Is Sony really that bad?

StereRowe · 27-06-2007, 23:13

I've been reading in other threads, peoples less than impressed views of Sony TVs in particular.

I've bought several Sony products down the years and have been satisfied usually and very satisfied when it comes to their TVs.

So whats happened, or is it just a few dissenters?

StereRowe

dodrade · 27-06-2007, 23:50

I got a Sony KDL 40W2000 three weeks ago, no problems so far.

spamandeggs · 28-06-2007, 08:26

ive had Sony televisions for the last 15 years, no problems at all. 9 out of 10 times people would pick Sony over their high street peers

Brilad · 28-06-2007, 08:42

I used to swear by Sony, always preferring them - especially the trinitron tellies which had a great picture and were built to last.

They usually get it wrong with proprietary media (again in an attempt to manipulate markets) This is sad because technically they are very good usually, betamax, DAT...minidisc and now UMD (which has been beaten like a ginger stepchild). And this is a company that released laptops with Sony memory stick slots but NO SD slots. LOL. What complete C***s.

Sadly, a lot of their competitors have caught up...and this combined with the fact that they screw Europe on pricing and release dates (ie with the PS3) means I won't buy a Sony product again.

Nigel Goodwin · 28-06-2007, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by StereRowe

I've been reading in other threads, peoples less than impressed views of Sony TVs in particular.

I've bought several Sony products down the years and have been satisfied usually and very satisfied when it comes to their TVs.

So whats happened, or is it just a few dissenters?

Basically a few dissenters

Sony are still the number one brand in the UK, and probably in the world?. They are still well known for their performance, reliability, and good service - although I would admit that it's not what it was - but neither are the prices!.

But at least Sony UK are running in the black, Panasonic UK (the number two brand) are deeply in the red - and big changes are expected there!.

Basically ALL domestic electronic manufacturers are struggling due to low profit margins, and competition from cheap junk manufacturers like Vestel and Beko. Sony (and Sharp) have both recently done major restructuring - and this obviously reduces costs, but reduces their service as well!. As most of you probably know, Sharp used to sponser Manchester United - this was dropped a number of years back, and their massive facility in Manchester has closed done and been replaced by a small office and a handfull of staff.

mrvgarg · 28-06-2007, 19:13

Depends on the product you want. Current TVs are not that good but are getting better. Dvd players and blu-ray stuff are crap. However they still make the best 11 inch - 14 inch laptops but Toshiba is catching up..

mediafriendly · 29-06-2007, 07:19

Sony seemed to take a big dive in spec and quality in the lattest stages of the CRT-era. At one point, the TVs were all multi-standard with the usual comb filters and noise reduction; the next, they seemed to go cheapo cheapo, with PAL-only sets and mediocre picture quality. That turned me off them and I went to Philips. Would be good to know if flat screen is bringing them back into the game.

Nigel Goodwin · 29-06-2007, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediafriendly

Sony seemed to take a big dive in spec and quality in the lattest stages of the CRT-era. At one point, the TVs were all multi-standard with the usual comb filters and noise reduction; the next, they seemed to go cheapo cheapo, with PAL-only sets and mediocre picture quality. That turned me off them and I went to Philips. Would be good to know if flat screen is bringing them back into the game.

As a service engineer for a major Sony dealer, I haven't seen any 'PAL only' larger sets for years - when the sets first power up they ask what country you are in, if you answer UK then the VHF and multi-standard options are turned off, as we don't use them here. It can be turned back on from service mode, by manually altering the country code, or resetting it to factory settings.

Interesting decisin moving to Philips, with their massive CRT failure rate!

jonsonby · 29-06-2007, 14:28

Everything I had over the last 10 years that was Sony has let me down or broke.
I think they make good computers and the LCD TVs seem to good.(after sales service is crap)

TV & DVD players I would choose Panasonic over Sony.

Depends what product you buy.

Example: Panasonic make great TVs but I wouldn't buy a Panasonic camera.

They all make good and bad things.

mikw · 29-06-2007, 14:36

My Sony home cinema system EXPLODED after 18 months of use, my friend has exactly the same one, and that's still going 3 years later!

I took better care with mine, but it must have been a dud.

Nigel Goodwin · 29-06-2007, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonsonby

Everything I had over the last 10 years that was Sony has let me down or broke.
I think they make good computers and the LCD TVs seem to good.(after sales service is crap)

Interesting comment!, Sony's service (via their dealer network) is one of the best (if not THE best) in the UK.

mikw · 29-06-2007, 17:49

Aren't most things made in the same overseas factories as everything else now anyway?

Nigel Goodwin · 29-06-2007, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikw

Aren't most things made in the same overseas factories as everything else now anyway?

No, much of the cheap crap is made in a few factories in Turkey (Vestel, Beko, and another I always forget?) at least TV's and Freeview boxes are. But major manufacturers 'usually' make much of their own stuff, for example Sony have ALWAYS made their own TV's - which you can't say about their VCR's!

Most major manufacturers though have bought and badged cheap crap TV's, Panasonic have, Toshiba currently do some sets (including LCD), JVC have rarely made their own TV's, Sharps last CRT's were Vestel - the list goes on!.

John Currie · 30-06-2007, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Vestel, Beko, and another I always forget?

Profilo Telra Nigel.

mikw · 30-06-2007, 00:37

[quote=Nigel Goodwin;15803044]

Quote:

But major manufacturers 'usually' make much of their own stuff, for example Sony have ALWAYS made their own TV's - which you can't say about their VCR's!

Ok, Understood

Quote:

Most major manufacturers though have bought and badged cheap crap TV's, Panasonic have, Toshiba currently do some sets (including LCD), JVC have rarely made their own TV's, Sharps last CRT's were Vestel - the list goes on!.

Oh, i'm confused now, so major manufacturers make their own stuff, however they do buy and badge "cheap crap" tv's .

Now, i know that at least one of Sony's PVR's is actually a re-badged version of another machine that costs a fair bit less. My Sony home cinema exploded a while ago.
I'm just kind of thinking that "brand" names really don't seem to matter much these days, seeing as the thing the "brand" label is stuck on so often contains things that WEREN'T made by the company.

-Edge- · 30-06-2007, 00:44

I bought the Sony KDL40w2000 a couple of months back having read loads of revies for it in comparison with the Samsung equivalent and I have to say I am VERY impressed with the quality of the TV and ease of use.

Had to play around with the settings for ten minutes when i first put it on and the picture sharpness was a little off but this seemed to settle after a couple of days of use and has been excellent ever since.

I would definately recommend it

KO Lo · 30-06-2007, 06:05

From what I see is, no matter which manufacturers we're buying from... reliability wise is unpredictable or may be the same, cause now days they are all going for lower cost and outsource.
What we can compare is only the technology and service.

Neck_Romancer · 30-06-2007, 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

No, much of the cheap crap is made in a few factories in Turkey (Vestel, Beko, and another I always forget?) at least TV's and Freeview boxes are. But major manufacturers 'usually' make much of their own stuff, for example Sony have ALWAYS made their own TV's - which you can't say about their VCR's!

Most major manufacturers though have bought and badged cheap crap TV's, Panasonic have, Toshiba currently do some sets (including LCD), JVC have rarely made their own TV's, Sharps last CRT's were Vestel - the list goes on!.

So it's not worth buying brand names then, you're just paying extra for a badge?

frightlever · 30-06-2007, 09:05

Don't buy Sony. They're a terrible company always pushing their proprietary formats in an effort to gut the wallets of consumers. I have no problem with the quality of their goods but if you hand them over your money you're helping buy the bricks that will imprison your freedoms.

Nigel Goodwin · 30-06-2007, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neck_Romancer

So it's not worth buying brand names then, you're just paying extra for a badge?

Depends what you buy, Sony TV's are always made by Sony, Panasonic TV's are 'mostly' made by Panasonic (but they have badged some cheap crap). Sony have rarely made VHS VCR's (over the past few years they have badged Samsung ones - as did Toshiba).

It's difficult to know what you're buying, unless you're in the trade, and then it's still not very easy! - the 'manufacturers' don't like to admit they just badged a product.

Neck_Romancer · 30-06-2007, 11:29

Interesting.

I guess it's easy to spot a beko or such cheapo by it's clumpy shape

Nigel Goodwin · 30-06-2007, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Currie

Profilo Telra Nigel.

Thank you!

but I know I'll forget it again!

mediafriendly · 30-06-2007, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

As a service engineer for a major Sony dealer, I haven't seen any 'PAL only' larger sets for years - when the sets first power up they ask what country you are in, if you answer UK then the VHF and multi-standard options are turned off, as we don't use them here. It can be turned back on from service mode, by manually altering the country code, or resetting it to factory settings.

Interesting decisin moving to Philips, with their massive CRT failure rate!

aha! well, Sony must have kept that to themselves, given the number of Sony sets the Radio Rentals guys took away with them (I have French satellite television in Secam)...

...and happy to say Phillips has been faultless so far.

Mr.B · 30-06-2007, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Edge-

I bought the Sony KDL40w2000 a couple of months back having read loads of reviews for it in comparison with the Samsung equivalent and I have to say I am VERY impressed with the quality of the TV and ease of use.

Had to play around with the settings for ten minutes when i first put it on and the picture sharpness was a little off but this seemed to settle after a couple of days of use and has been excellent ever since.

I would definitely recommend it

i have recently bought one of these and i cant fault it, previously I've had two Sony CRTs, again no problem

-Edge- just out of curiosity, what have you set your sharpness level to, I've, using the skyHD test card, had to turn mine down to about 4 to get rid of ghosting

Nigel Goodwin · 30-06-2007, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediafriendly

aha! well, Sony must have kept that to themselves, given the number of Sony sets the Radio Rentals guys took away with them (I have French satellite television in Secam)...

Perhaps Radio Rental guys are a bit thick?, but why didn't they just connect it via an RGB SCART lead?.

Quote:

...and happy to say Phillips has been faultless so far.

You're doing well

Philips have got a terrible reputation, still, I'm sure they don't all go wrong.

27-06-2007, 23:13	#1
StereRowe Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Leicester Posts: 1,273	Is Sony really that bad? I've been reading in other threads, peoples less than impressed views of Sony TVs in particular. I've bought several Sony products down the years and have been satisfied usually and very satisfied when it comes to their TVs. So whats happened, or is it just a few dissenters? StereRowe

27-06-2007, 23:50	#2
dodrade Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,121	I got a Sony KDL 40W2000 three weeks ago, no problems so far.

28-06-2007, 08:26	#3
spamandeggs Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 404	ive had Sony televisions for the last 15 years, no problems at all. 9 out of 10 times people would pick Sony over their high street peers

28-06-2007, 08:42	#4
Brilad Banned User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,382	I used to swear by Sony, always preferring them - especially the trinitron tellies which had a great picture and were built to last. They usually get it wrong with proprietary media (again in an attempt to manipulate markets) This is sad because technically they are very good usually, betamax, DAT...minidisc and now UMD (which has been beaten like a ginger stepchild). And this is a company that released laptops with Sony memory stick slots but NO SD slots. LOL. What complete C***s. Sadly, a lot of their competitors have caught up...and this combined with the fact that they screw Europe on pricing and release dates (ie with the PS3) means I won't buy a Sony product again.

28-06-2007, 17:17	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by StereRowe I've been reading in other threads, peoples less than impressed views of Sony TVs in particular. I've bought several Sony products down the years and have been satisfied usually and very satisfied when it comes to their TVs. So whats happened, or is it just a few dissenters? Basically a few dissenters Sony are still the number one brand in the UK, and probably in the world?. They are still well known for their performance, reliability, and good service - although I would admit that it's not what it was - but neither are the prices!. But at least Sony UK are running in the black, Panasonic UK (the number two brand) are deeply in the red - and big changes are expected there!. Basically ALL domestic electronic manufacturers are struggling due to low profit margins, and competition from cheap junk manufacturers like Vestel and Beko. Sony (and Sharp) have both recently done major restructuring - and this obviously reduces costs, but reduces their service as well!. As most of you probably know, Sharp used to sponser Manchester United - this was dropped a number of years back, and their massive facility in Manchester has closed done and been replaced by a small office and a handfull of staff.

28-06-2007, 19:13	#6
mrvgarg Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Slough Posts: 1,139	Depends on the product you want. Current TVs are not that good but are getting better. Dvd players and blu-ray stuff are crap. However they still make the best 11 inch - 14 inch laptops but Toshiba is catching up..

29-06-2007, 07:19	#7
mediafriendly Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,183	Sony seemed to take a big dive in spec and quality in the lattest stages of the CRT-era. At one point, the TVs were all multi-standard with the usual comb filters and noise reduction; the next, they seemed to go cheapo cheapo, with PAL-only sets and mediocre picture quality. That turned me off them and I went to Philips. Would be good to know if flat screen is bringing them back into the game.

29-06-2007, 12:45	#8
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by mediafriendly Sony seemed to take a big dive in spec and quality in the lattest stages of the CRT-era. At one point, the TVs were all multi-standard with the usual comb filters and noise reduction; the next, they seemed to go cheapo cheapo, with PAL-only sets and mediocre picture quality. That turned me off them and I went to Philips. Would be good to know if flat screen is bringing them back into the game. As a service engineer for a major Sony dealer, I haven't seen any 'PAL only' larger sets for years - when the sets first power up they ask what country you are in, if you answer UK then the VHF and multi-standard options are turned off, as we don't use them here. It can be turned back on from service mode, by manually altering the country code, or resetting it to factory settings. Interesting decisin moving to Philips, with their massive CRT failure rate!

29-06-2007, 14:28	#9
jonsonby Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Devon Posts: 15	Everything I had over the last 10 years that was Sony has let me down or broke. I think they make good computers and the LCD TVs seem to good.(after sales service is crap) TV & DVD players I would choose Panasonic over Sony. Depends what product you buy. Example: Panasonic make great TVs but I wouldn't buy a Panasonic camera. They all make good and bad things.

29-06-2007, 14:36	#10
mikw Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 34,391	My Sony home cinema system EXPLODED after 18 months of use, my friend has exactly the same one, and that's still going 3 years later! I took better care with mine, but it must have been a dud.

29-06-2007, 16:09	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by jonsonby Everything I had over the last 10 years that was Sony has let me down or broke. I think they make good computers and the LCD TVs seem to good.(after sales service is crap) Interesting comment!, Sony's service (via their dealer network) is one of the best (if not THE best) in the UK.

29-06-2007, 17:49	#12
mikw Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 34,391	Aren't most things made in the same overseas factories as everything else now anyway?

29-06-2007, 21:20	#13
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by mikw Aren't most things made in the same overseas factories as everything else now anyway? No, much of the cheap crap is made in a few factories in Turkey (Vestel, Beko, and another I always forget?) at least TV's and Freeview boxes are. But major manufacturers 'usually' make much of their own stuff, for example Sony have ALWAYS made their own TV's - which you can't say about their VCR's! Most major manufacturers though have bought and badged cheap crap TV's, Panasonic have, Toshiba currently do some sets (including LCD), JVC have rarely made their own TV's, Sharps last CRT's were Vestel - the list goes on!.

30-06-2007, 00:02	#14
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Vestel, Beko, and another I always forget? Profilo Telra Nigel.

30-06-2007, 00:37	#15
mikw Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 34,391	[quote=Nigel Goodwin;15803044] Quote: But major manufacturers 'usually' make much of their own stuff, for example Sony have ALWAYS made their own TV's - which you can't say about their VCR's! Ok, Understood Quote: Most major manufacturers though have bought and badged cheap crap TV's, Panasonic have, Toshiba currently do some sets (including LCD), JVC have rarely made their own TV's, Sharps last CRT's were Vestel - the list goes on!. Oh, i'm confused now, so major manufacturers make their own stuff, however they do buy and badge "cheap crap" tv's . Now, i know that at least one of Sony's PVR's is actually a re-badged version of another machine that costs a fair bit less. My Sony home cinema exploded a while ago. I'm just kind of thinking that "brand" names really don't seem to matter much these days, seeing as the thing the "brand" label is stuck on so often contains things that WEREN'T made by the company.

30-06-2007, 00:44	#16
-Edge- Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 203	I bought the Sony KDL40w2000 a couple of months back having read loads of revies for it in comparison with the Samsung equivalent and I have to say I am VERY impressed with the quality of the TV and ease of use. Had to play around with the settings for ten minutes when i first put it on and the picture sharpness was a little off but this seemed to settle after a couple of days of use and has been excellent ever since. I would definately recommend it

30-06-2007, 06:05	#17
KO Lo Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	From what I see is, no matter which manufacturers we're buying from... reliability wise is unpredictable or may be the same, cause now days they are all going for lower cost and outsource. What we can compare is only the technology and service.

30-06-2007, 08:20	#18
Neck_Romancer Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lost in a forest. Posts: 9,648	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin No, much of the cheap crap is made in a few factories in Turkey (Vestel, Beko, and another I always forget?) at least TV's and Freeview boxes are. But major manufacturers 'usually' make much of their own stuff, for example Sony have ALWAYS made their own TV's - which you can't say about their VCR's! Most major manufacturers though have bought and badged cheap crap TV's, Panasonic have, Toshiba currently do some sets (including LCD), JVC have rarely made their own TV's, Sharps last CRT's were Vestel - the list goes on!. So it's not worth buying brand names then, you're just paying extra for a badge?

30-06-2007, 09:05	#19
frightlever Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,204	Don't buy Sony. They're a terrible company always pushing their proprietary formats in an effort to gut the wallets of consumers. I have no problem with the quality of their goods but if you hand them over your money you're helping buy the bricks that will imprison your freedoms.

30-06-2007, 10:47	#20
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Neck_Romancer So it's not worth buying brand names then, you're just paying extra for a badge? Depends what you buy, Sony TV's are always made by Sony, Panasonic TV's are 'mostly' made by Panasonic (but they have badged some cheap crap). Sony have rarely made VHS VCR's (over the past few years they have badged Samsung ones - as did Toshiba). It's difficult to know what you're buying, unless you're in the trade, and then it's still not very easy! - the 'manufacturers' don't like to admit they just badged a product.

30-06-2007, 11:29	#21
Neck_Romancer Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lost in a forest. Posts: 9,648	Interesting. I guess it's easy to spot a beko or such cheapo by it's clumpy shape

DS Forums

Is Sony really that bad?

30-06-2007, 11:57	#22
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by John Currie Profilo Telra Nigel. Thank you! but I know I'll forget it again!

30-06-2007, 12:47	#23
mediafriendly Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,183	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin As a service engineer for a major Sony dealer, I haven't seen any 'PAL only' larger sets for years - when the sets first power up they ask what country you are in, if you answer UK then the VHF and multi-standard options are turned off, as we don't use them here. It can be turned back on from service mode, by manually altering the country code, or resetting it to factory settings. Interesting decisin moving to Philips, with their massive CRT failure rate! aha! well, Sony must have kept that to themselves, given the number of Sony sets the Radio Rentals guys took away with them (I have French satellite television in Secam)... ...and happy to say Phillips has been faultless so far.

30-06-2007, 12:53	#24
Mr.B Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 959	Quote: Originally Posted by -Edge- I bought the Sony KDL40w2000 a couple of months back having read loads of reviews for it in comparison with the Samsung equivalent and I have to say I am VERY impressed with the quality of the TV and ease of use. Had to play around with the settings for ten minutes when i first put it on and the picture sharpness was a little off but this seemed to settle after a couple of days of use and has been excellent ever since. I would definitely recommend it i have recently bought one of these and i cant fault it, previously I've had two Sony CRTs, again no problem -Edge- just out of curiosity, what have you set your sharpness level to, I've, using the skyHD test card, had to turn mine down to about 4 to get rid of ghosting

30-06-2007, 13:32	#25
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by mediafriendly aha! well, Sony must have kept that to themselves, given the number of Sony sets the Radio Rentals guys took away with them (I have French satellite television in Secam)... Perhaps Radio Rental guys are a bit thick?, but why didn't they just connect it via an RGB SCART lead?. Quote: ...and happy to say Phillips has been faultless so far. You're doing well Philips have got a terrible reputation, still, I'm sure they don't all go wrong.