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Sony problems

post #1 of 24
2/22/09 at 7:34am
Thread Starter 
I'm wondering if anyone else has had problems with their Sony products besides me. I've finally given up on Sony after problems going back 10 years. It started with my E9000ES pre/pro, which spent a couple of months in the shop for warranty repairs before it finally worked correctly; continued with my XBR1 HDTV, which required a new color block and also needed a new audio module - I think I had about 5 service calls on it, and it also spent a couple of weeks in the shop; and now my brand new 550 blu ray player has audio problems, dropping the center channel at random times. I'm not going to bother trying to fix the player - it's going back and it will be my last Sony product.
Anyone else with similar problems, or am I just the bad luck kid?

Bob
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post #2 of 24
2/22/09 at 8:40am

Re: Sony problems

I dropped Sony as a product 3-4 years ago. It all revolved around a digital camera. The warranty repair people Sony contracted with were the worst people you could imagine working with.
They sent it back to me several times saying there was nothing wrong with it. This almost drove me crazy. I couldn't get the camera to turn on and then take a picture. It would just shut itself off right after I turned it on. It only worked for the first couple of weeks I owned it.
After seven months of shipping it back and forth, no progress was made. I felt the only way towards justice was for me and anyone else being jerked around to boycott sony products.
I must say I have done well. I do have a PS3, but that is the only thing Sony I have purchased. I have passed up on buying a couple of Sony Bravia LCDs for other brands. I am not sure what else I may have bought from them over the years. They probably have not changed, so I will stay clear.
Should my PS3 ever quit working while it is still young, I don't think I will even send it in and risk the headache of some subcontracted service department somewhere.
BTW, I don't typically ban products from my life. Sony just put me through the ringer so bad I wished I would have just burned the money instead of buying the camera in the first place.
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post #3 of 24
2/22/09 at 10:30am

Re: Sony problems

I bought a couple of SONY car decks years ago and had nothing but problems with them. The warranty repair service was crap. I sent my deck in twice for repairs and both times it came back in a non-operable condition. I opened it up and the soldering job that was done on the Power transistors was absolute shite. I finally threw it in a box and forgot about it. I told the story to a friend of mine and he asked if he could take a look at the deck. I gave it to him and he managed to fix it. There was a cold solder joint on one of the boards.

After that experience I never bought another SONY product for years because I felt I couldn't trust their build quality. I steered clear of SONY until I bought a PS3. So far, I have been satisfied with it. It has worked flawlessly. The only thing I don't like is the slot load. I always think that slot loaders are more liable to fail earlier than tray loaders.

I still will not buy any SONY audio products.
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post #4 of 24
2/22/09 at 3:52pm

Re: Sony problems

First of all...knock on wood.

No problems with my Sony LCD

No problems with my 10 YEAR old Sony 7700, DVD player

No problems with my Sony BDP300 Blu-ray

No problems with my Sony BDP350 Blu-ray player

And i never had any problem with my old Sony XBR 36 inch tube TV.

[knocks on wood, again]
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post #5 of 24
2/22/09 at 7:13pm

Re: Sony problems

I have an 8" B&W Sony TV that was made in 1975- still works!

I also have a 20" Sony Wega bought in 2005 that works perfectly, and the Sony RDR-GX7 DVD recorder that I bought in 2004 which still gets heavy-duty use as my sole DVD player, works fine. (oh yeah.....KNOCK WOOD! LOL!)

My Sony Discman that I got in 1987 worked fine as my sole CD player for about 8 years before it started to malfunction.

My only major problem with a Sony product was a dual-deck Dolby-S cassette recorder that must have been flimsily built because after only a few years one of the compartment doors jammed and I had to force it open and break it to get the tape out.
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post #6 of 24
2/23/09 at 4:50am

Re: Sony problems

I have several Sony products that have no issues, including an 11 year old DVD player (the first I bought), a BDP-S350 BluRay player, 5-disc SACD/CD carousel player, a 12-year old 32-inch TV, a Hi8mm camcorder and a MiniDV camcorder.

To be fair, I did have an old, low-end Sony ProLogic A/V receiver that died many years ago after about 5 years of use.
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post #7 of 24
2/23/09 at 7:19am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony problems

My original conjecture that maybe I was just the bad luck kid seems to be true. It looks like there are plenty of you out there who have had many trouble free Sony products. I did not mean to slam Sony in the first place; I just wondered what others had experienced.

Thanks for all the replies.

Bob
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post #8 of 24
2/23/09 at 8:58am

Re: Sony problems

I have a Sony 60" rear projection LCD that has been going for over four years with no problems and a BD-350 blu ray that has so far been great.
I did have a problem with an 8mm. camcorder that never did work properly and was in the shop three times for the same defect before it was exchanged for a newer version, which so far, has been problem free.
I think it is a luck (or lack thereof) of the draw if one has problems with a particular brand and, to a lesser extent, how that product is used or abused. I'm not saying the OP abused anything but I have been amazed at how some of my friends treat their equipment and then gripe when they fail.
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post #9 of 24
2/23/09 at 10:53am
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by mylan
how that product is used or abused. I'm not saying the OP abused anything but I have been amazed at how some of my friends treat their equipment and then gripe when they fail.

Heh, I didn't have the thing long enough to abuse it!

Bob
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post #10 of 24
2/23/09 at 12:57pm

Re: Sony problems

My only problems with Sony products so far have been:
An annoying hum on my old Sony STR-AV210 receiver, which I sold about 9 years ago;
My auto-reverse Walkman from the 80s, which started crapping out about 2 years after I bought it; and
My first CD player, which started skipping at the 5 year mark.

So far, my 32" 720p LCD has been fine (knock on wood). I've been debating between the BDP-S350 and the Panny BD35 for my Blu-Ray player, but the Costco version of the 350 comes with a free HDMI cable. dilemmas, dilemmas.
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post #11 of 24
2/23/09 at 9:01pm

Re: Sony problems

Quote:
I have been amazed at how some of my friends treat their equipment and then gripe when they fail.

You mean I can't clean the optics with benzine???
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post #12 of 24
2/24/09 at 2:36pm

Re: Sony problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by mylan
I have been amazed at how some of my friends treat their equipment and then gripe when they fail.
When I was researching MP3 players, I came across a review that said (and I kid you not):

"...this product is awful. I threw it at my friend and now it doesn't work."
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post #13 of 24
2/25/09 at 8:37am

Re: Sony problems

This might interest you...

Sony Class Action | Home

The suit on first generation SXRD has been settled. For those who have an XBR1 or same generation SXRD, you might be able to get a new TV. It has been done apparently.

Second generation SXRD (XBR2 or same generation) suit is still pending. Meanwhile, if you have a problem with the optical block, they will replace free of charge. Next week they are coming to do this for my TV. I will not sign any waiver if offered because if this suit is settled in the customer's favor, I might be able to get a new TV out of it (for a minor additonal charge). If you have a second generation SXRD TV and are having these discoloration problems, I suggest you contact the lawyer to lend yourself as a witness to strengthen the case. And contact Sony for a repair.
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post #14 of 24
2/25/09 at 12:07pm

Re: Sony problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkHastings
When I was researching MP3 players, I came across a review that said (and I kid you not):

"...this product is awful. I threw it at my friend and now it doesn't work."



As of yet, I don't have any problems with the Sony products I have at home. My second dvd player was a Sony DVP-NS360, and even after three years (and a lot of films later) it still works perfectly. It's now being used by my brother. My first Blu-Ray player is the BDP-S350, and I don't have any problems at all with it. Works like a charm. Sure, the loading time could be improved, but that's a problem all BD-players suffer from. Except the Playstation 3 perhaps.
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post #15 of 24
2/25/09 at 4:26pm

Re: Sony problems

I'm afraid to report that my S550 is functioning flawlessly. [furiously knocking on wood...]
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post #16 of 24
2/26/09 at 7:15am

Re: Sony problems

Yes, 80% of my equipment purchases over the past 20 years have been SONY and I can't think of one issue I've ever had.

But I've had bad problems with my Toshiba DVD player (the cost to fix the issue was more than the player was worth) and I had a major problem with a Panasonic DVD burner that had to go in for repairs (which were under warranty, thank goodness).

I think one of the reasons why people get more upset about SONY issues is because of the cost. When my cheap stuff craps out, I don't care, but if an expensive thing craps out, then I guess I'd be more vocal about it.
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post #17 of 24
2/26/09 at 10:02pm

Re: Sony problems

My main receiver is a Sony STR DE 425 that is over 10 years old and still getting it done. I had a Sony 27" CRT that was working fine but got messed up with what I believe was a power surge when the power went off and came back on a few times in a minute. It still works but had problems in the strength of the red colors (sometimes too high and sometimes too low).

That's when I got an LCD for Christmas (not Sony, my family sprung for the off brand Sceptre which coincidentally uses a lot of the Sony TV remote codes). The 27" is kept to be a back up should the Sceptre ever need servicing.

The Kitchen though, had a LCD Sony MFMHT75W that conked out on Super Bowl Sunday, just before the warranty expired. It got sent back to Sony, who said it couldn't be repaired and sent a similar model MFM-HT95. The difference was that the 75 was a 17" 16:9, the 95 a 19" 4:3.

Overall I am satisfied with the response to the problem with the TV
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post #18 of 24
2/27/09 at 5:45am

Re: Sony problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by brandonchenry
I felt the only way towards justice was for me and anyone else being jerked around to boycott sony products.
If I boycotted every product I had trouble with, I wouldn't own any technology.
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post #19 of 24
2/27/09 at 9:51pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Sony problems

Well, it sure seems like most of you have had very good luck with Sony. For me, I'm happy to report that the exact same movie that caused my Sony blu-ray player to have fits plays perfectly on my new Panasonic.

Bottom line, if you like Sony products and have had good luck with them, that's good. I've just had too many bad experiences with them, and I'm done.

The point is well taken however, that any hi tech product can have problems; it's not exclusive to Sony.

Bob
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post #20 of 24
2/28/09 at 2:58pm

Re: Sony problems

I've had good experiences:

- DVP-S725 DVD player: worked flawlessly for four years.
- DVP-NS900V DVD player: 4000 hours of use and still working when sold.
- WM-FX77 Walkman: still works after 17 years (and so it should: cost me $360).
- Sony 29" CRT TV: worked great until I sold it.

and bad:

- Sony Walkman ($120) died after three unsuccessful repairs. Put me off Sony for over five years. Stuck with Aiwa decks through the '90s.
- Sony MDP-533 LaserDisc player. Drawer jammed, and was just poorly designed.
- Sony 32" CRT widescreen. Clipped on component inputs and couldn't be fixed. Returned for refund.

I don't have any Sony equipment at the moment, but wouldn't rule them out. Like every brand, they will have problems every now and then with particular models.

Adam
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post #21 of 24
3/2/09 at 10:53am

Re: Sony problems

I've had good luck and bad luck with Sony. Not enough to ban them from my life, but enough to regret some of the purchases.

My biggest regret right now is getting the BDP-350 instead of the Panasonic 35. My 350 has a a problem with anything orangy-yellow (like a lot of skin tones) looking blown out. Unfortunately I spent so much time trying to calibrate my TV (to try to decide whether it was the player or the TV) that I missed my opportunity to return it. I just haven't worked up the courage to try to get Sony to fix it.
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post #22 of 24
3/2/09 at 3:10pm

Re: Sony problems

My problem is whether to go with the Sony 550 or the Panny BD35. Since both are being replaced in the near future, the prices have been dropping, but on the Sony stuff faster than Panny, to the point that you can actually get both players for the same price @ some stores.
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post #23 of 24
3/6/09 at 9:41am

Re: Sony problems

I may still be miffed at Sony, but what I am mad about the most is the sub-contracted warranty repair place I had to deal with. It seemed pretty obviouse that the camera was a lemon, but they stuck to their guns that they fixed it. If they had good customer service (which you think you would get on a brand new item less than a month old!) by the time seven months had passed, maybe they would have offeren me a new camera or a refund.

Most people I know have a Sony something-or-other, and are happy with it.
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post #24 of 24
3/28/09 at 5:47pm

Re: Sony problems

Sony products can be like Russian roulette. I've had mixed experiences wih their products. Another thing I noticed is that the most reliable products of theirs aren't necessarily most epensive ones.

$400 Sony cd player 1985 doesn't sound that great but will play anything including cd-r's.

$ 800 DAT recorder purchased in 12/1996. Although I don't use it much tapes played back on it that I recorded in '96 play back with no diginoise and that's with 90 meter tapes.

$ 1000 Sony digital 8 camcorder. I bought it back in 1999 and I usually used standard 8mm tapes with it and those tapes playback with zero trouble even on other digital 8 camcorders. I'd buy it again.

$300 in 2006 Sony dvd recorder (315 model) that is total junk. I had to exchange it 2 times. I really didn't really want it but it was all Sears had that night and I really didn't want to look elsewhere. It not only trashes discs by refusing to close the disc (regardless of media brand) it also put an annoying hi frequency whine that runs the entire length of the recording.

dvd player $50 at walmart. It is okay but not great. But hey; for $50???

dvd camcorder loves to trash the TOC. Lost some great night time flight footage over Detroit. If we'd been on the ground that camcorder would have met concrete.

model 550 bluray player. So far so good but my wife uses it more than I do. It appears to be solid.
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