Share your experience!
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.
@manuelsal if you looked properly at the old spreadsheet and now the replacement survey. They are in 2 languages, German and English. I'm guessing you can communicate in one of those.
@manuelsal wrote:@frogger38 I speak 2.5 languages but German is not part of those...
@adyjay33 wrote:
Its true that there are people on here complaining, but I think there is a very good reason why.... I fully understand the frustrations that are going on here and fully support people who have issues with these TV's. This is what a forum is for so we can highlight issues, I guess if no one complained then there would be no resolutions to the problems people are having and after spending a lot of money I think that people have a real right to complain. Keep on complaining I say but don't start to have a go at the people for doing so, after all Sony cant seem to be bothered to come on here and face the music and they are the ones you really should be complaining about.
They ARE the ones that are being complained about...
Unfortunately these mega-corporations are masters of smoke and mirrors. All of us who have bought these sets ARE being taken for mugs insofar as they ( probably knowingly) released a product which is not properly tested; and we ARE paying for the privilege of doing their beta testing for them!
Up to a point this is expected with computer-based products... Sony have on this occasion though made the mistake of releasing something so bad that it's doing very serious damage to their reputation. We're not finding odd niggles, but dealing with something that is unfit for its basic purpose.
It's also a feature of modern 'business' that social media - including (some would say especially) forums like this one - IS manipulated... Sony WILL have people here pretending to be owners and/or volunteers and will attempt to manipulate trends and opinions. - In a situation like this the agenda will be to deflect from the very serious design issues. Many of the reviews you read online (not just about Sony products) will be utterly false. - And it's very-often the case that when uncomfortable truths surface the main trick is to shout down and discredit those calling out the naked Emperors...
It's very convenient for Sony to pretend this is a 'community' forum... But experience tells me that is about as credible a claim as the Santa Claus in the local garden centre being the 'real deal'.
If Sony have somehow manipulated a mentally-ill individual into stewarding a forum on their behalf, and doing so for nothing, then that is all the more despicable and dishonourable of them as a company! - These sets are an engineering and design disaster. And the people who SHOULD be dealing with the matter are those directly responsible for it...
SO let's get an OFFICIAL Sony representative out here to face the music! - Or is it just the case that they are too cowardly too do so? Not honest enough to face this imaginary 'community' where they control the horizontal and they control the vertical? - I suspect so! Sony should remember that you can only really fool some of the people for some of the time!
As to fault reporting - Sorry Manuel - but their mickey-mouse spreadsheet really HAS to be the way to go! - As amateurish and shoddy as it is... This is the only 'official' input to Sony that exists, and muddying the water (or doing their job for them) really only serves to give them more excuses not to fix things properly or at all!
Firstly @Anonymous thank you for all your help.
Secondly, I received this from Currys last night, bearing in mind that I have already returned this TV…
Thank you for your email dated the 11th December 2015, regarding your Sony television. Please accept my apologies for the delay in this response.
I was concerned to learn that you are unhappy with the way in which the television will function, and would like to apologise for any disappointment that this has caused. Your correspondence will be added to your existing case, under the reference number xxxxxxxxx.
In the specifications of the item, both on our website and included in the information provided by the manufacturer, it does not state that the recorder can be used with You View. The function will be able to be used with other settings, but it does not state that it will be used with the application you refer to. On this basis, we would not be able to provide a refund of the television, as this feature has not been mis-sold. I appreciate that you have had to wait for the release of the function, and would also like to apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused.
In closing, I would like to apologise for any inconvenience that you have been caused, and thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding this matter.
So be prepared for a battle… and make sure that if you get accepted that you get it in writing by email!!
looking at this load of issue , any one suggest 49x8305c equivalent TV? i am confused and concerened .. all advice is appreciated
Another get out by Currys, how typical, I guess they could say that the TV is not meant to work perfectly and we should put up with reboots etc....as its not written down it will work perfectly...
The survey makes no mention of the single most annoying issue - lip sync on HD TV, Netflix, Youtube...while using the machine's own speakers
I can put up with the slowness, the screen blinking, the crashes etc....but this is so fundamental to watching TV that it's impossible to put up with.
Unhappy owner of a KD55X9305
p.s. @Anonymous Please don't go. Your help here is most appreciated. It's a pitty Sony are too ashamed to send a representative here themselves.
@UKPiglet wrote:The survey makes no mention of the single most annoying issue - lip sync on HD TV, Netflix, Youtube...while using the machine's own speakers
Survey??? Vs the spreadsheet... The latter, you can add your own comments to quite freely.
Here is my Amazon review of this TV... Sony take note:
Just do not buy this TV.
I bought from a high street retailer sadly so getting my money back is not going to be easy even though the TV is not as described or working as it should.
As said the Android system is just awful and not working properly and I will agree with the views on other reviews that this set has more troubles than bonus points.
Granted the screen is great but it is just not good enough to have a good screen but a awful operating system that makes what could be a good TV into an awful one that in my opinion is not fit for sale.
Regarding the updates, after reading about the problems with the most recent update in Dec I am holding off for a proper fix when we shall get the HDD recording etc... and maybe reinstate the fact you cant record YouView if its enabled to be able to do just that, why Sony is this not possible?
Also why disable the Sat tuners when YouView is enabled, completely stupid.
So buy this TV at your peril and go for another one instead, I wish I had!
Look online to see how many people have problems with the Sony Android TV's and you will see its just not worth buying it even if they are now heavily discounting them as I expect the are only making the way for the fully working 2016 models, which will mean the 2015 will lose all support from Sony and the owner of this TV will have spent a lot of hard earned money for something is that about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Would you buy a car with only 1 gear and the others will arrive in the next six months or so?
Well no you would not, so don't buy this TV, a TV that Sony "Promises" a lot but gives you nothing but hassle and trouble.
Sony hang you head in shame and recall them or give refunds, its the least you can do.
@Heckie wrote:Firstly @Anonymous thank you for all your help.
Secondly, I received this from Currys last night, bearing in mind that I have already returned this TV…
Thank you for your email dated the 11th December 2015, regarding your Sony television. Please accept my apologies for the delay in this response.
I was concerned to learn that you are unhappy with the way in which the television will function, and would like to apologise for any disappointment that this has caused. Your correspondence will be added to your existing case, under the reference number xxxxxxxxx.
In the specifications of the item, both on our website and included in the information provided by the manufacturer, it does not state that the recorder can be used with You View. The function will be able to be used with other settings, but it does not state that it will be used with the application you refer to. On this basis, we would not be able to provide a refund of the television, as this feature has not been mis-sold. I appreciate that you have had to wait for the release of the function, and would also like to apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused.
In closing, I would like to apologise for any inconvenience that you have been caused, and thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding this matter.
So be prepared for a battle… and make sure that if you get accepted that you get it in writing by email!!
I take it that you received this after you got a refund? For others who receive a similar response from Currys, you should point out to them that they have given refunds to other customers on exactly this basis, myself included. This is what I stated in my email to them:
The specifications for this TV, as advertised in store and on your website at the time of purchase, stated: "thanks to the twin tuners, you'll be able to watch one programme and record another". They also stated: “YouView is coming in summer 2015, which makes it easier than ever to find the programmes you want to watch. YouView lets you scroll backwards through the programme guide and select shows that are available on catch-up tv". These were all features that were key to me making the decision to purchase this television.
The reality, however, is somewhat different to this. Firstly, the twin tuner and recording facility have still to be made available, some two months after this TV was purchased. You did not qualify that this feature was subject to a future update in any of your sales or marketing information, so it was therefore totally misleading. Secondly, now that YouView has finally been added through the update on 4 November, Sony is making it clear through a statement that has recently appeared on the support pages of its website that "HDD recording (REC) and Satellite features are not available if the YouView functionality is enabled". This therefore again makes your marketing information totally misleading as it implies that both the YouView function and recording facility are co-existing features and it certainly did not make it clear that they were not compatible. Demand 5 is also not compatible with HDD recording, as this is linked to the YouView function.
And this is the response I received from the SCCCustomerSolutionsTeam:
I have passed your comments regarding the several issues with your television to our buying teams to take up with Sony. I expect there will be a full review into how we advertise Sony televisions going forward.
Given the nature of the problems you have had with this television, we will be happy to refund it in full. Please confirm when you can return the TV to the store of purchase so I can ensure they have the necessary authorisations to complete the transaction.