recommended this set to our nearest and dearest just stresses again how much store we place on its excellence.
Yet again on this issue, however, I will reiterate that there is obviously an issue with some sets, and people need to ideally see before they buy, or at least get a reassurance from their retailer that they can return the TV if there are any problems.
And yes, it would be great if Sony had been more forthcoming re these problems....
Read the link elecroman im very suprised by what i read! iv never seen anything like on any plasma and could only imagine theirs was a faulty set...but it isnt backlight bleed, strange one that!
It's the first time I've heard of it - still, they did say it's the best TV they've ever tested!
Maybe I should start saving now for my next set ... 
do they pay you overtime to be on the forum this late Clare? 
Nope - overtime doesn't exist in media-land!
However it's not late here in the US - it's 2pm and i'm just going for lunch after filing tons of CES news.....
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Your covered by the sale of goods act, take it back, trust me. However bad their service is you have a 5 year warranty, your not happy, take it back and see what they say. End of.