I purchased the top of the line Sony WEGA 52", paid $5000. 4 years later I have a TV with a big blue blob on the right hand side and bright white stars throughout the entire screen - all 52"s of it. The TV ended up costing $,1000 per year to operate plus the cost of a replacement bulb which isn't cheap. We have 10,000 hours on the unit. It is Aug 2008 the issues started Dec 2007 which were less hours but just slowly starting to enter our lives.
Sony does not stand behind their equipment. They have offered (mainly because they can not even supply further defective parts) a replacement unit not even their best if we only pay another $1600. Well for that kind of money I can purchase a top of the line "Z brand" and replace it for another top of the line "Z brand" in a year and a half and be just as far ahead. I can only estimate the new unit they are offering is just as defective.
My advice really research before you buy - it used to be buy the name brand however I now believe buy as cheap as you can and scrap it in a year and buy again for the technology improvement. Gone are the days!
what was the problem? did sony offer any suggestions for repair? my 3 year old 55" grand wega is doing the same thing.
defective optical blocks I have had 3 in the shop within the last month.
Approx how much are repair costs if I paid myself (without the sony warranty)
between 800 and 1000 depending on where you get it done. you can purcase the parts direct from sony considerably cheaper and install yourself. Thats always an option
you might check here some model warranties have been extended. Change your model to whatever your number is:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?mdl=KDF42WE655&news_id=206
For best results, always try to post to an existing thread that has your proper model number in the title. If multiple existing threads, higher view counts will increase your odds . If you must start a new thread put the proper set number in the title, and in every post you write. If you are requesting manuals or instructions leave a working (copy-and-pastable) e-mail address.
Contact Sony and see if your unit falls within their optical block extended warranty replacement plan.