Sony SXRD: A2000/A2020 series (& XBR) Sorry, threads merged by mistake

[Bdub]

I purchased an a2000 in August of '06. I was quite happy with it, but saw a slight discoloration around the center of the screen. My father-in-law bought an a2020 at my suggestion last year, and I noticed that his looked better than mine. I didn't think it was a HUGE deal, and most people didn't even notice it. When I purchased a PS3 this year, I also noticed some red halos around the menu text, suggesting a convergence issue. I got in touch with service (I have the Sony warranty), and they sent over a tech. He said these sets should never be out of convergence, and he also saw the slight discoloration. He ordered a new optical block, and we were on our way.

Two weeks later, he arrived with a new optical block (essentially new guts for the TV), and replaced. The convergence was perfect, but now I had green blobs on the screen!

Two weeks later, the tech arrives again to re-perform the 45 minute surgery. I sat eagerly with my Casino Royale Blu-ray in-hand waiting to be wowed. The green blobs were replaced with green and pink blobs! He suggested I get in touch with Sony about the issue.

Sony, after a few days, some faxed receipts and work orders, and to their credit, are replacing the set with a KDL-52v4100 flat-panel. The response time is higher on the LCDs, and I don't know how the image compares to the "microdisplay" that the SXRDs boasted, but I have to say that I am quite happy with how Sony dealt with this. Oh, and they're transferring the remaining 3 years of my warranty to the new set.

It's too bad that SXRD is so hit-and-miss. My father-in-law's SXRD still looks fantastic. He kind of wishes he had issues, now that I'm getting a new flat-panel.

[BCScott]

Sony also swapped out our KDS-R50XBR1 after 3 OB replacements with a KDL-52XBR4. Although I'm very happy with the service from Sony, and I don't miss the issues with the SXRD, ie the green blob, I still find myself pining for it's beautiful picture (when working properly). There's no way the XBR4 has as nice a PQ. The SXRD would stop guests in their tracks when they saw something in HD!

[stampeder]

Ohhh so close...

On my SXRD KDS-60A2000 the bulb started flickering a couple of weeks ago on certain bright scenes so I ordered a new bulb (only just the bulb itself to keep it cheaper - I replaced it in the original bulb housing and saved quite a bit of $ that way).

The bulb hour timer showed 4,979 hours and I'm fine with that.

I've never had the optical block problems with this TV, knocking on wood, and it easily outperforms any LCD or Plasma I've ever seen for picture quality.

[Robbark]

How do you access the bulb hour timer?I have a KDS-50A2000.

[Berty]

Kind of an old thread but what da heck!

My TV (see sig) gave me the lamp replacement message yesterday. Like the above poster, I can't figure out hours in use however checking the manual it says do it if you see the message.
Ok, so I've googled the xl-5200 and as someone else mentioned DLPlampsource seems decent for price and service.

So my question is, do I NEED to replace the lamp. The brightness is still turned down, I don't really find the picture dim and there's no other oddities. What I don't want to do, beside wasting money, is buy a lamp and have it's warranty run out before I install it. OTOH, I don't want my bulb to fail in the middle of a Roughrider game. and then be scrambling for a replacement.

Any sagely advice?
Thanks!!

[SnowGoose]

Berty - yes, I might recommend replacing the lamp - if only to determine whether you have optical block issues which may allow you to seek a deep-discounted replacement TV from Sony (as likely discussed elsewhere in the SRRD threads)...that's when my issue reared it's head (when I replaced my lamp) - I'm providing requested information to Sony to get my ball rolling right now.

BTW - getting lamp hours is pretty easy - it's contained in the Service Manual - easily obtained by using your favourite 'net search engine using the keywords "KDS-50a2000 service manual"

[Berty]

Thanks SnowGoose.. got the a2000 manual which should be ok for my a2020, haven't tried it yet.

Did you buy a new bulb? Where did you buy from?

[westvan1]

I purchased the XL-5200 lamp last december off Ebay from Niosales in St Paul MN. The price was $109 plus $25 USPS shipping.

That was for a brand new Phillips lamp and housing in original packaging, a far cry from some of the stuff for sale. Very satisfied with the seller's service.

Haven't had to install it yet, currently experiencing intermittent optical block issues. Aaaargh!

[Berty]

Bummer on the block. Got a bulb and housing from Projector Lamp Source here in Canada. Free shipping 95 bucks plus tax.

[SnowGoose]

@Berty - my apologies for not sending along my lamp source - it was Projector Lamps Canada. And sorry I missed that yours was a A2020.

@westvan1 - I would document your optical block issues by taking several pix of it when it occurs next and report it to Sony.

[Berty]

I think the manuals would be the same.. mostly. Turns out I have 10849 hours on the bulb. I can't really tell it's going dim, but I'm sure a new one will be surprising. I'll save the old one for emergency use.

[reidw]

First I know about the Optical Block problem. My SXRD TV KDS60-A2000 is almost five years old. No blobs yet.

Now, what I have started getting is the warning message about the bulb nearing the end of its life. My question is should I believe this message? The bulb takes about 5 extra seconds to reach full brightness when I turn on the set BUT from that point on it is as bright and clear as before. Is this message based on some detection of impending failure in the bulb or is it simply based on the bulb operating hours? How long will it be before the bulb really burns out? I'd be interested in other owners' experiences.

Thanks

[Berty]

It's on a timer. I would buy a replacement though for when it does go.

Projector Lamp Source has them on sale right now.

[Wayne]

I bought one recently online as well. First I went to the shop where I bought my TV and they wanted about $250 for the bulb and they said that their cost was over $200. I told them that this was over double the price online and they said that these were cheap rip-offs. But the bulb I got from the online store appears to be the same Philips bulb as the original.