Sony Australia has announced that while it will still be selling a few plasma models, it will focus its forthcoming television line-up on LCD and rear projection technologies. Here's why they are putting their considerable muscle behind rear projection.
Upside
Sony's Grand WEGA LCD rear projection television range gives you a choice of smart looking widescreens in three sizes - 60, 50 and 42 inches. They've only been on the Australian market since December (KFWS60) and January (KFWE50 and KFWE42), yet Sony has already announced a price reduction of AU$1500 on all three models to AU$7,499, $5,499 and $4,499 respectively.
The company says that what sets Grand WEGAs apart from DLP rear projection TVs, such as the Toshiba 62JM9UA, is that there is no spinning DLP colour wheel. Rather, Grand WEGA's optical engine employs a prism-like lens system with 11 elements that bend the light path, creating an ultra-short focal point while maintaining high levels of brightness. The light is then reflected into three high-resolution XGA panels, one for each RGB colour signal (Red, Green and Blue). The result is a picture resolution of 1.05 million pixels that is crisp across the entire screen from corner to corner.
Sony also claims that the Grand WEGAs have a much lower power consumption than plasma TVs, with its 60-inch model consuming only about one third the wattage of a 60-inch plasma.
On the features side, Grand WEGA televisions incorporate a two HD/DVD Component input connection that enables high definition content to be delivered to the unit from a HD set-top box, and all have a Memory Stick slot that allows the playback of JPEG and MPEG1 files.
Downside
Sony concedes that DLP rear projection televisions still produce better black levels, which may be important to you if you use your set for gaming or are likely to watch a lot of film noir.
Rear projection TVs also utilise high-density lamps which have a lifespan of about 8000 hours, so they will need replacing every 2 to 3 years. Sony replacement lamps cost around $500, but the company claims that you should be able to easily replace the removable lamp cartridge yourself.
Outlook
If you're not hung up on hanging a plasma on your wall, the Grand WEGA models look extremely competitive from both a picture quality and price perspective. Sony says that rear projection TVs have claimed 30 per cent of the U.S. big screen market -- and that it has a 50 percent share of that chunk -- so the company enters the Australian market well armed. If you're shopping for a big screen right now, Grand WEGA should certainly be on your short list. CNET.com.au will be putting a review unit through its full paces shortly.
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AndrewGB
03/10/2008, 08:51 AM
rating
1/10
Over 30 people over the past 3 months have advised of the 'Blue Haze' Optical block problem and there are plenty more out there. Coincidence? Come on Sony, what are you going to do about it? I have a few suggestions.
stinginrain@hotmail.com
Pros: makes a great paperweight
Cons: Sony are really showing what large corporations are made of: no customer service, no return calls, no answers, no resolution.
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Mazimbwe
30/09/2008, 10:34 PM
rating
1/10
I too after just over 2 years have developed a huge blue centre spot that started as a small spot. I also have a Blue spot in the lower right corner and now I have small blue spots and dots all over the screen.
I have not contacted Sony Australia. However, I bought a brand new globe from Sony Australia and told them the TV unit, the problem and the age of it but not a mention that there may be some other problem that might be giving the Blue-Spot effect.
Not surprised really as more and more Brand-Quality is eroded and nobody(in a corporate sense) wants to stand by their product/name.
Thank my luck and the extra cash I happened to have at the time because I bought an extended warranty...will let you know the result ASAP.
Good luck to those engaged in the fight for a fair product at a fair price, I have made contact via email and would be more than happy to relay my encounter with the product.
Pros: Magic picture till the problems start.
Cons: Faulty technology/design that should have been recalled.
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coco0248
27/09/2008, 08:33 PM
rating
2/10
I too own a sony grand waga 60 inch $7000 worth of nothing 2 1/2 years old replaced lamp 12 months ago $900 blue haze appeared very small about 3 months ago now it takes over a third of the screen sony didn,t want to know service man said need anew blue fliter approx cost $900 but didn,t know if that would fix it said i would need a lcd screen but sony did not make it for space parts anymore said it was a gamble could work or could not i am not going ahead with repair at this time waiting to see what sony will do i will never buy a sony again our son had a sony tv lasted approx 3 years unfixable and that was just before we got ours i should of taken notice not the same tv but same brand heres hoping sony will do something for us
Pros: great tv when it is working
Cons: didn't last very long just a bit blue no help from sony after sales support.
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AndrewGB
21/09/2008, 07:42 PM
rating
1/10
SusanJ, please forward your details to:
stinginrain@hotmail.com
The bigger the list I can get together the more of a chance we have at resolution. I have to believe that something can come out of this if we all get more involved. There are 25ppl with this problem and we know that there are more out there as people who post on this site do not always contact me. Please leave me your details!
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susanj
21/09/2008, 07:35 PM
rating
1/10
Should have read 0 out of 10 not 10 out of 10. Tell me is there any use complaining to the ACCC - what can they do. Sony just aren't interested
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susanj
21/09/2008, 07:24 PM
rating
10/10
Same problem here with the blue haze of course after just purchasing a new bulb. Sony was not interested in fixing and in the end sony wouldn't even return our calls. No one wanted to help so now we have an almost new blub and no tv.
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W Price
19/09/2008, 10:04 PM
rating
1/10
Everyone please keep sending through your stories on your experience with dealing with the Sony Support run around when your Optical Block goes on the not very Grand Wega
0410 668 741
warren.price@hotmail.com.au
Pros: yeah right
Cons: no customer service!
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AndrewGB
19/09/2008, 09:37 AM
rating
1/10
Hi 'Sony fans' (and I use that term looooosely!). If you are reading this because your Sony Rear Pro has developed a 'Blue Haze', 'Blue Dots', 'Star Pattern' or equivalent picture deficiency, please forward your details and experiences to:
stinginrain@hotmail.com
Your screen may have a bit of blue at the moment but it gets much, much worse! I have a 'Blur' that is approx 30cm long by 5cm wide down the left hand side and there are hundreds, possibly thousands of blue dots scattered all over the screen, I can't see the picture through the dots! I have had contact from 24people with similar problems and they also know of others. How can this be possible if SONY claim that this is not a common fault? If we don't get together, SONY will continue to write this problem off as 'wear and tear' and you won't get a resolution and your hard earned money was put to waste! SONY must take responsibility! Get in touch with the ACCC and lodge a formal complaint, with the more complaints lodged hopefully the ACCC can get on board! I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER SONY PRODUCT IF SONY CONTINUE THIS CHARADE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SPREAD THE WORD!
Pros: Bragging rights to your mates about having the biggest and best TV.
Cons: Your mates laughing at you because your TV needs replacement after approx 2years after you spent a small fortune.
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wprice
17/09/2008, 10:45 PM
rating
10/10
Here's a great link to a very frustrated US Sony Consumer.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=BniRre0d_pQ
We are definately not alone in Australia with a poor SONY TV
Pros: Nothing
Cons: everything
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davebiss
16/09/2008, 11:36 PM
rating
1/10
Unbelievable I thought I bought a Lemon? Seems Sony produced a Lemon! Same issue Optical Block $3500 replacement. 2 1/2 yrs old! Happy to join any group against Sony. I am in Victoria also! davebiss@bigpond.com
Pros: Great TV Wow factor and picture is amazing Until.......
Cons: Optical Block replacement $3500 every 2 years?
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