2015 Bravia Android TV Issues

[NickCo1979]

I thought I'd create a generic thread to cover off the issues being encountered on the 2015 Bravia Android TVs. I've listed my issues below with fixes / workarounds and responses from support. All comments and solutions welcome!

1) Hot Swap HDMI doesn't work - manifested by no input on HDMI channels 2, 3 and 4 on the KD-49X8305C. Workaround - reset the TV, either by holding down the remote power button for 5 seconds or by switching the TV off at the wall and then back on again. Further details on this thread: https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/kd-49x8305c-hdmi-2-3-4-inputs-not-working/td-p/1944435

2) HDD Recording doesn't work - error message states a system update is required but none is available when checking. Hopefully this will be fixed soon by a firmware update.

3) Netflix App doesn't work - this seems like the app has been deliberately disabled. So far a support case has only recommended that a factory reset be performed (took two days to get to that cracking piece of advice.....), with no improvement as a result. A temporary (albeit for advanced users only) workaround is provided by MikeLothian on this thread - https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/netflix-support-for-kd55x8509c-android-tv/td-p/1945360 

4) Sound lag and performance issues after the TV (KD-49X8305C) has been on standby for a while - manifested for me as stuttering and sound / picture sync issues in all apps (youtube, amazon instant video etc) and HDMI sources (PS4, seperate YouView box etc). Hopefully this will be fixed in a firmware update, at the moment workarounds involve either changing channels to get the sync to work or in my case having to turn the TV off and then on again at the socket.

As stated previously, all comments welcome. Personally I'm willing to give Sony a couple of weeks to fix this, but if it's not done soon I'll be sending my new TV back for a refund as it's not really fit for purpose.

[kevfarme]

Hear, hear.

[Caledonian_TV]

If anything that set-up should be better than my own from the point of view of latency... Though your situation is somewhat similar. Though we never use the TV speakers..

My intention was to switch everything through the TV to free up inputs on the amp.   ARC seems 'hit and miss' so I had to use optical out. I've had to use the 'digital' output from the BD direct to the amp which of course complicates switching.  - Depending on the encoding of the disc the picture leads the audio by between about a frame ( 1/25th Second) and 12 frames  (nearly 1/2 second) - makes no difference how you set the player or indeed what player is used! 

Something similar ( though not as bad) happens on HD recordings (or even off-air) via my Echostar recorder if the programme has surround... The 'cure' is to set the TV to output PCM; but of course them you've lost your surround modes! 

All of this tends to suggest the TV is too busy 'faffing about' doing other 'processing' to cope with the audio...  Which suggests either the set itself is under-powered or it's running 'bloatware'... Not good...

[Caledonian_TV]

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@Quinnicus wrote:

@Caledonian_TV 

You have made a claim multiple times about posts being censored.  There is no evidence whatso ever of entire posts being removed - because none have been removed.  Occasionally a post will be edited to remove profanities that break the forum rules of conduct - but this is open and transparent.  

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LOL...  Actually I haven't.... I'll leave it up to you to trawl back through the 300-odd pages; but (although I HAVE had posts simply 'not appear' for no reason)  others have made this complaint... I merely agree with them. 

Clyde... Banana Skin... Etc...

[Caledonian_TV]

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@Kevwoods12 wrote:

Matt,  you have a faulty TV. Lip sync on mine is fine. Netflix works perfectly,  the ui is Google? The picture menus in the action menu seem Sony to me. 

Only thing that really bothers me about mine,  55x8509, is the random need to restart it. 

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Ah... But I'm not talking about Netflix...   It's essentially the 'loop-through' from HDMI...  If you have the set output anything other than PCM, and the source material has surround encoded on it, varying-degrees of latency become apparent. 

I have little or no no latency from the few shows that are surround encoded from the off-air (terrestrial) tuner; the amp changes mode fine and all is well...

And yes... I still have the random restart problem...

[kevfarme]

Sorry folks, my comment of "hear, hear" was in reply to another comment made earlier.  My mistake as I am so used to forums auto quoting.

[and3ys]

Not sure if this will help anyone, but I spoke to Sony support uk over the phone today and explained how outrageous it is that we as customers are expected to wait till March 16 for a basic function that was advertised working when sold to me! The representative promised me that the hdd record and pip would be available on the 24th December!  I explained to him that the website had stated March 16 but he said that was a timescale for other functions and updates they were working on! Not sure how true this was or if he was just trying to fob me off!  

[Publiclyavailable]

Caledonian.  Thanks for such a detailed summation.  Coincidentally, I've written to Currys today and am requesting anticipating a replacement, not A Sony, set within 7 days. Under the new Consumer Right Act.

To all interested in doing the same.  Don't be fobbed off. Your contract is with the retailer who sold you the set. You paid them the money for it..... So it's a contract! Don't let them tell you it is Sony's problem.  If they think it is, that is a matter between them and Sony so nothing to do with you. If you bought direct from Sony, then go through them direct, obviously.

The Sale of Goods Act was superseded by the Consumer Right Act only a few weeks back, on 1st October 2015. Here's a decent summary. Scroll down to see what you need to state in making your claim.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

You have a right to reject or a right to repair or replace. So .......

......get writing and get your money back or a replacement set now.

I recommend Samsung, personally.....

Let this forum know how you get on. And maybe copy to BBC Watchdog.

cheers,

PA

[ANDYST3]

My thoughts are if you dissatified to the point you want return the tv to your retailer wether it be currys or john lewis then you should take the tv back to the store you bought from directly and demand an exhange or refund rather wasting time sending emails to the head office customer service , and stand your ground - as it did with currys as i had a 55in 4k tv bought in sept and got a samsung as exhange and really happy with it - take action and stop moaning and hoping sony will fix the issues !!!

[frankie1g]

Yes that was an unsavoury comment I should have spoken up  Sent from my Samsung device

[Caledonian_TV]

That's a very good point PA.

Your contract is indeed between you and the retailer; and them abdicating responsibility to Sony is indeed 'out of order'! 

However - with that said - Sony are the ones thsat really should be stepping up to the plate here.  With the nonsense that we regularly experience from the 'big sheds' aside; I would not like to be a small independent retailer caught amidst this...

Andy...  Packing your set back into its box and taking it back to a store is all well and good if you have the time and appropriate transport...  Many don't...  Especially at this time of year!  - Mine (for instance) was ordered online and delivered; basically to try and save me time and hassle...  Boxed-up I'd need to bring a van home to move it etc...  The thought of having to de-rig it and get it off the wall etc.  - I suspect I won't be alone in having other things on my mind as Christmas looms.

Honestly... I'd rather just see the thing working. That would be better for everybody really....

The (small) Samsung panels we have are pretty good...  I should have looked more closely at their bigger sets!